• Money

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

May 6, 2022

JPMorgan Chase Launches Advancing Black Wealth Tour to Promote Generational Wealth-Building in Black Communities

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JPMorgan Chase and Co is launching the Advancing Black Wealth Tour, an event spanning three cities designed to provide financial health education, wealth building seminars and other vital financial insights to Black communities.

With stops in Los Angeles, New Orleans, and Philadelphia planned throughout 2022, the tour will
host prominent Black business leaders and entrepreneurs who will engage attendees through
panel discussions and interactive workshops. Forums will include financial wellness, best steps
to saving money, navigating the real estate market and homeownership, entrepreneurship and
wealth generation.

The speaker lineup at each event will be complemented by a series of breakout sessions and
one-on-one meetings with banking executives, finance professionals and other representatives
from across JPMorgan Chase’s entire business.

The first tour stop will take place in Los Angeles at NeueHouse Hollywood on Saturday, May 14,
2022, from 11a.m. PST – 2:30 p.m. PST. Planned speakers for the Los Angeles event include:

– Ian Dunlap: master stock investor, and founder of Red Panda.

– Daymond John: founder and chief executive officer of FUBU, star of ABC’s Shark Tank, and chief executive officer of the Shark Group.

– Dr. Lynn Richardson: entertainment executive and celebrity financial expert.

– MC Lyte: TV producer, DJ, and philanthropist.

– Dom Kennedy: independent rapper, owner of OPM Record Label, “Be My Neighbor” brand ambassador.

“We want to see Black families thrive financially, and are committed to finding new ways to reach
people with information we know will impact — not just individuals, but entire generations — if
utilized,” said Justin Grant, executive director of Community Development for Advancing Black
Pathways at JPMorgan Chase.

“We’re bringing the full force of our firm, in partnership with trusted experts, to empower communities across the county and demystify the path to building wealth over time.”

“Financial intelligence is not something I was taught in school or in my community growing up,
but it has been one of the most important tools throughout my life and career. Today, it is my
mission to help close the racial wealth gap through education and empowerment. It’s amazing to
partner with JPMorgan Chase, an organization that is committed to supporting and educating
Black communities across the country through programs like the Advancing Black Wealth Tour,”
said Daymond John.

“We are building the next generation of wealthy families by partnering with JPMorgan Chase to
connect participants with industry experts and business leaders like ourselves,” said Dr. Lynn
Richardson and MC Lyte.

“This initiative is where financial leaders are created and empowered, and where wealth building capacity is expanded!”

For more information about the Los Angeles event or to access information on future tour stops,
visit: http://jpmorganchase.com/advancingwealth/. Attendees are required to obtain a negative
COVID-19 diagnostic test result in advance of the event (either a negative PCR result obtained
within 48 hours, or a negative rapid antigen result obtained within 24 hours of event). Masks are
strongly encouraged.

• News

by Jeroslyn JoVonn

May 6, 2022

Kevin Samuels Mother Says She Learned of His Death on Social Media

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The mother of popular and controversial YouTube personality Kevin Samuels has confirmed that he died on Thursday morning at 56, NBC News reports.

Rumors of his death flooded social media on Thursday. By Friday morning, Samuels’ mother, Beverly Samuels-Burch, confirmed his death, which she learned about through social media.

“That was a terrible thing for social media to put that out. I didn’t even know. I hadn’t even been notified,” Samuels-Burch said.

“All I’m doing is requesting that people pray for us.”

Police responded to a call at East Paces Ferry Road NE on Thursday morning “regarding a person injured.” Once inside, police saw first responders performing CPR on an unresponsive man who was later identified as Samuels.

A woman inside the apartment said Samuels complained about chest pain before falling to the ground. He was taken to Piedmont Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Samuels was best known for his controversial relationship advice that many felt shamed Black women. With over 1 million YouTube subscribers, Samuels gained popularity around his often harsh opinions on dating as an adult.

Just last week, Samuels was trending after calling unmarried women over 35 “leftover,” Revolt reports.

“If you live to 35 and you’re not married, you’re a leftover. You’re leftover. Men know you may have a problem,” Samuels said.

“Whether you want to hear it or not, I’ll go with you. I’m telling you the truth you don’t want to hear.”

Some of his most popular videos are titled “How Much Do You Cost to Submit?” and “Modern Women Are Average at Best?” Following initial rumors about his death, debates heightened as many seemingly celebrated news of his passing,

“I don’t believe Kevin Samuels is dead, for the record,” one woman tweeted. “But me not feeling bad if he is doesn’t mean I’m ‘celebrating’ it. He went out of his way to be cruel. We are not required to mourn virtues he didn’t show. And asking Black women, of all ppl, to show tact is audacious.”

Kevin Samuels told broke men & mediocre faced women to shoot in their range and only one group wants him dead because of it. LMFAO

— Hub (@KenHeLive) May 5, 2022

“Kevin Samuels told broke men & mediocre faced women to shoot in their range and only one group wants him dead because of it. LMFAO,” one man tweeted.

• News

by Wendy Medina

May 6, 2022

Infant Dies in Hot Car After Father Arrested, Police Say He Never Mentioned Baby

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A Georgia man was arrested at Snellville Police Department on an outstanding warrant but failed to mention to police his 8-month-old daughter was left out in his car, resulting in her death.

He has now been charged with second-degree murder.

According to authorities, 20-year-old Davied Japez McCorry Whatley arrived at the police station around 2 p.m. on Tuesday, in an effort to retrieve guns confiscated from a different investigation.

As part of department policy, a warrant check was conducted on Whatley which resulted in the man being arrested and taken into custody in the lobby of the police station, People reported.

Whatley reportedly had an active misdemeanor probation violation warrant for a hit-and-run with no insurance.

The infant, Nova Grace Whatley-Trejo, was left in a hot car at the nearby city hall parking lot for about seven hours after Whatley was arrested, officials say. Her grandmother discovered the unresponsive baby inside the vehicle that evening. According to that day’s weather data, temperatures reached a high of 86 degrees. 

While Whatley was at the station, he didn’t alert anyone to his unattended daughter, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. 

“After 2 p.m., he was transported to the Gwinnett County Detention Center,” detective Jeff Manley said during a news conference on Wednesday. 

Authorities believe Whatley called the child’s grandmother Leticia Padilla later that day, which caused her to go check on the child. She then took the baby to Piedmont Eastside Medical Center at 9:25 p.m., where she was pronounced dead. 

Whatley posted bond that same day, but was arrested again on Wednesday at 11 a.m. and charged with second-degree murder in connection with the baby’s death, reported USA Today. 

He is being detained without bond and has not entered a plea to the charge. The case has been transferred to the Gwinnett County District Attorney’s Office.

Whatley’s family claims he pleaded with police to check on the baby. 

“He told them. He loved his daughter,” Padilla told WSB-TV. “All they had to do was listen. They thought he was lying.”

She said police relayed to Whatley someone would tend to Nova. It wasn’t until the phone call that evening that the baby’s grandmother was notified. She does not believe the police.

“They can say whatever they want to. They have to cover their tracks,” Padilla said.

The investigation is ongoing.

• Business

by BLACK ENTERPRISE Editors

May 6, 2022

Morgan Stanley Introduces the Small Business Academy to Promote Equity and Empower Diverse-Owned Small-Business Leaders

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Morgan Stanley’s Institute for Inclusion (IFI) and the Morgan Stanley Supplier Diversity Program are announcing the inaugural class of the Morgan Stanley Small Business Academy (the Academy).

Established to promote equity and empower diverse-owned small-business leaders, this educational initiative enables small businesses to differentiate themselves in the procurement process, strengthen their business acumen and expand their professional networks. Each class consists of a 12-week virtual, instructor-facilitated learning experience, followed by a yearlong mentorship program.

“We are proud to welcome the Academy’s inaugural class of 2022 and to see their businesses grow and develop through the program,” said Susan Reid, global head of Diversity and Inclusion, Morgan Stanley, and director of the Morgan Stanley Institute for Inclusion.

“The Academy is yet another step Morgan Stanley is taking to promote equity in society at large and expand business opportunities for diverse-owned businesses.”

“For small businesses to get their foot in the door, it is critical that they have a clear understanding of the procurement process for large corporations,” said Shendora Pridgen, global head of Supplier Diversity, Morgan Stanley.

“The Academy complements our Supplier Diversity Program and helps extend opportunities for diverse-owned small businesses to pursue contracts with leading corporations.”

The inaugural cohort kicked off the virtual Academy on April 25, 2022 with the following companies:

– Blu Fable: a creative content agency that helps brands give voice to their values.

– Hootology: a modernized market research and insights company that fuses the art and science of information gathering for smarter business decisions.

– Impact Consulting: a management consulting firm specializing in Talent and Organizational Development (OD) as well as Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) strategies and solutions.

– InnovatorsBox: a consulting and education-focused organization focused on the science and strategy of workplace creativity. Their research-based and interactive programs empower corporations, professionals, educators, students and entrepreneurs to unlock their creative mindsets and thrive in today’s complex workplaces.

– IT Creative Labs: a full-service technology company, specializing in software development and support, digital marketing suite of services and IT staffing.

– Runaway Train Productions: an award-winning, female-founded video production company committed to empowering women and historically underrepresented groups both in front of and behind the camera.

– Sam’s Word (dba 628 Digital Design): a full-service digital content design and marketing agency serving organizations globally, offering comprehensive and integrated copywriting, creative design and marketing solutions.

– Solvitur Systems: an IT consulting firm specializing in cybersecurity, systems modernization, IT risk management, privacy and data protection, program management and cloud computing services.

– The Posture People: a client-focused injury prevention and workplace ergonomic solutions specialist for businesses across multiple industries. They empower a healthier workforce with onsite, in-person and virtual solutions.

– TLZ Architecture DPC (dba Bureau V Architecture): an award-winning interdisciplinary practice dedicated to culturally responsive and inclusive architecture and design.

To learn more about the Academy please visit: https://www.morganstanley.com/about-us/supplier-diversity/small-business-academy1.

• News

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

May 6, 2022

Black Chicago Mother Sues Medical Center For Mistaking Child’s Birthmark For Child Abuse

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A Black woman has filed a lawsuit against a Chicago-area hospital alleging that racism played a part in them reporting a birthmark on her child as child abuse.

According to the Greely Tribune, Jillian Robinson took her son to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, Illinois, in April 2021 to get a mark on the back of her 10-month-old son’s ear looked at.

She states that because she is Black, the doctors assumed that the mark seen behind her son’s ear was due to child abuse. The doctors then performed an unnecessary head CT (Computed tomography) and bone scan on her son to try to prove that the baby was being abused.

In the lawsuit, Robinson claims they also called a child protection agency under the assumption that what turned out to be a harmless birthmark was an indication of child abuse.

The lawsuit was filed on April 20 in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.

Robinso also stated that a DCFS (Illinois Department of Children and Family Services) caseworker expressed to her that she may have to put her son in foster care. After leaving the hospital, they also required her and her son to stay with her uncle for about a week.

The complaint also stated that Advocate Christ “and her staff made false assumptions about Ms. Robinson on the basis of her race.” “Only on the basis of those assumptions and before conducting a medical examination to confirm that [Advocate Christ] and his staff came to the conclusion that Mark was intentionally hurt by Ms. Robinson and initiated complaint proceedings against them with the DCFS.”

Advocate Christ Medical Center released a statement earlier this week on Tuesday:

“Our top priority is to provide every patient with the safest, highest quality and equitable care. We take all concerns seriously and are thoroughly reviewing the complaint, which we just recently received.”

Two doctors from Advocate Christ have also been named as defendants in the suit.

Robinson, 36, is being represented by the Chicago Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights and the law firm Burke, Warren, Mackay, and Seritella PC. The Committee on Civil Rights is a non-profit organization made up of civil rights lawyers and advocates working on issues related to racial equality and economic opportunity.

The lawsuit also alleges that the incident with Robinson is part of a larger pattern of discrimination in healthcare and child welfare services. Beatriz Diaz-Pollack, senior counsel for the Chicago Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights said the committee and Legal Aid Chicago filed a complaint against Advocate Christ Medical Center and DCFS in October with the US Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Civil Rights.

“This is, unfortunately, representative of systemic issues,” Diaz-Pollack said.

“This is a case where a Black mother and her son were personally harmed and we are seeking redress for her in her individual capacity, but from what we have learned about prejudices in the healthcare system, based on that, this case has the potential to make a positive impact.”

• News

by Atiya Jordan

May 6, 2022

Florida High School Valedictorian Accepted Into 72 Colleges Shares Advice

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After achieving 72 college acceptances, Ja’Leaha Thornton of Belle Glade, Florida, has some advice for young people starting the application process.

Thornton, a senior at Glades Central Community High School, is scheduled to graduate May 24 with a 4.9 GPA and as her class’s valedictorian, according to South Florida Times.

“I know the process of applying could be kind of overwhelming to many, and instead of stressing myself out, I decided to make it a competition…and see how many I can actually get into,” the 18-year-old told Good Morning America. “I wanted to broaden my horizons and explore some different schools outside of my state.”

And so she did. Thornton applied to multiple colleges simultaneously—90 in all—through both the Black Common App and the Common App. At most, she paid $20.

The prodigious teen, having clearly excelled in her application process, wants to motivate students to soar beyond their wildest dreams.

“Shoot beyond the sky, because it’s a world out there, and it has so much for us to explore, so don’t limit ourselves. Go beyond what’s in front of you and don’t take advantage of time. Use your resources and your opportunity.”

The soon-to-be grad will attend the historically Black university, Xavier University of Louisiana. It is all possible through her healthy competition, eagerness and determination. Thornton has plans to major in pre-medical psychology with a minor in chemistry to prepare for her career in forensic psychiatry. She intends on attending medical school.

Thornton said that she is “interested in working with the people who have committed crimes and trying to get them back on the right track, studying their stories and seeing how we can apply that to life.”

Her determination has been supported by her family, friends, and guidance counselors.

“They have been the solid foundation for me,” she said. “I believe in the saying ‘It takes a village to build a child,’ and that was my village,” she explained.  “Also my school family, my guidance counselor, my teachers and my friends. Pretty much everybody that helped me through the journey. I’m just excited for the next steps of my life.”

• Women

by Ce Anderson

May 6, 2022

Psychotherapist Ce Anderson Gives Breakdown On The Emotional and Mental Trauma of Black Mother-Daughter Relationships

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As Mother’s Day approaches, I am reminded that not everyone has had a motherly experience worth celebrating.

For some, their current relationships and histories with their mothers are toxic, negatively impacting their emotional and mental health. Despite our mothers being alive and well, the grief of estrangement can feel just as intense as if she had passed away. We may notice feelings of worry, fear, and irritability and not know where the feelings come from or why.

In short, “mommy issues” are a real thing.

Society portrays the bond between mother and child as innate, unconditional, and loving. Yet, we rarely consider how a mother’s trauma, emotional deficits, and unresolved issues can impact her parenting and, as a result, her children’s development throughout life. Mothers would have a profound and lasting effect on children’s identity formation, even if they were absent parents.

In the Black collective, we are raised to blindly obey our parents even in the face of blatant harm and unhealthy dynamics. Calling out an issue and even implementing boundaries is often labeled as disrespect instead of normal, healthy, and appropriate behavior for an adult. Children into adulthood are guilted into feeling responsible for their mother’s well-being, emotions, and care. We are to hold their sacrifices and, in reverence, reconcile the damage. I have had the unfortunate experience of watching adults struggle to emotionally differentiate from their parents, being able to see themselves apart from their role as the child. Mothers are the vessel through which we enter this life. We come through them, yet we hold the ability to create our individual life experiences.

For a woman, the mother is often our introduction to womanhood. She is the standard by which our brown eyes and shapely hips measure and model our growth. But how do we measure ourselves when our mother is detached, uncaring, unaffectionate, and critical? How do you find yourself when your nurturer is jealous or in secret competition with you? She significantly impacts our self-esteem and coping abilities. She may even be why you don’t “get along” with women or have difficulty trusting your romantic relationships. Perhaps she was guarded, hardened by her own traumatic experiences, not having healed. So now you wear her hand-me-down hurts like the armor of protection, unknowingly barricading yourself from the connection you seek with others.

Feeling indebted to your mother

You didn’t ask to be here, yet there seems to be an indebtedness that comes with toxic mothering. The expectation is for children to repay their mother for parenting and providing for them. Unfortunately, this sometimes occurs when the mother is a single parent. While it is healthy to be grateful for your parents’ love, care, and support, even honoring your parents’ contributions is healthy. However, feeling that appreciation requires financial reward or obligation can cause strain and resentment.

Breach of boundaries by your mother

Simply put, healthy boundaries create a line that separates what belongs to you from what belongs to others. Whether emotional, physical, financial, or intellectual, boundaries allow you to give within appropriate limitations. For example, suppose your mother feels entitled to your home/belongings, dismisses your obligation and responsibilities in favor of you meeting theirs, or minimizes your emotions. In that case, this could indicate the need to create boundaries.

Jealous or competitive mother

Mother-daughter rivalries aren’t uncommon. Instead of being supported and applauded, mothers who are jealous of their daughters will often minimize or dismiss their accomplishments, sabotage, or respond passively. She may even compare herself to you and find happiness in your difficult moments. It’s OK to create distance and love from a space that allows you to remain emotionally safe and aligned with your morals.

My hope for you is that you can see yourself as a unique, individualized expression of your higher power’s majesty and not a reflection of your mother’s pain. You can recognize the beauty in your strengths and weaknesses and become more open to vulnerability in all parts of you. You can welcome those parts of you with open arms and allow them a seat at your table. I hope that your experience with the children in your life is softness, unconditional love, and patience. On this Mother’s Day, I invite you to be gentle and compassionate with yourself, see your mother for who she is, and experience more freedom and abundant love. The little girl in you deserves it.

About the author

Ce Anderson M.S., L.P.C. is a licensed psychotherapist, mental health advocate, and speaker dedicated to educating and empowering others in the areas of domestic violence, sexual assault, mental health, wellness, and more! A sought-after expert on wellness, domestic violence, sexual assault recovery, and setting healthy boundaries, she has been seen and heard on the likes of NPR and NBC. Ce engages your workforce via speaking engagements, training, workshop facilitation, and motivational mentoring. A clinician who is also a survivor, Ce empowers others from a place of authenticity, bringing awareness and healing to those touched by sexual and domestic violence.

Her book, Love TAPS: Red Flags of An Abuser and How to Get Out, is available on Amazon.

• Technology

by Corey Lee

May 6, 2022

will.i.am Collaborates with Mercedes-AMG to Give Underserved Students Access To STEAM

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Rap and pop superstar will.i.am has collaborated with Mercedes-AMG to create a model of a one-time Mercedes GT 4-Door Coupé that features modifications that aim to set the standard for vehicles in the future.

The one-time production is called “The Flip.”

In a statement to Afrotech, the innovative star producer said, “I grew up in a ghetto. I grew up with hip-hop. I watched legendary hip-hop artists rap about Mercedes, so it was always a dream to own a Mercedes. For a lot of inner-city kids, owning a Mercedes is a symbol of progress and advancing out of struggle.”

He added, “Now I’ve reached my goal and pushed even higher by re-imagining and creating my own vision of an AMG model. But I didn’t touch the engine, because AMG really does make the best engines. The story of the founders of AMG truly inspires me, and it is energizing to collaborate with like-minded people who also seek continuous improvement.”

The premiere of The Flip will happen this weekend at the Formula 1™ Grand Prix USA in Miami.

The project is the second major project from the Black Eyed Peas founder, who is dedicated to helping disadvantaged students learn STEAM. According to Mercedes-AMG, all activities featuring the use of The Flip will help build a STEAM-ready talent pool that will lift families and communities out of poverty.

The collaboration with Mercedes-AMG aims to inspire a younger generation of technology creators.

“Every school has a basketball court, and many have football fields, but only two businesses benefit from these skill sets, and it’s mostly for boys,” will.i.am said in a statement last year about his collaboration with FIRST Robotics and the L.A. school system.

“Football is great, but my niece will never play for the NFL. With robotics clubs, boys and girls can learn valuable STEM skills and how to work in teams – knowledge that helps secure college scholarships and, eventually, high-paying jobs. With FIRST Robotics, every child can be a winner in school, work, and in life. My mission is to put a robotics club in every public school, and we are off to a great start with this new program in Los Angeles.”

Philipp Schiemer, chairman of the Board of Management of Mercedes-AMG GmbH, said, “Our cooperation with will.i.am has reached a new peak with ‘The Flip.’ We have inspired and motivated each other in the realization of this holistic concept, which is far more than an exceptional automotive one-off. We take our responsibility to society seriously.”

He added that “the success of Mercedes-AMG as a Performance Luxury brand also depends to a large extent on inspiring the next generation and giving them easy access to the latest technologies and digital progress. It is part of our tradition to always be pioneers and to dare to do something new. We are continuing this legacy into the future together with will.i.am and ‘The Flip.’”

The elaborate conversion and construction of the vehicle was captured in an extensive six‑part documentary series, “DRIVE,” which debuted this week at the reveal event in Miami.

Xavier University in Louisiana will use a $2.5 million grant to transform a noted residence hall on the campus into a STEM center that will focus on science, technology, engineering, and math.

St. Michaels Residence Hall will house an advisement center for students entering health professions, including medicine, research, and laboratory sciences, and a tutoring center, according to NOLA.com.

St. Michaels was once a safe haven for the Freedom Riders as they rode buses around the South, challenging segregation.

“As we come back many years from now, this building, which housed the Freedom Riders, will also be the place that will house the … future health professionals who will be taking care of people like me, and many in this community, and also will be a beacon for young people,” said Xavier University President, Reynold Verret.

The 60th anniversary of the Freedom Rides was last year. Greyhound restored a bus to mark the event. The bus was enshrined at Montgomery’s Alabama Historical Commission’s Freedom Rides Museum.

U.S. Rep. Troy Carter presented the university with an oversized check noting that the STEM Center “will give the opportunity to further develop our young minds in those areas of the hard sciences.”

Xavier reportedly sends more Black students to medical school than nearly any other college or university in the nation. One Xavier student, Noah Williams, who is headed to dental school, spoke at a press event where he said that having a dedicated advising center for pre-health students is important.

“This effort may not diminish every hurdle that we face as minorities within the field of medicine and healthcare, but it will continue to strengthen and support and encourage future Xavier students to become doctors, nurses, dentists, engineers, and researchers that we need to make this world a better place.”

Verret added that the center “will allow us to increase our capacity to bring in more practitioners of color into professions where, as we know, the representation … is important both for trust and for relieving the health disparities that exist in our country.”

The funding is part of general appropriation dollars from the state, which make up the Community Funding Project, a $17.5 million government package that will fund seven other projects in the New Orleans area. The projects aim to provide mental health services and public health research and will make upgrades to local parks.

Xavier is the nation’s only Black and Catholic University with only 3,300 students. According to its website, its College of Pharmacy is also among the top producers of African American pharmacists.

• Sports

by Cedric 'BIG CED' Thornton

May 6, 2022

NFL Plans 2-Day Diversity Networking Seminar for Prospective Head Coach and General Manager Positions

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According to ESPN, the NFL plans a diversity seminar geared toward prospective minority head coaches and upper management executives.

ESPN has obtained a memo distributed within the NFL offices and sent to the owners, general managers, and head coaches of NFL teams. The NFL intends to hold a seminar for 64 prospective head coaching and general manager candidates to address the diversity issues within its coaching and front-office positions. This gathering is expected to occur at its annual spring owners meeting later this month in Atlanta.

The memo was sent out on April 8 to bring attention to the two-day meeting on May 23–24. It stated that it would feature networking opportunities for “diverse, prospective Club-nominated head coaching and general manager prospects” with team owners and other high-ranking executives.

The memo encourages each NFL team to nominate two participants, “one from the coaching side and one from the player personnel side.” It requests that those participants be “senior women and minority high-potential coach or player personnel” candidates. A source said the group of 64 (two for each of the 32 NFL teams) would participate in sessions that are developed to further their education on the business of football and discuss coaching techniques.

The initiative “aims to provide senior women and minority high-potential coach or player personnel exposure to owners across the league to develop direct connections. Conversely, providing owners the ability to engage with new prospects in a natural and personal way without violating the Anti-Tampering rule policies.”

The program’s primary objective is to gather minority candidates for head coach and general manager openings and the opportunity to meet with the league’s highest-ranking decision-makers. The idea came from the feedback gained from the league’s diversity committee at the NFL scouting combine in March. They used the suggestions and ideas unsuccessful candidates shared with the committee during the most recent coach/general manager hiring cycle. Some of the candidates told the committee that it bothered them that the first time they ever met a team owner was at the point where they were being interviewed for the position.