Latest news with #GregCarter
The Advertiser
21-07-2025
- The Advertiser
Veteran's disgust at fake war medals, sold readily on Temu and eBay
A Vietnam War veteran felt disgusted after discovering replica military medals, many of them almost identical to the originals, were being sold and were readily available to the public. Replicas of medals awarded to those who served are widely available through online retailers, including Temu and eBay, and at numerous museums and dealers throughout the country. The sale or purchase of military medals is legal in Australia, although it is illegal for a person to falsely represent themselves as a veteran by wearing medals in public. Read more from The Senior Greg Carter served 12 months in Vietnam with the 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment. He has the full bar of medals that were received by all Vietnam veterans, as well as a Vietnam Combat Badge. He said he was disturbed by the knowledge that medals designed to honour those who served are available to the general public. "I, with others, had to earn that [right to wear medals] by being in a war zone," he said. 'To see other people who have not even done any military service wearing it, to me, it just diminishes the worth of the badge or the medal to start with. "Numerous veterans and [members of] the public I have talked with are disgusted this is happening." Mr Carter, of Portland in Victoria, first became aware that replica medals were being sold after finding a range of medals in the gift shop of a museum in Western Australia. "I said to the lady behind the counter, 'Can anybody buy these?' And she said, 'Yes, and I said, I don't think that's right'." A spokesperson from RSL Australia said there is nothing that can be done to stop retailers selling the medals. "Ideally, seeking proof of service or entitlement to medals would be sought," they said. It is not illegal to buy or sell replica military medals in Australia, although they must not be represented as the genuine article or use the Commonwealth Coat of Arms or other Defence emblems without authorisation. The Department of Defence encourages the purchase of replica medals by veterans whose originals were lost or stolen, or who want to preserve their originals. It is illegal for a person to wear military medals, or replicas of medals that were not conferred to them under the 1903 Defence Act. Wearing medals to represent a deceased relative is allowed, but medals should be worn on the right-hand side, as opposed to veterans, who wear their medals on the left. Mr Carter says he has contacted 22 different companies, all of whom were willing to sell him multiple medals without verifying who he was or why he wanted them. "My issue is the fact that the people who buy them probably have got no idea about what the medals firstly mean, and secondly, there's a protocol for wearing them." Mr Carter feels retailers should be forced to inform buyers of the laws and protocols surrounding the wearing of replica medals. Share your thoughts in the comments below, or send a Letter to the Editor by CLICKING HERE. A Vietnam War veteran felt disgusted after discovering replica military medals, many of them almost identical to the originals, were being sold and were readily available to the public. Replicas of medals awarded to those who served are widely available through online retailers, including Temu and eBay, and at numerous museums and dealers throughout the country. The sale or purchase of military medals is legal in Australia, although it is illegal for a person to falsely represent themselves as a veteran by wearing medals in public. Read more from The Senior Greg Carter served 12 months in Vietnam with the 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment. He has the full bar of medals that were received by all Vietnam veterans, as well as a Vietnam Combat Badge. He said he was disturbed by the knowledge that medals designed to honour those who served are available to the general public. "I, with others, had to earn that [right to wear medals] by being in a war zone," he said. 'To see other people who have not even done any military service wearing it, to me, it just diminishes the worth of the badge or the medal to start with. "Numerous veterans and [members of] the public I have talked with are disgusted this is happening." Mr Carter, of Portland in Victoria, first became aware that replica medals were being sold after finding a range of medals in the gift shop of a museum in Western Australia. "I said to the lady behind the counter, 'Can anybody buy these?' And she said, 'Yes, and I said, I don't think that's right'." A spokesperson from RSL Australia said there is nothing that can be done to stop retailers selling the medals. "Ideally, seeking proof of service or entitlement to medals would be sought," they said. It is not illegal to buy or sell replica military medals in Australia, although they must not be represented as the genuine article or use the Commonwealth Coat of Arms or other Defence emblems without authorisation. The Department of Defence encourages the purchase of replica medals by veterans whose originals were lost or stolen, or who want to preserve their originals. It is illegal for a person to wear military medals, or replicas of medals that were not conferred to them under the 1903 Defence Act. Wearing medals to represent a deceased relative is allowed, but medals should be worn on the right-hand side, as opposed to veterans, who wear their medals on the left. Mr Carter says he has contacted 22 different companies, all of whom were willing to sell him multiple medals without verifying who he was or why he wanted them. "My issue is the fact that the people who buy them probably have got no idea about what the medals firstly mean, and secondly, there's a protocol for wearing them." Mr Carter feels retailers should be forced to inform buyers of the laws and protocols surrounding the wearing of replica medals. Share your thoughts in the comments below, or send a Letter to the Editor by CLICKING HERE. A Vietnam War veteran felt disgusted after discovering replica military medals, many of them almost identical to the originals, were being sold and were readily available to the public. Replicas of medals awarded to those who served are widely available through online retailers, including Temu and eBay, and at numerous museums and dealers throughout the country. The sale or purchase of military medals is legal in Australia, although it is illegal for a person to falsely represent themselves as a veteran by wearing medals in public. Read more from The Senior Greg Carter served 12 months in Vietnam with the 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment. He has the full bar of medals that were received by all Vietnam veterans, as well as a Vietnam Combat Badge. He said he was disturbed by the knowledge that medals designed to honour those who served are available to the general public. "I, with others, had to earn that [right to wear medals] by being in a war zone," he said. 'To see other people who have not even done any military service wearing it, to me, it just diminishes the worth of the badge or the medal to start with. "Numerous veterans and [members of] the public I have talked with are disgusted this is happening." Mr Carter, of Portland in Victoria, first became aware that replica medals were being sold after finding a range of medals in the gift shop of a museum in Western Australia. "I said to the lady behind the counter, 'Can anybody buy these?' And she said, 'Yes, and I said, I don't think that's right'." A spokesperson from RSL Australia said there is nothing that can be done to stop retailers selling the medals. "Ideally, seeking proof of service or entitlement to medals would be sought," they said. It is not illegal to buy or sell replica military medals in Australia, although they must not be represented as the genuine article or use the Commonwealth Coat of Arms or other Defence emblems without authorisation. The Department of Defence encourages the purchase of replica medals by veterans whose originals were lost or stolen, or who want to preserve their originals. It is illegal for a person to wear military medals, or replicas of medals that were not conferred to them under the 1903 Defence Act. Wearing medals to represent a deceased relative is allowed, but medals should be worn on the right-hand side, as opposed to veterans, who wear their medals on the left. Mr Carter says he has contacted 22 different companies, all of whom were willing to sell him multiple medals without verifying who he was or why he wanted them. "My issue is the fact that the people who buy them probably have got no idea about what the medals firstly mean, and secondly, there's a protocol for wearing them." Mr Carter feels retailers should be forced to inform buyers of the laws and protocols surrounding the wearing of replica medals. Share your thoughts in the comments below, or send a Letter to the Editor by CLICKING HERE. A Vietnam War veteran felt disgusted after discovering replica military medals, many of them almost identical to the originals, were being sold and were readily available to the public. Replicas of medals awarded to those who served are widely available through online retailers, including Temu and eBay, and at numerous museums and dealers throughout the country. The sale or purchase of military medals is legal in Australia, although it is illegal for a person to falsely represent themselves as a veteran by wearing medals in public. Read more from The Senior Greg Carter served 12 months in Vietnam with the 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment. He has the full bar of medals that were received by all Vietnam veterans, as well as a Vietnam Combat Badge. He said he was disturbed by the knowledge that medals designed to honour those who served are available to the general public. "I, with others, had to earn that [right to wear medals] by being in a war zone," he said. 'To see other people who have not even done any military service wearing it, to me, it just diminishes the worth of the badge or the medal to start with. "Numerous veterans and [members of] the public I have talked with are disgusted this is happening." Mr Carter, of Portland in Victoria, first became aware that replica medals were being sold after finding a range of medals in the gift shop of a museum in Western Australia. "I said to the lady behind the counter, 'Can anybody buy these?' And she said, 'Yes, and I said, I don't think that's right'." A spokesperson from RSL Australia said there is nothing that can be done to stop retailers selling the medals. "Ideally, seeking proof of service or entitlement to medals would be sought," they said. It is not illegal to buy or sell replica military medals in Australia, although they must not be represented as the genuine article or use the Commonwealth Coat of Arms or other Defence emblems without authorisation. The Department of Defence encourages the purchase of replica medals by veterans whose originals were lost or stolen, or who want to preserve their originals. It is illegal for a person to wear military medals, or replicas of medals that were not conferred to them under the 1903 Defence Act. Wearing medals to represent a deceased relative is allowed, but medals should be worn on the right-hand side, as opposed to veterans, who wear their medals on the left. Mr Carter says he has contacted 22 different companies, all of whom were willing to sell him multiple medals without verifying who he was or why he wanted them. "My issue is the fact that the people who buy them probably have got no idea about what the medals firstly mean, and secondly, there's a protocol for wearing them." Mr Carter feels retailers should be forced to inform buyers of the laws and protocols surrounding the wearing of replica medals. Share your thoughts in the comments below, or send a Letter to the Editor by CLICKING HERE.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Usio Inc (USIO) Q1 2025 Earnings Call Highlights: Record Revenues and Strategic Initiatives ...
Release Date: May 14, 2025 For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. Usio Inc (NASDAQ:USIO) reported record numbers in first quarter revenues, with a significant increase in processing volume and strong cash flow. Total processing volume was up 34%, with ACH processing volume increasing by 36%, indicating strong growth in electronic transactions. The company successfully launched the UCO One initiative, aimed at cross-selling and increasing acceptance of Usio's suite of services. Usio Inc (NASDAQ:USIO) generated $700,000 in cash during the quarter, ending with a cash balance of $8.7 million. The company is confident in achieving 14 to 16% top-line revenue growth for the year, driven by new implementations and favorable market conditions. Gross profits remained relatively unchanged from the previous year, with margins softer due to the revenue mix. Net income was down in the quarter compared to the previous year. The company experienced a decline in interest revenue related to funds held for customers, impacting gross margins. Revenue growth was only 5% despite a 36% increase in processing volume, indicating a disconnect between volume and revenue. The impact of the New York City COVID program, which previously contributed over a million dollars in revenue, will no longer affect future comparisons. Warning! GuruFocus has detected 2 Warning Sign with USIO. Q: Can you clarify the organic revenue growth, considering the $1 million in spoilage revenue from the previous year? A: Yes, the $1 million in spoilage revenue from last year was a one-time event. Adjusting for that, the organic growth rate for the quarter was over 10%. This adjustment aligns with our guidance for revenue acceleration in the second half of the year and our full-year revenue growth target of 14 to 16%. - Lewis Holk, Chairman and CEO Q: Could you provide more details on the UCO One sales initiative and its early progress? A: We have 12 quota-bearing salespeople who previously specialized in different business lines. With UCO One, we are consolidating sales efforts and moving to a standardized CRM. This initiative aims to facilitate cross-selling across our services, and we are optimistic about its potential to drive growth. - Greg Carter, Executive Vice President and Chief Revenue Officer Q: Why did gross margins decline year over year despite ACH being the fastest-growing segment? A: Last year's $1 million in spoilage revenue was returned to the City of New York, so it did not contribute to margins. Additionally, interest revenue related to customer funds was down, impacting gross margins. - Michael White, Senior Vice President and Accounting Officer Q: What is the company's strategy for M&A, and what criteria do you use to evaluate opportunities? A: Our M&A criteria include finding companies with synergies in technology, people, or industries we are not currently in. We aim to acquire companies at a multiple lower than our trading multiple and ensure they can sustain themselves post-acquisition. We are seeing more opportunities in the market. - Lewis Holk, Chairman and CEO Q: Can you explain the Consumer Choice product and its significance? A: The Consumer Choice product allows clients to disperse funds through various methods, including virtual cards, ACH, and paper checks. It integrates multiple UCO services into a single solution, generating revenue from each method chosen. This product exemplifies our strategy to cross-sell UCO services and enhance client offerings. - Houston Frost, Chief Product Officer For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
AM Best to Speak, Sponsor and Exhibit at Dubai World Insurance Congress 2025
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, April 15, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--AM Best will join a panel discussion, as well as sponsor and exhibit, at the annual Dubai World Insurance Congress (DWIC), which will take place 28-30 April 2025, in Dubai. On Monday, 28 April, Greg Carter, managing director, analytics, EMEA and Asia-Pacific, will take part in a panel discussion on the insurance protection gap in the Middle East-Africa-Southern Asia (MEASA) region. The session, titled, "MEASA Nat Cat: Closing the Protection Gap," will explore growth opportunities for the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), as well as other potential developments such as government-led backstops and public-private partnerships. The session is scheduled for 10 a.m. GST. AM Best is a silver sponsor of the 2025 Dubai World Insurance Congress, which will be held at Atlantis, The Palm. Also present at the event will be Nick Charteris-Black, managing director, market development, Europe, Middle East and Africa and Vasilis Katsipis, general manager, MENA, South and Central Asia, along with Dr Edem Kuenyehia, director, market development (Africa) and communications – EMEA. AM Best executives will be conducting scheduled bilateral meetings with industry stakeholders. Delegates interested in meeting with AM Best to understand more about its rating and assessment services, research and insurance insights, can schedule a meeting by contacting Bouchra Abou Nader at DWIC delegates can also drop in at Stand C in the Atlantis Ballroom to discuss Best's Credit Ratings and Best's Performance Assessments for DUAEs, as well as other AM Best insurance sector reports, data and analytic resources and rating services, relevant to the EMEA regions. The DWIC, hosted by Global Reinsurance (GR) and the DIFC, offers a forum connecting the Middle East's (re)insurance markets with counterparts from Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas. For more information on the event, view the Dubai World Insurance Congress event page. AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specialising in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit Copyright © 2025 by A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. View source version on Contacts Bouchra Abou Nader Executive Assistant +97 14 375 2780 Sign in to access your portfolio
Zawya
15-04-2025
- Business
- Zawya
AM Best to speak, sponsor and exhibit at Dubai World Insurance Congress 2025
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates --(BUSINESS WIRE)-- AM Best will join a panel discussion, as well as sponsor and exhibit, at the annual Dubai World Insurance Congress (DWIC), which will take place 28-30 April 2025, in Dubai. On Monday, 28 April, Greg Carter, managing director, analytics, EMEA and Asia-Pacific, will take part in a panel discussion on the insurance protection gap in the Middle East-Africa-Southern Asia (MEASA) region. The session, titled, 'MEASA Nat Cat: Closing the Protection Gap,' will explore growth opportunities for the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), as well as other potential developments such as government-led backstops and public-private partnerships. The session is scheduled for 10 a.m. GST. AM Best is a silver sponsor of the 2025 Dubai World Insurance Congress, which will be held at Atlantis, The Palm. Also present at the event will be Nick Charteris-Black, managing director, market development, Europe, Middle East and Africa and Vasilis Katsipis, general manager, MENA, South and Central Asia, along with Dr Edem Kuenyehia, director, market development (Africa) and communications – EMEA. AM Best executives will be conducting scheduled bilateral meetings with industry stakeholders. Delegates interested in meeting with AM Best to understand more about its rating and assessment services, research and insurance insights, can schedule a meeting by contacting Bouchra Abou Nader at DWIC delegates can also drop in at Stand C in the Atlantis Ballroom to discuss Best's Credit Ratings and Best's Performance Assessments for DUAEs, as well as other AM Best insurance sector reports, data and analytic resources and rating services, relevant to the EMEA regions. The DWIC, hosted by Global Reinsurance (GR) and the DIFC, offers a forum connecting the Middle East's (re)insurance markets with counterparts from Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas. For more information on the event, view the Dubai World Insurance Congress event page. AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specialising in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit
