BRIDGING THE GAP

BRIDGING THE GAP OPENING DOORS FOR VETERANS

BY JAN L. APPLE

SEARCHING FOR A JOB or identifying a career path can prove daunting, especially in a world where face-to-face contact often takes a back seat to automation. Resumes and professional inquiries sent via e-mail and online are frequently lost in the shuffle. For veterans, the challenges may be even more complex. When transitioning back to civilian life after serving our country in the armed forces, veterans face an array of obstacles and adjustments. Enter Bridging The Gap for Veterans Inc., (BTG), a 501(c) 3 organization established in February 2016 with Chief Door Opener, President and Co-founder Mike Ferraro at the helm. Ferraro, a retired United States Air Force Command Chief Master Sergeant, who served our country for 32 years in both active duty and the Air Force Reserve, is committed to assisting veterans and their families with this multi-faceted transition. “We are military career coaches,” explained Ferraro, adding that they help prepare veterans and then open corporate doors to secure interviews. BTG has clearly become his life mission. Besides extensive military expertise, Ferraro’s impressive resume includes being an accomplished corporate executive, management consultant, leader, business entrepreneur and government civilian. He understands the delicate nature of cultivating relationships, generating revenue and fulfilling client demands. In many cases, Ferraro explained, veterans are simply not employment-ready, resumes are not up to par and there’s uncertainty about

BTG co-founder Mike Ferraro

how to market themselves and build networking relationships. The bottom line—their career transition efforts are going nowhere. “I established Bridging The Gap for veterans so that we can open career doors and enable military candidates a competitive advantage when in a career transition,” explained Ferraro, who enlisted in the military after graduating from Howell High School in 1982. His father had worked for the Federal Aviation Administration and Ferraro developed a passion for aeronautics at a young age. “I was always around airplanes and control towers,” recalled Ferraro who enrolled in college prep classes to become an aircraft mechanic. After enlisting, he worked for five years on the F15 Eagle, then cross-trained as a C-141 flight engineer. As an aircrew member, he flew onboard C-141 Star lifters, became a first sergeant and ultimately took on leadership positions.

One of BTG’s monthly training programs consists of speed interviewing.

“I was blessed to lead almost 28,000 airmen and 18 installations around the world,” said Ferraro who holds a bachelor’s degree in Professional Aeronautics and a master’s in Aeronautical Science. “It was a humbling and rewarding experience.” His service encompassed flying cargo planes in war zones to deliver troops and ammunition throughout Southwest Asia, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia and Europe. His missions included Desert Shield, Desert Storm and Iraqi Freedom, to name a few. When Ferraro retired from the military in 2013, he established VIP Careers, a for-profit business that provided job shadowing and career assistance for veterans. His former firm became the foundation for BTG. “I wanted to do this by teaching the skills of how to go about finding a job, but also to give veterans the opportunity to meet employers onsite, face-to-face—the old-fashioned way,” said the 56-year-old Manasquan,

NJ resident who brought companies into the classroom to partake in speed interviewing. He likens the concept to speed dating but in a business setting.

It began as a pilot program with 30 veterans and 15 companies at the Joint Base McGuireDix-Lakehurst in Burlington County. The sole purpose was to educate veterans and match their skills with the needs of potential employers. “The idea took off like crazy,” said Ferraro of the unique business model. Today, the Manasquan-based Bridging The Gap is run as a business by veterans. There are five employees, including Ferraro. Together, they refine and orchestrate training programs that assist veterans—free of charge. Most come from throughout the state of New Jersey, but programs are open to veterans across the country. One of their monthly training programs, “Top Gun—Ignite Your Future,” consists of four hours of career tactics and two hours of speed interviewing. It begins with identifying the natural skills and abilities of the veterans. To date, more than 2,000 veterans have benefited from their training classes; some 511 have been placed in jobs. The programs have been sustained through donations. Greg Petersen of Howell is one of the many who has been assisted by BTG. The 37-yearold disabled veteran served our country as a U.S. Army Brigade Reconnaissance Trooper in the First Infantry Division. “It was definitely life-changing,” said Petersen, describing his experience with the organization. It meant a world of difference to have professional assistance enhancing his resume and being sent on face-to-face interviews. A Six Sigma Certified Process Engineer, Petersen is grateful that BTG literally opened doors for him. Once he met with potential employers, he was able to secure positions. But getting in the door, he explained, is critical. “Mike [Ferraro] is really for the veterans,” he said. “You can tell he definitely cares about each and every veteran.”

THE EARLE COMPANIES Michael Earle, co-president of The Earle Companies with brothers Rob and T.J., has been working with Bridging The Gap since early 2018. His family-owned, veteran-friendly business is headquartered in Wall, New Jersey, yet its various entities and divisions stretch throughout the state as well as Bucks County and Eastern Pennsylvania. They specialize in private and municipal road construction and paving; highway construction and the manufacturing, recycling and transportation of construction-related materials. “There was always a desire to bring veterans on board,” BTG recently introduced the “Adopt a Coffee Platoon,” a monthly coffee service which donates coffee to VFW posts and police and fire departments throughout the region.

said Earle, of the company established in 1968 by his father, a Navy veteran. “Our corporate character, systems and processes are very aligned with how the military operates. “We are very diverse,” continued Earle. “One of the things we pride ourselves on is our in-house training and development program that we’re able to put veterans in to further refine the training they received in the military.” This has enabled the business to place veterans in a multitude of positions: construction, office, logistics, equipment maintenance.

STILL MORE TO DO Ferraro is perpetually trying to enhance and improve their business model and secure adequate funding. It’s the only way they can continue to sustain their initiatives. “Two hundred and twenty thousand get out of the military annually across all the armed forces,” he said. “Testimonials have been off the charts. We have helped so many people— even with simple things like resumes or opening the door to get an interview.” Yet, there’s always more to do. BTG recently introduced the “Adopt a Coffee Platoon,” which Ferraro described as a costeffective innovative program. Corporations and business entities enlist in the Platoon and adopt a monthly coffee service for the cost of $1,000 a year. BTG then donates the coffee to VFW posts and police and fire departments throughout the region. The organization then assists these companies with finding employees while simultaneously branding them as veteran-friendly businesses. The funding is tax-deductible as well as an opportunity to serve coffee to veterans at various locations. “Our platoon members can say ‘Thank you for your service,’ one coffee at a time,” said Ferraro adding that fresh coffee is delivered monthly and is available in an array of flavors and packages—beans to K-cups.

BRIDGING THE GAP’S MEDIA OUTLET Ferraro has taken his mission even further as host of a 30-minute weekly television show “Bridging The Gap for Veterans.” It can be seen on Fridays at 11 a.m. and accessed at RVNTV.TV as well as through Amazon, ROKU (a streaming service) and Apple. “We bring in veteran service organizations, corporations, military leaders and patriotic Americans,” said Ferraro. “We talk about local and national positive news stories going on in the military community.” Ferraro is also active throughout the veteran community and is often invited to events as a keynote speaker. He recently was a guest speaker on a South Jersey Chamber of Commerce panel that explored solutions for career transitions of veterans. Yet Ferraro’s vision for Bridging The Gap extends above and beyond our region. “We want to expand what we’re doing now in a grassroots effort to other military installations across the country,” he said. n

www.bridgingthegap.vet

Legacy Club A social club where business happens

We are proud to introduce you to our private business network

n Do you want to expand your network in Philadelphia and South Jersey?

n Do you want to create powerful connections with other business professionals in the area?

n Do you want to attend exclusive networking events once a month at local venues?

LEGACY CLUB SPOTLIGHT “As a technical consultant, you learn quickly that just hanging out the proverbial shingle doesn‘t get you business….you need to be proactive in getting clients. And… being proactive means networking, networking, networking. I came into the Legacy Club in 2019 after attending an initial event in 2019. I was impressed by the friendliness, openness, and quality of the Legacy Club membership, as well as the wonderful meeting venues. I joined the Club and have become an enthusiastic participant! I hope to see you all at our Club’s future events.”

– Dr. Joel Shertok is President of Process Industries Consultants, Inc., a chemical and materials consulting firm

“The key to networking isn’t how many business cards you can collect, it’s the # of high quality relationships you can create. The Legacy Club gets that concept and creates an environment where you can create meaningful relationships that extend way beyond their events. When you join the club, you join a family of elite professionals with a similar mindset. That’s why I love being a member of the Legacy Club!”

– John Lorenzo, CEO, TwoTwo Creative

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THE CIGAR GUY ______________________________________________________________________________________________ BY SAM KRAFT Sponsored by The Smoking Dog

NICHOLAS MELILLO has been developing the Havana Seed Tabernacle since 2014, when he first started working with farmers in the Connecticut River Valley. In order to achieve the abundant oils in this blend’s Connecticut wrapper, Nicholas needed to ferment the leaf for three years. The result is a thick, toothy, dark-colored tobacco leaf. It may come as a surprise to many cigar enthusiasts that this release of The Tabernacle is made from a Connecticut leaf. Often times, Connecticut leaves are thin and light in color. There is a misconception that all Connecticut wrappers are this way, and therefore light in flavor. The Tabernacle Havana Seed CT exposes the exception to the rule. Color and shade are largely influenced by the fermentation process, not by the type of seed that is used. The Havana Seed’s extensive fermentation process demonstrates how a darker, richer Connecticut wrapper can be attained. On the first puff the Tabernacle Havana Seed CT #142 packs a peppery punch. It is spicy and delivers pillows of thick, grey smoke. After a few puffs, its initial strength dies down. From there, the smoker should expect to experience heavy, earth flavors, as well as some cocoa notes. The cigar is both savory and bitter. The aftertaste has a lingering creaminess to it. As the cigar progresses, its complementary flavors gain strength. Some of that heavy spice from the initial draw rears its head, but never matching that initial blast. The creaminess from earlier begins appearing alongside a yeast flavor. It feels abundant and heavy on the pallet, like a mouth full of oven-baked bread. A hint of sweetness can also be detected, but it is hidden by some of the more spicy and bitter notes. This Tabernacle is an extremely unique cigar. Its flavor profile is like nothing currently on the market. This cigar is absolutely stunning in appearance and maintains perfect construction throughout its smoke. The extra time and effort Nicholas devoted to this blend paid off in a wonderful way.

Be safe, have fun and enjoy your smoke! n The Tabernacle Havana Seed CT #142 Company: Foundation Cigars • Wrapper: Cuban Seed Connecticut • Binder: Mexican San Andres • Filler: Nicaraguan • Size: Toro

MAN & WOMAN OF THE YEAR HONOREES

JerseyMan and PhillyMan Magazines are proud to recognize those in our area who demonstrate the rare combination of business excellence and dedication to community service. These Man & Woman of the Year candidates will be honored at our 6th annual Unmasking the Legacy event, held this November, where a portion of ticket proceeds will go to the winner’s designated charities.

Lloyd Freeman Lloyd Freeman is a Partner and Chief Diversity Officer at Archer, concentrating his practice in the area of commercial and complex civil litigation in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Lloyd served as president of the Garden State Bar Association and has written articles and spoken at conferences on the importance of D&I, the impact of stigma and discrimination, implicit bias and imposter syndrome. A member of Governor Phil Murphy’s transition team, Lloyd has also used his influence as a social justice advocate to speak at press conferences with the governor, meet with state leaders and author pieces urging the decriminalization of marijuana in New Jersey. Most admirably though, is Lloyd’s commitment to the community. He is chairman of the board of Big Brothers Big Sisters Independence Region (“BBBSIR”). Throughout his nine years as a board member, Lloyd has served as an ambassador for the agency, inspiring hundreds to become mentors. Lloyd also led a merger of two affiliate agencies to create BBBSIR—the third largest agency in the nation, providing mentors to over 3,500 children in the Philadelphia and South Jersey area. Additionally, Lloyd founded the Burlington Camden Achievement Foundation, which sponsors a scholarship and mentoring program designed to prepare high school males of color for college and subsequent life. Lloyd resides in Medford, New Jersey with his wife, Ebony, and their two children, Ailey and Beau. Lloyd is representing Big Brothers Big Sisters Independence Region for JerseyMan/PhillyMan’s 6th annual Umasking the Legacy celebration event.

Marilyn Russell Marilyn is a single mom of a college-aged son and a huge Philly sports fan (she LOVES to tailgate), as well as a real “foodie”—she knows all the great places to eat in the area. A girlie girl, she likes perfume, cosmetics and having a great head of hair. Marilyn is a huge supporter/advocate of women with her “Remarkable Women” show and events. Marilyn is super connected to many movers and shakers in Philly, and, living in Conshohocken, she supports local events. Marilyn started her career in radio in 1993...on-air starting 1995 at 103.9 WDRE, Philly’s Modern Rock (RIP) then did mornings at Y100 when it was Preston/Marilyn & Steve from 1997 to 2003 (RIP) then moved to 102.9 WMGK. Began full-time hosting mornings for 95.7 Ben FM in 2007 until 2017. Marilyn currently works for Entercom and hosts 10-Noon weekdays, Saturdays 2-7 and feature Remarkable Women Sunday mornings at 6:30 on three stations here. Remarkable Women began as a blog back in 2003 and went on-air in 2007, featuring women as a way to give women a little equality in the work-place and most importantly help non-profits have a platform in which to share the great work they’re doing. It is mostly women at the helm of various non-profits, many of whom could easily have more lucrative careers, but chose non-profit instead. It’s since broadened to incredible women in every field and is her favorite part of my broadcasting and social media commitment. Marilyn is representing The Ertz Family Foundation for JerseyMan/PhillyMan’s 6th annual Umasking the Legacy celebration event.

A MasqueradeThemed Celebration Event 11.5.20 Save Date THE

6-10 p.m. Ballroom at the Ben • Philadelphia

FOR INFORMATION CONTACT: Ken Dunek at ken@jerseymanmagazine.com or Ashley Dunek at adunek@jerseymanmagazine.com

TECHTIME _______________________________________________________________________________ BY ANTHONY MONGELUZO

A Different Kind of Tech World

THE PLEASURE I GET from writing an IT column comes from immersing myself in everything computers and then having the opportunity to share it with my readers. Keeping on top of the latest technology often can lead to a life that is a bit easier, less complicated, certainly convenient and even just plain fun. That’s why I decided to spin the roulette wheel this month, and the marker fell on a different number: technology for your health and wellbeing. That means taking a peek at other technologies that offer many of the same positive elements that IT does. For example, I recently visited Orange Cryo Wellness in the Cedar Hill Shopping Center in Voorhees, NJ. Accompanying me were JerseyMan Magazine publisher Ken Dunek, and public relations maestro Tom Peric. We wanted to catch up on a few relatively new yet fascinating technologies that can improve your health and offer a boost to feeling better. Ken and I went in for the “big chill,” immersing ourselves in the whole-body cryotherapy tank. After disrobing and then covering yourself in a white robe, you step in the chamber and immerse your body into cryogenically cooled air that reaches minus-240-degree Fahrenheit. It lasts for only three minutes, and an attendant is always just outside the chamber. The three-minutes speed by quickly as the cold seeps into your body. Ken took the first “plunge,” stepped out with a wide smile and said, “A cup of tea would be nice,” replying to an attendant’s offer as his body returned to normal temperature. I followed the same procedure and kept chatting with Ken, Tom and the staff, with my head exposed above the chamber. Did I mention that it’s C-O-L-D? But the experience and the benefits are worth it, especially with its modest price. Originally developed in the 1970s to combat rheumatoid arthritis, the Cryo chamber serves as an anti-aging solution and helps promote athletic recovery, reduces inflammation, stimulates your metabolism and aids in athletic performance. (You know the feeling of sore knees, hips and back after a crazy weekend of unprepared physical activity.) They also offer Cryo toning that helps with skin tightening, fat burning and wrinkle removing. Tom chose NormaTec. They covered his arms with sheaths, and inflated the unit, making him look like Mr. Chubby arms, as compressed air massaged his limbs. (It’s available for legs and hips, too.) Tom, a world-ranked jiu-jitsu competitor, who spars every week, summed up the experience with, “Now, that’s comfortable, I should do this more often. It’s relaxing, and you feel the soreness slip away.” Tom Peric tries the NormaTec unit

The author immerses himself in the cryotherapy tank as attendant Diane Soukup looks on

The Cryo Center also offers light therapy that has received endorsements from the NBA, UFC, NFL, MLB and CrossFit. Now you’re asking: Why is JerseyMan Magazine’s tech guy writing about all these cool (forgive the pun) technologies? I have a membership because I run hard and work long hours, often nonstop, almost seven days a week. I use these advancements to help keep fit, provide a steady energy level and provide me with a sense of well-being. I love technology, and these are the latest offered to the public in a simple, effective way. The cryo-chamber mimics the same chilling effect and benefits that we’ve seen in athletes who jump into an ice bath to alleviate various physical ailments and promote recovery. Now you get the same benefits in three minutes without getting wet. Here’s the obvious. Don’t just look at benefits from your IT products on how to improve your life. Remember the reluctance and trepidation when you were forced to try a new computer program? When guided properly (I hope it was PCS), the discovery was that you can’t live without it. Your body is your best investment, and rewarding it with these improved technologies is worth a try. n

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Contact: ken@jerseymanmagazine.com

THE WINE MAN _______________________________________________________________________________ BY ROBERT KENNEDY

ARISING TIDE LIFTS all boats. How many times have we heard that expression? Plenty, I’m certain. Well, it’s no different in the U.S. wine industry, particularly over these past 25 years where the west coast wine boats, from the dingys to the yachts, all have enjoyed rising tides in demand year after year, and with it, boundless increases in prices. The California wine industry could set their watch to it; and taking it for granted, they’ve increased their pricing, as set forth by the wine gods, time and again. Even the stock market corrects itself every so often!

What contributed to some of the increase? Young to middle-aged baby boomers were inundated with important flashes of health news set forth by such respected publications as the New England Journal of Medicine, planation might be that the premium price points finally began breaking the consumer bank. But that didn’t happen. So, if many age-appropriate consumers were out there ready and willing to spend gobs on high-end premium wines, there had to be an oversupply of grapes causing this anomaly. True, but a perfect storm was brewing on the horizon, including factors other than just a glut of growth, and as we know a bad storm can sink even the strongest of vessels.

Napa and other appellations throughout California, Washington and Oregon simply missed the growth boat and overproduced in 2018. That much is so. But what exacerbated the acute oversupply of grapes began when the oldest boomers began to retire, age, and experience a reduction in income along with some well-being challenges, causing a reversal in wine consumption. (Perhaps red wine wasn’t as effective a health tonic as was thought.) More importantly, the perfect storm increased in intensity with what should have been the next wave of wine consumers’ hearty embrace, the millennials, but did not. They snubbed the wine industry for other libations. A Rising Tide and the Perfect Storm

Millennials place more emphasis on health labels and calorie intake than previous generations.

and other medical experts giving advice: Wine consumption, when enjoyed in daily moderation, particularly red wines, was healthy for you. (Not to mention it danced on your tongue, and could settle you down after a long day at the office!) As its value on health was highly regarded by those of younger middle-aged folks, this combination led to the rise in the tide, pushing price points beyond what even the venture wine capitalists imagined. What a great combo. Health and wellbeing, driven by 76.4 million consumers born between 1946 and 1964 with an emphasis on the nectar of the gods, was sensationalized overnight. Ripe aged boomers invested heavily in ripe aged grapes harvested year over year. Well, uh, until now, perhaps.

U.S. wine consumption actually decreased by almost one percent this past year for the first time since 1994. Though superficially not much of a needle mover, the more important indicator focused on “still” wine, measuring down 1.5 percent on the scale, even though there had been an increase of four percent in the sparkling wine arena. One simple ex

FORTUNATELY, millennials continued to learn more about health and nutrition. This group born between 1989 to 1996, and 83.5 million strong, should have placed the exclamation point on wine consumption, given the size of this crowd. However, they placed more emphasis on health labels and calorie intake. One of the major byproducts of wine is sugar, and with it comes a plethora of calories—not necessarily good ones. There began a generational shift in consumption by millennials from beer and wine to spirits, such as bourbons, hard seltzers and cocktails, recognizing the reduction in calories and sugars. As fortunate as the health lessons learned by the younger adults from their predecessors were, the U.S. wine industry, having overproduced, missed the shift in consumer tastes from wine to “ready to drink” products. All of this caused a seismic shift in demand, in consumption, and reversed the trend of ever-increasing business that was enjoyed by the U.S. wine industry for almost 30 years prior.

What did this mean to wine consumer enthusiasts who continued to support such a worthy cause? A reduction in pricing without the loss in quality and value which could last for as long as five years running. This could prove to be a boon to those of us who enjoy incredible dining experiences, wanting to pair wonderful wines with eclectic courses. (The millennials can have their Aperol Spritzers!) So, effectively, this means more quality wines at a lesser price point. What’s wrong with that? For those of us who are fortunate to have our good health, continue to be productive latter baby boomers, and enjoy the fruits of our labor, I vote for more superior wines at a lesser price, even if it means an increase in calories. And, for those millennials who place more emphasis on their hard seltzers, reduced calories, and ready to drink products, placing less value on this awesome fruit of the vine, I say cheers to you! For comments, questions, suggestions and/or feedback, contact Robert Kennedy at rkj@Kennedy-companies.com.