A SkillBridge internship does not excuse from all of your military responsibilities – you still have to manage your leave and keep your medical and retirement appointments. After a whirlwind week 1 with GSF, I travelled with my family to Houston for spring break. After I returned I had two eye surgeries (yes, I can now see how handsome Stephen Jones is) and worked my way through a slew of VA appointments, x-rays, MRI’s, etc. related to my retirement. After weeks of not being able to read for more than ~10 minutes, or look at a computer screen, I was ready to get back to work.
Thankfully the GSF crew was understanding and I am now able to “Charlie Mike.”
Between my medical requirements, Chelsea and I had a luncheon with Design Interactive (a new GSF Small Business Partner) with the topic of discussion revolving around how they can get the most out of their partnership. The technological solutions they develop are fascinating to me and could clearly benefit our Warriors, so I’m looking forward to helping them get into our community.
I was also able to attend both days of the Synapse Innovation Conference, which was recently held at Amalie Arena in Tampa. There I distributed some GSF marketing items to attending Warriors and to potential GSF Partners. On display at the conference were various medical inventions, software applications and additionally, there were many interesting keynote speakers. I highly recommend attending this conference!
Additionally, I spent some more time with Jim Frey and the GSF Small Business team. We re-grouped to analyze the results of our recent survey and keep pushing forward on improving GSF’s reach to small businesses. (If you ARE a GSF Small Business Partner and have yet to reply to the Small Business survey–there’s still time!) We will ensure GSF’s outreach continues to broaden and provide ROI to our small business partners and the SOF community at large.
As my last comment for this week, I look forward to meeting as many of you as possible at the AFCEA Luncheon at Macdill on 18 April (1130 at Surf’s Edge) and at the GSF Huddle at GEOINT Symposium on 24 April, 1700-1900hrs at Jackson’s Bistro on Harbour Island.
– Chuck