Ms. Karen Simmons-Beathea

Bugg and other board members say their attention was largely consumed by a wage-discrimination lawsuit filed by former BCAC executive director Karen Simmons-Beathea, who was fired in 1996.
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The case was settled in April 2000 with Simmons-Beathea receiving a $45,000 settlement that was covered by the station's insurance.

Bugg was hired at an annual salary of $40,000, 20 percent more than Simmons-Beathea made.

-- Karen Simmons-Beathea, of Washington, DC, May 11, 2000.Karen Simmons-Beathea was hired as the first Executive Director of Baltimore Cable Access Corporation in 1993.Though she was continually promised salary increases, she was kept at her starting salary throughout her three years of employment at BCAC.In 1996, Ms. Simmons-Beathea presented the board of directors with a study, which she alleged demonstrated that she was significantly underpaid compared to male executive directors in other markets, which operate community-based cable television.A month after this presentation, the company terminated her and replaced he with a less qualified male at a salary higher than what she had been receiving.Ms. Simmons-Beathea filed a complaint with the EEOC, was assigned an EEOC attorney, and settled her case this year.

Launched the One America Initiative

-- Karen Simmons-Beathea, of Washington, DC, May 11, 2000.Karen Simmons-Beathea was hired as the first Executive Director of Baltimore Cable Access Corporation in 1993.Though she was continually promised salary increases, she was kept at her starting salary throughout her three years of employment at BCAC.In 1996, Ms. Simmons-Beathea presented the board of directors with a study, which she alleged demonstrated that she was significantly underpaid compared to male executive directors in other markets, which operate community-based cable television.A month after this presentation, the company terminated her and replaced he with a less qualified male at a salary higher than what she had been receiving.Ms. Simmons-Beathea filed a complaint with the EEOC, was assigned an EEOC attorney, and settled her case this year.

Launched the One America Initiative

Karen Simmons-BeatheaConsultant, DC Department of Human ServicesFormer Executive Director & CEO, Baltimore Cable Access CorporationMember, American Women Economic Development CorporationMember, National Association of Female ExecutivesMember, Maryland Association of Nonprofit Organizations

- Karen Simmons-Beathea, of Washington, DC, May 11, 2000.Karen Simmons-Beathea was hired as the first Executive Director of Baltimore Cable Access Corporation in 1993.Though she was continually promised salary increases, she was kept at her starting salary throughout her three years of employment at BCAC.In 1996, Ms. Simmons-Beathea presented the board of directors with a study, which she alleged demonstrated that she was significantly underpaid compared to male executive directors in other markets, which operate community-based cable television.A month after this presentation, the company terminated her and replaced he with a less qualified male at a salary higher than what she had been receiving.Ms. Simmons-Beathea filed a complaint with the EEOC, was assigned an EEOC attorney, and settled her case this year.

- Karen Simmons-Beathea, of Washington, DC, May 11, 2000.Karen Simmons-Beathea was hired as the first Executive Director of Baltimore Cable Access Corporation in 1993.Though she was continually promised salary increases, she was kept at her starting salary throughout her three years of employment at BCAC.In 1996, Ms. Simmons-Beathea presented the board of directors with a study, which she alleged demonstrated that she was significantly underpaid compared to male executive directors in other markets, which operate community-based cable television.A month after this presentation, the company terminated her and replaced he with a less qualified male at a salary higher than what she had been receiving.Ms. Simmons-Beathea filed a complaint with the EEOC, was assigned an EEOC attorney, and settled her case this year.

Launched the One America Initiative

THEN: America's leaders lacked a coordinated effort to resolve problems.America was struggling to maintain the sense of community that makes our nation strong.