WARRIOR SYMPOSIUM 2020

August 25 - 27, 2020

10:00 AM - 6:00 PM ET Daily

#WarriorSymposium2020

Screen Shot 2020-02-10 at 2.58.42 PM.png

A big heartfelt thank you to our sponsors, panelists, and attendees who joined us for a week to connect, educate, advocate, and collaborate in 2020. You may explore sessions and highlights available below.

2020 Learning Tracks:

Empowered Veterans

Empowered Families

Empowered Communities

Empowered Organizations

Empowered Professionals

2020 HIGHLIGHTS:

1075

ATTENDEES

25%

GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES

61%

VSO/NONPROFIT EMPLOYEES 

19

SPONSORS

#1 MOST WATCHED

An Upstream Approach to Suicide Prevention and Veteran Empowerment 

#2 MOST WATCHED

Introduction to the CDC Framework: Adopting a Culture of Evaluation 

Tuesday, August 25

2020 SPONSORS:

2020 AGENDA

Wednesday, August 26 

10:00am 

Round Table Discussions with Sponsors and Open Networking 

​

10:45am 

Opening Remarks

  • Jim Lorraine, President & CEO of America’s Warrior Partnership 

 

11:00am  

Keynote Address — What You Think About, You Bring About - LCDR Jesse Iwuji, U.S. Navy and NASCAR Driver

  • With an introduction from William McRaven, ADM (Ret.)

​

11:50am 

Break - Networking

​

12:00pm 

Concurrent Breakout Sessions

 

  • New Models for Serving American Veterans 

    • Moderated by Jeff Eggers, Managing Director, Risk and Return

    • Nick Lavery, Warrant Officer, 5th Special Forces Group

    • T'Liza Kiel, Alumni Engagement Director. The Mission Continues

    • Terri Tanielian, Senior Behavioral Scientist, RAND Corporation

​

  • Building Resilience as You Transition from Military Family to Veteran Family  

    • Moderated by Kerry Irvin, Resilience Trainer and Performance Expert, 49 North

    • Meg O'Grady, National Veterans’ Employment Manager, DOL VETS

    • Margarita Devlin, Principal Deputy Under Secretary for Benefits, US Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Benefits Administration

    • Chuck Bunch, Military Affairs Relationship Director, USAA

​​

  • VA VEO Community Engagement Impact is More Than a CVEB 

    • Moderated by Jim Wartski, Executive Director, Veterans, Family, and Community Engagement; Veterans Experience Office, Department of Veterans Affairs

    • Carmen Gamble, Acting Veteran, Family, and Community Engagement Deputy Director, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

    • Betty Moseley-Brown, Designated Federal Official, Veterans' Family, Caregiver and Survivor Federal Advisory Committee, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

    • Tony Davis, Acting Divison Chief, DIAU.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Experience Office

    • Megan Warren, Chief, Outreach and Engagement, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

​​

  • Connecting Veteran Talent with Opportunity — Presentation

    • Lori Adams, Veterans Policy Director, National Association of State Workforce Agencies

    • Charlie Terrell, National Labor Exchange Director, National Association of State Workforce Agencies

​

  • Using Technology to Enhance Fundraising — Presentation

    • Shawn Olds, CEO, boodle.AI
       

  • Maximizing Military Affairs Teams

    • Moderated by Mona Dexter, Chief of Staff, Senior Director of Operations and Communications, Hiring our Heroes

    • Laura Schmiegel, Head of Military and Veteran Affairs, Booz Allen Hamilton

    • Sean Passmore, Head of Military Talent External Recruiting and Enterprise Military and Veteran Initiatives, Wells Fargo

    • Sean Casey, Director of Communications, Military & Veteran Affairs, Comcast NBCUniversal

    • Sarah Roberts, Head of Military and Veteran Programs, LinkedIn

 

1:00pm 

Break - Networking and Round Table Discussions with Sponsors 

​

1:50pm 

General Session 1 — Medal of Honor Fireside Chat

  • Moderated by Jon Scott, FOX News Anchor 

  • Clint Romesha, Medal of Honor Recipient 

  • Sal Guinta, Medal of Honor Recipient 

  • Kyle White, Medal of Honor Recipient 

​

2:50pm  

General Session 2 — Evolving Needs of Women Veterans 

  • Introduction from Mike Linnington, LTG (Ret.), CEO, Wounded Warrior Project

  • Moderated by Jen Silva, Chief Program Officer, Wounded Warrior Project

    • Tracy Farrell, VP, Engagement and Physical Health & Wellness, WWP

    • Melanie Mousseau, VP, Program Operations and Partnerships, WWP

    • Michael Richardson, VP, Independence Services and Mental Health Programs, WWP

    • Jose Ramos, VP Government and Community Relations, WWP

​

3:50pm 

General Session 3 — Find Your Purpose and Be a Voice 

  • Introduction from Harriet Dominique, Senior VP, Corporate Responsibility and Community Affairs, USAA

  • Moderated by Garrett Cathcart, Executive Director, Mission Roll Call

    • Nate Boyer, Former Green Beret and NFL player. Founder of Merging Vets & Players

    • Flo Groberg, Medal of Honor Recipient. Azure Global Government Expansion, Microsoft

    • Sarah Roberts, Head of Military and Veteran Programs, LinkedIn

​

4:50pm 

Closing Remarks

  • Kate Migliaro, Principal, Talent Management and Organizational Effectiveness, Apollo Global Management

​

5:00pm – 6:00pm 

Round Table Discussions with Sponsors and Open Networking 

1:00pm
Opening Remarks

  • Clint Bruce, Former NFL player and Navy SEAL. Current Co-founder and CEO, Trident Response Group

 

1:15pm – 2:15pm

Conversation Around Community Integration: An Upstream Approach to Suicide Prevention and Veteran Empowerment (1 CORE CE Hour)*

  • Phil Smith, Ph.D. Clinical Psychologist, University of South Alabama

  • CDR Kinzie Lee (USPHS), MPH. Strategic Partnerships Lead, Office of Policy and Partnerships, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

  • Cheree Tham, LCSW. Vice President of Programs and Initiatives, America’s Warrior Partnership

 

2:15pm – 2:40pm

Round Table Discussions Around Community Integration

 

2:40pm – 3:40pm

Introduction to the CDC Framework: Adopting a Culture of Evaluation (1 Related CE Hour)*

  • Melissa Brown, DrPH. Behavioral Scientist, Division of Injury Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

  • Scott Johnson, President & Executive Director, The Warrior Alliance

  • Kaitlin Cashwell, Director of Community Integration, America's Warrior Partnership

(Consulting LCSW: Cheree Tham, Vice President of Programs and Initiatives, America’s Warrior Partnership)

 

3:40pm – 4:00pm

Closing Remarks

  • Kaitlin Cashwell, Director of Community Integration, America's Warrior Partnership

​

4:00pm – 5:00pm 

Round Table Discussions with Sponsors and Open Networking 

​

​

*This activity is pending approval from the National Association of Social Workers- GA Chapter.

Thursday, August 27

10:00am 

Round Table Discussions with Sponsors and Open Networking 

 

10:45am  

  • Welcome Message from Gary Sinise, Chairman and Founder, The Gary Sinise Foundation

​

11:00am 

General Session 4 — State of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs 

  • The Honorable Robert Wilkie, Secretary of Veterans Affairs 

  • Lynda Davis, Ph.D. Chief Veterans Experience Officer, Department of Veterans Affairs.  

​

11:50am 

Break - Networking 

​

12:00pm 

Concurrent Breakout Sessions

​

  • Higher Education: The Pandemic Warning Light

    • Moderated by Jared Lyon, President & CEO, Student Veterans of America

    • Lauren Augustine, VP of Government Affairs, Student Veterans of America

    • Dr. Abby Kinch, VP of Programs & Services, Student Veterans of America

​

  • Building a Stronger Family Unit Post-Service 

    • Moderated by Kathy Roth-Douquet, CEO, Blue Star Families

    • Lynn Marilla, Founder and Executive Director, Eagle Rock Camp

    • Heather Ehle, CEO/Founder, Project Sanctuary

​

  • Collaborating with Your State VA Office

    • Moderated by Gary Harter, Executive Director, Utah Department of Veterans and Military Affairs

    • John Hilgert, Director, Nebraska Department of Veterans' Affairs

    • Lourdes (Alfie) Alvarado-Ramos, Director, Washington Department of Veterans Affairs

​

  • Connecting the Entrepreneurship Ecosystem

    • Moderated by Misty Stutsman Fox, Director, Entrepreneurship & Small Business, Institute for Veterans and Military Families, Syracuse University

    • Meg Hendricks, Head of Military and Veteran Affairs, Fiserv

    • Stan Kurtz, Director, Policy and Engagement Office of Veterans Business Development U.S. Small Business Administration

    • Meghan Ogilvie, Chief Executive Officer, Dog Tag Inc

​

  • Leveraging National Resources to Support Local Community Organizations

    • Moderated by Jeanette Gilles, LCSW. Deputy Director of Community Integration, America’s Warrior Partnership

    • Noa Kretchmer, Outreach Coordinator, Gary Sinise Foundation

    • Herm Breuar, President, NACVSO

    • Lisa Murray, Program Manager, Community Based Services, Syracuse University at IVMF

    • Danielle Bracco, Operations Manager, The ETS Sponsorship Program

​

  • Wellbeing in the Workplace

    • Moderated by Eric Eversole, Vice President, U.S. Chamber of Commerce and President, Hiring our Heroes

    • Tina Atherall, CEO, PsychArmor Institute

    • Pam Corson, Vice President, Global Health Organization, Prudential

    • Lynda Boggs, Principal, Deloitte Consulting

    • Mike Coogan, Vice President, Director, Corporate Responsibility, Leidos

​

1:00pm 

Concurrent Breakout Sessions 

​

  • Empowering Your Military-Connected Employees 

    • Moderated by Joshua Wilson, Corporate Relationship Manager, America’s Warrior Partnership

    • Brooke Chelette, HR Generalist / Employee Care, Novetta

    • Chris Isola, Head of Veterans Affairs, UBS

    • Katiria Butler, Sr. Brand Manager, Johnson & Johnson

    • Walt DeGrange, Director of Analytics Capabilities (DAC), CANA

​

  • Leveraging Technology to Maximize Meaningful Data 

    • Moderated by Dannielle Pope, Director of Innovative Technology, America’s Warrior Partnership

    • Ganay Metoya, Director of Operations, Alaska Coalition for Veterans & Military Families

    • Gilly Cantor, Program Evaluation Manager, Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF)

    • Peter Battistel, Chief Technology Officer, 2-1-1 San Diego

​

  • Deep Dive into Community Suicide Prevention

    • Facilitated by Cheree Tham, LCSW. Vice President of Programs and Initiatives, America’s Warrior Partnership

    • Karl Hamner, Director, Office of Evaluation Research, The University of Alabama

    • Phil Smith, Ph.D. Clinical Psychologist, University of South Alabama

    • Liz Barnes, Acting Deputy Executive Director, President’s Roadmap to Empower Veterans and End a National Tragedy of Suicide (PREVENTS) Task Force

    • Dr. Matt Miller, Director, VA Suicide Prevention, Veterans Health Administration

    • Emily Blair, Professional Staff Member, Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs

​​

  • Insights on Veteran Health and Wellness Initiatives

    • Moderated by Glenn Gray, Director, Customer Care & Community Relations, TriWest Healthcare Alliance

    • Nicola Winkel, Project Director, Arizona Coalition for Military Families

    • Chelsea Elder, Executive Director, Adaptive Adventures

 

1:50pm 

General Session 5 — Veteran & Military Spouse Employment: Recruitment, Retention & Career Progression 

  • Introduction from Jason Wright, Vice President, JP Morgan Chase & Co. 

  • Moderated by Tiffany Daugherty, Programme Manager for Military and Veterans Outreach, Barclays

    • Juan Garcia, Veteran/Military-Affiliated Leader, Managing Director, Deloitte

    • Meredith Lozar, Director, Military Spouse Program, U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, Hiring Our Heroes

    • Kate Migliaro, Principal, Talent Management and Organizational Effectiveness, Apollo Global Management

    • Vivian Greentree, Senior VP, Head of Global Corporate Citizenship, Fiserv

 

2:50pm  

General Session 6 — Community Approach to Health and Wellbeing 

  • Introduction from Catharine Grimes, Director, Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation

  • Moderated by Eric Caine, MD. Professor, University of Rochester Medical Center

    • Jim Lorraine, President & CEO, America’s Warrior Partnership

    • Debra Houry, MD, MPH. Director, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control

    • Matt Kleiman, Director of Psychological Health, National Guard Bureau

 

3:50pm - 4:00pm 

Closing Remarks 

  • Jim Lorraine, President & CEO of America’s Warrior Partnership 

 

4:00pm - 6:00pm 

Round Table Discussions with Sponsors and Open Networking