E&I Host: Sue Peters, E&I Vice President K-12 Engagement
Guests: Rick Gay, Executive Director of Business Services, Fort Bend ISD and Emily Rosenburg, PaymentWorks Regional Director

Payment fraud is an increasing threat to school district budgets—but it doesn’t have to be. In our latest episode of Cooperatively Speaking, we’re joined by Emily Rosenberg of PaymentWorks and Ric Gay of Fort Bend ISD to discuss how districts can proactively protect themselves through smarter vendor onboarding and cross-functional collaboration.

Learn how to spot vulnerabilities, implement low-effort fraud prevention strategies, and take advantage of E&I’s trusted partnership with PaymentWorks to simplify and secure your processes. Whether you’re facing fraud now or want to stay one step ahead, this episode is packed with practical guidance you won’t want to miss.

Tune in now to get ahead of payment fraud and protect what matters most—your district’s financial health.

Cooperatively Speaking is hosted by E&I Cooperative Services, the only member-owned, non-profit procurement cooperative exclusively focused on serving the needs of education. Visit our website at www.eandi.org/podcast.

Contact Us
Have questions, comments, or ideas for a future episode? We'd love to hear from you! Contact Cooperatively Speaking at podcast@eandi.org.

This podcast is for informational purposes only. The views expressed in this podcast may not be those of the host(s) or E&I Cooperative Services.

E&I Host: Dennis Hyde, E&I Category Marketing Manager
Guest: Jeff Hunt, Partner at Legend Labs

In this episode of Cooperatively Speaking, E&I’s Dennis Hyde is joined by Jeff Hunt, founder of Legend Labs and author of Brand Under Fire: A New Playbook for Crisis Management in the Digital Age. Legend Labs specializes in branding and campus crisis assessments and management. Jeff discusses how, in today's digital era, local incidents can rapidly escalate into global news. He outlines essential principles for institutions to authentically and transparently manage crises with speed and agility. Additionally, Jeff explains how Legend Labs assists schools in conducting vulnerability assessments to identify and address potential crisis points. This podcast discusses campus crisis issues and strategies for addressing the challenges that keep college presidents up at night.

Relevant Links:

• E&I Legend Labs Contract
• Legend Labs Website

Cooperatively Speaking is hosted by E&I Cooperative Services, the only member-owned, non-profit procurement cooperative exclusively focused on serving the needs of education. Visit our website at www.eandi.org/podcast.

Contact Us
Have questions, comments, or ideas for a future episode? We'd love to hear from you! Contact Cooperatively Speaking at podcast@eandi.org.

This podcast is for informational purposes only. The views expressed in this podcast may not be those of the host(s) or E&I Cooperative Services.

E&I Host: Dennis Hyde, E&I Category Marketing Manager
Guest: Erol Bal, HP Sales Navigator at B&H

In this episode of Cooperatively Speaking, E&I’s Dennis Hyde is joined by Erol Bal from B&H. B&H sells tens of thousands of computers and laptops to students and schools annually. Erol answers questions about the new Windows 11 upgrade, and points out that Windows 10 will still be operational, but students and faculty will lose important software updates that protect them from cyber threats. Erol also discusses the new features around Copilot, which helps students stay organized and optimizes the power of their laptop. Windows 11 offers additional upgrades including asset tagging, so enterprise customers can easily disable a device if a laptop goes missing. Erol even discusses how schools sometimes "over buy" in laptops they think they need, and how B&H can be a consulting partner to help find the optimal device for your students and faculty, instead of the most expensive device.

Relevant Links:

• E&& B&H Contract
• B&H Website
• E&I Podcast | Procuring Apple Products at B&H: The New Certified Apple Reseller for Higher Education
• "Unboxing" Apple Products on Campus, and Why an Apple Reseller Certified for Higher Ed May Save Time and Money

Cooperatively Speaking is hosted by E&I Cooperative Services, the only member-owned, non-profit procurement cooperative exclusively focused on serving the needs of education. Visit our website at www.eandi.org/podcast.

Contact Us
Have questions, comments, or ideas for a future episode? We'd love to hear from you! Contact Cooperatively Speaking at podcast@eandi.org.

This podcast is for informational purposes only. The views expressed in this podcast may not be those of the host(s) or E&I Cooperative Services.