VETERANS DAY Gulf War Group Offers Help

BY LISA S.T. DOSS

Veteran statistics:

• Twenty million American citizens are veterans. • Twelve states are without veteran representation in Congress. • Only 49 Congressional representatives have battle experience. • From August 1990 to August 2021, the multigenerational

Gulf War involved over six million military members • Seven hundred fifty thousand veterans live in North Carolina.

The voice of advocacy on behalf of veterans is small. It takes more than just reading, listening, and talking with well-informed individuals. Trust is vital. Fortunately, for the 150,000 veterans who live in the Piedmont Triad, they have a unique opportunity occurring on the second Saturday of each month in Winston-Salem. Nike Roach, US Army veteran, the co-founder of the Veterans Gulf War Era Coffee, shares, “Most who come to our meetings want a similar connection to what they had while in service. They walk to talk to younger folks who had similar experiences or stories and enjoy themselves with a familiar backdrop.” Visitors will find three to four guys who share lessons learned, best practices, and vital information to take the next step forward. Jesse Almanza, USMC RET., says, “Our sources come directly from Veteran Affairs. While others cannot share specific details, we can!”

Tell Your Story

Introductions are made through the informal telling of one person’s story. Listeners glean insights, make connections, acquire knowledge, and form questions. And the outcome for the teller is a common statement of longing, “I wish I knew sooner!” By not telling their stories, a lack of knowledge becomes expensive for veterans. For instance, millions of men and women received a disabled rating by the VA and didn’t know North Carolina had a statewide program for education, on-the-job training, creating a business, or children, aged 23 and under, living at home.

The Intent to File

“’How do I file?’ is a commonly asked question,” says Jesse Almanza, USMC RET. People hear information; yet it needs to come from a trusted source. Many of our conversations lead to filing. We talk about how documentation from the initial injury connects the dots to a long list of appointments.”

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

• E-benefits have transitioned to www.VA.gov. Information changes all the time. Current websites will help you obtain e-mails and news easier than older formats. • Outcomes from court cases and new legislation impact veterans, their children, spouses, and dependents. If you filed for a Gulf

War injury years ago, try again! • If on active-duty orders and connected to the VA, keep Veteran

Affairs aware of your status. • Enroll in V.A. benefits at your local hospital! • Prepare death benefits paperwork in advance to help your family, rather than experiencing a potential suspension in probate.

Podcasts and “Know Zone” Webinars

Do you know who represents you in the 117th Congress? Have you ever thought about that last mission, death? Did you know many veterans are silently in our lives every day? These questions are themes that comprise 30-to-45-minute podcasts located on Spotify or iHeart apps. Take the time, while driving to work or taking a walk to become informed!

In addition, Gulf War Veterans Coffee presents weekly webinars on Facebook. Expect to learn about veteran disability benefits, health care, mental health, home loans, wills, estate planning, and many other topics!

Discount for Veterans

Once a veteran receives a 30% or higher rating, the door opens, especially for family members! The main exchange at military bases once had restrictions and was limited to men and women with 20 years of service; today, the rating carries opportunity. Did you know camping and national parks offer pricing at a nominal cost, or free, for most veterans, including rated? Nike Roach shares, “Most veterans are quiet people; yet their insignia and colors are a tool to savings. Sometimes a T-shirt is enough, or asking can give you a discount on items from phone systems to computer software.

Everyone is welcome to join the Gulf War Era Veterans’ Coffee group every second Saturday of the month at 10:00 AM. Veterans can bring a spouse, a parent, an adult child to learn how veteran benefits can improve your life! Nike Roach says, “After the meeting, men and women take conversations out into the parking lot. Hours later, they remain taking, sharing, and connecting interests. Sometimes, it takes months for veterans to attend our meeting. And, once here, they want it to continue!”

For more information go to https://gulfwarveteranscoffee.com/. Gulf War Era Veterans’ Coffee meets at New Beginnings Church, 4555 Shattalon Drive in Winston-Salem.

Piedmont Advantage Branch Managers Maleia Brown (left) and April Young (Photo by Megan Gioeli)

Piedmont Advantage Branch Managers Maleia Brown and April Young:

Making a difference

When April Young and Maleia Brown enter a room, people stop and take notice. Their bright smiles and cheerful personalities light up a room before they say anything.

Both raised in the Winston-Salem metro area, they didn’t know each other until Brown started working at Piedmont Advantage Credit Union five years ago as a part-time teller. Five years ago, Young had been with Piedmont Advantage for 16 years and knew the ropes within the branch network and across multiple departments.

A colleague of Young told her she needed to visit the team of new hires, because her “twin” was there, referring to Brown. Young wasted no time visiting the team and immediately connected with Brown. As Brown reflects on that day, “April has been my mentor since day one.”

Today, Brown and Young are branch managers in WinstonSalem with Brown at the Advantage Way branch and Young, the University branch. Both attribute Piedmont Advantage’s leadership for recognizing and cultivating their individuality and desires to make a difference in the workplace and within the communities where they live, work and play. Brown learned first-hand Piedmont Advantage’s culture puts employees in a position to serve or lead a more satisfying life. “Following your heart isn’t discouraged,” said Brown.

“Now in management, I’ve come to rely on this culture to follow my heart more often than not. I do my research so that I can ask the right questions to offer guidance for my teammates and solutions for members. While it is ultimately their choice to accept this guidance or pick a solution, being in a position to make a difference keeps me coming back every day,” she said.

“When I’ve a made a difference, I can see it in a teammate’s or member’s facial expression. Now, that’s really cool and the best feeling.”

Outside of work, family is Brown’s priority. “Family is everything,” said Brown.

Brown comes from a large family with traditions.

• Her great grandfather had 11 children and held community cookouts each year. “He wanted to give back as much as he could. This tradition continues today.”

Maleia Brown: Heart over Mind

Brown became branch supervisor in 2019, then branch manager in March 2021. When asked how she likes being a branch manager, without hesitation, she responded with “I love it”; yet admits, “At first, it was hard to choose heart over mind,” when coaching some of her more cautious teammates or finding financial solutions for members, who aren’t accustomed to asking for help. • Brown’s mother is an avid photographer, teaching Brown the importance of capturing memories. Brown put this lesson to work by capturing her uncle’s love for motorcycle racing, which led to other racing motorcyclists to take notice of her photos. Brown is a professional photographer because of her passion to keep her family’s traditions relevant.

Brown also coaches cheerleading with her mom. What’s noteworthy about this is her mentor, April Young, is known at Piedmont Advantage as “the cheerleader.”

April Young: The Cheerleader

“April. April. April.” April Young began her career at Piedmont Advantage on April 17, 2001, the day after her birthday on April 16. Over the last 21 years, Young has been a teller and member services manager, which oversaw the credit union’s call center and financial service officers. She also worked in collections and e-Commerce prior to going back into the branch network as a lead teller then branch manager, the position she holds today.

In collections, Young learned when members had the unexpected happen, causing them to struggle to make loan payments, as long as they communicated with her or others in the department, “the collections team would find a way to help while staying within the boundaries.”

Since then, Young believes communication and the ability to observe are keys to both personal and professional success. “Effective communication is a building block to trust; and the ability to observe how people deliver and receive this communication gives me the insight to focus on the uniqueness of each teammate and member,” said Young.

For example, with her branch teammates, Young developed a playbook, similar to what a football coach would use. She uses this playbook as a way to build their self-esteem, which requires an atmosphere of trust and mutual understanding. As Young puts it, “My goal is to coach, not manage.”

This goal has led Young to become more known throughout the credit union as “the cheerleader,” with her high energy and positive attitude combined with a great ability to lead as a coach.

When Young isn’t working, she is enjoying the outdoors. Several days a week, prior to work, she will go to the park to walk and swing. “Being one with nature with no outside distractions is the best way to start the day,” she said.

On the weekends, April is either spending time with her grandchildren or longing to get in a round of golf. She hopes to be a golf coach someday. Piedmont Advantage’s Vice President of Strategic Services Sandy Milton commends Brown and Young for their leadership.

ai162819007517_Piedmont Advantage ad for FORSYTH FAMILY.Sept 2021 issue.8.4.21.outlined.pdf 1 8/5/2021 3:01:15 PM If Piedmont Advantage is participating in an area charity golf tournament, when on weekends, Young will most likely be part of its foursome.

“They both love life and approach each day with enthusiasm and possibilities. They constantly work to improve their emotional intelligence and know that a strong team culture is the foundation for achieving success,” said Milton.

For opportunities to work with Brown, Young or within other areas of Piedmont Advantage, visit PACU.com/Careers.