So you use Yelp to find where to go to dinner.  Or perhaps Rotten Tomatoes to help decide what movie to see?  Trip Advisor to decide where to vacation?  Every day you use the power of other people’s opinions, insights and experiences to make decisions.  So why don’t our veterans have those same tools available to them when decided on where to go for healthcare, job opportunities, family assistance or education and training?

Warrior Gateway’s mission is to eliminate the information barriers that keep members of the military community from connecting with the resources they need. By providing a comprehensive directory of service organizations, community feedback and volunteer opportunities as well as a knowledge base of valuable information through our G.I. Network, Warrior Gateway is aimed at easing the transition from military to civilian life and also providing support for the families of those in uniform.

Position Summary:
Warrior Gateway is seeking collaborative, roll-up-your-sleeves Software Product Manager who will be responsible for managing the product roadmap for all of Warrior Gateway’s initiatives. He or she will report to the Warrior Gateway CEO and interact heavily with the entire team.  Activities include planning iterations and releases in an Agile /Scrum development cycle, fills and prioritizes the product backlog and refines its contents on an ongoing basis, allocates resources, mitigates risks, manages scope changes, defines processes and ensures that the team adheres to these processes and ultimately ensure a timely and quality delivery.   This person will be the go-to resource for the CEO and act as his “right-hand” person for executing the product roadmap vision.  The Product Manager will also represent the stakeholder and user requirements to the development team.

The Warrior Gateway is an ambitious organization and we especially value candidates who are passionate about supporting the Warrior Gateway community and are willing to step outside of their specific job descriptions to do whatever it takes to create the best experience possible for the Warrior Gateway’s users. This position can be based in Washington, DC or San Francisco, CA, however virtual candidates will be considered.

The Product Manager oversees all aspects of meeting the projects goals using planning, monitoring, and control processes. The Product Manager is broadly responsible for coordination and completion of tasks on time and within budget, and to this end will perform a variety of tasks including setting deadlines, assigning responsibilities, and monitoring and summarizing progress of the project.  Additionally, the Product Manager collaborates with the team and aligns with the stakeholders throughout the entire release cycle, clarifies requirements, accepts the work results and is ultimately responsible for creating a smooth flow of work to the team.

Requirements:
•5+ years experience working in a consumer Internet environment (e-commerce and/or social media a plus), including 3+ years of software product management experience
•Experience working as a Product Owner in a Scrum / Agile development environment
•Experience with scope management and risk mitigation, including management of statements of work and change orders
•Demonstrated ability to balance competing business drivers and manage stakeholders, both from the customer and from internal management
•Excellent organizational and team building skills
•Experience with various requirements documentation and story writing techniques
•Experience with testing approaches for quality assurance
•Experience managing project budgets, timelines and demonstrated ability to complete projects on budget
•Experience working with an offshore development team as part of an overall project team
•Good presentation and communication skills, including the ability to convey complex technical issues to a non-technical audience
•Recent experience in managing software-as-a-service projects preferred, particularly when migrating from on-premise solutions
•B.A. or B.S. degree
•Military experience preferred

Personal Qualities:
•Exceptional communication, collaboration, leadership, and critical thinking skills.
•Ability to interact with diverse technical and non-technical groups, spanning all organizational levels.
•Excellent organizational skills.
•Ability to thrive in a dynamic, loosely structured and rapid growth environment.
•Embraces change and can adapt easily and recover from setbacks.
•Willingness to work hard and think creatively.
•Strong initiative; able to self-manage. Must be comfortable working in an unstructured, creative, and fast-paced environment

To Apply:
If you’re interested in joining the team, please send a cover letter along with your resume to resumes@warriorgateway.org.  In the cover letter, please tell us what inspires you about the Warrior Gateway and why you think you are the perfect applicant for this position.  This is a key position and a wonderful opportunity to join a growing project with a uniquely inspiring mission.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed.  They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel so classified.

Bio: After graduating from Texas A&M University with a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Design, Serena Hayden joined the U.S. Army as a Public Affairs Specialist in October 2003. Serving four and a half years, Serena began her military career as a photojournalist for the post newspaper at Fort Sill, Okla. She also competed in multiple competitions while stationed at Fort Sill, winning the 2005 Installation Management Agency Soldier of the Year. During the transition of Brigade Combat Teams in 2005, Serena was transferred to the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood, Texas, where she assisted in the development of the brigade’s public affairs office and served as the Public Affairs Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge. She deployed with the brigade to Diyala Province, Iraq, from 06-08, and was awarded the Bronze Star for her service. After leaving the military in 2008, Serena relocated to Austin, Texas, where she serves as a Community Partnership Manager and Marketing Specialist for Warrior Gateway.

QUICK FACTS

Hometown: San Antonio, Tx

Hobbies: Time with family and friends, Photography, Reading, Crossword Puzzles, Golf, Playstation 3

High School: Tom C. Clark High School – Class of ‘99

College: Proud Member of the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Class of 2003!

Q & A

What’s your position at Warrior Gateway?
Community Partnership Manager and Marketing Specialist

What’s special about working at Warrior Gateway?
When I left the military, I struggled with my transition and no longer felt I served a purpose. Working for Warrior Gateway allows me to continue serving the greatest population – our military community – and develop partnerships focused on innovative ways to ease their transitions.

So far, what has been your favorite moment at Warrior Gateway?
My favorite moment at Warrior Gateway has been developing relationships and partnerships with the organizations I met at the Texas Veterans Commission Veterans Summit. The ability to collaborate and work with other military-focused organizations is uplifting and truly enjoyable as we support them in supporting our service members, veterans and their families.

What is your connection to the military?
Several members of my family have served in the military, to include both of my grandfathers and one of my uncles. Unfortunately, they all died prior to my enlistment, but would be proud to know I served.

Why do you believe in the G.I. Network initiative?
Searching for resources, especially during difficult times, can be overwhelming and frustrating. Every resource directory provides different answers in regards to where the military community should go for assistance, so the ability to have a centralized directory which can be accessed from any partner organization’s website is vital. So whether resource information is accessed from the North Dakota VA’s website or TexVet.org, the G.I. Network provides streamlined results with the ability to leave feedback on services.

On a more personal note, what do you do in your free time?
My free time is mainly spent with friends and family. Iraq’s lessons of perspective on life are carried with me daily, so I make it a point to surround myself with loved ones as much as possible.

Connect with Serena!

• Twitter
• LinkedIn

Bio: Nathalia Magri was born and raised in Colombia, South America. At the age of 17, Nathalia and her family relocated to Texas, where she finished high school and earned a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Human Development and Family Studies from the University of Houston – Honors College.

Nathalia’s career in the non-profit world started her junior year of college when she joined Genesys Works; a Houston based non-profit organization that changes the life trajectory of low-income high school students. Her background and passion for education led her to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, where she served as Special Assistant and Liaison to the Board.

In 2009, Nathalia married Capt. John D. Magri (U.S. Army), and relocated to Colorado Springs, where she joined El Pomar Foundation’s team as a Program Associate. During her time at El Pomar Foundation, she managed the Summer Internship program and regional partnerships in the Southwest and High Country regions of Colorado. Nathalia also provided technical assistance and support to local non-profits, including: The Mountain Post Historical Center, CrossFire Ministries, and The Denver Foundation.

Nathalia joined the Warrior Gateway team in 2011 and currently serves as the Community Partnership Manager for the Western Region.

QUICK FACTS

Hometown: I was born and raised in South America in a beautiful city on the western side of Colombia, named Cali. The temperature there is absolutely perfect  - 70 degree (avg.) year-around.

Hobbies: … and things that I love to do: Yoga, hiking, reading Women’s Health Magazine, going for a run with my dog, trying new restaurants, and spending time with my family.

High School: I went to a German School in Colombia (kinder to sophomore year), and finished high school at Dickinson High School in Texas.

College: I earned a B.S. in Human Development and Family Studies from the University of Houston – Honors College.

Q & A

What’s your position at Warrior Gateway?
I am the Community Partnership Manager for the Western region of the U.S.

What’s special about working at Warrior Gateway?
The people! The Warrior Gateway team, and the people I meet who are doing wonderful things for the military community.

So far, what has been your favorite moment at Warrior Gateway?
My favorite moment happens every time I talk about the G.I. Network; every time we close a partnership, every time more and more people realize that we are able to better serve our service members, veterans, and families if we all work together.

What is your connection to the military?
I am married to a wonderful man who proudly serves in the U.S. Army.

Why do you believe in the G.I. Network initiative?
I believe that the G.I. Network will serve as a set of “yellow pages” that service members, veterans and their families can refer to for help to provide consistent answers, not links to other websites! I truly believe this is a win-win solution.  Not only will the G.I. Network help alleviate the frustration of the military community, but it will also help service providers be aware of other services and work with each other.

On a more personal note, what do you do in your free time?
Honestly, I love to spend time with my husband, I know! It sounds really cheesy, but it is true. Oh and… I clean!  There is nothing that I enjoy more than spending time in an nice, clean house.

One more thought
“Obstacles are those frightening things that become visible when we take our eyes off our goals.” ~Henry Ford

Connect with Nathalia!

• Twitter
• LinkedIn

Rightfully so, the news has been full of pictures of excited families, reuniting after returning home from Iraq, tearful embraces among the Welcome Home signs.  These images leave the majority of American thinking; “Ahhh, there is a happy ending”.  When in fact the war may just beginning.

Repeated deployments and conditions such as Post Traumatic Stress and Traumatic Brain Injuries complicate the happily-ever-after, and often leave their mark on ALL the family members.  Suicides, divorces and Veteran unemployment are all record highs.

The traditional approach to treating PTSD relies on the use of medications provided solely to the individual.  What if there was an alternative method and incorporating treatment for the entire family??  Providing the family with an adaptation strategy to help break the cycle of PSTD rather than masking its symptoms.  And what if, what if, we could get these families moving in the right direction…outdoors!!

Project Sanctuary offers six day therapeutic retreats in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains, hosted with YMCA’s Snow Mountain Ranch.   By utilizing year round outdoor recreation, our families are allowed to break their cycle of stress, bond with other families all the while enjoying hiking, fishing, skiing, tubing and horseback riding.

The goal is for the military family to obtain the skills necessary to integrate back into society in a healthy environment. Using year round recreational opportunities to assist with bonding, communicational skills and enhancing overall moods is a key element.   They are empowered to work through difficult issues as a family unit and continue to receive support from Project Sanctuary for two additional years.

This March, The Sierra Club, Project Sanctuary and Regis University are teaming up host ten military families for our 22^nd retreat.  This collaboration brings together the best of all organizations with the goal of conducting a formalized study proving that outdoor recreation is a viable, timely and useful tool in healing the effects of PTSD in our military families.

So, “Welcome Home”.  Now grab a back pack, your family and hit a trail.  There is healing to be done!

About Project Sanctuary

Project Sanctuary is a Colorado 501C3 hosting therapeutic retreats for all military families. Retreats are lead by Licensed Professional Counselors, Recreation Therapists and Veterans.  Healthy Marriage, Financial Peace classes along with outdoor recreation are utilized in this one of a kind program. To date, Project Sanctuary has hosted 20 retreats and of our 143 families we can report zero suicides.
For more information please visit: www.projectsanctuary.us

Interested in Guest Blogging for us?

• Email us at socialmedia@warriorgateway.org.

Retweetables

• @WarriorGateway Featured Resource Series: @ProSanctuary hosting retreats for all #military families: http://ow.ly/92iTl #SeaOfGoodwill

Connect with us on Facebook and Follow us on Twitter!

If you’re looking for an internship in a growing company that is transforming the veterans landscape, then we want to hear from you!  This internship is a hybrid role that will include assignments and learning opportunities across our strategic partnership and social media marketing groups.  It also includes supporting the CEO with various administrative tasks.

Responsibilities may include but are not limited to: General office assistance, Salesforce.com management, Google Adwords Advertising Campaigns, Market Research, Facebook Fan Page management, Twitter Follower management, Social Media marketing metrics reporting and creation of Warrior Gateway blog posts.

Expectations:

• Minimum commitment of 20 hours per week
• A high energy level

Roles/Responsibilities:

• Salesforce.com data entry
• Help grow audience for and manage CEO’s social media accounts (Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn accounts)
• Help write and edit online content
• Support ongoing marketing projects
• Assist with additional administrative tasks

Requirements:

• Self motivated candidate who can work independently from home
• Undergraduate degree or equivalent experience
• Military Experience or knowledge of the community a plus

This is a paid internship. Email all applications with a resume and cover letter to: resumes@warriorgateway.org with 2012 Internship in the subject line.  Applications without a cover letter will not be looked at nor considered.

Warrior Gateway hosted an exhibit table, and participated in several of the breakout sessions featured during the summit.

“With approximately 1.8 million veterans across Texas, it’s vital that all organizations work together to address the unique needs of the military community,” Serena said.  ”The Veterans Summit provided an incredible platform for building partnerships and learning how to best impact the men and women who serve our country.”

In closing, Col. David W. Sutherland, Special Assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff – Warrior and Family Support, spoke about the resiliency, strength and courage of the military community.  Specifically, focusing on the “Sea of Goodwill” and the importance of partnerships.

Serena, who led Sutherland’s public affairs team while deployed to Divala Province, Iraq, from October 2006 through December 2007, was highlighted during the speech as the colonel highlighted the strength of the military community through the Army’s Warrior Ethos – “I will always place the mission first.  I will never except defeat.  I will never quit.  I will never leave a fallen comrade.”

“I am grateful to the Texas Veterans Commission for bringing all of these military-focused organizations together,” Serena continued.  ”Warrior Gateway is eager and looking forward to working with the many organizations we had the opportunity to learn about.”

Retweetables

#Texas #Veterans Summit focuses on coordination & collaboration to serve veterans: http://ow.ly/8ON1i @WarriorGateway

Focused on serving veterans through coordination and collaboration, the annual summit is put on by the Texas Veterans Commission, whose mission is to advocate for and provide superior service for veterans in the areas of claims assistance, employment services, educaiton benefits and grant funding that will significantly improve the quality of life of Texas Veterans and their families.

Connect with us!

If you are attending the Summit, stop by the Warrior Gateway table and say hello!  Meet members of our team, and learn more about our mision to support the military community and their families.

Engage with us on Social Media

Follow the Warrior Gateway Twitter and Facebook accounts for Summit updates and photos.

WarriorGateway.org is harnessing the power of technology and collaboration to help today’s veterans make better decisions about what government program or non-profit organization to go to for help.  Warrior Gateway leverages the social dimension by encouraging these “voices of the veteran” to include ratings about the quality and effectiveness of those services and to include short comments and tips to help other community members decide where to go.

We are dedicated to empowering our veterans to share their experiences and help the overall community but also, give them a voice to highlight those programs and organizations that are not meeting their needs.  Launched in March 2010, the Warrior Gateway is the only effort that is focused on providing these individuals with a forum to publically share their experiences.  It’s about time our veterans had a voice.

Warrior Gateway is growing our technology team and we are seeking a motivated Drupal engineer.  Here are the details of the position:

Tasks:

• Lead the web application development of multiple Drupal-based web portals
• Work on the development of our API & Platform strategy
• Develop Drupal modules for our partners and customers
• Work as part of agile team environment in a startup environment
• Able to take on tasks beyond your scope of responsibilities to achieve results
• Write code!  You will be responsible for developing features for our multiple web properties as well as the platform infrastructure

Technical Requirements:

• You must know & love Drupal inside and out as you will be the sole engineer in this position
• Experience managing multiple Drupal properties
• Experience building and managing Drupal modules

“Nice to have” Requirements:

• Mastery of XML & XML Schema
• Experience with XPath & XQuery
• Knowledge of MarkLogic Server and developing on the MarkLogic platform
• Substantial experience with Linux
• Experience building web applications using Java, Java Web Services, Javascript & JQuery
• Experience with JPA and/or Hibernate
• Experience with HTML,CSS and Web 2.0 elements
• Experience with Apache and Tomcat
• Deep experience with XML and related technologies
• Browser-side client technologies including AJAX, HTML, CSS, cross-browser compatibility issues, performance and optimization techniques
• Experience with agile software development (i.e.; Scrum)
• Ability to manage and respond to changes in priorities
• JPA/Hibernate, or similar Experience
• REST Web Service client and/or Server
• Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or equivalent
• Experience with Agile methodologies

General Requirements:

• Disciplined engineers who will….
  • Deliver code that can be maintained and extended
  • Follow architectural guidance
  • Test their code before they deploy it
  • Complete 100% of work tasks or notify in-house team of gaps in deliverables

• Communicative engineers who can deliver…..
  • Javadoc (or equivalent)
  • Class Diagrams
  • Flow & Sequence Diagrams
  • High Level Diagrams
  • Wiki or other site to tie work products together

Nice to have:

• Understanding of search technologies
• Understanding of semantic web and thesaurus management systems
• Experience in using JQuery, Dojo, Prototype or other JavaScript frameworks

Other:

• Interested in working for a aggressive start up with a non-profit mission
• Interested in supporting veterans and wounded warriors; former military experience a plus
• This position can be based anywhere in the Continental US

If you’re interested in joining the team, please provide a cover letter along with your resume.  In the cover letter, please tell us what inspires you about the Warrior Gateway and why you think you are the perfect applicant for this position.  This is a key position and a unique opportunity to join a growing organization with a uniquely inspiring mission.

Email all applications with a resume and cover letter to: resumes@warriorgateway.org with Drupal Engineer in the subject line.  Applications without a cover letter will not be looked at nor considered.

Las Vegas, NV January 13, 2012

For the third year in a row, Project Gratitude brings 19 families of fallen service members to Las Vegas to be recognized as “Honorary Miss Americas” at the 2012 Miss America Crown Celebration on Friday, January 13. For the grand finale, the families will watch the Miss America pageant (live on ABC 6 PM PST) Saturday night from their VIP seats.

“Warrior Gateway is honored to be a sponsor of Project Gratitude in supporting the wives, daughters and mothers of our fallen military members. Initiatives such as Project Gratitude show how communities across the nation can step up to work together and support the families of those who have made the ultimate sacrifice. As the Project Gratitude sponsor for the Miss America Crown Celebration Gala, we are proud to join these families of our fallen in Las Vegas for the Miss America pageant,” said Devin B. Holmes, CEO of Warrior Gateway. “Warrior Gateway remains committed to supporting all members of the military community as they return home and seek out their new normal life.”

“Got Your Back Network is pleased to partner with the Miss America Organization to provide a very unique and “once in a lifetime” experience for surviving wives and their daughters. Shared experiences are the highlight of memories and we are happy to be able to plan, organize and implement the Project Gratitude event.” said Kathleen Gagg, Executive Director of Got Your Back Network. “We thank all volunteers, contributors and organizations that have made Project Gratitude possible.”

“We started Project Gratitude out of a deep, heartfelt sense of gratitude and highest respect for the ultimate sacrifice that was made by our nation’s fallen heroes and their families,” explains Sharlene Hawkes, former Miss America and President of Remember My Service Productions. “By recognizing each of the women and their daughters as honorary Miss Americas–and giving them the VIP experience that Miss Americas have received over the years–it is just our way of doing what we can to pay tribute to these great Americans.”

See press release on PR Web at: http://www.prweb.com/releases/2012/1/prweb9107694.htm

For more information about the event, please visit the Warrior Gateway Facebook page at: http://www.facebook.com/warriorgateway

For real-time event updates and photos, please follow Warrior Gateway on Twitter at: http://www.twitter.com/warriorgateway

“We started Project Gratitude out of a deep, heartfelt sense of gratitude and highest respect for the ultimate sacrifice that was made by our nation’s fallen heroes and their families,” explains Sharlene Hawkes, former Miss America and President of Remember My Service Productions.  ”By recognizing each of the women and their daughters as honorary Miss Americas – and giving them the VIP experience that Miss Americas’ have received over the years, it is just our way of doing what we can to pay tribute to these great Americans.”

Project Gratitude is a great example of how communities can step up, work together, and support our military community and their families.

“Warrior Gateway is honored to be a part of Project Gratitude in supporting widows and daughters of our fallen military members.  Initiatives such as Project Gratitude show how communities across the nation can step up to work together and support the families of those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.  Alongside Got Your Back Network and The Miss America Organization as well as other partners, we are honored to join these families of our fallen in Las Vegas for the Miss America pageant,” said Devin B. Holmes, CEO of Warrior Gateway.  ”Warrior Gateway remains committed to supporting all members of the military community as they return home and seek out their new normal life.”

Keep in touch with us throughout the week for updates, photos, and much more:  Facebook, Twitter, Foursquare

If you would like further information on Project Gratitude, please visit the Got Your Back Network website.  If you are interested in supporting the initiative, please click here.