January Sets the Bar High for CTI

The first month of the year brought a whirlwind of activity to the Centre for Training and Innovation (CTI) campus in Rock Sound. From the sounds of Wedding Bells to Junkanoo Cowbells, the recent surge of energy, festivities and celebrations on campus have brought back familiar memories of past One Eleuthera Foundation (OEF) Earth Day Festivals and rekindled collaborative partnerships committed to promoting local culture, entrepreneurship and community engagement. In addition to serving as a fulltime student training campus for students of CTI to fulfil their practical training in hospitality, agriculture, culinary, and construction trades, the campus is also a community hub for meetings, events, festivals, weddings and other social activities. The campus continues to expand and play a pivotal role in fostering economic and social development, and the expansion of Eleuthera’s orange economy.

On Saturday, January 7th CTI celebrated its first wedding and the nuptials of Mr. and Mrs. Akeem and Vashti

Johnson. The young couple who both have strong Eleuthera roots, chose the CTI campus for their one-stop, islandchic destination wedding. The romantic garden-style ceremony and poolside reception was attended by over 150 plus guests, and catered in-house by Head Chef, Jasmine Jones from CTI’s Farmer’s Table restaurant. The campus grounds were transformed with elegant flair and provided the convenience of on-site hotel rooms for the newlyweds, bridal party and immediate family to relax, rest and recharge in close vicinity. Wedding guests danced and celebrated the special event into the wee hours of the morning before embarking on an island-wide afternoon tour with family and friends to enjoy the sights and charm of Eleuthera.

On January 27th, we celebrated a bittersweet occasion – our Staff Appreciation and Farewell Cocktail Party for three exceptional employees who each made a significant impact to OEF and CTI. Audrey Carey, Hotel,

Left: Attending the Staff Appreciation and Farewell Event: Shaun Ingraham, President and CEO, OEF, Maisie Thompson, Kenwood Cartwright, Sue Culmer, Finance Manager, and Mario Smith, Chairman OEF. P38

Restaurant and Facilities Officer, Maisie Thompson, Outreach Coordinator and Kenwood Cartwright, IT Officer & System Administrator, were each honoured for their indelible service and advancement of OEF and CTI’s mission. Paying tribute to Audrey, Susan Culmer, Finance Manager reflected on Audrey’s incredible leadership and contribution in laying a strong foundation for the organization to build upon as well as her sincere compassion for her staff and work family. Reflecting on his love and appreciation for the organization Kenwood expressed, “In many ways I feel that my time and experiences at OEF/CTI have directed, shaped, and prepared me to advance into my new role as the Island Administrator for Grand Bahama. OEF and CTI will always be home and close to my heart and of course I won’t be far away.” Celebrated for her empathy, strong community ties and willingness to help those in need, Masie