The Plug In Program at Grace Chapel in Lexington, Massachusetts

Plug In Program
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For more than five years, Anthony Freddura has served as a senior business systems analyst at MultiPlan, Inc., in Massachusetts. Anthony Freddura balances his professional activities with his commitment to Grace Chapel, a nondenominational Christian church in Lexington.

Grace Chapel offers a number of programs and growth opportunities for congregants, including the Plug In project. Described as an instrument for life change, Plug In involves 10 weeks of small group discussion, personal reflection and study, and faith in action. The program is designed to help participants build their relationship with God and implement faith in their daily lives.

During the Plug In program, participants must engage in a minimum of eight of the 11 group sessions and set aside time every day for personal reflection to connect with God. Plug In participants also are required to support an outreach opportunity, join a focused prayer experience, participate in the commissioning/celebration evening, and complete a three-month serving opportunity. According to Grace Chapel, Plug In is perfect for long-time Christians and those new to the faith.

Role of the Business Systems Analyst

Epsilon
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As product owner and lead business systems analyst for Epsilon, Anthony Freddura builds on more than 13 years of relevant experience. Anthony Freddura comes to his role following service as senior business systems analyst for the MultiPlan health care organization and has led as principal analyst for Fidelity Investments.

As the position title indicates, the business systems analyst exists where the duties of a business analyst and a systems analyst intersect. Traditionally, a business analyst works with a company to assess and work towards organizational needs, while a systems analyst performs highly specialized work on a company’s information technology systems. The business systems analyst maintains a similar focus on technical systems, yet his or her role focuses more on using these systems to meet the organization’s strategic needs.

The business systems analyst must have a comprehensive understanding of the technological resources available to an organization. He or she must be familiar with software applications that address human resources, finance, and other operational needs and must be able to use this technology to move the business forward. Job functions often involve assessment of a business need and the creation of a technology-based solution that he or she then implements with the help of a personnel support team.

Considerations in Choosing Human Resources Technology

Epsilon
Image: epsilon.com

Anthony Freddura, an experienced business systems professional, draws on an in-depth knowledge of available professional technologies. Anthony Freddura has served since 2013 as product owner and lead business systems analyst for Epsilon, where he oversees solutions for human resources and other functions.

Options for human resources technology systems have increased dramatically in recent years, and this proliferation can pose a challenge to decision-makers within an organization. Decision-makers have to consider whether a vendor has a reputation that they can trust and the capability to provide the needed support services. Similarly, while a technology may include any number of value-added functions and analytical tools, it is important for the implementing organization to consider whether the program is user-friendly and likely to support the work of human resources personnel.

Ultimately, the selection of a human resources technology system should come down to whether the product aligns with the organization’s needs. Some companies require highly customizable programs that adapt to new talent development processes, while others prefer a system that facilitates the implementation of best practices. A company must select the technology that fits with current business processes while also offering the analytical tools that support forward momentum.

Choosing the Right Guitar for Beginners

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Since 2009, Anthony Freddura has served as a senior business systems analyst at MultiPlan, Inc., a healthcare cost management solutions provider based in Waltham, Massachusetts. In his free time, Anthony Freddura enjoys reading, writing, and playing the guitar.

While guitars can be broadly categorized as either acoustic or electric, within each category these instruments vary in terms of sound, size, string type, and shape. The many variations can make it difficult for a beginning players to choose which type of guitar to buy. To get started with the selection process, one should decide on the type of music that they would like to play.

The most common, and perhaps most versatile, of all guitar types is the steel-stringed acoustic, which can be used to play anything from folk and country to blues and pop music. The nylon-stringed classical guitar is another acoustic option that can also be used to play folk and pop, but it is particularly suited for classical, Latin, and jazz music.

In addition to acoustic guitars, there are a wide variety of electric guitar styles available for those who want to play rock, heavy metal, blues, jazz, or even country. The main difference between electric and acoustic guitars is that electric guitars use amplification instead of a hollow body to project sound. Many characteristics of electric guitars, such as string size and neck thickness, make them good guitars for beginners, but the added cost of an amplifier may make them a little more expensive than some acoustic options.

Learning Musical Instruments as an Adult By Anthony Freddura

Learning Musical Instruments as an Adult
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Children may have an easier time learning a musical instrument, but all adults need to spark competence in an instrument is an interest in an instrument they enjoy hearing others play. Think of one of your favorite pieces of music and use the beauty, rhythm, and emotion invoked by one of your favorite songs, and use it as a motivator. You might never become the next Beethoven, but that’s not the point. The point is to learn something new and creative.

Youngsters enrolled in band are required to practice 30 to 60 minutes every day, while adults have jobs to maintain and families to provide for. Even so, if force yourself to practice your instrument for at least one hour, you will improve. Reserve time on the weekends if you must.

Finally, take your time. Adults are goal-oriented and tend to leap over steps in a process in order to achieve a result faster. Invest in a beginner’s music book for your instrument of choice and follow every lesson to the letter. Eventually, those lessons will become ingrained and form a solid foundation you’ll need later on.

About the Author

Anthony Freddura serves MultiPlan, Inc., as a contract senior business systems analyst. In his free time, he enjoys playing guitar for worship services and retreats hosted by Grace Chapel in Lexington, Massachusetts.

World Vision Announces Expansion of Clean Water Programs

Clean Water Programs
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A business systems analyst and project manager with over 20 years of experience, Anthony Freddura has lived and worked in the greater Boston area for over a decade. In addition to participating in community events as a member of the Grace Chapel congregation, Anthony Freddura is a passionate supporter of World Vision.

Since its beginning as a small child-sponsorship program in 1953, World Vision has grown into one of the leading Christian humanitarian organizations in the world, as well as the largest nongovernmental sponsor of clean water programs in developing countries. With a presence in more than 100 countries, World Vision provides one person with clean water every 30 seconds.

Diseases from contaminated water claim the lives of nearly 1,000 children under the age of 5 every day, and in response, the 2015 U.N. Sustainable Development Summit announced a major initiative to provide universal access to safe water by 2030. In support of this goal, World Vision has announced plans to expand its existing programs, supported by a $40 million donation from philanthropists Dana and David Dornsife. As part of the commitment, World Vision will expand to new communities over the next several years, with the goal of providing one person with access to clean water every 10 seconds by 2020, and continuing until universal access is achieved by 2030.

LIFE Communities at Grace Chapel by Anthony Freddura

A nondenominational Christian church located in Lexington, Massachusetts, Grace Chapel was conceived in 1948 when small groups of residents scheduled Bible studies in their homes. Grace Chapel keeps that tradition alive through LIFE Communities, which are small Bible study groups for fellowship and discussion.

Members of LIFE Communities meet in a designated home or on the Grace Chapel grounds. Beyond Bible study, these smaller gatherings offer opportunities for people to get together over good food, conversation, and a shared interest in the word of God. LIFE Communities participants tend to form close bonds of friendship and family.

Grace Chapel makes study guides for these groups available on its website and offers a biweekly discussion for those who wish to further their studies. Locating and joining a LIFE Community is simple, and seekers may visit http://www.grace.org/groups for more information.

About Anthony Freddura: A Senior Business Systems Analyst in his professional life, Anthony Freddura looks forward to meeting with his LIFE Community. Mr. Freddura also enjoys participating in charitable activities with his fellow congregants.