Mold Remediation in Suffolk, VA

by Whitten HeltonNavy public affairs

Matthew Eshnaur, a former Navy lieutenant commander and native of Platte City, serves the U.S. Navy assigned to Commander, Naval Information Forces (NAVIFOR).

Eshnaur graduated from Platte County High School in 2006.

The skills and values needed to succeed in the Navy are similar to those found in Platte City.

“When I went to high school, I played football and we learned the pressure of maintaining a legacy after being on a 52-game winning streak with three state championships,” said Eshnaur. “I learned the lesson of commitment, hard work and pride. The football program helped me serve as a naval officer by embracing the legacy of the U.S. Navy and those who had served before me.”

Eshnaur joined the Navy 14 years ago. Today, Eshnaur serves as a Nuclear Command Control Communications Program Manager.

“I was born in Groton, Conn. in a Navy family,” said Eshnaur. “I was proud of the traditions of the Navy and the exposure my dad’s career in the submarine service presented as a child. I learned of my family’s heritage in the armed forces. There has been a family member in every major war since we arrived in Jamestown.”

Navy information warfare (IW) plays in a role in every Navy mission, every day, around the globe. NAVIFOR’s mission is to ensure the more than 60,000 IW sailors and civilians in the fleet – experts in cyberspace, communications, intelligence, meteorology, oceanography, cryptology, electronic warfare and space – are trained, equipped, certified and ready to meet the Navy’s warfighting missions.

“Information Warfare extends from seabed to space, and is critical to our Navy’s success in competition, crisis and conflict,” said Vice Adm. Mike Vernazza, the Navy’s IBoss and commander of NAVIFOR. “The more than 60,000 IW professionals across the globe are our asymmetric advantage – their expertise, professionalism, imagination and creativity are key to our Navy overcoming any adversary at pace and at scale.”

With 90% of global commerce traveling by sea and access to the internet relying on the security of undersea fiber optic cables, Navy officials continue to emphasize that the prosperity of the United States is directly linked to recruiting and retaining talented people from across the rich fabric of America.

Eshnaur serves a Navy that operates far forward, around the world and around the clock, promoting the nation’s prosperity and security.

“We will earn and reinforce the trust and confidence of the American people every day,” said Adm. Lisa Franchetti, chief of naval operations. “Together we will deliver the Navy the nation needs.”

Eshnaur has many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during military service.

“I’m especially proud to have been the Conning Officer on the USS San Antonio when Special Forces captured Abu Anas as-Libi and brought him to stand trial in New York for his role in the 9/11 attacks,” said Eshnaur.

“I’m also proud of my current role in the NC3 program because it reminds me of when I was a lineman in football. We do not get the glitz and glam of a quarterback, but without our efforts, nothing else would be possible. In that way, Nuclear Command, Control, and Communications capabilities serve as the backbone of our strategic deterrence mission for the Department of Defense, and I have supported that mission for the last four years, which has allowed me to directly shape Navy policy, procedure and capability.”

Eshnaur can take pride in serving America through military service.

“When I think of my service in the Navy, I think of the Teddy Roosevelt quote, ‘A good Navy is not a provocation to war. It is the surest guarantee of peace,'” said Eshnaur.

Eshnaur is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.

“I’d like to thank my wife and kids, my dad, Mike, my mom, Kim, Capt. Mark Rios, Cmdr. Jeff Stuart, Skip Hiser, Rear Adm. Tom Moninger, Capt. Corey Keniston, Capt. Anthony Littman, Cmdr. Jeff Grzebin and Cmdr. Scott Tollefson,” added Eshnaur.

Tags: platte cityplatte county

Shaconda Griffin officially launched Created for a Purpose, Inc. in 2019 to help girls and women find a sense of direction and determine their community impact.

SUFFOLK, Va. — What is your purpose in life?

It's a question that seems straightforward, often asked casually or pondered in moments of self-reflection. Finding the answer, however, can be a complex and deeply personal journey.

Shaconda Griffin said she discovered her calling in life when she became a youth advisor at her church, finding joy and fulfillment in mentorship. Through her role, she said she guided people through their personal struggles, helped them build confidence, and encouraged them to set goals for their future.

"I had a passion for working with kids... and just helping them be the productive men and women that God has designed them to be," Griffin said. "But as a female, I knew that my greater passion was for young ladies."

That passion, she said, is the driving force behind her career choices, leading her to dedicate herself to roles that empower and uplift young people and women.

"I am currently a licensed clinical social worker," Griffin said. "I used to be a foster care social worker. I used to provide in-home counseling for youth."

It also shaped the way Griffin chose to impact her community, guiding her to create initiatives that focus on empowerment, personal growth, and advocacy for underrepresented women and youth.

"I want to, you know, be a resource for the young girls," Griffin said. "I want to be someone that's a bridge between, you know, parent and school, just a safe space for them."

In 2019, Griffin officially launched Created for a Purpose, Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to empowering young people and women to discover their unique strengths and pursue their dreams with confidence.

"Our goal, our mission, is just to help people identify their purpose and to just live purpose-driven lives," Griffin said. "I felt like I didn't identify my purpose until a very late age. And so, for me, I wanted to help young people identify their purpose early, because it will allow them to like, you know, stray away from distractions as they get older and, kind of, peer pressure, and all kinds of, you know, negative feelers."

The nonprofit provides essential life guidance in life for girls ages 11-17 through its free mentorship program, Ladies with a Purpose. The program pairs girls with dedicated mentors who help them navigate the challenges of their youth and teach them valuable life skills.

"When you have a mentor, not only does it start at a young age, but the goal for mentorship is to continue as you become a young adult and adult, and you'll have this lifelong partner," Griffin said. "We offer individual mentoring. We offer group mentoring. The young ladies also engage in community service activities as well as extra-curricular activities."

Griffin also works to strengthen the bond between mothers and their daughters through workshops and events, like the Mommy & Me: Miss Purpose Pageant and the Mommy & Me: Sneaker & Tea, that create opportunities for connection, communication and growth. She and her team of volunteers organize sessions that focus on building trust, improving communication, and navigating the unique dynamics of the mother-daughter relationship.

"It allows them to just be the women that they are supposed to be," Griffin said. "We also have different speakers form the community to come out to teach the young ladies and the moms, you know, just how to be a better me."

The objective is to empower every participant to discover their unique path. Programs are designed to celebrate each person's strengths and encourage them to embrace their true selves, breaking free from personal doubts.

"My goal is to just make sure that everyone feels as if they are destined for something," Griffin said. "I'm shaping these young girls to be strong, independent, self-empowered women. And once they get to that point, they're [going to] impact somebody, whether it's the job, their first job, whether it's in school, or going to college, and so forth. So, I'm starting with them now, but they're [going to] carry that for a lifetime."

Griffin emphasized that when people uncover their gifts and talents, it's more than just a personal revelation-- they have the power to not only change their lives but positively impact those around them.

"When you feel like you have a purpose, then you're able to give, you know, give back. You're able to believe in yourself when you know that there's something at the end of the road," Griffin said. "It's affecting the whole community."

You can support Created for a Purpose, Inc. by donating or volunteering.

The nonprofit especially needs more mentors, preferably at least 21 years old, for the Ladies with a Purpose program.

This year, we're at 20 young ladies," Griffin. "And I started with 5 mentors. And this year, we're at 13. And so, we're growing each year."

Girls ages 11-17 are also invited to sign up for Ladies with a Purpose. Click here to contact Created for a Purpose, Inc.

"We're a small nonprofit and we have some ways to go, but I feel like what we're doing in the community is making a difference," Griffin said. "It's not about the quantity, it's about the quality. And I feel like we provide quality services to our young girls. That's why our young ladies keep coming back. And we're [going to] continue to keep making a difference and keep making an impact with who we have and who's interested in us, and I enjoy each and every day."

You can keep up with Created for a Purpose, Inc.'s events through the group's website, Facebook page, and Instagram account.