Want to be a guest or know someone would be a great fit? I am looking for military vets, active duty, military brats, veteran service orgs or anyone in the fitness industry

The most current numbers of caregivers in the United States is staggering - over 53 million unpaid caregivers but the number that baffles me the most is the number of veteran caregivers - 5.5 million.  Among these military caregivers, approximately 20% were caring for veterans who served after 9/11, while the majority were caring for veterans from previous eras. These numbers are from 2019-2020 and may have increased since that time.

The subject of caregiving came up most recently when I was taking care of my mother for approximately 2-3 months. It was in a word, overwhelming.  I wanted to speak with Ayana to discuss this epidemic among our veteran families and how we as caregivers can take care of ourselves in the process.

Listen in as we discuss this and how her Caregivers Toolbox can help!! Ayana is a Navy veteran who later became a MilSpouse and Peer Support Specialist.  She launched her business REACH Peer Support Services, LLC in 2021.  Her collaborations include The Pink Berets, Camp Shield, Grace Tree Foundation and the Texas Veteran's Commission.

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Want to be a guest or know someone would be a great fit? I am looking for military vets, active duty, military brats, veteran service orgs or anyone in the fitness industry

Skin cancer is from overexposure to UV radiation is the leading cause of cancer. It can be avoided by using at least a 30 SPF sunscreen, wearing protective clothing, avoiding tanning inside and outside and applying sunscreen generously.  
Know your risks and remember early detection and prevention is key.

Melissa is the Executive Director of Kovr Military - Grade Sunscreen/a Veteran owned and USA made sunscreen.  Kovr provides high performance , tactical solar defense for everyone. 

Kovr's mission is to he veteran-owned  non-profits through product giveaways, vendor demos, and donations. Kovr also helps athletes by off-setting entrance fees, equipment costs and providing media support.

Kovr's vision is to make sunscreen application a daily habit especially for men.

Kovr is  mineral based, water resistant,  broad spectrum against UVA/UVB, ocean friendly and coral reef safe

Melissa Allen, Co-Founder | Executive Director

Active Life Company | (800) 410-6154

www.kovrup.com | RangeMe.com

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Want to be a guest or know someone would be a great fit? I am looking for military vets, active duty, military brats, veteran service orgs or anyone in the fitness industry

VR Small, is the founder and chief executive officer for the Veteran Women’s Enterprise Center (VWEC), a national initiative launched in southern Dallas.  VR testified for the original House Bill to make June 12, Women Veterans Day in Texas.  This year, VR led the launched of the first annual statewide Women Veterans Day Pitch Competition highlighting the innovations and economic impact of current/potential women veteran entrepreneurs.  

VR serves on the Advisory Committee for TWU’s Center for Women Entrepreneurs and is a fellow of SMU’s Hunt Institute for Engineering and Humanity—Inclusive Economy, Dallas Public Voices, the Bush Institute Stand-to-Veteran Leadership Program and is featured in Dallas Innovates: The Future 50 North Texans.  VR is the SBA’s DFW District 2020 Veterans Small Business Advocate of the Year and serves on the 30th Congressional District Veteran Advisory Committee and supports the efforts of various local veteran coalitions and service organizations. Ms. Small chaired the Veteran Business Subcommittee for the City of Dallas, Office of Business Diversity and was the 2017 VP for Veteran Affairs with SCORE Dallas.  

In alignment with the VWEC’s mission, VR just completed phase one of the Moments That Matter Research Project exclusively focused on women veteran owned businesses in the DFW metroplex with the Dallas Federal Reserve Bank and has currently launched phase two with SMU’s Hunt Institute, Global Development Lab to conduct a series of national focus groups.

Most importantly, VR is a Navy Veteran, proud stepdaughter, and sister to U.S. Army Retired Vietnam & Iraq Veterans, respectively. Living her personal slogan “Changing the way we see the world and do business,” VR is a motivational speakers, moderator, educator and advocate specifically for women veteran as well as women and small businesses in general—driving social and economic change across our nation. 

https://www.womenveteransec.org

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Want to be a guest or know someone would be a great fit? I am looking for military vets, active duty, military brats, veteran service orgs or anyone in the fitness industry

I met Nadean at a VWISE conference and we connected almost immediately. I knew that due to her contagious personality and wit she would be a great guest on on my podcast.

Nadean is a self-professed stormwater nerd. She started working with stormwater compliance in the Air Force and quickly realized how important stormwater pollution prevention was to the ecosystem. During her military career, she focused on construction and other civil engineering operations duties. When she separated from the military, she initially worked as a Geotechnical Engineer (that is a fancy way of saying that she worked in dirt) but found her way back to her true love of stormwater management in 2014. She created a Stormwater Management division at a local engineering firm, focused on helping clients manage the stormwater regulations that affect their development, as well as ensure that the sites are limiting their contribution to Stormwater Pollution. She saw another stormwater need developing and decided to tackle it next. She started up Oya Construction as a way to properly install and maintain stormwater controls on construction sites, reducing the sediment deposition into waterways. She is passionate about keeping waterways clean and our environment beautiful. 

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Want to be a guest or know someone would be a great fit? I am looking for military vets, active duty, military brats, veteran service orgs or anyone in the fitness industry

Destinee Prete, PhD, is an Industrial and Organizational (I/O) Psychology Professional, a Certification/Credentialing SME, a business owner, and has been connected to the military her entire life.

 Her mother, father, brother, herself and her husband have all served or are currently serving in the military. Dr. Prete has continued to work within the veteran transition and nonprofit space following her military service.

 She is the President and Co-Founder of We2AreVets, a nonprofit focused on honoring, empowering, and recognizing women veterans. Dr. Prete is also  the Chair of SIOP's (Society of I/O Psychology) Military and Veterans Inclusion Committee and has created a network of (over 450) professionals called "I/O Military Experts". She works to align her field of study and passion for service 'beyond the uniform' as an advocate and voice in various settings including academic, professional, political and personal. 

Service Beyond the Uniform" - This has been the threaded mantra in her life.  

 Dr Prete's  focus area for her PhD was psychological coaching in Industrial and Organizational (I/O) psychology. She worked several jobs in the veteran transition space and is a certified veteran developmental coach, logging several thousands of hours. 

She is also the CEO of PG Strategies Group, a small consulting firm that has three core competencies and consists of a diverse group of subject matter experts in academia, government and industry, with extensive knowledge in: I/O Psychology,Psychometrics, Certification Programs, Medical/Emergency Planning, Logistics Management, Policy Management, Risk management, and Contingency planning.

Dr Prete is a Partner & Strategic Advisor with SEBOC (The Society of Evidence-Based Organizational Consulting). I founded the “military-connected I/O psychology” and collective and 'market place' for military-connected experts in our field called I/O Military Experts, “Where Service Meets Work”. Lastly, I hold the Chair position for SIOP’s Military & Veterans Inclusion Committee. 

She is  a mom of three young boys (twins, 12yrs and a 10yr old) and am a HUGE Wonder Woman fan! I am currently working with my kids on creating a military kids entrepreneurship and networking group!

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Dr Lewis is an Army veteran, author, speaker, career strategist and business consultant.  So she knows how to be successful in life and business.  Listen in as we navigate how women can be successful in business and life, how to start your own business and her journey in radio and television.

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Bob Taylor attained a mechanical engineering degree from Michigan State University in 1986 then joined the Air Force in 1987. Bob married the love of his life, Sara, on the Fourth of July during navigator training. He finished that training program as a Distinguished Graduate. Shortly after, Bob was stationed at Griffiss Air Force Base, in New York. He then deployed to Diego Garcia, where he flew eleven combat missions during Operation Desert Storm and received the Air Force’s Air Medal. Shortly thereafter, Bob served as a KC-135 navigator and finally as an Air Force Academy Liaison Officer in the US Air Force Reserves.

Bob has dealt with the impact of his service for over 30 years, has worked within the VA health system for the last 10 years, and finally embarked on researching this book over the last six years. Bob has firsthand experience with the gaps in veteran care. 

Since his transition from military service, Bob has concentrated on the medical device industry, where he has started five new companies and sold two. Today, Bob is the CEO, founder, and owner of Alliant Healthcare Products, Alliant Biotech, and Medisurge – the Alliant Family of Companies located in Grand Rapids, MI. Since 2002, his verified Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business has sold over $750 million in healthcare products to the VA and military hospitals all over the world. 

“From Service to Success” is the cornerstone of the Patriot Promise® Foundation, which Bob created to help drive down suicides among veterans and provide a clear path to a purpose-filled life after service. The foundation establishes non-profit ventures run 100% by veterans. The grand purpose is to offer veterans the ability to learn new skills in the workplace while also learning to enhance their lives. The Patriot Promise: Helping veterans find a new mission and new purpose and a new journey to a great life.

Learn more at: www.patriotpromise.org

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Want to be a guest or know someone would be a great fit? I am looking for military vets, active duty, military brats, veteran service orgs or anyone in the fitness industry

Vedia Barnett is a Senior Campaign Representative of Sierra Club's Military Outdoors program. The goal of Sierra Club's Military Outdoors is to improve the lives of military members, veterans and their families through connections with the outdoors and inspire members of this community to become outspoken champions for environmental conservation and justice.

As a senior campaign representative, Vedia creates programs and partnerships with organizations and elected officials to remove access barriers preventing service members, veterans and their families from experiencing the therapeutic benefits of nature. Her most recent work has been focused on the Outdoor Rx Coalition, a recently formed New York coalition aiming to reduce barriers to accessing the outdoors for veterans.

Vedia is a disabled Air Force veteran, an advocate and a community activist who was inducted into the 2018 Charles County, Maryland, NAACP Hall of Fame. She has a Masters from George Washington University in Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies with an emphasis on Black women’s health.

Vedia also is a two-time triathlete and two-time marathoner who loves historical fiction, hiking and glamping.

https://twitter.com/vediabarnett

[email protected]

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Event will take place 12 August, 2023 at the American Legion Post 321  in Huntersville, NC - 107 Main St, Huntersvile, NC

Volunteers please contact:  [email protected] or 704.506.4894

Women veterans fighting cancer can register here: https://www.carolinasfreedomfoundation.org

Want to donate to help women veterans -  contact  BluestarMothers NC Chapter at [email protected]

Blue Star Mothers- We are Mothers whose son's and or daughter's are active duty, Reservist, National Guard or a Veteran.  

We send care packages to our deployed service members. Please donate non perishable items or $25.00 for postage. Your donation is tax deductible. Please send monetary donations to PO Box below. Check made to Blue Star Mothers NC15. Or contact me via email to receive a list of our non-perishables.

Fostoria Pierson, Ph.D. Human Services, President of Blue Star Mothers of Charlotte NC-15 Chapter; Notary State of North Carolina, former volunteer for the American Red Cross as a Case Manager for Services for Armed Forces, and the Military Entrance Processing Stations (MEPS), Awarded the Medal of Honor from Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR, April 22,  Published Author October 2020, Certified Care & Counsel for Combat Trauma for Military Ministry; Certified Member of the American Association of Christian Counselors. Divorced from a Marine, five grown children. Son Dion Booker (Major) retired from the Army 45 days ago. 

Francina Sullivan - I am currently serving as financial secretary for Blue Star Mothers NC 15.  A native of Charlotte.  I've been happily married to Ray for 3 years.I worked in healthcare at Atrium Health and retired after 15 years. I am ambitious, faithful and eager to help others, especially those who have served or currently serving our country. My granddaughter Brittany is a proud Army Veteran. I believe laughter is medicine for me  as well as a vital and true friendship. 

Janay Rice. I am from Charlotte NC, married with three adult children. I am a proud Blue Star Mother with a daughter in the Navy and a husband who is an Army DAV. Career with CMS and retired after 19 years a s Senior Administrative Secretary. Chartered Member of Reeder Memorial Baptist Church for 40 years. Serve in the Senior Ministry, member of Mass Choir, and volunteer at our mobile food pantry.



https://www.bluestarmothers.org

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This episode is part of the 30 day challenge I did in Oct 2022.  I am a certified CETI Instructor thanks to Andrea's work with  cancer patients and her own history with  it also. 



Established by Andrea Leonard (a 38 year cancer survivor) in 2004; in response to a growing need to provide scientifically-based, current information on exercise therapy as a critical component of cancer recovery. Our goal is simple; To Educate Health and Fitness Professionals to Empower Cancer Survivors. We provide health and fitness professionals with comprehensive coursework on twenty-five types of cancer, as well as pediatrics, their surgeries and treatments, breast reconstruction, upper and lower body lymphedema prevention, identification, and managemnent, cancer pain and fatigue, comprehensive fitness evaluations including postural assessment and goniometry, as well as marketing strategies and how to position themselves as the "next step" in the health care continuum. Cancer Exercise Specialists are to cancer what cardiac rehab is to the heart patient. We also provide products and educational materials for health care professionals as well as cancer patients.

Following her mothers second diagnosis with breast cancer, Andrea spent three years working on her book "Essential Exercises for Breast Cancer Survivors," with the help of the chiefs of breast surgery at Johns Hopkins, GW, and Georgetown University Medical Centers. The book was published in 2000 by Harvard Common Press. She then started an OR 501 C-3 non-profit called the Breast Cancer Survivors Foundation and began teaching workshops nationwide on exercise and breast cancer. 

Andrea continued to see her family members be affected by cancer, including her father who was diagnosed with prostate and bladder cancer and passed away in 2014. To address the concerns of all cancer patients, Andrea established the Cancer Exercise Training Institute in 2004. She has trained thousands of health and fitness professionals worldwide. The Cancer Exercise Specialist and Breast Cancer Recovery BOSU(R) Specialist Advanced Qualifications are considered the gold standard in exercise programming for cancer patients.

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