Category Archives: Society

The Latest news about what is effecting Society in North America, These PR articles, bring the newest technologies, initiatives and helpful tools to those who need them.

Society: Disabled Issues / Disabilities

Apollo’s Jennifer Gold Receives Prestigious President’s Call to Service Award

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In her role at Apollo Information Systems, Jennifer Gold leads the charge on proactive cybersecurity threat intelligence, including election security. Her dedication to forging robust public-private partnerships has significantly strengthened cybersecurity measures across various sectors.

As a founding member of the National Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity Information Sharing Analysis Organization (NAIC-ISAO), Jennifer Gold is at the forefront of artificial intelligence and cybersecurity. Her recognized expertise, highlighted by her membership in the Forbes Technology Council, positions her as a leading voice in the technology sector. Gold’s insights and innovative perspectives have established her as a sought-after speaker and a respected commentator in the media.

“Receiving this award is a profound honor, made possible by the extraordinary partnerships I’m so fortunate to have.” Gold commented.

This award underscores Jennifer Gold’s remarkable achievements and her continued influence in enhancing cybersecurity education, awareness, and accessibility, thereby strengthening national digital defenses and inspiring future generations in service and innovation.

About AmeriCorps

AmeriCorps, the US federal agency for national service and volunteerism, engages over 200,000 members annually in addressing national challenges. Learn more at AmeriCorps.gov.

About Points of Light

Points of Light is a global nonprofit organization that inspires millions to make a difference. Visit pointsoflight.org for more information.

About Apollo Information Systems

A leading provider of cybersecurity solutions in the USA and Canada, Apollo Information Apollo Information Systems, Corp., is a security leader for high-stakes organizations and businesses. Apollo’s threat intelligence-enabled approach creates a proactive and dynamic defense cybersecurity posture, so organizations can get ahead of threats before they become incidents and have the time to defend what is important. Apollo has a legacy of creating urgent and active resilience using the best tools, approaches, and solutions available across multiple industry verticals and government branches.

Apollo’s approach focuses on the unique risk profile of the organization and aligns all efforts business outcomes and an efficient allocation of protection with a predictable cybersecurity budget. Apollo is led by some of the most respected professionals in the security industry who are steeped in real-world operational experience across multiple industry verticals and government branches.

Apollo’s enormous suite of solutions and services offers complete cybersecurity defense from early warning and threat intelligence to professional advisory services and incident response. For more information, visit http://www.apollo-is.com.

Media Contact

Mark Havenner, Apollo Information Systems, 1 3104694371, [email protected], https://apollo-is.com/

SOURCE Apollo Information Systems

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Society: Social Services

Thompson Coe Makes Annual Donations to Hunger Relief Organization and Local Nonprofits

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“As the recent USDA data shows, the mission of Feeding America is even more important today to ensure we end food insecurity and put food on the table for our neighbors facing hunger,” said Shawn Phelan, Chair of the Management Committee. “Everyone at Thompson Coe is committed to helping others and finding ways to make a difference for those in our community.”

Feeding America is the largest hunger-relief organization in the United States. Through a network of more than 200 food banks, 21 statewide food bank associations, and over 60,000 partner agencies, food pantries and meal programs, they have helped provide 5.2 billion meals to 40 million people in need last year.

Additionally, the Thompson Coe Austin office gathered donations for The Settlement Home for Children fulfilling the wish list for four teenaged residents and gift cards for the House staff. Plus, the Houston office adopted 91 angels through the Houston Young Lawyers Foundation Adopt-An-Angel program from the Thompson Elementary School.

For 73 years, Thompson Coe has been recognized as a top tier litigation firm and a national authority on insurance and sophisticated coverage issues. The Firm opened the Austin office in 1999, the Houston office in 2001, the St. Paul office in 2002, the New Orleans office in 2016, and the San Antonio office in 2021.

About Thompson Coe
Founded in 1951, Thompson Coe has been providing legal services to clients both regionally and nationally for 70 years. Thompson Coe is 200+ attorney firm with offices in Austin, Dallas, San Antonio, and Houston, Texas; New Orleans, Louisiana; and St. Paul, Minnesota. The firm is highly recognized for its civil litigation capabilities and our diverse group of attorneys has the experience, resources, and capacity to respond to the multi-service demands of our clients across multiple states and industries. Thompson Coe offers comprehensive legal services in areas of Insurance Litigation and Coverage, Products Liability, Mass Torts, Property and Casualty Litigation, Labor and Employment, Business & Commercial Litigation, Professional Liability, Appellate Law, Insurance Regulation, State Legislation, and Business Transactions, among others.

Media Contact

Liz Landry, Thompson Coe, 214-871-8200, [email protected], https://www.thompsoncoe.com/

SOURCE Thompson Coe

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Society: Social Services

Veterans Exploring Treatment Solutions (VETS) and Rep. Dan Crenshaw Celebrate Bi-Partisan Support for NDAA Bill that Includes Grants for Research in Psychedelic Treatment

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Collaboration Helps Bring U.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw’s Douglas Mike Day Psychedelic Therapy to Save Lives Act, legislation that will direct the Defense Department to create grants for studying psychedelic treatments for active duty service members.

CORONADO, Calif., Dec. 28, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Veterans Exploring Treatment Solutions (VETS), a leading non-profit organization dedicated to ending veteran suicide, is thrilled to announce a groundbreaking milestone with the inclusion of the first-ever provision for psychedelic research in the recently signed National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). This marks a significant step forward in expanding access to psychedelic-assisted therapies for veterans and active-duty military personnel.

Amber Capone, CEO and co-founder of VETS, shared her perspective on this historic achievement, saying, “The inclusion of psychedelic research in the NDAA marks a pivotal turn in our journey to revolutionize mental health care for our military. The unwavering support and dedication of our community, combined with the collaborative efforts of policymakers like Rep. Crenshaw, have been instrumental in achieving this milestone. This is more than a legislative success; it’s a beacon of hope, promising innovative and effective treatments for those who have selflessly served our nation.”

The successful integration of this provision is a testament to the collective efforts of the supporters, who engaged with legislators through calls and letters. Representative Dan Crenshaw, the driving force behind this initiative, actively sought bipartisan support, collaborating with VETS and other organizations to shape the legislation.

Representative Crenshaw stated, “I’ve led this two years in a row in the House, and now finally got it into the final bill with the Senate. I’m thrilled. This will save lives and potentially revolutionize the way we treat all types of PTSD and TBI.”

Over the past two years, VETS representatives engaged in Congressional office meetings and press conferences, conducting an intensive educational campaign on Capitol Hill. This extensive effort culminated in the introduction of the Douglas “Mike” Day Psychedelic Therapy to Save Lives Act in June 2023. Simultaneously proposed as an amendment to the NDAA, this legislation received unanimous approval from both the U.S. House and Senate on December 7, 2023.

In addition to this historic achievement, VETS reaffirms its commitment to advancing at least two additional pieces of legislation in the coming year to further support the military community. This proactive advocacy demonstrates our dedication to creating tangible change.

To accelerate these advancements, contributions to support VETS’ advocacy efforts can be received through: Veterans Exploring Treatment Solutions Donations.

About VETS

Founded in 2019, Veterans Exploring Treatment Solutions (VETS) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization working to end the veteran suicide epidemic by providing resources, research, and advocacy for U.S. military veterans seeking psychedelic-assisted therapies for traumatic brain injury (TBI), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), addiction, and other health conditions. VETS envisions a world where our veterans have access to the most advanced healthcare options to heal from the mental and physical wounds of war.

Media Contact

Brad Burge, Veterans Exploring Treatment Solutions (VETS), 1 6508636887, [email protected], https://vetsolutions.org

SOURCE Veterans Exploring Treatment Solutions (VETS)

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Society: Disabled Issues / Disabilities

TruBlue Home Service Ally Announces Latest Location in Northern Vermont

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Brian McNabb, the franchise owner and local resident behind this upcoming TruBlue location in Northern Vermont, says he is equally excited about the opportunity: “After co-founding the Green Mountain Montessori School for children and steering businesses to empower Vermonters in IT careers, I have now shifted my focus to supporting two demographics where I can see a stark need firsthand: Enabling active adults to spend time with their children and helping the state’s greatest generation enjoy their retirement safely.”

With a blend of experience as both a business owner and corporate employee, McNabb’s first venture at 27 was launching an I.T. adult education business and leading the first-ever IT apprenticeship program in the U.S. This experience, focused on transforming the underemployed into senior IT professionals, was not only a professional milestone but also a personally fulfilling endeavor for McNabb, marking his early affinity for making meaningful impacts in people’s lives.
TruBlue is looking forward to expansion opportunities throughout the state of Vermont, with the capacity to fill a number of future territory agreements in the state.
A study conducted by the University of Michigan for Healthcare Policy and Innovation revealed that 88% of people between the ages of 50 and 80 said it was very or somewhat important to them that they live in their homes as long as possible, but only 15% said they’ve given a lot of consideration to how their home may need to be modified as they age, while 47% have given it little or no thought. Considering these statistics, TruBlue is in a prime position to come in and help those seniors in need. TruBlue assists seniors with home modifications and maintenance, both inside and out, so they can stay in their homes longer. Services encompass a wide variety of home modifications for safety and convenience ranging from installing grab bars, ramps and new lighting to updating door handles and modifying bathtubs for easy access.

TruBlue’s highly sought-after Home Ally Maintenance & VIP subscription services guarantees regularly scheduled visits from a handyman to handle home maintenance tasks such as filter replacement, hose line shutdowns and other to-do list items like storing patio furniture, changing batteries and lightbulbs, fixing holes in walls or repairing leaky faucets. TruBlue is dedicated to ensuring seniors avoid potentially dangerous maintenance tasks, like climbing ladders.

“Just like it’s important to maintain your car, it is equally as important to maintain your home, typically our customer’s most valuable asset,” said Fitzgerald. “For busy adults and seniors, it can be hard to keep up with the demands of their homes. With various customizable, subscription-based services, customers can select a TruBlue home maintenance service package that fits the specific needs of their home and family, so they can enjoy hassle-free living.”

With affordable startup costs between $65,000 and $91,000, TruBlue franchise owners can take advantage of the efficient operational model to offer their community three sought-after services: general handyman assistance, ongoing home maintenance programs, and senior home modifications for aging in place. This versatility also makes TruBlue an attractive addition for entrepreneurs already involved in the home services industry.

“We are a high-margin, low overhead business,” said Fitzgerald. “When you have a low cost of operations monthly, with high demand and high margins, that’s a great formula for success. Every location is fully scalable — there’s no limit to the amount of in-home services a franchise owner can provide, so you don’t have to open a second location in order to grow.”

“The senior population is increasingly in need of our trustworthy and premium home services, which is why TruBlue has been expanding rapidly over the past few years,” said Fitzgerald. “We are looking for qualified, passionate and community-driven professionals to help us expand our footprint and establish ourselves as the leading provider of home modification and maintenance services for busy adults and seniors.”

TruBlue is actively seeking new franchise owners in markets across the country and has identified Orlando, Miami, Jacksonville and Naples, Florida, as well as Houston and Dallas, Texas, as key development markets.
To learn more about franchising with TruBlue, please visit http://trubluefranchise.com/

About TruBlue Home Service Ally:
TruBlue Home Service Ally® provides a unique and affordable approach to helping busy adults and seniors live a worry-free life by offering trustworthy handyman, home maintenance and senior modification services. Helping you maintain your home both inside and out, TruBlue’s services include handyman projects and to-do list chores, preventative home maintenance programs, kitchen and bath remodels, seasonal work, and senior modification services, all handled by professional, bonded and insured Tru-Pro® Technicians. TruBlue franchise owners are required to complete senior home safety certification programs through the NAHB and Age Safe America. As certified specialists, TruBlue franchisees are able to perform aging in place home safety assessments and can make recommended safety modifications as needed.

Media Contact

Jasmine Lee, Mainland, 312-526-3996, [email protected], www.hellomainland.com

SOURCE TruBlue Home Service Ally

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Society: Social Services

United Airlines Managers Sued For Alleged Racist and Sexist Antics Against Mexican-American Business Manager in San Francisco Airport

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According to the lawsuit, Lujan was forced to endure an alleged pattern of relentless sexism and racism in the United workplace, which included the exhibition of sex toys and spanking paddles at the office, an anti-Mexican and sexist “poem” being recited and circulated over email by a male United manager, and the mocking display of a baby bottle in retaliation for Ms. Lujan’s complaints.

“United’s alleged unrelenting sexism and racism were demoralizing and dehumanizing,” said Ms. Lujan. “Being mocked and humiliated by these male managers was compounded by United’s alleged decision to completely ignore my complaints.”

“Blatant workplace harassment like this cannot be tolerated in 2023,” said attorney Sam S. Yebri of Merino Yebri LLP. “Major American corporations like United Airlines must do more to protect female and minority employees from the cancer of racism and sexism.”

Ms. Lujan’s lawsuit, filed on December 21, 2023 in San Mateo County Superior Court, is captioned Lujan v. United Airlines, Inc. et al., Case No. 23-CIV-06106.

Media Contact

Sam Yebri, Merino Yebri LLP, 1 310-551-2015, [email protected], www.MYLAWLLP.com 

SOURCE Merino Yebri LLP

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Society: Social Services

Charlotte Consumer Law Firm Announces Winner of the Blossom Law Caregiver Scholarship

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We could not be more delighted to provide financial assistance to one student who rose to the occasion and stepped up for their family when he was needed most.

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Dec. 27, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Highly respected in the legal community, Blossom Law offers a $1,000 scholarship to an undergrad or graduate student who has served or is a caregiver for a loved one. Few jobs are more difficult than caring for a loved one in their time of need. Tending to the needs and concerns of another person is a selfless act deeply rooted in compassion. We could not be more delighted to provide financial assistance to one student who rose to the occasion and stepped up for their family when he was needed most.

As such, Blossom Law proudly announces that Tydearian Cocroft, a graduate student pursuing an MBA, has been named the Blossom Law Caregiver Scholarship winner for the Fall 2023 semester. When Tydearian’s sister was sent to prison, her son, Tydearian’s nephew, was left without a mother. Tydearian watched in agony as his own mother struggled to provide for the family and take care of his nine-year-old nephew. Instead of leaving his family behind, Tydearian acted selflessly, including taking in his nephew to live with him in Washington, DC.

As Tydearian picked up stellar work experience at his job at an elementary school, he saw the effects of children at his school growing up without familial guidance. It was then that Tydearian decided to do everything he could to ensure his nephew grew up in a supportive, loving environment where the sky was the limit and no dream was too great.

Today, Tydearian is a shining example of the old saying, “Tough times don’t last; tough people do.” Not only did Tydearian serve as a caregiver to his nephew, but he also stepped up in his family as a beacon of hope and unshakeable fortitude. At Blossom Law, we are humbled to provide financial support to Tydearian as he pursues his MBA. Through this scholarship, we hope Tydearian will be reassured of his selflessness and steadfast desire to be the best person he can be.

Applications for the Spring 2024 semester are now open. Please visit https://www.blossomlaw.com/scholarship for more information.

About Blossom Law
Blossom Law is a consumer law firm that compassionately represents clients facing challenging circumstances. Through our compassionate and forthright legal services, we take the lead on certain matters of consumer law and guide families through the difficult bankruptcy process while ensuring they are set up for success once the process is complete. Our profound knowledge of particular matters of consumer law allows us to help people get on with life.

To learn more about Blossom Law, visit https://www.blossomlaw.com/. Call 704-256-7766 for a free consultation.

Media Contact

OVC, INC., 6306358000, [email protected], https://www.ovclawyermarketing.com/ 

SOURCE Blossom Law

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Society: Social Services

ARCS® Foundation, Inc. Releases its 2023 Annual Report

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ARCS Foundation has recently released its 2023 Annual Report titled, “Igniting Innovation for 65 Years.” Honoring the work ARCS Foundation has been doing for 65 years, the report highlights several achievements that empower ARCS Foundation to meet its mission to propel scientific innovation in the United States.

LAGRANGE, Ga., Dec. 27, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — ARCS Foundation has recently released its 2023 Annual Report titled, “Igniting Innovation for 65 Years.” Honoring the work ARCS Foundation has been doing for 65 years, the report highlights several achievements that empower ARCS Foundation to meet its mission to propel scientific innovation in the United States. Specifically, the organization celebrated these milestones in the 2022-2023 academic year:

• Adoption of the 2023-25 Strategic Plan

• Ignite to Invite challenge to increase Membership

• Partnership with the Danaher Foundation to provide scholar awards.

Since 1958, ARCS Foundation has funded 21,216 Scholar Awards to 11,847 ARCS Scholars for a total funding of $136,886,931. “We continue to build upon our 65-year history by preparing ARCS Foundation to meet the demands of the future so that our nation remains competitive in the scientific world,” says President Beth Wainwright.

The 2023-25 Strategic Plan was created to keep ARCS Foundation grounded in a shared understanding of the past and the present to look into the future. The new plan features seven strategic goals to help ARCS Foundation move positively in the direction of a fully developed and financially sustainable organization.

To highlight the innovation ARCS National experienced, there was a focus on the new Invite to Ignite challenge that fostered membership growth at the chapter level. During the year, ARCS welcomed 123 new members across the 15-chapter network. The Illinois chapter won the challenge with a whopping 29.5% increase in membership. The Utah Chapter was runner-up with 25% and third place was the Minnesota Chapter with a 21.8% increase.

In 2023 the Danaher Foundation approved a grant to ARCS Foundation, Inc., for $100,000. This funding will support the Danaher National Impact Awards to five ARCS Chapters for implementation between July 1, 2023, and June 30, 2024. The chapters are Metro Washington Chapter, Illinois Chapter, Northern California Chapter, Orange County Chapter, and Minnesota Chapter. “This is very exciting for ARCS Foundation and ARCS Chapters. We hope this will open the door to a continuing partnership with Danaher,” ARCS National Immediate Past-President Caron Ogg said.

The twenty-four-page report also includes the announcement of the most recent ARCS Hall of Fame inductee, astronomer Heidi B. Hammel, PhD. Hammel was recognized for her significant contributions to astronomy utilizing both the Hubble and James Webb Space Telescopes to expand our understanding of planetary science and the frontier of space.

2023 was a big anniversary year for more than the original founding Los Angeles Chapter, which celebrated 65 years. ARCS Metro Washington Chapter celebrated 55 years, the Seattle Chapter celebrated 45 years, and the Pittsburgh Chapter celebrated its 20th anniversary. Across fifteen national chapters, over 1,100 ARCS members support the ARCS vision to advance science and technology in America.

To view the digital version of the 2023 Annual Report, follow this link.

About ARCS® Foundation: ARCS Foundation is a national non-profit volunteer women’s organization that promotes US competitiveness by providing financial awards to academically outstanding US citizens studying to complete degrees in science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM), and health disciplines at 50 of the nation’s leading research universities. The organization has awarded more than $136 million to more than 11,800 scholars since 1958. ARCS Foundation Scholars have produced thousands of research publications and patents, secured billions in grant funding, started science-related companies, and played a significant role in teaching and mentoring young people in the STEM pipeline. More information is available at arcsfoundation.org.

Media Contact

Samantha Kilgore, ARCS Foundation, Inc., 1 706-845-9085, [email protected], arcsfoundation.org

SOURCE ARCS Foundation, Inc.

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Society: Social Services

transcosmos carries out a tree-planting project in Yaese-cho, Okinawa prefecture to achieve carbon neutrality

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■Overview of the tree-planting project
Date & Time: 10:00-14:00, Saturday, December 9, 2023
Address: 1305, Gushichan, Yaese-cho
                 (Yaese-cho sports tourism exchange facility/
                 Yaese-cho Health Promotion Center)
Tree-planting area: Total of 4000㎡
Trees planted: Total of 160 HIKANZAKURA (Taiwan Cherry) and Azalea trees

■Participants enjoying transcosmos Forest project

With a goal to expand its center network to include local areas, transcosmos opened MCM Center Okinawa, its first operations base in Okinawa prefecture in June 1999. The company chose Okinawa for its great hospitality and a pool of young talent. Since then, transcosmos has been increasing its presence in the prefecture, opening as many as 9 centers including its own building MCM Center Naha located in Omoromachi, Naha city which opened in March 2006. With around 3,400 employees, transcosmos offers a diverse range of services including contact centers, digital marketing, and business process outsourcing (BPO).

transcosmos is a certified Okinawa SDGs Partner Company and has been carrying out various initiatives to serve the community. In July 2007, transcosmos made a donation to help rebuild Okinawa’s Shuri Castle that had burned down, and donated acrylic sheets as preventive measures against the novel coronavirus during the pandemic in May 2022. As a company committed to local communities, transcosmos will continue to contribute to the development of Okinawa prefecture.

[transcosmos Sustainability Initiatives]
With the transcosmos SDGs Committee chaired by the Representative Director & Chairman in place, transcosmos has a framework specifically designed to execute its initiatives towards meeting social challenges and expectations with a focus on environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria.
In addition, with the aim of driving its ESG initiatives to create a sustainable society and enhance its long-term corporate value, transcosmos has set out its fundamental sustainability policy. Under the policy, transcosmos is committed to become a Sustainable Transformation (SX) Partner for all, and carries out a diverse range of activities with the purpose of boosting the well-being of society as a whole.

  • transcosmos is a trademark or registered trademark of transcosmos inc. in Japan and other countries.
  • Other company names and product or service names used here are trademarks or registered trademarks of respective companies.

About transcosmos inc.
transcosmos launched its operations in 1966. Since then, we have combined superior “people” with up-to-date “technology” to enhance the competitive strength of our clients by providing them with superior and valuable services. transcosmos currently offers services that support clients’ business processes focusing on both sales expansion and cost optimization through our 166 bases across 27 countries/regions with a focus on Asia, while continuously pursuing Operational Excellence. Furthermore, following the expansion of e-commerce market on the global scale, transcosmos provides a comprehensive One-Stop Global E-Commerce Services to deliver our clients’ excellent products and services to consumers in 46 countries/regions around the globe. transcosmos aims to be the “Global Digital Transformation Partner” of our clients, supporting the clients’ transformation by leveraging digital technology, responding to the ever-changing business environment. Visit us here https://www.trans-cosmos.co.jp/english/

Media Contact

transcosmos inc., transcosmos inc., +81-3-6709-2251, [email protected], https://www.trans-cosmos.co.jp/english/

SOURCE transcosmos inc.

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Society: Social Services

Kathleen Lovett, Chief Information Officer, Supply Chain of VSP Vision has been appointed to the CTO Forum Advisory Board

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CTO Forum hosts a series of events for its members each year, gathering the brightest minds to connect, debate, and solve the big issues of our time. Through the concerted efforts of the dedicated Advisory Board, CTO Forum has delivered two certificate programs, RETHINK DIGITAL Six Series 1 & 2 – each a next-level tour de force – led by faculty from top universities and distinguished industry leaders. The integrated modules, focused on transformational business models and breakthrough technologies have delivered leaders custom, personalized digital transformation and emergent technologies playbooks.

“I am pleased to join the CTO Forum Advisory Board and, having long been a champion of its core focus on technology innovation and thought leadership, I value our enduring professional synergies. Furthermore, CTO Forum aligns well with key transformative business process and technology initiatives I lead involving AI, ML, and automation,” states Lovett. “Moving forward, I look forward to engaging in stimulating and compelling collaborations that will provide benefit to the CTO Forum membership at large.”

As VP & CIO, Supply Chain at VSP Vision, Lovett partners closely with presidents and executives across the enterprise to advance meaningful business outcomes through technological initiatives and help the nation’s largest not-for-profit eye health company continue to meet the needs of its stakeholders. Prior to joining VSP, she held executive leadership roles at Thermo Fisher Scientific, where she led global distribution channel technology and eCommerce digital operations teams. Prior to that, she spent 20 years at U.S. Steel in both domestic and international technology leadership, development and operations. Lovett received a Digital Transformation certification through the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, a BS in Computer Information Systems from Westminster College, and a dual MBA/Master of Information Science from the University of Pittsburgh’s Katz School of Business.

About CTO Forum
The CTO Forum is a non-profit organization dedicated to fostering a trusted, open and creative environment where the brightest minds of our times convene to address industry’s most important issues. The CTO Forum brings together the best minds in technology from different industries to define opportunities, and to collaborate in harnessing the extraordinary potential of technology. The CTO Forum’s mission is to deliver a Global Innovation Platform, where technology leaders collaborate and co-create the technology and solutions that will be critical to meeting tomorrow’s global opportunities and challenges. For more information, visit http://www.ctoforum.org.

Media Contact

Media Relations, CTO Forum, 408-806-9595, [email protected], www.CTOForum.org

SOURCE CTO Forum

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Society: Christianity

Veterans Mourn Passing of “the Secret Weapon” in the Battle to End Veteran Homelessness. Giant service dog enabled rescue of hundreds of homeless veterans.

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The veterans of Ventura County, and those of us who work to support these veterans, want you to know that a real-life angel has just gotten his wings… a giant 190 pound, furry, white, tail-wagging angel named Leo, who has saved many more lives than any fictional movie character.

Leo was a homeless Alaskan Malamute dog that was adopted at a young age by Rafael Stoneman, an Army veteran who was living through periods of homelessness and personal difficulties himself. After Gold Coast Veterans Foundation helped Rafael get his life back on a positive path, he came back to help other veterans as a volunteer; he knew his own skills and life experience could help other at-risk and homeless veterans get their lives back on track.

Rafael soon realized that his buddy Leo was the “secret weapon” that would help him connect with the most difficult homeless veterans – the ones who usually wouldn’t talk to anybody. But the sight of a giant white dog, who looked like big friendly Polar Bear, could melt the heart of even the most isolated and anti-social veterans. Leo gave their partnership the incredible ability to make contact and establish a genuine rapport with veterans who had refused contact or help from everybody else.

GCVF’s leadership created a new program, “Mobile Veteran Outreach”, to support Rafael and Leo roaming the streets of Ventura County, bringing life-saving care and services directly to homeless veterans at their location. Leo’s big smile started literally hundreds of conversations with at-risk veterans, the very first step in rescuing them from the street, and the start of repairing broken lives.

When COVID caused most other social services to close their doors, leaving homeless veterans at the very highest possible risk of death… Leo and his partner Rafael were out on the streets, saving lives on the front lines of the battle, getting homeless veterans engaged into emergency services. The MVO program and its star players soon became famous for rescuing the most contact-resistant, hardest to serve veterans – the veterans that other agencies had ‘written off’ as unable to save. The all-important, make-or-break first contact with these veterans was only possible because of Leo, the secret weapon in the battle against veteran homelessness.

Since the launch of the MVO program in November 2019, Leo and his best friend Rafael have rescued over 250 American veterans and families from homelessness in Ventura County. The street outreach program they pioneered has now proven itself in battle, during a world health crisis and beyond, to be a primary component in the new national standard of care for high-risk American veterans.

Rest in Peace Leo. Your spirit, and the lives you helped save, changed the way we will care for our veterans forever. Congratulations on getting your wings, you’ve earned them.

On behalf of the more than 250 homeless veterans you saved, we thank you… REMEMBERING LEO WEBPAGE LINK

Gold Coast Veterans Foundation LINK

Media Contact

Robert Harris, Gold Coast Veterans Foundation, 1 8054826550, [email protected], Gold Coast Veterans Foundation

SOURCE Gold Coast Veterans Foundation

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