Meet the Winner: RURAL COMMUNITIES EMPOWERMENT CENTER

9,313 votes later, Rural Communities Empowerment Center is the winner of the vote to receive the funds raised at the Star 100 New York Holiday Fundraiser! Founded in 2002, the organization has opened two community centers in Apirede and Jumapo, Ghana offering library and computer services, mentoring programs, and empowerment skills.

Thank you to everyone who voted. Now help us raise a grip for this amazing organization by attending the Star 100 Holiday Fundraiser. A portion of the proceeds from your ticket will go directly to benefit the work RCEC is doing to empower girls and women for a better future.

Buy your ticket now by clicking the "Donate" button above and submitting your payment of $50.

Happy Holiday Spirit!

Meet the Sponsor: Arik Air

You'll have the chance to win a free roundtrip ticket to Africa on Arik Air at the Star 100 New York Fundraiser. Click the Donate button and buy your $40 ticket now. After November 30th, tickets increase to $50.

STAR 100 NEW YORK: Who founded Arik Air and why?
ARIK AIR: In 2002, with Nigeria Airways in liquidation, Arik Air’s Chairman Sir Arumemi-Ikhide, decided to buy a Hawker jet aircraft. Colleagues and contacts in the gas and oil industry started using the Hawker jet to fly themselves around Nigeria. So, another jet was acquired and before long, a corporate jet business was launched. The next step was to find the right people and the right aircraft to build an airline that would set new standards and change the face of the aviation industry in Africa. Arik Air was born - an airline with whom “Nigeria and the rest of Africa would be proud to fly”. Arik Air officially launched in 2006, Five years later, Arik Air is the leading airline in Nigeria with a new fleet of 23 aircrafts. We have flown over 8 million satisfied passengers to all parts of Nigeria, the West African region, and internationally, winning prestigious travel awards at home and abroad.


*100: Arik has been active in sponsoring African community events and personalities. (We were particularly intrigued by your sponsorship of Fela! on Broadway and Femi Kuti's US tour!) What is the strategy behind this?
AA: Corporate Social Responsibility is one of the key principles here at Arik Air. We believe in giving back to the community that has made us the fastest growing African airline. Along with Fela! On Broadway and the Femi Kuti US Tour, we have sponsored many other US-based African NGOs, media houses, and cultural organizations who we believe are working to improve the image of Africa, and promote the variety of cultures within the continent.

*100: Air travel to West Africa can be demoralizing on certain airlines thanks to substandard service, tight weight restrictions on baggage, and exorbitant levies in the event you exceed your baggage allowance. What differentiates Arik from other airlines flying to West Africa?
AA: The great thing about an African airline for Africans is that we wholeheartedly understand the needs of our passengers and reasons for which they are traveling. For most of our passengers, traveling home is a huge endeavor that takes months, and sometimes years, of saving up to achieve. When traveling with Arik Air, you can expect a baggage weight limit of 66lbs with options to bring a total of 10 pieces of luggage, which is much higher than that of the industry standard.

Our flagship Airbus A340s are fitted out in the most luxurious style. All 36 Premier Class seats are upholstered in sumptuous leather complete with their own touch-screen control unit that adjusts the seat to a flat 75 inch bed. Features also include a five-zone lumbar massage system, a retractable mirrored divider of privacy. World class movies, popular TV programs, and audio favorites are available for each passenger’s viewing and listening pleasure on their very own 17-inch screen. Nigerian and international dishes are served with a wine list that brings together bottles selected from the best vineyards around the world. Our on board Kira Bar Lounge features white leather sofas for your relaxation and a barman at your service.

On Arik Air, even our Economy Class is World Class. With fewer seats than other leading carriers on our routes, you will enjoy more leg room to stretch out in. You will also receive the same audio and video on-demand facility available for our Premier Class passengers and a menu of Nigerian and international dishes and selected wine list.

*100: When will you start flying direct to Ghana?
AA: At Arik Air, we recognize the continuingly growing demand from other West African nationals for increased travel options to their respective countries, especially Ghana. Today we offer daily flights to Accra from our Abuja and Lagos hubs with connections available to our New York travelers through Lagos. Flying non-stop to Ghana is certainly an option that we will be exploring in the future.

Meet the Sponsor: Tropical Ghana Chef Charles Cann

Chef Charles Cann is the founder of Tropical Ghana -- a contemporary approach to traditional Ghanaian cooking. You can sample his delicious bites at the Star 100 Holiday Fundraiser -- purchase your tickets today!

STAR 100 NEW YORK: What inspired you to found Tropical Ghana?

CHARLES CANN: The roots of Tropical Ghana can be traced to my days at Northwestern University. After cooking for one, two, three friends during my time at Northwestern, more and more friends kept asking me to cook. It was impossible to meet the cooking requests so I decided to put together an online Ghana cooking resource for everyone.

Later, after settling in New York City, my Northwestern friends still kept up the pressure. I got inspired to do something and dug out the forgotten online Ghana cooking resource project. After much thought, prayer, and consideration -- and also out of the desire to sustain a school supply donation drive started in 2002 to send school supplies to less privileged kids in schools in Ghana in the Ofankor/Taifa/Dome suburbs of Accra -- the Tropical Ghana Cookbooks Project was born in December 2006.

In 2010, the Tropical Ghana Cookbooks Project became Tropical Ghana – contemporary cooking, Ghana style. As part of Tropical Ghana, the Tropical Ghana Foundation aims to offer assistance to less privileged kids in Ghana to stay in school. Part of the proceeds from the sales of Tropical Ghana recipes help the foundation reach its goal of offering scholarships in small financial amounts to encourage and inspire kids to stay in school.


*100: What is "Tropical Ghanaian" cuisine?
CC: Tropical Ghana is contemporary cooking, Ghana style.

Tropical Ghana inspires, encourages, and empowers individuals who love Ghanaian cuisine, crave West African flavors, or are interested in exploring tropical ingredients, to try new recipes and share with their loved ones.

Tropical Ghana’s contemporary cooking is based on combining traditional and non-traditional techniques in cooking. Traditionally, people in Ghana cook with the goal of sharing a meal that is a balanced diet with their family and they work tirelessly to achieve this goal. Our non-traditional approach is employing creative and innovative cooking methods. Our unique contemporary approach is what makes us believe that cooking should be simple, fun and healthy.

*100: Ghanaian foods run the gamut from heavy (rich in oil) and carb-rich, to healthy (beans, fish, fresh meat, and greens including kontomre and banana leaves). What's your recommendation for a balanced Ghanaian diet?
CC: We all know a simple balanced diet should contain portions of carbohydrates (staples like yam, cassava, maize), proteins (beans, chicken, beef) and vitamins (fruits and vegetables) in right portions. In Ghana, we are blessed to have varieties of dishes that are rich in nutrients. Over the years, we have moved away from moderation and the steps to eating right. Waakye for instance is very healthy meal. The rice and beans give you proteins and carbohydrates. Should it be topped with fried plantains, tomato gravy, shito, we are on track. An orange later and we have a balanced diet.

But is that the case? Our biggest challenge is we are not moderate, we want extra plantains, macaroni, eggs, beef, wele, fish, and more gari -- by the end of the list we have killed the idea of a balanced diet. Our other challenge is that we are moving away from wholesome food and we keep adding more and more processed foods and food additives to enhance flavors which our fresh ingredients like ginger, garlic, peppers and many more offer in abundance.

Our use of oil in cooking is also excessive, and the familiar sight of a sea of oil at the top of stew, sauces, and soup is another challenge we have to fight to maintain a balanced diet and a healthier life style.


*100: Please share an easy and quick-to-prepare Tropical Ghana recipe.
CC:
Tangerine Ginger Chicken Recipe
Serves: 5
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cooking Time: 10 minutes


1½lbs (24oz) cleaned thin sliced chicken breast

For Marinade
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 teaspoons fresh minced garlic
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper

For Tangerine Ginger
4 large tangerines
1 large peeled and cleaned ginger root

Time to Cook
Combine ingredients for marinade and pour over chicken in a bowl.
Cover and refrigerate for 10 minutes.

Cut ginger in pieces and combine with two juiced tangerines in a blender. Preheat grill or grilling pan.

Pour tangerine ginger mix over chicken, and coat well. Grill chicken, turning occasionally till cooked, juicy and golden brown.

Peel and slice remaining 2 tangerines, remove seeds and place over chicken.

Cut chicken into strip, stick toothpicks through tangerine slices and chicken, and serve this finger food Tropical Ghana style.
##########

The new website www.tropicalghana.com will be up in December.

You're Invited to the Star 100 New York Holiday Party - December 10, 7-10:30p

Stars, let's have some fun and raise some FUNDS for a worthy Ghanaian charity!

On Saturday December 10th, please join us for an end of year celebration complete with delicious bites courtesy of Tropical Ghana, Afro beats provided by DJ Zuko, and drinks courtesy of Belvedere. You can also win a roundtrip ticket to Africa on Arik Air!

Buy your ticket now by clicking the "Donate" button above and submitting your secure payment of $50!

Star Shots: Check Out this Ghana Photo Exhibit!

Stars, this summer several Star 100 New York members spoke on a panel at Brotherhood-SisterSol's Harlem headquarters, sharing tales of Ghana for the group of young people and their mentors, preparing to visit Ghana for the first time. On Tuesday December 6th, Brotherhood-SisterSol is exhibiting the photos from their memorable trip. Come out, come out, wherever you are and support this organization committed to empowering young people of color in New York.

RSVP: info@brotherhood-sistersol.org or 212-283-7044.

Stars, It's Time for 'New African Fashion'!

On Wednesday November 30th, Ghanaian designer Mimi Plange, legendary model and activist Bethann Hardison, Heritage1960 founder Enyinne Owunwanne, & Mataano Designers Ayaan and Idyl Mohallim are converging in the New York Public Library to fete Helen Jennings' new book and discuss its topic: New African Fashion! As editor-in-chief of one of the hottest fashion magazines on the stands dedicated to high African fashion, Jennings' book should offer more of the same commentary and eye candy. Come prepared to listen to lively discussion about Africa's impact on fashion past and present -- and to purchase a signed copy.

See you there!

Wednesday, November 30, 2011, 6 - 8p
New York Public Library
Stephen A. Schwarzman Building, Margaret Liebman Berger Forum
42nd Street and 5th Avenue
(Arrive at 5:30p to ensure a seat -- it's first come, first serve)

[photo courtesy of AFWNY.com]

Meet the Finalist: ORPHANAID AFRICA, FOUNDED BY LISA LOVATT-SMITH

OrphanAID Africa, founded by Lisa Lovatt-Smith, is a finalist to receive funds raised from the annual Star 100 fundraiser.

STAR 100 NEW YORK: When did you start OrphanAID Africa?
ORPHANAID AFRICA: 2002. I have been living in Ghana for ten years.

*100: What inspired you to start OrphanAID Africa?
OAA: The feeling that I, an ordinary person could change things, that it really didn't take much money to transform a child's life..that with a few dollars you can give the gift of education.. Or even the gift of life itself with proper food and care...in short, that change was possible and within my reach.

*100: What is OrphanAID's mission?
OAA: I like to summarize it in just one line:

"Helping children to grow up in stable, safe and permanent families."

But the official mission is:

Orphan Aid Africa is a non-profit, non-governmental organization. Its aim is to support orphans and vulnerable children in Ghana through programs in Care Reform, family support , education and development. Our goal is to ensure that children grow up in safe and permanent family settings with appropriate care and protection. OA is an implementing partner in the National Plan of
Action for Orphans and Vulnerable Children.

Vision
The staff and management's vision for OrphanAid Africa Ghana is:
To create an environment where orphans and vulnerable children grow up in safe, permanent and loving family settings with appropriate care and protection and with equal rights and opportunities.

To support the implementation of the NPA by migrating our family support programs to other specialized stakeholders and focusing on the areas of:

-De-institutionalization
-Tracing and reunification
-Training of parents, foster parents and social workers to support the program of tracing, reunification, and de-institutionalization work in the NPA so many OVC inappropriately placed in homes (usually for reasons of poverty) can live in family care.

*100: What have been the greatest challenges to accomplishing OrphanAID's mission?
OAA: The huge amount of money involved in child trafficking. The child trafficking
industry is powerful and completely underground so there is a mafia-like structure around it which is very frightening and has led to threats and great violence toward us and me in particular. The biggest positive has been the introduction of the national health insurance, the availability of anti-retroviral nationwide, a structured response to AIDS at the level of the
Ministry of Health, and the general ease of collaboration with government ...plus the fact
that Ghanaian society is so tolerant, moral, and caring.

*100: What has been the single most gratifying experience/victory you've had since you've been at the helm of OrphanAID?
OAA: The best experience is seeing beautiful self-confident young women and men walking around with their heads held high -- when I know that they were hours away from death when they came to us as small children.

Meet the Finalist: RURAL COMMUNITIES EMPOWERMENT CENTER, FOUNDED BY PHILOMENA AMOAKO

Philomena Amoako is the Founder/President of Rural Communities Empowerment Center, a finalist to receive funds raised at the annual Star 100 New York Fundraiser.

STAR 100 NEW YORK: When did you start Rural Communities Empowerment Center (RCEC)?
RURAL COMMUNITIES EMPOWERMENT CENTER: In 2002, RCEC obtained NGO status in Ghana and US with registered charity 501(c) (3) status in 2003. In 2004 the first RCEC one-stop-shop Community Resource Center (CRC) was established in Apirede providing four core services: library, ICT facilities, mentoring programs, and women and adolescent girls’ empowerment skills programs; followed by the second CRC in Jumapo in 2008. The CRCs are in the eastern region of Ghana. As the Chief of Apirede said at the inauguration, “We are proud to say that our citizens now have all the tools needed for self-help, development, and to catch the 21st century train.”

*100: What inspired you to start RCEC?
RCEC: The inspiration to start RCEC came over a period of time. Each time I visited my home town (Apirede) in Ghana, I saw the deterioration of education standards, lack of teaching resources and learning facilities. On those visits, teachers, schoolchildren, and parents stated the urgency of having books, teachers’ resource materials, and what they considered the modern way of getting information – (ICT).

The visible need of the people in the community was further reinforced by conversations with my parents. They would talk about the needs of the children and our conversations always ended with, “never lose sight of where you come from.”

Several conversations with family and friends reinforced educating the next generation, empowering a community with skills for economic independence for girls and women.

*100: What is RCEC’s mission?
RCEC: Empower underprivileged rural communities with literacy tools and skills for economic development so citizens can take charge of their lives and break the cycle of poverty.

*100: What have been the greatest challenges to accomplishing RCEC’s mission?
RCEC: As with any venture, success was not immediate. It was a slow and uneven process of growth over the years, changing management (rural communities are not equipped to take on such projects), hand-holding, evolving rules and policies, dedication, communication, and the hard work it takes to keep the CRCs running well.

We also continuously face the growing demand on the CRCs as more families become aware of the potential for their children. For example, since we started the mentoring programs for the 13-17 year olds there have been complaints from the staff of the CRCs that there is simply too much demand for the activities! I suppose this is a wonderful “high quality” problem to have.

*100: What has been the single most gratifying experience/victory you’ve had since you’ve been at the helm of RCEC?
RCEC: There are several gratifying experiences:
o Over 2,000 school children, teachers and adults have been given introductory classes in ICT. More than 3,000 have learned and used the Internet.
o Interest in reading has increased sharply with over 20,000 people, mostly schoolchildren and teachers using the library facilities.
o Gender equality is on the rise. Women are now better articulating their needs and those of their children.
o Adolescent school drop-outs are receiving training in tailoring which has led to the inception of the burgeoning Naana B. handbag and clothing line.

But the most gratifying and humble experience is seeing broad smiles on faces of adolescent girls who through RCEC mentoring programs of Math, Science, and English have passed the Basic School Certificate Examination and have obtained admissions into some of the better public high schools. Competing with their urban counterparts -- something they never dreamt would happen to them.

The lesson for me is that empowering communities with the strength to foster and manage their own development is the greatest gift you can give, and that “empowerment starts one community at a time.” Also, providing children and youth a chance to dream is equally powerful.
For more information on RCEC go to www.rcempowerment.org.

Meet the Finalist: LEUKAEMIA PROJECT FOUNDATION, CO-FOUNDED BY PETER OSEI TUTU

The Leukaemia Project Foundation, co-founded by Peter Osei Tutu, is a finalist to receive funds raised from the annual Star 100 fundraiser.

STAR 100 NEW YORK: Who founded the Leukaemia Project Foundation and when?
LEUKAEMIA PROJECT FOUNDATION: The foundation was initially formed in 2008 by a leukaemia survivor and two doctors at the Korle-Bu teaching hospital in Ghana. In February 2011 it merged with my foundation, The Keith Agyepong Leukaemia Trust to put resources together and meet the same goals.


*100: What inspired you to start LPF?
LPF: The foundation was set up to give a chance to people living with blood cancers as well as haematological diseases such as sickle cell disease to receive comprehensive treatment locally at a cost much lower than what is currently being offered in centers in UK, USA or South Africa. Patients currently receiving treatment for blood cancers in Ghana are limited to
treatment available which in a significant number of cases is not comprehensive with resultant low survival rate,and so we felt it was time to change the outlook of blood diseases in Ghana and the sub region.

*100: What is LPF's mission?
LPF: Based on the realization that Leukaemia and other haematological neoplasm have attained debilitating proportions in Ghana and convinced that, we can in our individual and institutional capacities collectively contribute positively to halting this challenging and tragic malignancy, the Leukaemia Foundation has - as a private initiative - committed itself to
mobilizing resources to help in the education for the prevention as well as the care and cure of Ghanaians living with leukaemia, lymphoma and related blood disorders.

From raising funds, to creating awareness, to scientific advances, our goal is to save each and every life. Here’'s what we’re trying to do:

a. The foremost objective of the foundation is to mobilize resources for the construction and management of the Leukaemia Cancer Center in Korle-Bu to be named Ghana Center for Haematology and Clinical Genetics”, which the management of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital have generously provided land for. The proposed Ghana Center for Haematology and Clinical Genetics
will [include]:

Routine, special and tissue-typing Laboratories comprising the following:

- Main eight rooms with separate blood transfusion wing, HLA laboratory, Bleeding/Pheresis Room, Serology Laboratory, Blood Bank Fridges special and tissue-typing
- Clean Laboratory with bacteriology unit, microflow, air filter for stem cell preparations and to allow storage with liquid nitrogen
- Research Laboratory with Flow Cytometer, Fluorescent microscope, and appropriate storage facilities
- Teaching Laboratory with Hydraheaded microscopes, camera attachment and ICT connection.
- Day Care Wing providing 10 beds, drugs room, nurses room, washrooms, and records room
- General wards to accommodate 18 males and 18 females and high dependency ward to accommodate four beds
- Outpatient department (OPD) housing five suites and a small lab with mini coulter
- Bone marrow registry
- Faculty Practice Wing
- ICT will be deployed as an enabler to record, retrieve, analyze and share information on patients. The ICT infrastructure to be deployed will comprise:
- 20 computers with internet connectivity
- Software for entering all patient information and photographs on first attendance and
subsequent updates
- Patients’ data to be retrievable on computer at OPD suit i.e. laboratory information, drug
information, etc.
- Link to Cancer Register
- Offices for Consultants and Unit Administration


b.Support and implement successful evidence based community practices that provide awareness of leukaemia with the view to reducing the burden of leukaemia in Ghana, through behavioral community change and effective environmental and industrial management

c.Sponsor fellowships and scholarships programmes aimed at encouraging talented young scientists, medical graduates and researchers to pursue careers in basic, applied or translational research to find better cures and better ways to care for patients and families living with haematological malignancies

d.Support capacity building and enhance the viability of institutions and individuals involved in the vital research into the causes, epidemiology, diagnosis and treatment, psychological impact and ultimately cures for leukaemia, lymphomas, myeloma and related blood disorders

e.Encourage excellence in Leukaemia prevention and treatment initiatives by rewarding individuals and institutions that have accomplished remarkable results in prevention and treatment programmes.

*100: What have been the greatest challenges to accomplishing LPF's mission?
LPF: We would say we are still crawling but if corporate bodies will come on board that would help us achieve a goal of finishing the building in two years a reality.

*100: What is your vision for LPF's future?
LPF: Our vision is to see Ghana as one of the first countries in sub-Saharan Africa to have a cancer and genetic research center, which we hope to have in two years.

Meet the Finalist: PRINCESS UMUL HATIYYA

Princess Umul Hatiyya's eponymous Foundation is one of the finalists to receive funds raised at Star 100 New York's annual Fundraiser.

STAR 100 NEW YORK: When did you start Princess Umul Hatiyya Foundation?
PRINCESS UMUL HATTIYA: PUH Foundation was started in January 2009.

*100: What inspired you to start the Foundation?
PUH: PUH Foundation was born out of the desire to see Africa transformed from a third world continent to a First Class continent and Education is the vehicle for this change.

*100: What is the Foundation's mission?
PUH: The PUH Foundation's mission is to build primary, secondary, and tertiary schools across Africa. Our mission is to also grant scholarships to brilliant, but needy students to pursue higher Education in 1st Class schools/universities (around the world).

*100: What have been the greatest challenges to accomplishing the Foundation's mission?
PUH: The biggest challenge to accomplishing this mission has been inadequate funding. However, we know that with our concerted effort and passion for what we do, we will overcome this hurdle.

*100: What has been the single most gratifying experience/victory you've had since you've been at the helm of the Foundation ?
PUH: The most gratifying experience has been embarking on a 650km bicycle ride from Accra to Tamale (or New York - Washington - New York) to raise funds to build a 6-classroom block, library, and toilet facilities for Nouri Imam Primary School. Completing the bicycle ride, the project, and seeing the lives of the children of Nouri Imam transformed has been the most gratifying experience I have ever had.

Microsoft is Hiring

Stars, Microsoft wants you.

Check out the job listings below and contact martine.cadet@microsoft.com for a full job description if your resume matches the required qualifications.


ACCOUNT MANAGER
They need: A highly motivated individual to manage several financial services accounts in the NY Metropolitan area
You can/have:
1. Develop and maintain broad and deep customer partnerships that involve building relationships at the CxO level and expanding relationships outside of IT.
2. A strong understanding of your clients; business and their respective markets.
3. Ensure that your teams are well-orchestrated and leveraged around accounts and opportunities, by communicating the vision and strategy for each account, handing off opportunities to team members and providing feedback as needed.
4. Create strategic and actionable account plans that define a clear growth strategy.
5. Develop and manage a healthy and predictable pipeline that includes qualified opportunities.
6. Close opportunities by continuously reinforcing business value.
7. Ensure that clients deploy the solutions acquired by working with team members on deployment plans and customer adoption of these plans.
8. 8+ years of proven sales experience in Enterprise accounts and a track record of working with a wide range of business partners.
9. Excellent verbal and written communication skills with equally good listening and qualification skills.
10. Extensive experience working in large “virtual” account teams-field sales, inside sales, technical specialists, services, partners, and leading these teams towards a common vision/strategy for each account.
11. An understanding of Microsoft technologies and our license programs would be a distinct advantage. An overall passion for sales within a technology environment and for the business value it drives.
12. A B.A (Master's/MBA Preferred)



PRE-SALES SHAREPOINT ENGINEER
They need: A Collaboration Technology Specialist (TSP-Collab) in New York to provide strategic technical leadership supporting Microsoft customers and partners to adopt, deploy, and support solutions based on SharePoint Server and related Business Productivity technologies, including SharePoint Development, Collaborative Workspaces/Portals, ECM, Business Intelligence, Forms and Enterprise Search.
You can/have:
1. Provide strategic technical advice to customers, communicating value-added contributions of MS products and services, including both long term messages about products, technologies, and services, as well as short term positioning for competitive situations or dynamic market conditions.
2. Provide technical expertise in helping customers evaluate solutions based on SharePoint, while influencing the business decision making process. Must help enterprise customers understand how our products can be applied to drive business value.
3. A strong understanding of the competitive landscape and be able to articulate competitive differentiators.
4. Support Proof of Concepts, Architecture Design Sessions and Strategy/Technology Briefings proving Microsoft’s capabilities meet customer’s requirements.
5. Increase and accelerate SharePoint Server deployments.
6. Drive customer and partner satisfaction for SharePoint and SharePoint based solutions.
7. Connect enterprise customers and partners back to the product groups.
8. Assist with partner and internal sales readiness.
9. Team with Sales Representatives, Partners, Microsoft Consulting Services and Marketing to meet customer needs.
10. 5+ years with proven skills and experience.
11. Deep (level 300/400) working knowledge/experience using SharePoint Server and its major competitors, Business Intelligence, Microsoft Office, Cloud computing and related Business Productivity technologies. Practical knowledge and experience. Microsoft SharePoint certifications preferred.
12. Proven success with enterprise customers, working knowledge of solution-selling strategies and tactics and business value selling including but not limited to, strategic planning, risk analysis and business justification.
13. Strong presentation skills, delivering persuasive presentations to both technical and business decision makers.
14. High degree of collaboration with multiple Microsoft sales personnel, as well as Microsoft Partners and customers will be required for success.
15. Demonstrate time management and multitasking skills. Ability to handle many projects / customer engagements simultaneously and ability to identify and focus on priorities while appropriately setting expectations with customers, colleagues and manager.
16. Articulate the Microsoft Business Productivity strategy and our integrated innovation story.



GLOBAL BUSINESS MANAGER
They need: A qualified individual who will enable and lead the entire sales relationship between Microsoft and this Global New York Financial Services Firm.
You can/have:
1. Manage all aspects of the sell to relationship with New York Financial Services Firm
2. Manage the MS relationship with all of the product groups, executive sponsors and New York Financial Services Firm’s executives
3. Manage the virtual and hard line Global Account team.
4. Establish and execute a global and multi-year account business plan that identifies strategically and tactically how the business growth, Customer & Partner Experience (CPE) performance and other metric based performance factors will be achieved. Execute the plan and meet or exceed metric goals including revenue, CPE, competitive displacement, and other goals.
5. Succeed as the most senior point of focus for global pricing negotiations/discussions (licensing and other agreements). The GBM is the last point of non-Microsoft management escalation on all pricing and LCA issues impacting the account.
6. Provide a predictable and consistent interface between Microsoft and the Global Customer. The operating model should leverage the extended team of resources available from Microsoft, but achieve a high level of predictability, consistency and responsiveness.
7. Maintain a comprehensive account profile for the account. The profile should show relationship maps for the global customer account that identifies each contact’s power, purpose, value to Microsoft, and relationship links/power flows within the global account. The profile should enable Microsoft to maximize the business benefit from relationships across the customer account, in support of the account business plan.
8. Define and execute a relationship strategy with CxOs and identified supporters, neutrals and non-supporters across the global customer account that allows you to gain insight into the customer’s business initiatives and the barriers to the success of those initiatives.
9. Align to EPG objectives - CPE (Customer and Partner Engagement), CSI (Competitive Strategic Initiative), Relationship Excellence, Growth, Realizing Value through a One Microsoft positioning.
10. Develop and execute a multi-year global strategy with the account that enables Microsoft to help the customer grow and differentiate themselves. Develop and execute the strategy and drive the customer to recognize that the Microsoft relationship is bringing unprecedented business value on all theaters of interaction.
11. Track and manage the plan-of record for sales engagement between the customer and Microsoft. Manage internally the global pipeline and opportunity progress across the extended account team. Comply with all internal requirements for global major account sales management.
12. Manage local, regional and corporate internal executives to get the right resources in the right place as needed to support the account business plan.
13. 10+ years of proven sales leadership with demonstrable track record achieving or exceeding revenue and other account goals.
14. Significant experience leading and setting strategy for a distributed global team that includes sales, support, consulting and business partners
15. Experience with managing and selling to customers in the Financial Services Industry segment and understanding of IT issues as they apply to the Financial Services Industry.
16. Experience in negotiating multi-year contracts over $50M in value, preferable Microsoft license programs
17. Experience with successful interactions at C-Suite level in Fortune 500 customers.
18. An overall passion for sales within a technology environment and for the business value it drives, preferably a broad understanding of the business applications for Microsoft technologies
19. A B.A. (Master’s/MBA preferred)



TECHNICAL SALES PROFESSIONAL
They need: A Technical Sales Professional in Atlanta with deep and broad technology experience as well as strong solution selling skills.
You have/can:
1. Deep enterprise infrastructure experience, including in-depth, hands-on knowledge of the Windows Server 2008 R2, System Center (SCCM & SCOM), and Forefront Unified Access Gateway.
2. Experience in one or more of the following is also required: RMS, SCDPM, SCSM, Forefront Protection Suite, Virtualization (Hyper-V and VDI scenarios) and other MDOP technologies.
3. Articulate the value of and design the architectures for integrating Core Infrastructure technologies in support of other workloads (such as Application Platform and Business Productivity).
4. The ability to explain abstract technical concepts in a business value context is also a must.
5. A BS/BA degree or equivalent work experience combined with a minimum of 10 years of relevant work experience, including a technical sales background is strongly preferred.
6. A commitment to customer satisfaction, including internal customers.
7. The ability to thrive in a virtual team environment, and strong communication and presentation skills.
8. The ability and passion necessary to maintain technical excellence with emerging technologies, including competitive technologies, while continuing to manage customer opportunities.
9. A willingness to travel.



ACCOUNT TECHNOLOGY SPECIALIST
They need: A highly motivated individual to be an Account Technology Specialist supporting major accounts in the New York metropolitan area.
You can/have:
1. Provided pre-sales technical/architectural support.
2. Evangelize current and future MS products and technologies including full platform software roadmap.
3. Build and maintain technical trusted advisor relationships with influential technical decision makers for the successful adoption and deployment of Microsoft products and technologies.
4. Assist the Account Manager in formulating and executing the team’s sales strategy in meeting revenue goals and winning strategic initiatives.
5. Identify customer requirements and provide feedback into appropriate Microsoft business groups.
6. Perform white space analysis based upon Microsoft’s Infrastructure Optimization Model by analyzing the current status of the customer’s installed base, purchasing and deployment history.
7. The ability to map a customer’s business need to technology solutions and articulate the business value of Microsoft software and position them in competitive scenarios.
8. Ensure that there is a clear and jointly agreed upon adoption and deployment plan for all Microsoft technologies.
9. Work with customers to ensure that they understand the benefits of moving to a higher level of maturity across Business Productivity, Application Platform and Core Infrastructure areas.
Work with senior and executive level management.
10. Qualify opportunities by clearly articulating the opportunity returned to Microsoft strategically, financially, or both.
11. Be a part of the team that is the predictable and consistent interface from Microsoft into your customer accounts by building and maintaining relationships at various levels within both the technical community and the lines of business.
12. Perform formal handoff of opportunities to appropriate opportunity owners and conduct formal, regularly scheduled team meetings to review active opportunities.
Coordinating a virtual team across different areas of technology encompassing key stakeholders in closing opportunities.
13. 7+ years of proven technical sales experience in Enterprise accounts, and a track record of working with a wide range of business partners.
14. Excellent verbal and written communication skills with equally good listening and qualification skills.
15. Completed courses such as Strategic Selling, Strategic Negotiations, Helping Clients Succeed and Target Account Selling.
16. Experience in high-tech manufacturing, transportation or professional services industry preferred.
17. Broad and/or in-depth knowledge across the following Microsoft products and Technologies: Windows Server family, Active Directory, Office XP and later, Windows XP Professional, Vista, SQL Server, Exchange Server, and Systems Management Server, Virtualization, Infrastructure Optimization, High Performance Computing.
18. A BA/BS or MS degree in Computer Science or related technical discipline is preferred. MCSE or equivalent professional certification is preferred.
19. A willingness to travel.


MAJOR ACCOUNT MANAGER
They need: A highly motivated and seasoned individual to join Microsoft’s Greater Southeast District Enterprise Sales Organization that will be responsible for selling to and managing Microsoft’s Enterprise Customers in the Carolinas.
You have/can:
1. A strategic approach to selling solutions positioned to solve customer problems
2. Think and act independently and do what’s necessary to meet the customer’s expectations
3. 5+ years enterprise sales experience with Enterprise class customers selling and/or marketing technology-based solutions
4. A track record of success meeting/exceeding sales quotas in the $15-$20 million/year range
5. Proven skills at developing win/win business relationships and selling products to IT Pro’s and C-level Executives in large organizations
6. Formal training in Solution Selling methodology or comparable consultative selling program
7. The ability to effectively position product features, marketing/engagement programs and negotiate contracts that align with Customer needs
8. Knowledge of competitors’ products and selling strategies
9. Knowledge of distribution channels (LAR/ESA), local partners and system integrators
10. Strong communication and presentation skills

VOTE: Which Finalist Charity Should the Fundraiser Benefit?

Stars, the five finalist charities are in! Scroll below for more info on each organization and cast your vote!

Last month we asked you to nominate a worthy organization working to benefit Ghanaians, and we were thrilled to receive close to 20 nominations! It's so exciting to discover how many different groups are doing good in and for Ghana.

Upon careful review of each nomination, we've cast our votes as Board Members to narrow the list down to these five finalists: The Leukaemia Project Foundation, OrphanAID Africa, The Rescue Foundation Ghana, Princess Umul Hattiyya Foundation, and Rural Communities Empowerment Center.

THE LEUKAEMIA PROJECT FOUNDATION
Leukaemia and other haematological neoplasm have attained debilitating proportions in Ghana. Convinced that we can, in our individual and institutional capacities, collectively contribute positively to halting this malignancy, The Leukaemia Project Foundation has committed itself to mobilizing resources to help educate for risk prevention, and
care for and cure Ghanaians living with leukaemia, lymphoma, and other related blood disorders. The foremost objective of the foundation is to mobilize resources for the construction and management of the Leukaemia Cancer Center in Korle Bu to be named “Ghana Center for Haematology and Clinical Genetics.”


ORPHANAID AFRICA
OrphanAid Africa (OA) is a 501c3 non-profit organization that supports orphans and vulnerable children in Ghana to ensure they grow up in a safe and permanent family setting, as opposed to getting lost in the orphanage system. They are the only NGO to be named an implementing partner with the Government of Ghana's National Plan of Action for Orphans and Vulnerable Children, which seeks to transform the system from institutional care to family-based care by 2015. Over 80% of the orphans in Ghana have family nearby, but due to the burden of poverty and disease, families find it difficult to care for their children. OrphanAid Africa believes that poverty and ill health are not reasons for separating children from their families. They provide the most vulnerable families with basic needs such as food, clothing, safe housing, education and job training so that they can care for their own children--with the end-goal to eventually become autonomous. As of today, 459 children, once living in orphanages, have been resettled with their families or in foster care. Their programs will help the nearly 4,000 children currently living in institutions across Ghana transition smoothly into family-based care by 2015.


THE RESCUE FOUNDATION GHANA
Rescue Foundation Ghana is a non-governmental organization whose main aim is to: 1)Raise funds to support integrated projects and activities at the community level using Participatory Learning and Action techniques, and Participatory Rural Appraisal techniques, and 2)Advocate at the national level policies, legislation, and programs that will protect vulnerable women and children in Ghana through health prevention, education, employable skills, income generating activities, and the elimination of child labor and human trafficking.


PRINCESS UMUL HATTIYYA FOUNDATION
Princess Umul Hatiyya Foundation is a registered non-profit, non-governmental organization dedicated to improving access to education for the less privileged. The Princess Umul Hatiyya Foundation is run by accomplished individuals who are passionate about unleashing the full human potential for accelerated development and to give every needy child a fair chance to contribute to their nation's development. Only one in every two children in Africa is enrolled in Primary Education; large numbers attend schools that have no classrooms, no teachers, scarce learning materials, etc. In spite of good intentions, government is unable to provide adequate levels of educational facilities across all communities in the country. Hence, the focus of the Princess Umul Hatiyya Foundation to launch a crusade to solicit private/public sector support to increase access to Education for the less privileged. Click here to view the brochure.


RURAL COMMUNITIES EMPOWERMENT CENTER
When Philomena Amoako dreamed up the idea at her dining room table, to build a resource center outside her childhood home in Apirede Ghana, no one could have predicted how special the project would become, and how many lives would be affected. Rural Communities Empowerment Center (RCEC), a non-profit organization based in Ghana has changed thousands of lives. Conceived through the ingenuity, drive and passion of Philomena as a tribute to her parents, today two empowerment centers now stand as a testament to funding from such notable organizations as the World Bank, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), to list a few. Schoolchildren, adolescent school girls, and women are the main beneficiaries of the center whose goal is to provide its users with four core services: library, information and communication technology, children's facilities, tailoring training. The centers are built on the motto that it "Takes One Community at a Time.” Currently two centers are operating: Apirede Community Resource Center, and the ICT training center in Jumapo, RCEC’s second Resource Center).

Cast your vote now, and mobilize your network to support your choice. Email the link to this blog post or Facebook/Tweet it!

Don't forget to watch Facebook.com/Star100NewYork for news on the upcoming fundraiser. If you're not a member and want an invitation, email star100network.us@gmail.com to get on the list!