HCG_Newsletter_May_2024

NEWSLETTER

Spring is a time of new beginnings, hope, and change. It can also be a time of refocusing, fresh perspective, and appreciating the little things.

RELAX

Tis the season for rejuvenation, growth, and expansion. Time to shed the old and embrace the new!! Just as the seasons change, so do circumstances in our personal and professional lives. Let’s approach change with an open mind and a willingness to adapt. Change brings new opportunities for growth and innovation, and by embracing it, we can thrive in an everevolving world.

Each member of our team brings unique talents and diverse perspectives. Hartwood supports continuous learning and development. Encourage each other to set ambitious goals, explore new skills, and challenge ourselves to reach new heights. Cultivate a spirit of collaboration and inclusivity, where every voice is heard, and every contribution is valued.

Remember to celebrate progress along the way. Whether it is achieving a milestone, overcoming a challenge, or simply making strides towards our goals, each step forward is worth acknowledging and celebrating. Just as flowers need sunlight and water to thrive, so too do we thrive on positivity and encouragement. Sow seeds of positivity in our interactions with each other, uplifting one another and fostering a supportive and uplifting work environment.

Thank you for your continued dedication, hard work, and commitment to Hartwood! May this season bring you much growth, opportunity, and success!!

Human Resources

A NOTE FROM HR

is

Mental Health Awareness Month

Mental health is a vital aspect of our overall wellbeing which directly contributes to our individual and organizational success. Mental health includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how we think, feel, and act. It also helps determine how we handle stress, relate to others, and make healthy choices. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), one in five US adults currently live with a mental health condition. Many suffer in silence and only half of those individuals will seek professional care for their symptoms. In addition, the US Surgeon General stated in a youth advisory that “one in three high school students and half of female students reported persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness.

While there are many reasons people do not seek care including stigma, lack of awareness of warning signs, or lack of available resources, it is essential that we prioritize mental health for ourselves and each other.

Here are a few tips and reminders for the workplace and at home:

Educate yourself and increase your understanding. Learn about common mental health conditions and their warning signs, ways you can help yourself or loved ones. Start with these reputable sources –

National Institute of Mental Health: https://www.nimh.nih.gov/ National Alliance on Mental Illness: https://www.nami.org/

American Psychological Association: https://apa.org/

Try to keep an open dialogue where conversations about mental health are welcomed and encouraged. Whether it’s discussing stressors, seeking support or sharing coping strategies, it is important to have a safe space to talk openly.

Self-care matters!!! Make yourself a priority in your daily routine. Whether it is taking breaks, practicing mindfulness, or engaging in activities that bring you joy, investing in your mental health is just as important as your physical health. 3 4 5 6 7 8 1 2

Support each other. We never know what others may be experiencing. Whether it is checking in on a colleague, lending a listening ear, or connecting them with resources, small acts of kindness can make a significant difference in someone’s day.

Access resources. Increasing awareness of available mental health resources and support services helps individuals access the help they need. This includes therapy, counseling, helplines, peer support groups, workshops, and online resources. Hartwood’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is a useful resource found on ADP Workforce Now. Use this link for more information:

ADP: https://www.adp.com/resources/articles-andinsights/articles/e/eap-benefits.aspx

Reduce the stigma. We can work together to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health by sharing our experiences, educating ourselves and others and promoting acceptance and understanding. Hartwood’s goal is to create a more supportive and inclusive environment for everyone.

Remember to take breaks and prioritize your well-being, especially around stressful periods. Taking the time to recharge and refresh is not only beneficial for your mental health but also enhances your overall productivity and effectiveness.

Understand that seeking help signifies strength! If you are struggling, know that it is okay to reach out for support, whether it is from Human Resources, a trusted colleague, friend, or mental health professional – SEEK HELP!

TOGETHER, WE THRIVE!

We are all in this together - by supporting each other and prioritizing mental health, we can create a workplace where everyone feels valued, respected, and supported. As we continue to navigate the complexities of work and life, remember to prioritize your mental health and support one another along the way!

UPCOMING EVENTS

MAY 04, 24

1:30 - 4PM

Leopold’s Preserve 5k/10k Race - Park Website here

Come Race with HCG @ 16290 Thoroughfare Rd.

Broad Run, VA 20137

Register for race here: bishopsevents.com

MAY 04, 24

4 - 8PM

The Farm Brewery at Broad Run (Haymarket, VA)

Come hang with us for drinks, food and games @ 16015 Marshall Hwy Broad Run, VA 20137

Family and dogs are welcome!

MAY 04, 24

7:30PM

*DC United vs. Philly @Audi Field, Washington DC

MAY 15, 24

11 - 11:30AM

MAY 15, 24

7:30PM

HAPPY

BIRTHDAY

Alyssa Schwegal -4/13

APRIL

HCG Showcase & Review - Virtual Meeting on MS Teams

*DC United vs. Red Bulls @Audi Field, Washington DC

MAY 20, 24

11 - 11:30AM

HCG Coffee & Convo - Virtual Meeting on MS Teams

MAY 24, 24

7:30PM

*DC United vs. Chicago Fire @Audi Field, Washington DC

MAY 27, 24

CLOSED FEDERAL HOLIDAY

Memorial Day

JUNE 01, 24

7:30PM

*DC United vs. Toronto FC @Audi Field, Washington DC

JUNE 07, 24

12 - 2PM

Quarterly Lunch @ The Black Sheep

2 - 4PM

Join us for Cocktails and Music @ Farm Brew Live

JUNE 19, 24

11 - 11:30AM

HCG Showcase & Review - Virtual Meeting on MS Teams

JUNE 22, 24

7:30PM

*DC United vs. Houston Dynamo @Audi Field, Washington DC

JUNE 24, 24

11 - 11:30AM

HCG Coffee & Convo - Virtual Meeting on MS Teams

* For DC United Games, check with HR for ticket availability

JUNE

Nico Siems -4/16

Maggie Gibbs -4/19

Thad Ashe -4/24

Dela Ashe -4/26

Emily Styles -6/6

William Crites -6/19

MAY

Matt Humphrey -5/1

Reed Siems -5/15

Bertha Montes -5/16

Sam Kelly -5/20

Michael Brown -6/26

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY

April:

Sam Kelly - 04/03 (1 year)

Maggie Gibbs - 04/07 (3 years)

Marlin Johnson - 04/08 (3 years)

May:

Leticia Aguirre - 05/15 (1 year)

June:

Reed Siems - 06/01 (9 years)

Matt Humphrey - 06/16 (4 years)

WELCOME TO HCG!

Joshua Phillips! Tapped to lead the DC-I SDO Tiger Team, with 20-plus years of professional experience as an IT Consultant, Cybersecurity Practitioner and Project Management Professional, Josh is exceptionally qualified in information synchronization, team building and translating complex problem sets into simple solutions. As a Marine Mustang, Adjunct Professor, and Volunteer, he is a caring husband and loving father of four. He loves learning, glamping, history, current events, and college sports.

FOND FAREWELL

So long and Farewell to Harry Greenblatt – WWR Sr. SharePoint Developer. Thank you for your invaluable contributions to Hartwood! While we are sad to see you leave, we sincerely wish you well.

HCG News Corner

SHOWCASE & REVIEW

April’s Showcase and Review featured an outstanding efficiency tool for contract managers. The Peer Review Evaluation Process (PREP) application was developed and demonstrated by HCG’s own Alex Wynn to facilitate the internal contract deliverable review and approval process. Say goodbye to searching through endless emails for documents and approvals. Not only is this beneficial for contracts, but the business development team can also log in and quickly find contract-specific documentation that might be used for writing proposals. It’s a win-win for HCG! Outstanding work, Alex!

& Convo

Always a good time and a much needed coffee break on a Monday morning! HCG staff, pictured left, joined our monthly Coffee & Convo for March.

Coffee & Convo is scheduled for the last Monday of each month. Make sure you log on, it’s a fun way to connect in our virtual office environment, and catch up with co-workers.

Sock Drive WARM FEET FOR WARRIORS

We did it! We wrapped up our HCG Sock Drive and shipped our socks off to the Soldiers’ Angels charity headquarters. Thank you for all the support and donations. Our sock goal was just 100 pairs, with your help we more than tripled our goal and collected 352 pairs of socks. Through the Soldiers’ Angels Charity, our socks will reach U.S. Soldiers and veterans in need, at home and abroad. Now that’s a lot of WARM FEET!

FINAL COUNT 352 PAIRS OF SOCKS :

HCG SPRING CHALLENGE

Team HCG is springing into action to get fit and stay healthy The Walk/Run employee challenge is happening now! Reminder to participants to log your daily miles by Friday each week, and stay tuned for the top three challenge prize winners announcement after May 17th.

1ST PLACE - $500

2ND PLACE - $350

3RD PLACE - $150

SOCIAL GATHERINGS

Team members enjoyed sushi and social hour during the HCG quarterly luncheon @ Sake Thai & Sushi Bar in Stafford, Virginia. Thank you to all who attended!

HCG News Corner

HARTWOODIE PETS

Whether companion, comedian, confidant, or protector, our pets are always there for us. Thanks to all of our HCG staff that provided great pet photos this month for National Pet Month. According to Forbes online, 66% of U.S. households (87 million homes) own a pet. Dogs are the most popular U.S. pet, followed by cats and then fish. We love some variety though and our HCG pet family doesn’t disapoint, we have rabbits, horses and even a chinchilla in addition to our cats and dogs. Congrats to the horses, Lady and Dude, who now celebrate being Thirty-two and Twenty-seven years old!

MAY National is

Pet Month

Copper and Buddy (Emily Styles)

Mabel and Barley (Justin Forrester)

Murphy (Maggie Gibbs)

Bluey (Brandi Harrigan)

KC and CC (Shawna Carey)

Churro Bobby (Sam

Rudy (Dela and Thad Ashe)

Basha, Vito, and Dante (left to right) (Roberto Zamora)

Ru (Patrice Billingsley)

Maple (cat), Leonidas (dog) (left to right) (Joshua Phillips)

SMART TECHNOLOGY FOR PETS

Consumer Technology Association (CES) 2024, one of the world’s largest consumer tech shows, showcased some incredible tech innovations earlier this year in Las Vegas, NV. Between AI, solar panels, robot toilets, transparent TVs, and cell phones that flip both ways, there were so many products geared to enhance our lives; however the pet tech category was not left behind. This year they featured some innovative tech options for our pets. The company ORo created an AI-powered pet robot that will take care of your pet while you are away. This robot lets you check in with your pet using a twoway audio and interactive video on a robot that moves through your home. It can disperse treats or food. The most interesting concept is that since it’s AI, the robot can learn your dog’s behavior. Oro promotes this new AI-robot as a pet care companion and totes that it “preserves precious memories forever” as well as “keeps your dog entertained”. The robot retails for $799 and you can check it out here https://orobuddy.com/.

Invoxia’s Smart Dog Collar, Minitailz, took the prize this year for CES 2024 Best Innovation in the AI category. This smart collar allows you the ability to track your dog’s real-time movements, sleep, heart rate, appetite, and overall well-being. The company claims this is “the most advanced health and GPS tracker for dogs” and “data from the device can be used by your vet for diagnostic purposes to catch diseases early”. This wearable tech collar retails at approximately $99 but also requires a monthly monitoring fee. You can check it out here. https://petcare.invoxia.com/en-US/

There were plenty of interesting new pet tech concepts this year at CES. Check out the links below to learn more about dog doors that are secure, a litter robot for your cat, or an AI bird feeder that identifies and takes a video of the birds in your yard.

CES website: https://www.ces.tech/

CNET tech article: https://www.cnet.com/home/ces-2024-the-best-pet-tech-weve-seen-so-

Be the person your dog thinks you are!

Photo Credit: Source image from the ORo website

Kai (cat) and Duke (dog) (Gail Ronchetti)

Lady and Dude (Gail Ronchetti)

(Sam Kelly)

Francis (dog) Raven (cat) (left to right) (Joshua Phillips)

Samy (cat), Winston (dog) (left to right) (Joshua Phillips)

Historical Happenings

TAKE A TRIP BACK IN TIME

With so much history across the United States, this month we are featuring some great historical finds. The challenge is finding the time and energy to visit them, the reward is that stepping inside these preserved homes gives us a glimpse into the lifestyles, traditions, and architecture of the past. They often showcase art, artifacts, and gardens from notable owners such as Harriet Tubman to George Washington. Many of these historical homes have been deemed historical sites by the National Historic Landmarks (NHL) program. A site, building, district, object, or structure only has to be 50 years old, nationally significant in American history and culture thus determined by the Secretary of the Interior, be nominated, and approved to become a historical landmark. Below we’ve just scratched the surface of just six of America’s best historical homes to visit.

1 THE BILTMORE ESTATE (Asheville, North Carolina)

Known as America’s largest home, built by George Vanderbilt, originally consisted of 125,ooo acres. Construction began in 1889, took six years to complete, and reportedly cost 5 million dollars (equivalent ot $180 million today). Biltmore House boasts 250 rooms with the square footage of four football fields, and currently boasts 8,000 acres of land. During WWII, the house stored priceless works from the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC. In 1963, the estate was officially nominated as a National Historic Landmark. The 8,000-acre estate now includes a winery and a village with a hotel, shops, and restaurants. Open to the public for tours and with plenty of local activities, it’s truly a magnificent sight to see.

3

MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. BIRTH HOME (Atlanta, Georgia)

This Queen Anne-style home, built in 1895, was built on Auburn Ave. in Atlanta. Martin Luther King’s grandfather later purchased the home. King lived there with his parents, and two siblings until he was 12 years old. After his assassination in 1968, it was restored and turned into a museum. In 2018, the house was designated as a national historic park and in the same year was purchased by the National Park Foundation. What an amazing piece of history preserved for future generations to visit.

2

In the late 1850s, abolitionist Harriet Tubman purchased property in Auburn, New York, from Senator William Seward and moved there with her parents. After the Civil War, she returned home and in 1896 purchased an additional 25 acres of adjacent land to create the Harriet Tubman Home for the Aged. She deeded the property to the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church in 1903. Today, her residence, the home for the aged, and the Thompson AME Zion Church make up the Harriet Tubman National Historical Park, which was established in 2017.

HARRIET TUBMAN NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK (Auburn, New York)

4

MONTICELLO

(Charlottesville, Virginia)

Monticello, also pictured on our front cover, is hard to beat in the springtime. Thomas Jefferson’s estate boasts some beautiful tulip gardens. Jefferson began construction on his plantation, Monticello, in 1769 and found inspiration in ancient and Renaissance architecture. He later enlarged and remodeled the house beginning in 1796. The 43-room estate was Jefferson’s home until his death in 1826. Monticello is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and museum, where visitors can view exhibitions about Jefferson, the estate, and the enslaved people who lived and worked there.

6 MOUNT VERNON (Mount Vernon, Virginia)

Home of our first POTUS! George and Martha Washington’s plantation home was originally built by the president’s father in 1734. Washington expanded the house over 45 years, beginning in 1754, and transformed the one-and-a-half story house into a 21-room mansion (11,000 square feet). The original estate was comprised of 8,000 acres; however, land was sold over the years, and it now sits on approximately 500 acres. Many of the buildings on the property have been restored or reconstructed, such as the outbuildings where enslaved men and women worked, and a museum showcases artifacts from Washington’s life and presidency. The estate recently started on a landmark preservation project in 2024 to preserve the structural integrity of the house. Work is set to be complete by 2026.

Completed in 1900, the Oaks was the home of educator and author Booker T. Washington at the Tuskegee Institute, where he served as the first president. The Queen Anne Revival–style house was built by students and local craftsmen and was the first residence in Macon County to be equipped with electricity and steam heating. In 1974, Congress established the Tuskegee Institute National Historic Site, which includes the Oaks, the George Washington Carver Museum, and the university grounds.

NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARKS

5 THE OAKS (Tuskegee, Alabama) 2600 270

Total NHLs in the United States

New York has the most NHLs of any state.

(NHL)

The Biggest Landmark is The Gateway Arch, measuring in at 630

feet tall!

TECH TALK

The History of AI

The history of artificial intelligence (AI) is a fascinating journey that spans over several decades, characterized by milestones, breakthroughs, and rapid advancements. Throughout its history, AI has evolved from a theoretical concept to a transformative force shaping the way we live, work, and interact with technology. As AI continues to advance, its potential to revolutionize industries, solve complex problems, and improve human lives is more promising than ever before. Here’s a quick overview:

Foundations (1950s): The roots of AI can be traced back to the 1950s when pioneers like Alan Turing, John McCarthy, and Marvin Minsky laid the theoretical groundwork for the field. Turing proposed the famous “Turing Test” to determine a machine’s ability to exhibit intelligent behavior.

Early Developments (1950s-1960s): During this period, researchers explored various approaches to AI, including symbolic reasoning, logical inference, and machine learning. The development of programs like the Logic Theorist (1956) and the General Problem Solver (1959) demonstrated early successes in problem-solving and reasoning.

AI Winter (1970s-1980s): Despite initial optimism, progress in AI slowed during the 1970s and 1980s, leading to a period known as the “AI Winter.” Challenges such as limited computing power, lack of data, and unrealistic expectations led to decreased funding and interest in AI research.

Expert Systems (1980s): During the AI Winter, research focused on expert systems, which were rulebased programs designed to emulate human expertise in specific domains. Expert systems found practical applications in fields like medicine, finance, and engineering.

Foundations (1950s)

Early Developments (1950s-1960s)

AI Winter (1970s-1980s)

Expert Systems (1980s)

Resurgence (1990s)

Machine Learning Revolution (2000s)

AI in the 21st Century (2010s-present)

Resurgence (1990s): The 1990s saw a resurgence of interest in AI, fueled by advancements in computing technology, increased availability of data, and new algorithms. Machine learning, neural networks, and statistical methods gained prominence as researchers explored new approaches to AI.

Machine Learning Revolution (2000s): The 2000s marked the beginning of the machine learning revolution, driven by innovations in algorithms, computational power, and data availability. Techniques like deep learning, reinforcement learning, and probabilistic modeling led to significant breakthroughs in areas such as image recognition, natural language processing, and robotics.

AI in the 21st Century (2010s-present): The 21st century has seen explosive growth in AI technologies, with applications permeating various aspects of society and industry. AI-powered systems now drive innovations in autonomous vehicles, virtual assistants, healthcare, finance, and more. Breakthroughs in areas

like deep learning, neural networks, and reinforcement learning continue to push the boundaries of what AI can achieve.

Did you Know? Microsoft is the exclusive provider of computing power for OpenAI’s research, products, and programming interfaces for developers. In 2019, Microsoft invested $1Billion in OpenAI, specifically generative AI, which refers to technologies focused on producing automated text, visual and audio responses.

Microsoft is integrating the technology into its Bing search engine, sales and marketing software, GitHub coding tools, Microsoft 365 productivity bundle and Azure cloud which could add up to over $30 billion in new annual revenue for Microsoft, with roughly half coming from Azure. https://www.thespruce.com/

TECH TALK

How to Effectively Use Chatbot to Drive Your Productivity

Artificial intelligence (AI) is a rapidly evolving field that is revolutionizing the way we live and work. AI applications have numerous benefits and efficiencies for business as we determine ways to best integrate its capabilities in our business processes. Many of us have been exploring the usefulness of ChatGPT and other bots in our daily routines. ChatGPT exploded on the scene back in 2022 as a generative AI chatbot that can produce unique answers in response to user input. To put it simply, ChatGPT and its successor, GPT4, are chatbots that can develop human-like responses to almost any written prompt or topic. Chatbots use advanced machine learning techniques to “learn” language from huge amounts of data over the internet, including books, blogs, news articles and internet comment boards.

As we recognize the enormous impact of AI tools to increase productivity, enhance communication, collaboration, learning and strategic thinking, it is important to ensure we are using these tools responsibly and ethically while mitigating potential risks. Hartwood continues to

determine how best to leverage the capabilities of AI in our business practices and encourage you to do the same. Continue to cultivate your sense of curiosity and exploration. Use these tools to add value and deepen your critical thinking, problem solving ability and to build quality solutions. Share your experiences with colleagues and leadership but avoid relying too heavily on these tools. Instead, challenge yourself to learn while being mindful of privacy and security concerns that may result from using ChatGPT and generative AI.

Generative AI requires data to produce results. Be careful not to upload sensitive company or customer data to chatbots thus putting proprietary information at risk. Use ChatGPT and other bots as a tool to augment your capabilities, rather than as a replacement for your own knowledge and expertise. It should supplement your understanding, generate ideas, and facilitate learning. Always rely on your own judgement and expertise.

Here are some best practices for effectively using ChatGPT to maximize the effectiveness of your interactions and leverage its capabilities to enhance productivity, creativity, and learning.

1. Be Clear and Specific: Provide clear and specific prompts or questions to ChatGPT to ensure that it understands what you’re asking for. This helps ChatGPT generate more relevant and accurate responses.

2. Give Context: When asking for assistance or information, provide relevant context to help ChatGPT understand the background or situation. This allows ChatGPT to tailor its responses accordingly and provide more helpful guidance.

3. Use Proper Grammar and Punctuation: Proper grammar and punctuation when interacting with ChatGPT to ensures clarity and comprehension. Clear communication helps ChatGPT understand your queries better and generate more coherent responses.

4. Provide Feedback: If ChatGPT’s responses are not what you expected or if there are inaccuracies, provide constructive feedback to help it improve. This can include correcting errors, clarifying misunderstandings, or suggesting improvements.

5. Verify Information: While ChatGPT can provide helpful information, always verify critical or sensitive information from reliable sources. ChatGPT’s responses are generated based on patterns in data and may not always be accurate or up to date.

6. Engage in Natural Conversations: ChatGPT is designed to engage in natural language conversations, so feel free to interact with it as you would with a human. This helps create a more engaging and enjoyable experience.

7. Explore Different Use Cases: Experiment with different use cases and prompts to explore ChatGPT’s capabilities and discover how it can assist you in various tasks and scenarios. ChatGPT can be used for a wide range of purposes beyond just answering questions.

8. Respect Boundaries: While ChatGPT can simulate human-like interactions, remember that it is an AI model and not a sentient being. Respect boundaries and avoid asking inappropriate or sensitive questions.

9. Protect Privacy and Confidentiality: Avoid sharing sensitive or personal information with ChatGPT, especially in public or unsecured environments. Be cautious when discussing confidential matters and ensure that sensitive data is handled securely.

10. Stay Patient and Persistent: ChatGPT’s responses may vary in quality and relevance depending on the complexity of the query and the available data. Be patient and persistent, and don’t hesitate to rephrase or clarify your questions if needed.

TOOL TIP

While AI tools can help provide personalized learning, quick access to information, support, and resources - it can only do so when directed by a skilled, knowledgeable, and responsible individual. Always fact-check and proofread the copy it generates. CHATBOTS ARE NOT ALWAYS 100% ACCURATE. Because ChatGPT was trained on large amounts of data, it also ingests certain biases and pieces of misinformation.

Learn How to Effectively Use CHATGPT In Under an Hour

ChatGPT is owned by OpenAI, an artificial intelligence (AI) research laboratory that was founded in 2015. Open AI started its journey generating artificial intelligence for video games and other apps. The company has since switched its focus to general AI research and development, creating Chat Generative Pre-Trained Transformer (GPT) in 2018 — a unique language model that uses deep learning to produce human-like text — and more advanced models GPT-2, 3, and 4 in the years since.

Ends are not bad things, they just mean that something else is about to begin. We’ll see you next quarter!

Senior Visual Designer/Writer: Maggie Gibbs

Content Editor/Writer: Dela Ashe

Thank you to all the managers and staff who made contributions. We couldn’t do it without you!