​     With summer fast approaching, Westlake Ace Hardware stores throughout the Kansas City area are gearing up to host their annual fan drive benefitting The Salvation Army. The fan drive will be held June 4-21.
     During the fan drive, Westlake customers are asked to donate by rounding-up their purchase at the register. All donations go toward buying new box fans for the Kansas City Salvation Army. Westlake will kick off the fan drive with a donation of 100 fans.
     This is the 14th year Westlake has raised money for fans. Last year, customers in the Kansas City area donated more than $20,000, equating to 1,434 fans given to the local Salvation Army for distribution to fellow citizens.
     “The Salvation Army Fan Drive gives our friends and neighbors a way to keep cool and comfortable this summer. Especially now, with so many people in need, it’s an honor to sponsor this program and positively impact lives. I encourage everyone, if they are able, to donate,” Joe Jeffries, president and CEO of Westlake Ace Hardware said.
     “With so many Americans facing unexpected hardship this year, we must work together more than ever before to face challenges like summer heat,” Dale Bannon, The Salvation Army Secretary for National Community Relations and Development said. “We cannot thank Westlake Hardware enough for coming alongside us on this incredible partnership fan drive.”
     Donations to the fan drive can be made at any Westlake Ace, or if customers prefer to donate online, they may do so at westlakehardware.com/fandrive. All donations, both in-store and online, stay in the local community.
     Westlake Ace Hardware has been part of the Ace Hardware Cooperative since 1959, and a wholly-owned Ace subsidiary since 2012. Westlake currently owns and operates 139 stores in California, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, and Washington.
 

     The COVID-19 pandemic caused a severe downturn in the nation’s labor market in April 2020. In Missouri, seasonally adjusted employment decreased by 305,100 jobs over the month, and by 327,800 jobs over the year, the largest one-month and one-year decreases since the current data series began in 1990. The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate increased to 9.7 percent over the month, more than doubling the previous month, and tripling over the year.
     Missouri’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate had its largest monthly and yearly increases ever in April 2020. The April 2020 rate of 9.7 percent was up by nearly six percentage points from the March 2020 rate of 3.9 percent and 6.5 percentage points from the April 2019 rate of 3.2 percent.
Missouri’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was below the national rate, which was 14.7 percent in April 2020.
     The estimated number of unemployed Missourians was 292,690 in April 2020, up by 171,103 from March’s 109,616.
     Under normal circumstances, an increase in the unadjusted rate from March to April would be highly unusual, but COVID-19 resulted in unprecedented economic fluctuations. The rapidly changing economic situation will likely continue to evolve and be reflected in next month’s jobs report.
     Missouri’s seasonally adjusted nonfarm payroll employment was 2,574,000 in April 2020, down by 305,100 from the revised March figure. Federal government (+200) and mining & logging (unchanged) saw less change than most sectors. Goods-producing industries lost 46,000 jobs over the month, and service-providing industries lost 259,100 jobs. Among goods-producing industries, durable goods manufacturing was hit the hardest, losing 26,700 jobs. Employment in construction decreased by 11,000, while non-durable manufacturing had a loss of 8,300 jobs.
     Among service-providing industries, accommodation & food services had the largest decrease, losing 110,700 jobs. Trade, transportation & utilities lost 42,600 jobs over the month. Professional & business services lost 29,500 jobs, and educational & health services lost 18,400 jobs. In the public sector, local government employment was down by 11,100, and state government lost 2,600 jobs. 
     Payroll employment decreased by 327,800 jobs from April 2019 to April 2020. Only federal government (+1,100) saw an increase, helped in part by hiring for the federal census. Goods-producing industries lost 47,100 jobs over the year, and service-providing industries lost 280,700 jobs. Manufacturing employment was down by 38,000 (-13.7 percent), while construction, less severely affected because most work was outside, lost 9,000 jobs (-7.1 percent).
     Among service-providing industries, leisure & hospitality lost 152,100 jobs (-49.4 percent) over the year, shedding nearly half its employment. Trade, transportation & utilities lost 45,000 jobs (-8.3 percent), while employment in professional & business services was down by 27,800 (-7.3 percent). Educational & health services lost 21,500 jobs (-4.5 percent). Government employment decreased by 12,900 jobs, (-3.0 percent), with losses of 12,400 jobs in local government and 1,600 jobs in state government. 
 

     It feels like an eternity ago that COVID-19 first hit our community, even though my calendar indicates it’s only a couple of months. It has dramatically impacted everyone, and personally, it feels like I am in a COVID-19 fog which challenges my ability to see what is ahead. With stay-at-home orders shifting throughout the region, it is still important that we continue to work together to help the community stay safe and to provide support for those most impacted by the coronavirus.
      I am proud to report that since March, Truman Heartland Community Foundation donor advised fundholders have granted more than $240,000 to nonprofits in direct response to the pandemic. And year to date, total grants from these donors are up 23 percent over 2019. We are grateful that these fundholders have responded generously during this crisis.
      As we continue to connect with community leaders and nonprofits to learn how we can best support our community during recovery, I am inspired by the nimble and innovative ways organizations are serving the community while maintaining social distancing to keep clients, volunteers and staff safe. If you haven’t already, I encourage you to visit the COVID-19 section on our website at www.thcf.org/COVID-19 to learn more about how nonprofits in Eastern Jackson County are adjusting to meet the rapidly-changing needs of the community during this crisis and how you can help.
     This is a time for creativity and action, and your Community Foundation is responding. In addition to launching the new COVID-19 section on our website and regularly encouraging fundholders to invest in the nonprofit community, we are adjusting our competitive grants cycle to offer flexibility and funding to nonprofits when they need it most – now.
     By fast-tracking the grants review process for our 2020 competitive grants program, we will be able to award grant checks in July instead of November. This is truly a community undertaking. This year, Truman Heartland received requests for more than $892,000 in grant support, which is more than three times the amount available to grant. Our dedicated Board and Advisory Board members are busy reading grant proposals and meeting via Zoom to make difficult funding decisions.
     While we are dedicated to expediting this funding, it has dramatically changed the process for our youngest Advisory Board members, our Youth Advisory Council (YAC). Participating in our annual competitive grants program is an important learning opportunity for these high school students, providing a look behind the scenes at area nonprofits and hands-on experience in grantmaking. Under normal circumstances, YAC teams would spend June and July coordinating in-person visits to area nonprofits to learn more about their funding requests for youth-serving programs. However, with the fast-tracked grants cycle, site visits and presentations all moved online. YAC students met with nonprofits via Zoom to gather insights to share with the Foundation’s Grants Committee and recommendations for grants the students will award from their self-funded endowment.
     The road to social and economic recovery will be long and winding. As things reopen, many low-wage restaurant and retail employees, who were barely making ends meet before the pandemic, may not have a job to return to. We know that there will be even more need for our Job Skills for New Careers Initiative and are working closely with our collaboration partners to respond to this increased need. You can find out more about this initiative and our partners at www.thcf.org/job-skills.
     I am confident this COVID-19 fog will lift someday. And by working together to help the community stay safe and provide support for those most impacted, we will produce the energy and light needed to lift this fog. Stay safe, and let’s all keep working together.
 
Phil Hanson is the President and CEO of Truman Heartland Community Foundation. Truman Heartland Community Foundation (THCF) is a 501(c)(3) public charity committed to improving the communities in and around Eastern Jackson County through cooperation with community members and donors. THCF serves the region with assets of more than $48 million and annual grants surpassing $4.8 million. For more information on charitable giving, visit www.thcf.org or call Truman Heartland at 816.836.8189.

     As TV cook Sandra Lee puts it, “Cookies are the sweetest little bit of comfort food.” Family and friends of Justin Triplet, owner of The Sweet Spot in Oak Grove, understand this and know a good cookie when they taste one.
     “My butterscotch cookies got me going in this business. Everybody loves them. I couldn’t understand why everyone went crazy over them. They’re just cookies. But I had co-workers paying me $20 a dozen for them,” Triplett said.
     Triplet’s modesty about his baking skills didn’t fly with his family.
     After taking a leave from his previous job in insurance, Triplet’s family encouraged him to pursue a baking business.
     “I love to cook. Always have. I’ve always worked in customer service and enjoyed my work, but I’m finding I really enjoy this as well.”
     Triplet opened The Sweet Spot in September, baking up a variety of treats and delivering locally. Business has grown steadily since then, and a store front on Broadway in Oak Grove is under construction.
     Popular items with customers include cookies, pies, and cinnamon rolls.
     “The cinnamon rolls are a 3rd generation family recipe. People are in love with them. It’s become a top selling item.”
     Triplet has grown his business steadily and financed it himself along the way, buying one piece of equipment for his storefront at a time and focusing on his online business.
     “I received great advice along the way to not get myself into debt growing the business. I just bought my last piece of equipment and cannot wait until the store front is ready.”
     The store front will include a coffee shop and the menu will feature a number of new items and a list of 22 pies available for purchase.
     Triplet has found his key to success has been to be genuine and kind. 
     “Simply being kind is so important. I’ve had business brought to me because of that. It’s pretty simple. Be kind and create a quality product.”
     Triplet requests two days’ notice for local deliveries. Orders can be placed online at www.thesweetspotog.com/shop or customers may call 816-627-9249. The Sweet Spot can also be found on Facebook at The Sweet Spot OG.
 

     The Planning and Zoning Commission approved final plans for two developments and approved a site plan for a Burger King restaurant during its May 13th meeting, held via video conference.
     The Commission unanimously approved the final plat for a medical marijuana cultivation facility located on approximately 6.5 acres at the east end of South Outer Belt Road on the south side of Interstate 70.
     Randy Black with Missouri Made Marijuana LLC thanked the Commission and stated he looked forward to “being a good neighbor” in Grain Valley.
     The Commission also approved the final development plan/final plat for the Lofts at Old Towne Marketplace. The development will consist of 154 rental units and a mixed-use indoor amenity center in four buildings, located at Garden Street and SW Eagles Parkway.
     Finally, the Commission approved a site plan for a Burger King to be located in the Mercado Plaza development located at the NW corner of Buckner Tarsney Road and Jefferson Road. The developer is still in discussion with MODOT regarding the placement of two left hand turn lanes, one at Buckner Tarsney Road and one at Jefferson Road.
     The site plan was approved with the understanding that the building may move slightly to the north to accommodate additional right of way needed for the left hand turns.
     Following a lengthy discussion regarding the proposed site’s parking and drive thru layout, the plan was approved with committee member Elijah Greene the lone ‘no’ vote.
     The next meeting of the Planning and Zoning Commission will be held June 10th at 6:30pm.

     QuikTrip’s newest location just north of 1-70 on Buckner Tarsney Road plans to open May 21st. The store will be just under 5,000 square feet with 16 fuel pumps. The indoor convenience area will include the company’s popular QT Kitchen, preparing pizza, subs, flatbreads, pretzels, breakfast burritos, and other favorites of QuikTrip customers.
     In addition to QT Kitchen items, the convenience area will feature fountain drinks, iced teas, and a variety of self service coffee options.
          Mike Thornbrugh, spokesperson for QuikTrip, said that with all the uncertainty surrounding COVID-19 restrictions as it relates to food and beverage service and capacity limits in stores, the company does not currently have any grand opening events scheduled.
     The impact of COVID-19 precautions on the store’s popular roller grill and other self-service items is not yet known, but Thornbrugh said these items will remain mainstays.
     The announcement of QuikTrip’s arrival in Grain Valley was met with much excitement from QuikTrip loyalists, and Thornbrugh said he knows what differentiates their company from others.
     “It’s our people. I mean that sincerely. They are the best in the business. Our guys and gals in red shirts are bright, articulate, and in perpetual motion. They make sure everything is constantly stocked and the facility is clean,” Thornbrugh said.
     Thornbrugh said the company is excited to expand into Grain Valley, and their expansion shows they are a company that continues to grow.
     “We are constantly figuring out ways to improve our business. We never sit still, and you see the results of that in our stores.”
     The QuikTrip Corporation, more commonly known as QuikTrip (QT), is a chain of convenience stores based in Tulsa, Oklahoma, primarily operating in the Midwest, Southeast, and Southern states. QuikTrip was ranked 33rd on Forbes Magazine’s list of largest private companies in 2016.
 

     Local businesses facing unprecedented challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic and related stay at home orders were hopeful for a lifeline through Small Business Administration programs authorized through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act signed into law on March 27th. Two programs, the Economic Disaster Injury Loan (EIDL) program and the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), promised emergency funding for small business owners and independent contractors/freelance/gig workers. As of April 16th, PPP funding was exhausted and EIDL funds were depleted.
     Local small business owners faced confusion over how to apply and the information needed to complete the application process. Banks also faced confusion as rules continued to change as the program was rolling out. 
     Businesses were asked to work with their local banks to complete the process, and success for hopeful business owners has been mixed.
     “Due to the overwhelming demand for these SBA Paycheck Protection Program loans, the State Bank of Missouri, unfortunately, had to limit applications to only existing State Bank customers. To date, our bank has provided close to $2.8 million dollars in PPP loans to assist our small business customers,” State Bank of Missouri President Mark Heins said.
     The $2.8 million dollars provided by State Bank represents 53 loans to local businesses.
     National news stories have focused on large loans granted to large chain businesses, such as Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse and Shake Shack, seemingly pushing out small “mom and pop” businesses from accessing funds intended to assist in their survival. Congress is currently ironing out details to pass additional aid while many small business owners wait to see if the next round will provide any relief to the daily reality they face.
     Snowie Shaved Ice of KC owners Jeff and Corrie Wolff are usually gearing up for a busy season of serving up shaved ice to local school carnivals and parties, baseball tournaments, 5Ks and athletic events, and area festivals. Instead, the Grain Valley company is facing an uncertain future.
     “Snowie is essentially shut down right now at what should be the start of our season.  We have a concession stand at the Independence Events Center that has been shuttered for the last 6 weeks and has no opening date in sight. We still have costs associated with keeping that stand in place there. For the Snowie bus, our main concern is that our business model is not aimed at driving around in subdivisions all day; my wife (Corrie) and I both work full time jobs and we are now teachers to three elementary and middle-school aged boys,” Jeff Wolff said.
     The community, sporting, and school events Snowie Shaved Ice of KC depends on have disappeared due to the pandemic and their return in the foreseeable future is uncertain.
     “We will likely have zero income from the Snowie bus for at least the first half of our season. We have monthly expenses that must be met regardless, such as payments on our equipment, insurance, food handlers permits and inspection fees, business license fees, property taxes, sponsorship agreement installments, etc. Since all of our income is earned during the summer months and has to provide us with a nest egg that can last us through the winter billing cycle, we could be in really bad shape if we can’t do business this year,” Wolff said.
     “I applied for the EIDL program on the morning it was announced as being available. My application for an immediate cash infusion of $10,000 was submitted and I was told I would get a response within three days.  I have heard absolutely nothing since, and as of April 20th the SBA says it has funded 210 loans in the entire state of Missouri, so I’m pretty confident that I won’t be receiving any help.”  
     Jayci Stratton, owner of Studio Five Beauty Boutique, has likewise been unsuccessful in securing small business emergency funding.
     “I applied for the $10,000 SBA loan about two weeks ago and have not received any communication back.”
     “There are nine of us in our salon. Each of us has filed for unemployment and no one has received anything. In fact, everyone was initially denied except for me, and that is because of how I file as a business. But my coworkers keep getting told that the system isn’t set up for self-employed people yet and to keep checking back,” Stratton said.
     The Missouri Department of Labor and Industrial Relations’ (DOLIR’s) Division of Employment Security (DES) announced April 20th it is now processing unemployment claims for the self-employed, gig workers, independent contractors, and those who otherwise do not qualify for regular unemployment benefits and have been impacted by the coronavirus. Under the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program, those who qualify will be eligible for weekly benefit payments of between $133 and $320 per week plus a $600 federal supplement available under the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation (FPUC) program.
     The federal guidelines provide the $600 federal supplement only applies to weeks that are payable from March 29, 2020, through July 25, 2020. These two programs are not regular unemployment insurance but are new, fully federally funded assistance programs.
     To be eligible for a PUA claim, individuals must first file a regular unemployment claim and be found ineligible. Most self-employed individuals who file a claim will receive a notice that they are not an insured worker. This is because they are not covered under the regular unemployment insurance system.
     Individuals in these groups who have been negatively impacted by the coronavirus, and have not already filed a claim, are encouraged to file online at uinteract.labor.mo.gov.
 

     In the past few weeks, efforts to stop the spread of coronavirus has had an unprecedented impact on nearly every aspect of our lives.
     As we work together to navigate these challenging times, please know that Truman Heartland Community Foundation is here to help. Our team is working hard to help the community endure this crisis, this includes creating a new section on our website focused on the nonprofits serving Eastern Jackson County during COVID-19 and fast-tracking our 2020 competitive grants cycle to offer flexibility and funding to nonprofits when they need it most. We are also reaching out to food pantries and church programs throughout the area in a coordinated effort to support people laid off due to the coronavirus.
     As nonessential businesses shuttered to observe stay-at-home orders and Center for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines, millions of Americans lost their jobs. In Missouri, nearly 238,000 people filed new unemployment claims in the first three weeks after the coronavirus crisis began. And according to estimates released in early April by the Economic Policy Institute, the unemployment rate may hit nearly 16 percent by July – higher than at any point since the Great Depression.
     There is a lot of uncertainty in our lives right now. It’s disruptive and unsettling. Hardworking people throughout Eastern Jackson County are struggling to provide basic essentials for their families and are navigating the unemployment system for the first time.
     Our recently launched Job Skills for New Careers initiative can help. A collaborative partnership with Community Services League (CSL), Herndon Career Center, Mid-Continent Public Library and University of Central Missouri (UCM), the new Truman Heartland Community Foundation community initiative will provide tuition-free job training and support to help people get on the path to higher paying in-demand careers and break the cycle of poverty.
     Through this initiative, participants will be matched with support services through CSL, community resources through Mid-Continent Public Library and opportunities for trainings available through Herndon Career Center and UCM’s Lee’s Summit campus in fields that pay living wages and are in high demand in the region, including healthcare, other medical fields and skilled industrial trades. These services will all be provided at no cost to the participants.
     We are committed to this work now more than ever, but it would not be possible without community support. Support from generous Community Foundation fundholders who have contributed nearly $110,000 to provide trainings in 2020. It’s possible thanks to the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, who has provided a $60,000 grant so that participants will receive wraparound support services, such as public benefits counseling and financial coaching that will help remove barriers that may prevent program participants from reaching their goals both during the program and for the future.
     So, while we cannot predict how things will unfold in the weeks and months to come, this program will provide an opportunity for hard-working people who are struggling to get ahead build new skills and connect with resources that will help them withstand this trying time and get back to work in a better paying job. The stay-at-home orders have put the training that would be happening right now on pause. On April 29, we will meet over Zoom with our collaboration partners to chart our path forward. Learn more about the Job Skills for New Careers initiative and how you can support this effort at www.thcf.org/job-skills.
     Each of us already know or will soon know someone who is unemployed because of this crisis. Our program can particularly benefit those working in low paying retail or restaurant jobs who have been laid off in huge numbers. Please share this information with them and encourage them to visit newskills.cslcares.org and complete a simple application. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis with trainings starting as soon as possible. Help us spread the word about this program while containing the spread of the virus.
 
Phil Hanson is the President and CEO of Truman Heartland Community Foundation. Truman Heartland Community Foundation (THCF) is a 501(c)(3) public charity committed to improving the communities in and around Eastern Jackson County through cooperation with community members and donors. THCF serves the region with assets of more than $54 million and annual grants surpassing $4.8 million. For more information on charitable giving, visit www.thcf.org or call Truman Heartland at 816.836.8189.
 

     With the closure of most service businesses due to the stay at home order, many residents have a new appreciation for those who provide services that make daily life easier. After nearly a month at home, “quarantine hair” has become a topic of discussion and worry. Stylists and barbers caution against picking up the shears, instead encouraging clients to take only necessary steps to maintain their locks until the pros can get back to work.
     Jayci Stratton, owner of Studio Five Beauty Boutique in Grain Valley, offers a few tips for those feeling the urge to take matters into their own hands.
 
1.  For those who are not working and do not need to maintain a professional appearance, home conditioning treatments are a great option. Use this time to take a break from heat styling and amp up the moisture treatments.  
 
2.  For those who do need to maintain a professional appearance for work, use a colored root spray (we like Kevin Murphy's RetouchMe) to help disguise the regrowth. These sprays won't be an exact match, but they can help to conceal your natural color until things get back to normal and you can come in for your retouch service.  This is a much cheaper alternative than having to do a color correction because something went wrong with a home dye job.
 
3.  Avoid trimming hair if at all possible!  If you have bangs, you can trim those by cutting up into your bangs and taking just the tips of the hair. Do not cut across the bangs.  
 
4.  For the guys, your best bet is to take beard trimmers and have a family member trim your neck hairs and sideburns around your ears.  That will at least keep the cut looking cleaner and less undone.
 
5.  Our lash and brow stylist suggests letting your eyebrows fully grow. When you are able to get to the salon, the pros will create a better shape for you. For those who like to wear eyelash extensions, right now is a good time to strengthen your eye lashes by using a lash serum to help your lashes grow longer and thicker.
 
6.  If clients are in need of their favorite products, many salons are offering curbside delivery or drop shipping for very cheap. 
 
     “Most importantly, the absolute best way you can show your stylist some love and support is to avoid doing your hair at home. We will be ready to get to work once this order is lifted!  I think I can safely speak for most any stylist in any salon when I say that we miss you and we miss our friendships with you,” Stratton said.
 

     It's shocking the amount of information that is online about each and every one of us. A few years ago, it was fun to get on Google to see how much information there was about me. Of course, most of that information was from SEO information about my company Integral, social media posts or from the many TV segments I've appeared on. Now, a Google search will turn up personal information on me and the rest of you too and that's a pretty big problem. If you're like me and you want to take control of your privacy and online data, here are some tips to get you started
     Data is king in our digital world and it turns out many large companies have been collecting and selling our data for years. Sometimes that's not too bad of a thing when Amazon knows what we like to purchase and makes suggestions of compatible products, but when you have the general public, ex romantic partners, online bullies and abusers getting a hold of your private information, it becomes a major problem. If you want to be a little more incognito online, here's what you need to do:
 
1. Google knows everything, but it can help you take control.
     Google knows a lot about you, but you can use the search engine to find out what information of yours is in the public domain. This is important because it can also show what information the average joe or jane can find out about you. Do a quick Google search on yourself and find out what information is being shared. Start the removal process from Google by visiting this link https://support.google.com/websearch/troubleshooter/9685456
     Keep in mind Google can only remove so much about you from the web. For information about you that is being shared on specific web sites and blogs, you will have to contact the owner of the web site to get your information removed.

2. Make Yourself Invisible.
     Strangers can get quite a bit of information from you on social media and if you're worried about people spying on you, you might be tempted to delete your accounts. One of the quick ways you can keep hidden on social media is to change your name to something else. This will work for a while as many social media platforms frown on this and it's against the terms of service. Instead, you should keep your accounts private so they can only be viewed by people you 'friend'. Here's how to do that for each social media platform:

Twitter:
     To change your privacy, open Twitter on a web browser. On the left navigation, click More > Settings and privacy. On the main pane, click Privacy and safety. Twitter protect your tweets
Beneath the Tweets section, click Protect your Tweets. A confirmation box will pop up, so click Protect. This only protects your tweets. An extra step is needed to protect your entire account. Go to your profile and click Edit Profile to customize the visibility or the information contained within most of these elements.
 
Facebook:
     Unfortunately for Facebook, people can always find your Facebook profile unless you've blocked them. There are several steps to keep your account safe. Open Facebook in a web browser and click the dropdown arrow and then click Settings. Next, click Privacy from the left-hand navigation. From here, you can customize the visibility of your profile. Only Me and Friends of Friends are the two most secure settings. The most secure way to protect yourself on Facebook would be an alias. Again, this violates the Terms of Service so I will leave that up to you if you decide to do it. It also helps if you use a profile picture that isn't of you.

Instagram:
     Your account can be seen by the public unless you set your account to private. To set your account private, go to your Instagram profile and tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines)
Tap Settings, then tap Privacy > Account Privacy then Slide Private account on. As with Facebook, you want to change your profile picture and consider using an alias to keep safe.

Linkedin:
    Fortunately, Linkedin has privacy settings that you can turn on to keep your account secure. From a browser, click on the ME option from the Linkedin menu, then click on Privacy Controls heading. From there, you can change others can see when they view your profile.

3. Find out if you've been 'pwned'.
     Data breaches are one of the ways your information makes it out in the public domain and www.haveibeenpwned.com is a great way to find out if your data has been leaked. Visit the website and enter your email address. If you've been 'pwned' it's a good chance that your information is floating on the dark web. If this is the case, move on to step 4...

4. Pay to Have Your information Removed.
     There are several services that have popped ip in recent years that allow you to keep your information safe from data brokers. A services like Delete.me https://joindeleteme.com/ will keep your information off all of the web sites where the public can find information about you. You can also use Unroll.me to kill those web-based subscriptions that you were automatically signed up for.
 
     It's not an easy process to keep your information private, but if you follow the above steps you can start to keep your data off the Internet.

     Want to ask me a tech question? Send it to burton@callintegralnow.com. If you prefer to connect with me on social media, you can find me on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter and watch great tech tip videos on our YouTube channel. I love technology. I've read all of the manuals and I want to make technology fun and exciting for you. 
 
    If you need on-site or remote tech support for your Windows\Macintosh, computers, laptops, Android/Apple smartphone, tablets, printers, routers, smart home devices, and anything that connects to the Internet, please feel free to contact my team at Integral. My team of friendly tech experts are always standing by to answer your questions and help make your technology useful and fun. Reach out to us a www.callintegralnow.com or phone at 888.256.0829.