Concordia University Wisconsin alumni Mr. and Mrs Sheldon and Celeste Cuffie will launch the Cuffie Stevens Educational Endowment in honor of their fathers Tuesday, March 24, during an event in the Robert W. Plaster Free Enterprise Center.
Tickets for “Connections, Concordia & Charity” cost $20, with ticket sale proceeds going toward the endowment. The event begins with hors d’oeuvres and networking in the collaboratorium from 5:30-6:15 p.m., followed by a one-hour program. Tours of the Robert W. Plaster Free Enterprise Center, 12800 North Lake Shore Drive, Mequon, will begin at 7:15 p.m. The four program speakers will be:
- Clarene Mitchell, Owner, TCM Communications LLC, “Authentic Connections on LinkedIn”
- Dr. Daniel Sem, Concordia University Wisconsin’s Dean of the Batterman School of Business, “Ozaukee County’s Entrepreneurial Space”
- Sheldon Cuffie, Chief Information Security Officer, American Family Insurance, “Cyber Security and You”
- Celeste Cuffie, President, Life Empowered Consulting Services, “Meaningful Connections”
Sheldon Cuffie’s father, Jonathan Cuffie, was the first black foreman and expeditor at Grede Foundries in Milwaukee, while Celeste’s father, Tom Stevens, owned a successful construction trucking business for many years. Both men were Milwaukee natives and strongly believed that education was the pillar of the community. “This endowment will allow others who would like to pay it forward an opportunity to directly have a meaningful impact in the lives of underrepresented students,” said Celeste Cuffie, who specifically mentioned Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematical (STEM) students.
Individuals can RSVP up to the day of the event at emsweb.cuw.edu/emsregics/rsform by clicking on “Connections, Concordia & Charity.” Donations to the Cuffie Stevens Educational Endowment can be made through the university’s Online Giving page at cuw.edu/advancement/giving. To ensure participation, please select Endowment in the “In Support Of” menu and include Cuffie Stevens Scholarship in the special instructions comments box.
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