Apple Accountant Wicliff Fleurizard Allegedly Sneaks Onto Delta Flight Using Child’s Boarding Pass
Wicliff Wves Fleurizard, 26, faces a charge of stowing away on a vessel or aircraft following the incident in Salt Lake City on March 17.
Daily Mail reported that Wicliff Wves Fleurizard, 26, faces a charge of stowing away on a vessel or aircraft following an incident in Salt Lake City on March 17. According to a criminal complaint filed in Utah federal court, Fleurizard took photos of unsuspecting passengers’ boarding passes and used his phone to board the flight to Austin, Texas.
The complaint alleges that Fleurizard spent a significant amount of time in the bathroom and only emerged once boarding was complete and the aircraft doors were secured. However, a flight attendant noticed there were no empty seats and discovered that he did not have a valid ticket, prompting the aircraft to return to the gate, where he was arrested.
Upon realizing boarding was complete, Fleurizard allegedly attempted to claim a seat at the back of the aircraft, but a flight attendant found that the assigned seat was already occupied by a passenger with a valid ticket.
Delta gate agents later revealed that a young girl had encountered an issue when attempting to board the flight, as the system showed she was already on board despite traveling alone. Surveillance footage allegedly shows Fleurizard taking photos of multiple passengers’ boarding passes, including the young girl’s.
Fleurizard claimed he needed to get home to see his family, who had flown in from Florida, stating he was given a Southwest ticket by a friend. However, he admitted to making a mistake and has since been held at Salt Lake County Metro Jail.
According to the Austin Police Department, Fleurizard has a warrant for his arrest for allegedly violating a protective order and has been described as having “violent tendencies.” He was previously arrested in June 2023 over claims of assaulting a family member, with the case still pending in Williamson County, Texas.
Fleurizard works as a global business solutions accountant at Apple, according to his LinkedIn page, and has been with the company since January 2022. Delta Airlines is cooperating with law enforcement regarding the investigation
Michael Simpson talks about handful of the most important channels he believes every entrepreneur should know about to gain investors.
Choosing an investor is like getting married minus the fancy wedding and exotic honeymoon. And it is not so easy to get a divorce. So, when choosing an investor, it’s critical that you are able to seek out the right partners. But how do you meet them in the first place? In his book The Secret of Raising Money, Michael Simpson discusses this subject at length. Below are a handful of the most important channels he believes every entrepreneur should know about.
Get a Warm Introduction
Undoubtedly, the best outreach method is a warm introduction, i.e., an introduction from a mutual friend or acquaintance. An investor is significantly more likely to give up his time to talk to you if you come vetted and approved by somebody he knows. In fact, warm introductions are the default channel through which venture capitalists (VCs) meet new companies. Investors receive far more pitches every year than they could ever evaluate (e.g., Sequoia receives over 3,000 annually). Hence, they need filters. This is why there is often no obvious email address published on VC websites to which entrepreneurs can send pitches.
As a result, it’s crucial you spend your time and energy focused on searching out and making requests of well-connected folks rather than reaching out cold. But not all warm introductions are created equally. If the investor does not really know, like, or respect the individual connecting the two of you, your chances of a meeting may be more hindered than improved. The investor will naturally project onto you whatever qualities he associates with the introducing party.
Create an Wellfound Profile
Wellfound is a matchmaking service for early-stage investors and entrepreneurs. It is the most powerful online tool available for meeting investors. It allows you to search a huge database, filter as you please, and reach out. Wellfound’s popularity has grown so significantly that your startup’s profile is frequently the first place an investor or candidate will look when trying to learn about your business.
Connect With Them on Their Blogs or Social Media
Many investors write blogs and engage with social media. People, no matter how big, love getting positive comments. Some investors even discover deals through their comments. One way to take advantage of this is to build a relationship over time via commenting. Soon after a post is released, write a thoughtful and reasonable response. Do this enough, and you will get noticed. If you are looking to raise money immediately, this is not the best approach to take, but it may be fruitful if you have some lead time.
Five Tips for the Worst Method: The Cold Email
Out of all the outreach methods, cold emails are one of the poorest uses of your time. They can work, but asking for introductions to investors is the highest ROI networking activity in which you can engage. That said, if you have to write one, here are five tips for ensuring your email is answered:
Make it short and very direct. Introduce yourself and explicitly state the ask in the first couple of sentences. The investor will be trying to answer the first question: Who is this person, and what does he want?
Do your research on the person you’re sending the message to and customize the email as much as possible. For example, compliment the recipient on recent achievements (e.g., a funding round, product launch, etc.). Never, ever send mass cold emails to multiple people on BCC.
Avoid sending it on Mondays. VCs typically hold day-long partner meetings and hence accumulate a lot of emails over the course of the day. Don’t send it after 12 p.m. on Friday either—if the investor doesn’t get to it before the weekend, it may be lost forever.
Offer specific meeting times and follow-up actions. For example: “I am in San Francisco Jan. 5–7 and could meet between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. on any of those days. Offering specific options removes friction and increases the likelihood of a response.
These are just a few of the most important channels for meeting your next investor. For those of you who’ve successfully raised VC funds, what would you add to this list?
Michael Simpson is the co-author of The Secret of Raising Money.
Business travelers, don't miss out on these tax breaks. They could put more money in your pockets and offer more value than frequent flier miles.
Originally published September 5, 2024
Social media has changed and perhaps reduced the need for road warrior traveling. As a result, deductions allowed for air travel have changed too. Buckle your seat belts. Here are a few frequent flyer perks you might be missing out on:
Wi-Fi, Not Why Fly:
Wi-Fi access on commercial aircrafts allows you to keep working in the air so when you land you will not have missed a beat. However, this connection and convenience may come with a price. Be sure to track your service costs, because if access was used for business purposes, then bingo, this is a tax deduction!
Upgrade You, Too:
Beyoncé sings the tune “Upgrade U,” but business professionals often scream for the best seats with extra legroom. If you’re lucky and can score this perk at no cost, then consider yourself a winner. However, most travelers are mandated to pay. For instance, if you’re traveling Southwest Airlines and forget to check in early, you may be left in boarding group C32—and that may be your opportunity to consider upgrading to Business Select. The cost associated with a service upgrade is tax-deductible when traveling for business.
Hungry for More:
You managed to close the deal, sprinted through the airport because of a last-minute gate change, and finally settled into your seat. By now, you have worked up a hearty appetite. Hold on during takeoff; log your receipt as the meal can be deductible as a business meal.
Hit the Ground Running:
Transportation to and from airports, tips for drivers, and the cost of vehicle parking are all tax-deductible. Whether you select a yellow cab, green shuttle, blue passenger van, or black car service doesn’t change your eligibility to take a tax deduction.
Curbside Caution:
For many travelers, complimentary curbside baggage checks are a value-added convenience. However, complimentary is not, well, completely complimentary, since baggage handlers expect a gratuity. If you want to ensure that your bags end up in the same city you do, it would behoove you to pay up. As with ground transportation, these gratuities are all tax-deductible.
Sanitation Insanity:
For the “sani-phobia” traveler, certain supplies are tax-deductible on your business travels, ensuring that you don’t return home with any unwelcome germs. Disinfecting wipes to clean the trays, Lysol for spraying down hotel light switches and remote controls, and bedbug spray to protect yourself — or at least to provide peace of mind — will help you get the Zs you need to conduct business the following day.
Keep these tips in mind whether you’re on the ground or soaring at 35,000 feet. There are many perks that don’t come with airline tickets these days, but at least it’s good to know that you’ll have some extra benefits to look forward to at the end of the tax year.
Montgomery’s New Sculpture Park Will Address Slavery Firsthand
The Freedom Monument Sculpture Park will expose visitors to 170-year-old slave dwellings from cotton plantations, holding pens, and more.
A groundbreaking new site, the Freedom Monument Sculpture Park, will open its gates on March 27 across 17 acres in Montgomery, Alabama.
This endeavor by the Equal Justice Initiative (EJI) aims to provide an authentic and meaningful space exploring the brutal realities of slavery and its enduring legacy in America by melding historical artifacts, modern art installations, original scholarly research, and firsthand stories. According to TheBirmingham Times, the park seeks to fill a glaring gap in education while paying tribute to the millions who suffered unimaginable cruelty yet persevered with hope.
EJI’s Founder and Director Bryan Stevenson said, “I believe this will become a special place for millions of people who want to reckon with the history of slavery and honor the lives of people who endured tremendous hardship but still found ways to love in the midst of sorrow.”
Visitors will encounter a powerful collection at the site, including 170-year-old slave dwellings, rail cars, holding pen replicas, and even bricks formed by enslaved hands nearly two centuries ago. Yet the park also uplifts inspiring narratives of endurance, tenacity, and defiance against the dehumanizing forces of slavery. “Many of us are the heirs to that extraordinary perseverance and hope,” Stevenson said.
The 43-foot National Monument to Freedom stands tall at 155 feet and is engraved with more than 122,000 surnames adopted by formerly enslaved Black Americans and millions of people across generations.
Bordered by train tracks built through enslaved labor, the park resides along the Alabama River, the homeland of Indigenous peoples centuries before Europeans arrived. The art is a collective effort of newly commissioned pieces and major sculptures created by artists Charles Gaines, Alison Saar, Kwame Akoto-Bamfo, Simone Leigh, Wangechi Mutu, Rose B. Simpson, Theaster Gates, Kehinde Wiley, and Hank Willis Thomas.
Stevenson, who initially avoided visiting plantations, eventually recognized their raw authenticity. “Building a kind of a narrative around this land was the objective…a place to have a deep, immersive engagement with the legacy of slavery…as a place to have a deep, immersive engagement with the legacy of slavery, and primarily the lives of enslaved people, so we can have a deeper understanding of that. … It’s about humanizing it,” he told NBC News.
The new park will be near the Memorial to Peace and Justice and the Legacy Museum, which sits across from the Legacy Plaza, where EJI unveiled a seated monument of Rosa Parks in February, according to coverage by BLACK ENTERPRISE.
Nessa Diab Allegedly ‘Very Upset’ Funkmaster Flex Took Her Time Slot On Hot 97
Funkmaster Flex is making a time shift on Hot 97 that reportedly has PM drive host Nessa Diab "very upset."
Funkmaster Flex is making a time shift on Hot 97 that reportedly has PM drive host Nessa Diab “very upset.”
Insiders revealed changes coming to the famed New York-based hip-hop radio station, which includes a move for DJ Funkmaster Flex to the 3:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m. weekday slot that’s been occupied by Diab for some time now. Diab will be moved to the 7 p.m.-midnight time slot that Flex has held down for decades.
Sources say Diab is “very upset” about the move and how the news was relayed to her, Page Six reported.
“Hot 97 executives didn’t even respect her enough to call her directly about the changes, but informed her team of the change, leaving Nessa feeling blindsided,” the insider shared.
Since her Nessa On Air show became nationally syndicated back in 2015, Diab has become the number one rap host among the 18-34 demographic. Meanwhile, Flex has been a staple at Hot 97 since the early ’90s, when he helped transition the then-pop station into a rap and R&B station with its first hip-hop show in 1992.
The Bronx native is highly respected in the hip-hop industry and aided in the rise of the culture with his early mixtapes like The Tunnel, which featured hip-hop legends like Tupac Shakur, Biggie Smalls, Nas, Eminem, Lil Kim, Jay-Z, and more. A freestyle on Flex’s radio show is still regarded as a way of earning respect in the rap game.
Diab considers it a “step back” in her career if she has to move her show to the late-night spot, insiders said. On top of that, she’s a mother to a child she welcomed with NFL alum Colin Kaepernick in 2022, and thinks the slot change will impact the time she gets to spend with her little one.
“Nessa has accomplished a lot [broadcasting] so to move her to nights is not only disrespectful but it would totally interrupt spending time with her child,” the insider said. “She is really upset about the time switch and is looking into ways to keeping her schedule as is after all it is what she signed up for.”
However, considering Flex’s power at Hot 97, it’s likely his decision will be the final one.
“Funkmaster Flex is the face of Hot 97 and has been an influential force within the hip hop community for over three decades. So he will always take precedence when it comes [to] the time slots,” the source explained.
Pastor In Haiti Defies Gang Violence To Shelter Children Amid Crisis
Pastor in Haiti shelters over 60 children amid gang violence north of the country's capital, Port Au Prince.
In the tumultuous landscape of Haiti, where gang violence has torn through communities, Pastor Telemaque Vernet stands as a beacon of hope for more than 60 children in Canaan, north of the capital, Port-au-Prince. According to NBC News, Vernet, an educator and Protestant pastor, remains committed to providing aid and sanctuary to those in need despite the escalating chaos.
Vernet, 43, oversees the Institution Mixte Lumière Celeste school and Église Du Christ Harmonie Des Rachetés, both deeply impacted by the country’s recent surge in gang violence. The school, once a bastion of learning, has transformed into a refuge for children who have lost their homes and families to the violence and chaos engulfing their community.
“We have a lot of people. Unfortunately, we don’t have any resources,” Vernet laments. Yet, despite the challenges, the pastor and his team of three teachers, alongside his wife, work tirelessly to teach, feed, and protect the children under their care in Haiti.
For children like Elie and Princile, Vernet’s school is more than just a place of education; it’s a sanctuary. “When there are shootings, we go to the pastor’s church and sleep there,” Elie attests.
The dire situation in Haiti, compounded by a state of emergency declared on March 4 following coordinated attacks by gangs, has left many communities in turmoil. Vernet’s own home in Canaan was burned down on Jan. 21, 2022, forcing him and his family to seek shelter in the church.
“We try our best to protect them so the crisis in Haiti won’t completely affect them,” Vernet says, highlighting his unwavering commitment to shielding the children from the turmoil surrounding them.
Despite his dedication, Vernet has struggled to receive aid from global humanitarian organizations. “Personally, I’ve written letters to many organizations for aid, but they never respond,” he reveals. Yet, undeterred by the lack of support, he remains resolute in his mission to help the children of Canaan.
In the face of adversity, Vernet’s steadfast resolve shines through. “Although it is scary, even if it’s under a tent, I am committed to staying and won’t leave the town,” he asserts, embodying the resilience and determination that define his noble efforts amid Haiti’s crisis.
The difference between Kansas and other states is that lawmakers have drafted proposals to avoid having to agree on defining DEI. With a planned vote on March 21—just a week after the Senate approved a $25 billion budget proposal forcing schools to eliminate mandatory DEI training—the proposed bill would prevent universities, community colleges, or technical colleges from admitting students, hiring, or promoting employees based on DEI.
The bill uses that specific language but states that institutions cannot require a statement about “any political ideology or movement.”
Passing the House with an 81-39 vote, according to The Hill, the proposed legislation would keep over $35 million from the state’s six universities until they report to Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly and the Republican-controlled legislature’s leaders that they have eliminated said programming. Finally, it would permit the state attorney general to implement fines of up to $10,000 on schools that do not comply with the rules.
Similar to other states, the issue has sparked debate between both sides of the political aisle, especially when they disagree on how to define DEI.
“It’s hard for me to pass a bill to punish a university for doing something that we don’t define,” Rep. Tom Sawyer (D-Wichita) said. “The words diversity, equity and inclusion to me, in themselves, are positive words.”
However, Kansas House Speaker Dan Hawkins describes the bill as a simple test — whether a university requires ideological statements from students, job applicants, or employees. He feels it doesn’t need everyone to agree on how to define it. “Everybody’s got a different definition,” Hawkins said. “To get everybody to aspire to one definition is pretty difficult.”
If you're an avid hobbyist, know that you might be able to deduct some of the costs related to your hobby.
Originally Published Aug. 6, 2015
Do you collect stamps in your spare time? Are you crazy about action figures or comic books? If you’re an avid hobbyist, know that you might be able to deduct some of the costs related to your hobby.
The Internal Revenue Service has released a few guidelines on what qualifies as a legitimate deduction. First, know that you are required to report the income you earn from a hobby. Rules vary for reporting income and expenses based on whether the activity is a hobby or a business.
The IRS has these tips about hobbies:
Generally, you can deduct ordinary and necessary hobby expenses. The IRS defines an ordinary expense as common and accepted for the activity. A necessary expense is appropriate for the activity.
Be aware that you can only deduct expenses related to a hobby up to the amount of hobby income. If your expenses exceed your hobby income, this is a loss from the activity. The IRS says hobbyists cannot deduct the loss from other income.
There are different rules for income reporting requirements depending on whether your hobby is a business or an activity you engage in just for fun.
You are required to itemize deductions on your tax return to qualify for a deduction. Expenses generally fall into three types of deductions, and there are special rules for each type.
Small business owners who want to expand their operations often don't know the best ways to go about it.
Originally Published Sept. 25, 2014.
Branching out geographically is a way to grow a business. But small business owners who want to expand their operations often don’t know the best ways to go about it. Duplicating current success in another market requires careful planning and execution.
BLACK ENTERPRISE surveyed the members of Young Entrepreneur Council, an invite-only organization comprising the world’s most promising young entrepreneurs. BE asked the collective, What is one do or don’t for expanding a business outside of your region, city or state? Here’s what the members said.
Do Leverage Digital Marketing
We do very little business in the city where we are headquartered, which means our marketing strategy is highly focused on referrals and inbound digital marketing. Rather than rushing out to hire local salespeople, focus on connecting with your target clients via online forums and industry-specific content. Then plan visits to connect in person with the connections you make via social media.—Mary Ellen Slayter
Do Commit to a Real Investment
If you’re going to expand into new regions, you need to calculate—and commit to—the real costs of this endeavor. Expansion can be an expensive investment; consider costs for business development, building a team, office space, etc. If you’re going to do it, you really need to do it, so make sure you can afford the expense.—David Ehrenberg
Do Be Present and Ask Questions
Simply travel and be present to get all your questions answered about expanding your business. Talking to other business owners by meeting industry people at networking events and getting insider information about that region allows you to make realistic decisions, which can save you money and time.—Firat Parlak
Don’t Expand Before Proving Your Model
It’s critical not to expand your business before you’ve proven it works in at least two locations. The process is: (1) Find something that works. (2) Replicate it. (3) Scale it. That is, if you are a local e-commerce website, start the business in your hometown. Prove it works. Next, replicate it in another city (preferably with different demographics). If it works, it’s time to scale it quickly!—Kristopher Jones
Do Join Networking Organizations Right Away
Assuming you have no connections or relationships in that business, go out and make them. Make sure you are not pitching yourself around to everyone, though; that’s a turnoff. Instead, ask yourself how you can provide value to every person you meet, and (genuinely) expect nothing in return. In the end, those who give more, end up getting more.—Adam Stillman
Do Use Your Network
We recently launched an Influence & Co. office in New York, and one thing we did right before the launch was reach out to anyone we know who is in New York. We asked for advice on where our VP launching the office should live, where he should work out of in the short term, and who he should know. He already had a community of support when moving out there, which made the launch a lot easier.—Kelsey Meyer
Do Have a Talent Strategy
When expanding into a new market, you need a talent strategy. This includes (1) an operational understanding: local laws, regulations, tax implications, and salary data for the market; (2) a growth plan: Candidates will want to understand your plans for expansion and what it means for them; (3) a hiring strategy: a plan to determine how you’ll attract, interest, and persuade candidates to join you.—Susan LaMotte
Do Get to Know the Area and Its Demographics Well
It is imperative that you get to know the area you are moving into and the consumer habits you are trying to attract. While this may seem obvious, many people forget to do that and move into the wrong areas, and market to the wrong people. Another crucial aspect is to remember that people tend to have pride in their cities, so speak to them as if you are one of them, not coming in from above.—Samira Far
Do Hire Locally
DO make a local hire. Your representative on the ground must be steeped in the “climate” of that region—cultural, political, social, etc.—for two reasons. They must relate to their job relative to the local environment and feel its pulse—especially with a new expansion.Also, you don’t want to couple someone’s move with a new job. Those are two life stressors at once, and therefore best to avoid!—Jennifer Blumin
