Kenton J. Clarke | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | November 7, 1951 Connecticut, United States |
| Occupation | Businessman |
Kenton J. Clarke (born November 7, 1951) is an American entrepreneur and musician. He graduated from Norwalk State Technical College in 1972 and the University of New Haven in 1979. He is the founder of Computer Consulting Associates International and Omnikal.
Born in Bridgeport, CT, Clarke was one of 12 siblings. His father was Haywood D. Clarke Sr., WWII veteran and member of the United States Colored Troops and Clarke's grandfather, George Mason Clarke, owned and operated a rubbish removal company, one of the first to be owned by African-Americans. [1] Clarke's first entrepreneurial venture began at the age of 17 when he formed Collegiate Painters, a house painting company that employed college students.[ citation needed ]
Clarke became an early adopter of computer technology through his degree from Norwalk State Technical College, now known as Norwalk Community College. Clarke began his initial career in computer technology beginning at Sikorsky Aircraft (now Lockheed Martin) in their computer programming group. [2]
Clarke earned his bachelor's degree in Operations Management from the University of New Haven. In 1980, Clarke founded CCAii based in Southport, CT. [3] CCAii which grew to one of New England's largest information technology consulting firms. [4]
Clarke formed Omnikal (formerly DiversityBusiness.com) in 1999. While providing a big data technology platform, Omnikal works to connect businesses for resources in a Business to Business matchmaking process. The Omnikal Business Summit brings small to medium-sized business owners together for connection, training and mentorship. [5] Omnikal provides recognition to top US corporations for their efforts in diversity and inclusion through The Omni50. This award is a listing of the top 50 corporate and government buyers of products and services from an inclusive supply chain throughout the country. [6] Omnikal provides a scholarship [7] with Norwalk Community College addressing the lack of opportunities for African American males entering professional fields in technology. The Norwalk Community College African American STEM Scholarship is awarded annually to ten African American male students in a Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) field currently enrolled or applying for admission to Norwalk Community College.
Clarke's music career began with his membership as a performer in the Drum and Bugle Corps organization in Fairfield, Connecticut during his early school years. Clarke became a member of the brass section of his local corps and began playing the bugle at age eight. From 1960 until the late 1970s Clarke performed as a featured soloist on bugle for Connecticut and New York based Drum and Bugle Corps including; St. Raphael's Golden Buccaneers, Connecticut Hurricanes Drum and Bugle Corps where Clarke is listed as a Hurricane of Distinction, [12] Connecticut Yankees and the New York Skyliners. [13] Clarke was the 1970 All American National Individual Champion on bugle. In 2001, Clarke founded the Buglers Hall of Fame, [14] and still serves as board chairman. Today, Clarke is an active member of the Alumni Corps in Bridgeport as well as the Stratford Community Concert Band [15] who performs throughout Connecticut at community gatherings, fundraisers for many organizations. Most recently Clarke was inducted in 2015 to the World Drum Corps Hall of Fame [16] and remains a member of the Buglers Hall of Fame [17] alongside such notable award winners as Louis Armstrong.
Connecticut is the southernmost state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. As of the 2010 Census, it has the highest per-capita income, Human Development Index (0.962), and median household income in the United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, New York to the west, and Long Island Sound to the south. Its capital is Hartford and its most populous city is Bridgeport. Geographically the state is part of New England, and although its cultural history stems from the region, in the modern age large sections of it are increasingly connected to and associated with the tri-state area with New York and New Jersey. The state is named for the Connecticut River which approximately bisects the state. The word "Connecticut" is derived from various anglicized spellings of a Mohegan-Pequot word for "long tidal river".
Frederick Douglass "Fritz" Pollard was an American football player and coach. He was the first African American head coach in the National Football League (NFL). Pollard and Bobby Marshall were the first two African American players in the NFL in 1920. Football pioneer Walter Camp called Pollard "one of the greatest runners these eyes have ever seen."
Norwalk is a U.S. city located in southwestern Connecticut, in southern Fairfield County, on the northern shore of Long Island Sound. Norwalk lies within both the New York metropolitan area, as well as the Bridgeport metropolitan area.
The University of New Haven (UNH) is a private university in West Haven, Connecticut, which borders the larger city of New Haven and Long Island Sound. Between its main campus in West Haven and its graduate school campus in Orange, Connecticut, the university is situated on approximately 122 acres of land. The university includes the College of Arts and Sciences, the Pompea College of Business, the Tagliatela College of Engineering, the Henry C. Lee College of Criminal Justice and Forensic Sciences, and the School of Health Sciences.
South Norwalk is a neighborhood and the Second Taxing District in Norwalk, Connecticut. The neighborhood was originally a settlement called 'Old Well' which became chartered as the city of 'South Norwalk' on August 18, 1870. The cities of Norwalk and South Norwalk were incorporated on June 6, 1913. The neighborhood is often referred to with the acronym 'SoNo'.
The Connecticut Business Hall of Fame, established in 2005, is an organization created to feature the accomplishments of companies and business leaders and to promote future business activities in the state of Connecticut in the United States.
The Hawthorne Caballeros, sponsored by American Legion Post #199 in Hawthorne, New Jersey, is a drum and bugle corps that is in their 73rd season of competition.
Norwalk Community College (NCC), formerly Norwalk State Technical College and Norwalk Community-Technical College, is a public community college in Norwalk, Connecticut. It is the second-largest of the twelve colleges in the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities system (CSCU) system. The school, which has an open admissions policy, offers 45 associate degree and 26 certificate programs.
J. Christopher Jaffe was recognized for leadership in architectural-acoustic design.
Mildred Robbins Leet was an American entrepreneur and philanthropist. She was a co-founder and Chair Emerita of the Board of Directors of Trickle Up, a New York-based international non-governmental organization dedicated to alleviating poverty.
Barry Svigals, FAIA is a Connecticut-based architect and sculptor. He is the founder and Partner Emeritus of Svigals + Partners, an architectural design firm in New Haven, Connecticut. Svigals + Partners was founded in 1983 and has a staff of about 35. Svigals served on the faculty of Yale School of Architecture from 2003-2009, and has frequently acted there as a visiting critic.
Janice Bryant Howroyd is an entrepreneur, educator, ambassador, businesswoman, author, and mentor. She is founder and chief executive officer of The ActOne Group, the largest privately held, minority-woman-owned personnel company founded in the U.S. Howroyd is most well known as being the first African American woman to build and own a billion dollar company.
Lancraft Fife and Drum Corps is an Ancient Fife and Drum Corps based in North Haven, Connecticut and is a member of the Connecticut Fifers and Drummers Association. Lancraft was founded in 1888 by conservative Freemasons, but over the years has become the pride of Irish Americans.
The Argonne Rebels Drum and Bugle Corps were an Open Class competitive junior drum and bugle corps. Based in Great Bend and Barton County, Kansas, the Rebels were one of the thirteen founding member corps of Drum Corps International.
Bob Duff is an American politician, currently serving as a member of the Connecticut Senate, where he represents Norwalk and part of Darien in Connecticut's 25th District. He previously served as a member of the Connecticut House of Representatives, representing the 137th District. He is currently Majority Leader of the Connecticut Senate, and serves as chair of the Executive and Legislative Nominations Committee and vice chair of the Legislative Management Committee.
BlackStartup was a crowdfunding platform that allows entrepreneurs to market their business or project and solicit backers for funding. BlackStartup is the first crowdfunding site focused on entrepreneurship in the African-American community.
Colonel Truman W. "Tru" Crawford (USMC) was a music arranger, composer, and conductor for drum and bugle corps. He was the long-time commander and director of "The Commandant's Own," the United States Marine Drum and Bugle Corps after having previously served as musical director of the United States Air Force Drum and Bugle Corps.
The Connecticut Hurricanes, also known by their nickname the Hurcs, is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization based in Seymour, CT existing as an all-age, co-ed, competitive drum and bugle corps. The Hurricanes reign as the oldest, continually active organization in DCA, with some of the most extensive history of any senior corps.
Kimberly Bryant is an African American electrical engineer who worked in the biotechnology field at Genentech, Novartis Vaccines, Diagnostics, and Merck. In 2011, Bryant founded Black Girls Code, a training course that teaches basic programming concepts to black girls who are underrepresented in technology careers. After founding Black Girls Code, Bryant has been listed as one of the "25 Most Influential African-Americans In Technology" by Business Insider.
