The goal was to unite mission-driven organizations to forge meaningful connections, share industry knowledge, and amplify the invaluable contributions of our military veteran community. Between seasoned speakers, interactive sessions, and a tour of our state-of-the-art facility in Brewton, Alabama, our inaugural Stars and Stripes Summit was a massive success.
Upon arrival in Brewton, attendees quickly jumped into an interactive roundtable session with Dr. Jim Schleckser, CEO of the CEO Project and Inc.com columnist. Schleckser focused on many issues that fast-growing organizations experience as they reach higher performance levels and challenged attendees to speak candidly on the issues they face within their own organizations. Throughout the session, connections were made, relationships were forged, and knowledge was shared.
Our evening session featured two key moments: an opening city proclamation from Brewton, Alabama Mayor Yank Lovelace recognizing Provalus' community impact, and a closing keynote address by Jason Van Camp, Founder and Chairman of Warrior Rising Foundation and author of the bestselling books "Deliberate Discomfort" and "Authority."
Along with summit attendees, more than 50 Provalus employees and community members joined the audience to learn how Van Camp’s unparalleled experience in leadership, resilience, and high-performance team building has allowed him to translate military principles into actionable strategies that drive business success. His insights provided a powerful perspective on overcoming challenges and handling difficult situations, and words on resilience, commitment, and mission deeply inspired those in attendance.
Day two kicked off with breakfast sponsored by Warrior Rising, followed by attendees splitting into groups for interactive sessions at Provalus HQ. Led by Vice President of Operations, Will Ruzic, and Chief Growth Officer, Laura Chevalier, groups were immersed in a full tour of the very site that started it all for Provalus. We shared the rich history of the original building and the journey to transform it into a fully revitalized technology center of excellence. Others joined IRIS Audio Technologies Board Member and EVP, Toby Brzoznowski, for a demo of IRIS Clarity, an advanced noise-canceling technology used daily by Provalus employees. This powerful tool enhances agent performance by ensuring clear, high-quality communication in any environment.
After a short break, many Provalus Veterans shared their stories of the struggles faced while attempting to receive proper VA benefits upon their transition from the military. This discussion was followed by a session hosted by Nick Todd, Director of Strategic Partnerships at REE Medical. Todd discussed how REE Medical assists with coordinating care between Veterans and neutral third-party physicians who provide Veterans with strong and detailed documentation that they can use to support their VA disability claim. REE Medical is dedicated to ensuring that Veterans receive accurate and thorough medical documents for their claims to evaluate their disability rating with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
Paul Farley, TrustedSec Field CISO, was our final speaker. Extremely skilled in communicating complex concepts to diverse audiences, he has been recognized for facilitating employee growth and fostering strong connections between security teams and business stakeholders. Farley not only shared real-time examples of potential security exploitations, but also valuable insights on how a business leader can better engage with those tasked with keeping their technical environment safe and secure. His combination of deep technical knowledge, broad security experience, and proven track record of aligning security strategies with organizational goals through strategic consultation and relationship building left our audience with several critical takeaways. The day concluded in Pensacola, Florida with a send-off dinner sponsored by REE Medical.
The inaugural Stars & Stripes Summit united like-minded professionals, each bringing unique skills, discipline, and leadership strategies to the event, fostering authentic networking and meaningful discussions on supporting veterans while providing a platform to exchange ideas and navigate industry dynamics. Beyond the conversations, the event served as a powerful reminder of the vital role company culture plays in building high-performing teams and organizations. We are honored to stand alongside our attendees as they shape the future of technology and business.
