Business diary for September 4

TRP Sumner Senior Accountant obtains CPA license

Devon Parker, a senior accountant at TRP Sumner, earned his CPA license in 2022.

North Carolina State Board of Certified Public Accountant Examiners He released the names of accountants who earned the CPA designation in 2022. Parker was one of those listed, TRP Sumner said in a release.

The North Carolina Association of Certified Public Accountants defines receiving the CPA designation as a person who is highly educated, trained, and knowledgeable in many areas of finance and accounting. These areas may include financial planning, tax, audit and assurance, consulting and forensic accounting, the statement said.

“The firm is extremely proud of Devon, an immediate member of our team, for securing this approval,” managing partner Kelly Puryear said in a statement. “He joins a talented group of CPAs currently working at our firm and in the industry as a whole.

“Like all CPAs, Devon has taken an oath to uphold professional ethics and conduct and to serve the honor and dignity of the accounting profession with honesty, integrity and efficiency. These standards of conduct and quality of work align with TRP Sumner’s philosophy and what our entire team strives to do every day.”

Methodist ranked the most diverse universities in NC

Methodist University has been recognized as the No. 1, most diverse university in North Carolina by 2022, according to Niche University Rankings and Reviews, the university said in a news release.

Methodist is one place behind Duke University and outranks nearly 150 other large public and small private institutions in the state, the university said in a release.

According to the release, Methodist University scored high in all aspects of the ranking:

• Student racial diversity index
• Percentage of international students
• Percentage of out-of-state students
• Student Economic Disparity Index
• Faculty diversity index
• Student survey on diversity
• Faculty gender ratio
• Student gender ratio

“Methodist University is proud of its diverse student body, which is a reflection of the growing diversity of our state and society,” President Stanley T. Werden said in the release. “Diversity on our campus creates a strong educational experience for everyone; it prepares all students for the more diverse workforce they will enter upon graduation; and it fosters creative new ideas and approaches. Diversity brings different cultural perspectives and perspectives that enrich the university experience for everyone.”

The university works to ensure diversity and inclusion are part of everyday life on campus, the statement said.

“First Job is deeply grateful to Methodist University for participating and investing in providing a more diverse, but also inclusive experience,” said Quincy Malloy, the university’s chief diversity officer. “I want to thank Niche for recognizing our efforts and we will continue to work for diversity and inclusive excellence at MU.”

The library will receive a $4,000 grant for digital literacy workshops

The Cumberland County Public Library has received a $4,000 grant for digital literacy workshops to help close the digital divide in the county, the county said in a release.

The library is one of more than 160 public libraries awarded funding from the Public Library Association to conduct these workshops. The workshop will be held at the North Regional Library, 855 MacArthur Road. The schedule will be posted on the library’s website at cumberlandcountync.gov/lbrary and on the library’s Facebook and Instagram accounts, the statement said.

The Public Library Association’s Digital Literacy Workshop initiative supports libraries of all sizes to conduct digital literacy training in their communities and help close the digital divide across America, the release said.

In the year According to the 2020 U.S. Census figures, 8.7% of Cumberland County households do not own a computer and 14% of households have no Internet access, according to the release.

“So much of what happens in the world is online now, and the library is in a great position to help people get in there and learn about it,” said Community Engagement Division Manager Nora Armstrong.

The workshop will cover several topics such as computer basics and consumer-oriented cyber security, the release said. Attendees will receive gifts such as gift cards, wireless mice and USB flash drives. Those who attend at least three sessions will be entered into a drawing for a tablet, the statement said.

For more information about the workshop, contact Armstrong at narmstrong@cumberlandcountync.gov or 910-483-7727.

Co-chairs named for Fort Bragg, Cumberland County Food Policy Council

Co-chairs of the Fort Bragg and Cumberland County Food Policy Councils have been named, the county said in a news release.

Lt. Col. Tattra Joseph from Fort Bragg will serve as military chair, and Sandy Ammons from Cumberland County will serve as civilian chair, the release said.

Council members and officers are appointed by the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners. The council will have a maximum of 15 appointed members who will serve for three years, the statement said.

The council will have two members who will be involved in local agriculture and farming. Three members representing local education; Three members working in health care, public health, food insecurity or food availability, or child and adult care; and two members from the local government, the release stated.

The council has established three ad hoc committees to focus on priority issues.

• Plan to expand transportation to healthy food sources.
• Improve communication of food resources to residents, volunteers and food providers.
• Explore expanding the use of WIC/EBT to farmers markets and other food markets.

The Cumberland County Public Health Department received a $100,000 grant from the Healthy Cities and Counties Challenge in June 2020 to address food insecurity and healthy food availability, according to a statement.

The goals of the grant were to conduct a food environment assessment of Cumberland County and Fort Bragg, launch a local food policy council, and implement two food policy recommendations by the council.

The council was established in June 2021, the statement said.