Latest news with #Veteran
Associated Press
2 days ago
- Business
- Associated Press
Hospital ECAT Win Enables Lovell to Broaden Access to Critical Equipment Across VA and DoD
Lovell Government Services wins ECAT 'This award allows us to rapidly equip federal providers with the reliable tools they need, whether at a VA hospital, DoD facility, or in response to an emergency deployment.'— Chris Lovell, CEO of Lovell Government Services PENSACOLA, FL, UNITED STATES, June 4, 2025 / / -- Lovell Government Services (Lovell), a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB), has been awarded a Hospital ECAT (Electronic Catalog) contract by the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA). The award enhances Lovell's ability to deliver essential medical and surgical equipment to federal health care agencies, including the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Department of Defense (DoD). The award strengthens Lovell's mission to streamline access to patient-ready solutions that support timely, high-quality care for veterans and service members across the country. 'Securing a Hospital ECAT contract is a major step forward in our mission to serve those who serve,' said Chris Lovell, CEO of Lovell Government Services. 'This award allows us to rapidly equip federal providers with the reliable tools they need, whether at a VA hospital, DoD facility, or in response to an emergency deployment.' Through this contract, federal buyers will now have streamlined access to a wide range of equipment and services. The equipment includes, but is not limited to, the following: 1. Hospital Supply Division Equipment: • Examination tables/surgical tables • Hospital beds/chairs/stretchers • Laboratory analyzers • Repair parts for medical equipment • Litters • Sterilizers • Medical refrigerators and other medical storage systems • Ophthalmic equipment • Dental equipment • Medical simulation equipment that is used for training purposes 2. Capital Equipment Division Equipment: • Pulse oximeters • Aspirators • Infusion pumps • Suction apparatus • Resuscitators • Medical lasers • Dental X-Ray systems (Digital) • Robotic surgery systems This development broadens Lovell's role in supporting healthcare providers nationwide, helping to ensure that critical medical equipment is accessible wherever and whenever it is needed most. The ECAT program is a web-based ordering platform managed by the DLA to simplify the acquisition of medical equipment, pharmaceuticals, and supplies for government purchasers. Lovell's award supports federal procurement goals while offering agencies the benefits of SDVOSB contracting and high-quality vendor partnerships. For more information, visit ________________________________________ About Lovell Government Services Lovell Government Services has been a trusted SDVOSB vendor since 2013 with a proven track record of successfully introducing suppliers to the government market. Lovell is a three-time Inc. 5000 honoree and a leader in the federal space. They partner with medical and pharmaceutical companies looking to better serve Veteran and military patient populations, increase their federal revenue stream, and win government contracts. Learn more at Jeff McKay Lovell Government Services +1 850-912-4680 email us here Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content 'as is' without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
2nd Annual Military Thriving Change Forum at Georgetown University: Calling the Next Generation to Serve
On June 11-12, 2025, Georgetown University will host its second annual Military Thriving Change Forum. Nearly 150 senior leaders from across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors will convene in our nation's capital to create actionable community-based solutions that empower Veterans to lead, thrive, and inspire the next generation to serve. Dr. Joel Kupersmith, a Navy Veteran and Emeritus Professor at Georgetown University said, 'Our goal is clear. By channeling local leadership through a nationally-driven strategy, we will empower Veterans, military spouses and their families to improve the narrative and attitudes toward our military and our civic life — one community at a time.' In the wake of service opportunities at AmeriCorps being drastically cut and military service becoming an increasingly unlikely path for young people, the Georgetown Change Forum comes at a critical time. Although the military continues promotional campaigns to combat negative viewpoints and some branches of the armed forces have lowered accession standards, DOD is still struggling to meet its recruiting goals. A scarcity of mentorship and positive role models for youth in cities and towns across the country may be exacerbating these shortages. A recent national study found the share of young people aged 18 to 21 who report having had a childhood mentor dropped six percent over the past decade Roughly one-third of teens nationwide, most from the lowest socioeconomic quartile, report never having experienced a mentoring relationship. When asked, many unmentored youth said 'they didn't know how to find a mentor or didn't think mentors were available to them .' It is in the continued service of 18 million Veterans representing 6% of the population, where a unique opportunity to address both of these systemic issues exists. With their wealth of experience and leadership skills, they can play a pivotal role in inspiring the next generation to serve in the military, and in other service professions that are equally vital to national and regional security. Part of the solution lies with a select group of military and Veteran-led nonprofits that have stepped up to fill these gaps since the Global War on Terrorism started. Veterans, through their involvement in these organizations, are serving as mentors and role models, guiding tens of thousands of youth toward careers in the military and service-oriented fields. One such nonprofit, Soldiers to Sidelines, enables 2,000 certified Veteran coaches to touch the lives of 100,000 young people each year. Led by former professional football coach Harrison Bernstein, Soldiers to Sidelines will be on full display at the Georgetown Change Forum. More than 100 youth from three DC high schools will come to Cooper Field learning from a dozen Veteran coaches, alongside the coaching staffs from Georgetown and the Washington Commanders. With the help of a service disabled Veteran owned business called ZeroMils, the Change Forum will set the stage for thousands more Veterans to engage with young people at similar Uniting in Service events across the country including Minneapolis in August and Charlotte in November. Founded by two Marine Colonels, ZeroMils started its Military Thriving mission in response to growing trends that espoused 'military friendliness' and emphasized the challenges and struggles of Veterans post military service. The company's vision is to create a Military Thriving movement that changes the 'broken Veteran Narrative.' At the Change Forum, ZeroMils will also be launching a Military Thriving Action Coalition with longstanding partners, National University, Wells Fargo, CVS Health, Neighborly, and more than two dozen senior leaders from the private sector with a long history and proven track record of supporting military and Veteran causes. 'We must establish a coalition of the committed to change misperceptions about service.' said the CEO of ZeroMils, retired Marine Lieutenant Colonel Kevin Schmiegel. 'Together, the private and public sectors can spotlight the strengths and successes of our military and veteran-connected families rather than the struggles. Young people need to hear and see that we, as Veterans, are thriving because of our service, and not in spite of it.' For more information and to participate at the Change Forum email thrive@
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Iowa City VA Health Care System will move to West Burlington
The Iowa City VA Health Care System (ICVAHCS) will relocate the Burlington Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) from the current location at 1000 North Roosevelt Ave., Burlington, to a new leased location at 415 W. Division St., West Burlington, a news release says. The current location, owned by Yesara Commercial LLC, will no longer serve as a VA outpatient location. The new location is a standalone building next to the Mississippi Valley Veterans Memorial. Construction of the new space is expected to start in June with a projected open date in 2026. A groundbreaking ceremony will be held Thursday, June 5, at 1 p.m. at 415 W. Division St., West Burlington, next to the Mississippi Valley Veterans Memorial. The new VA outpatient clinic will total almost 18,700 square feet: more than five times larger than the current space. This increase allows VA the ability to add enhanced primary care and mental health services, along with essential lab and radiology testing. Other increased programs at the new location include expanded service for Primary Care with the addition of physical therapy, optometry, podiatry, and chiropractic care. Audiology and radiology are planned for eventual expansion. These expanded services will allow patients to receive specialized care on site rather than traveling to the Iowa City VA or seeking care in the community. 'The added value to the patients and staff will be the ability to conduct care and services without waiting for available space, as well as increased privacy and comfort for the patient. We will also see an improvement in the education and training that we can provide for patients with more available space to conduct those activities,' says Frank Lung, MSN, RN, clinic coordinator for the Burlington VA Clinic. The current clinic opened in June of 2021. If you are a Veteran with an honorable discharge and are interested in receiving care at the Burlington VA Clinic, call the clinic at 319-752-3722 or eligibility and enrollment at 319-338-0581 Ext 637141 to discuss enrollment. For more information, please contact Justin Hardt, public affairs officer for the Iowa City VA at 319-339-7104 or email About the Iowa City VA Health Care Center: The Iowa City VA Healthcare System (ICVAHCS) provides more than 50,000 Veterans with outstanding health care, trains America's future health care providers, and conducts important medical research. ICVAMC is a general medicine and surgery teaching hospital that provides a full range of health services for Veterans, with state-of-the-art technology as well as education and research. For more information, visit here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Business Wire
4 days ago
- Business
- Business Wire
Academy Asset Management Named to PSN Top Guns List of Best Performing Strategies for Q1 2025
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Academy Asset Management ('AAM') announced today it has been named to the celebrated PSN Top Guns List of best performing separate accounts, managed accounts, and managed ETF strategies for Q1 2025. The highly anticipated list, published by Zephyr, remains one of the most important references for investors and asset managers. 'We are proud to deliver meaningful impact to the veteran community without compromising returns for our investors.' "Q1 2025 presented a fascinating market narrative marked by significant rotation and global shifts. Success demanded adaptability, deep market understanding, and strategic positioning," says PSN Product Manager Nick Williams. "PSN Top Guns managers demonstrated exceptional skill in navigating these complex dynamics, where value sectors outperformed growth, international markets showed strength, and policy shifts created both challenges and opportunities. Their expertise in reading and responding to these evolving market conditions continues to showcase the enduring value of active management in separately managed accounts." AAM's recognition underscores the strength of one of its flagship offerings: Veteran Lending through the mortgage and asset-backed markets. This strategy delivered strong performance while providing clients with the opportunity to make a meaningful impact by supporting the veteran community through residential mortgages for active-duty service members and veterans, as well as small business loans to veteran-owned enterprises. 'Our mortgage and asset-backed strategy stood out not only for its strong performance, but also for how it navigated market volatility through a disciplined investment process,' said Seth Rosenthal, Chief Investment Officer at AAM. 'We are proud to deliver meaningful impact to the veteran community without compromising returns for our investors.' Through a combination PSN's proprietary performance screens, the PSN Top Guns awards products in six proprietary categories in over 75 universes based on continued performance over time. Academy Asset Management's Veteran Impact ETF (NYSE Arca: VETZ) strategy earned a PSN Top Guns Q1 and 1-Year award, ranking in the top ten returns of the US Fixed Income Universe. For Q1 2025, the strategy ranked #1, and for the 1-Year period ending 3/31/2025, it ranked #5 within the universe. VETZ is the first publicly traded ETF to primarily invest in loans to U.S. service members, military veterans, their survivors, and veteran-owned businesses. It is an actively managed strategy that primarily invests in MBS guaranteed by government-sponsored enterprises, such as Ginnie Mae. The strategy also invests in pools of small business loans backed by the Small Business Administration (SBA). To learn more about AAM's veteran impact strategy, you can visit The complete list of PSN Top Guns and an overview of the methodology can be located at About Academy Asset Management (AAM) Academy Asset Management is the nation's first post-9/11 veteran-owned and operated institutional asset manager, specializing in fixed-income funds and separately managed accounts. Our leadership and team members bring rigorous military training combined with deep expertise in global capital markets. Mission-driven and guided by a strong ethical foundation, we operate with a high degree of accountability and a relentless focus on our clients' success. Academy Asset Management has offices in New York, Chicago, and San Diego. To learn more, visit About PSN For more than four decades, PSN has been a top resource for investment professionals. Asset managers rely on Zephyr's PSN to effectively reach institutional and retail investors. Over 2,800 firms, 285 universes, and more than 21,000 products comprise the PSN SMA database showing asset breakdowns, compliance, key personnel, ownership diversity, ESG, business objectives and strategy, style, fees, GIC sectors, fixed income ranges and full holdings. Unique to PSN is its robust historical database of over 40 Years of Data Including Net and Gross-of-Fee Returns. PSN Mid-Year Outlook provides insight and trends about the SMA industry. You can view it online here. Visit PSN online to learn more. Investors should consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing. For a prospectus or summary prospectus with this and other information about the Fund, please call (866) 631-0504 or visit our website at Read the prospectus or summary prospectus carefully before investing. Investing involves risk. Principal loss is possible. Agency Small Business Loan & MBS Risk. There is uncertainty as to the current status of many obligations of Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac and other agencies that are placed under conservatorship of the U.S. Government. Fixed income Securities Risk. Typically, the value of fixed income securities changes inversely with prevailing interest rates. Non-Agency MBS Risk. Non-agency MBS are subject to heightened risks as compared to agency MBS, including that non-agency MBS are not subject to the same underwriting requirements for the underlying mortgages that are applicable to those MBS that have a government or government-sponsored entity guarantee. Non-Agency MBS Risk. Non-agency MBS are subject to heightened risks as compared to agency MBS, including that non-agency MBS are not subject to the same underwriting requirements for the underlying mortgages that are applicable to those MBS that have a government or government-sponsored entity guarantee. Prepayment Risk and Extension Risk. Many issuers have a right to prepay their fixed income securities. Repurchase Agreement Risk. Repurchase agreements may be viewed as loans made by the Fund that are collateralized by the securities subject to repurchase. TBA Transactions Risk. The Fund may enter into TBA transactions for MBS. New Fund Risk. As a new fund, there can be no assurance that the Fund will grow or maintain an economically viable size. Investment grade is a rating of fixed-income bonds, bills, and notes by credit rating agencies like Standard and Poor's (S&P), Fitch, and Moody's, which signifies a low risk of default. The rating determines the creditworthiness of companies based on their financial strengths and structure, past data, and growth potential. Companies with good levels of debt, debt repayment, good earning potential, and growth will have good credit ratings. Mortgage-backed securities (MBS) are investment products similar to bonds. Each MBS consists of a bundle of home loans and other real estate debt bought from the banks that issued them. Investors in mortgage-backed securities receive periodic payments similar to bond coupon payments. Bloomberg US Aggregate Bond Index This index (the 'Agg') represents securities that are SEC registered, taxable and U.S. dollar denominated. It covers the U.S. investment grade, fixed-rate bond market, with components for government and corporate securities, mortgage pass-through securities and asset-backed securities. These major sectors are subdivided into more specific indices that are calculated and reported on a regular basis. Bloomberg US Mortgage-Backed Securities (MBS) Index This index measures the performance of investment grade, fixed-rate, mortgage-backed, pass-through securities of the government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs): Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. (Freddie Mac), Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) and Government National Mortgage Association (Ginnie Mae). Distributed by Foreside Fund Services, LLC. Foreside is not related to Academy.
Hamilton Spectator
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
Fogo and Change Islands residents want answers for when MV Veteran will return
The MV Veteran ferry has been out of service to be refitted for a new engine since Jan. 28, 2025, and discontent is growing among islanders on Fogo and Change Islands as they continue to wait for its return. The MV Astron and MV Kamutik W are currently servicing the run, but as the end of May nears, the Kamutik will have to return to Labrador. Both Fogo and Change Islands experience major population increases during the summer months when seasonal visitors make their return. It won't be long before the tourism season is in full swing, and many businesses on both islands — not to mention the fishery — rely on their summer income to sustain themselves during the off season. The lack of updates and information on when the Veteran is expected to return has left many residents feeling frustrated and worried. The Fogo Island ferry users committee (FIFU) has been doing everything it can to reach out and get some kind of response. PC MHA Jim McKenna has brought these concerns to the House of Assembly and questioned Transportation Minister Elvis Loveless, and was told that a response would be imminent in the next week or so. However, that's not good enough for residents who are continuing to wait anxiously over what the decision will be. 'Our tourism is pretty much here,' explained Jarrod Oglan, FIFU chair. 'People are starting to come and go as is, and we're seeing a big increase in the number of trailer campers that are coming, as well as the big motorhome RVs. Those are taking up a bunch of space on the boat as is, and there's the fishery in full swing, so that's causing a lot of traffic.' Without a reliable, adequate boat, there's no way that the system can operate properly, he added. The ferry must be large enough to handle tractor-trailers and RVs, as well as the fishermen who are going back and forth with their equipment and their boats, Oglan said. When there's insufficient space onboard, a tractor-trailer or RV can take up the space of multiple cars, bumping off individuals who may be trying to make important appointments. The co-op is also going to have products coming and going that will need to be prioritized. 'Lobsters going off the island, crab coming on the island, and just sales in general of the product that needs to get from one place to another,' he said. 'There's people that normally would sell to the co-op that have not done so this year because of the ferry situation. There's a lot of residents here who have rental properties who have seen a decline in their reservations or flat-out cancellation because of the ferry situation.' Shirlene MacArthur, an annual visitor to Fogo Island, has said that this year may be her last. MacArthur's husband is from Tilting on Fogo, and they began visiting the island together about a decade ago when her daughter bought an investment property in Joe Batt's Arm that they later named Blue Haven. 'She doesn't come out too often, but we go out every summer,' she explained. 'I think the only summer we missed was during COVID.' Living in Alberta has made the annual summer trip already fairly arduous. But, over the years, MacArthur explained that the unreliability of the ferry service has only worsened and made their travels that much more complicated. 'The only problem we ever expected to encounter was volume, that there was so much traffic in the summer that we may not get out on the boat,' she said. 'But we never, ever had the problem that the boat wouldn't be running.' There was a time when both MacArthur and her husband thought they would retire to the island, but with the constant inconsistencies and lack of communication with the ferry system, it just seems too risky. MacArthur is already fully retired and her husband is semi-retired. With existing health concerns, she said it just doesn't seem safe enough. 'I guess we're bound for Alberta forever,' she said. While in the past they have encouraged everyone they know to make the trip out to Fogo and experience its beauty for themselves, they feel much less inclined to do so now. When talking about it now, they warn of the potential complications and delays. 'We've promoted the island for years,' she said. 'We've had friends from all over put it on their schedule for vacation and come and visit. 'We have friends coming from Ireland, but this, to be honest, is the last year we're suggesting it.' This exact response is what seasonal workers on the island are fearing the most. McKenna said annual visitors have been deciding not to make the trip out for a couple of years now because of the ferry system. 'At this time of year, this is when people in this area make their living. We're a community of fishermen and seasonal workers, and we rely on tourists. We rely on a ferry that can get people here, get product here and off the island in the summertime,' Oglan added. 'It is vital that it runs properly, and if it can't, then we have a situation where it's affecting our economy. And the thing is, it's more than just a transportation issue. It's an economic issue.' In a worst-case scenario, if the Veteran is not returned to the run for the tourism season, there is going to be a lot of lost revenue, said Oglan. 'It's going to look like a major blow to our economy and a real setback for the island — not just for now, but for years to come,' he said. 'Because you're going to have a lot of tourists and a lot of businesses that are not going to want to deal with Fogo Island because of the fact that there's so much uncertainty based around the ferry that it's impossible for them to actually either properly make their business happen or logistically for tourists to be able to come out here and visit and help boost our economy.' He hopes to hear in the next week or so from the transportation department that the Veteran will return, but more than anything, they simply want an answer. To help alleviate some of the lack of communication, McKenna has suggested a shore-based manager as a potential solution. While Oglan agrees that someone in such a position could be beneficial, it will depend on whether they're given the power to actually make decisions. Change Islands Mayor Paula Flood is more focused on the need for new infrastructure and resources, rather than a shore-based manager. 'It's kind of hard to have a shore-based manager for two islands unless you're going to put one on each one. I don't see the need. The Department of TI is very responsive to concerns and issues. The issue is docking and need for infrastructure upgrades. That's the only thing to fix the situation,' she said. 'They don't have sufficient boats and swing vessels when another boat is being serviced or down, they don't have suitable boats for the run. And let me preface that, it's not really the boat's problem. We don't have a breakwater here in Change Islands. They have a breakwater over in Fogo. So the issue is the wind when they're docking. If we had a breakwater, the boats would be able to dock.' Residents on both islands understand that they have chosen to live in communities that are dependent on weather and ferries, she said. However, the boats that are currently on contract simply are not suitable for the run. 'We need boats that are suitable for the Fogo-Change Islands run, ones that can run in high winds,' she said. 'That's our problem. We've never had so many days where the boat never sailed, as in the past two years. It's been unreal. Sometimes there's two and three days in a row when there's no boat. 'People say, 'Oh, what are you living on an island for?' We all live on an island. You live on an island in Newfoundland. If you want to get off, you have to get on a ferry or plane. So we all are equal in that sense. It's just that there could be improvements made.' Being left without answers is only further exacerbating the existing frustrations among locals. As of May 13, the department had said that pack ice along the north coast of Labrador is preventing the MV Kamutik W from operating at this time. It promised an update on all provincial ferry allocations will be available in the coming weeks. In terms of infrastructure repairs, they added that 'The department regularly reviews ferry operations throughout the province, including an assessment of upgrades needed for any of its wharf structures. This assessment is currently underway and an update will be provided once a final decision has been made. 'Safety is paramount and must always be at the forefront of the operation of our ferry services. Ferry users are reminded to check the ferry schedule via the NL511 mobile app, or call 511.' More recently, the department has re-emphasized that 'decisions on the allocation of ferries throughout the province very near future.' When those decisions will be announced is still unknown. Nevertheless, McKenna is hoping a response will be given soon. 'I'm optimistic there's going to be a response,' he said. 'But what that response is, is what we're all concerned about.' Anasophie Vallee is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter covering Indigenous and rural issues.
