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Tag Archive for: Combat Disabled Veterans

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From the Frontlines to the Boardroom – Feature on Shawn Lopez

Awards, Employee

Shawn Lopez

Shawn Lopez is the program manager for the Purple Knight Initiative (PKI), Knight Federal’s internship program for wounded warriors. In this role he gets great pleasure to serve the nation’s combat veterans by providing them with paid internships and training that help reintegrate them into future successful careers. As a wounded veteran and graduate of the program, he is able to have firsthand knowledge on what these heroes face when they transition from active duty and integrate back into the workforce. This relatable experience propels Lopez to excel and find passion in the new career path he has chosen to follow.

“I am so grateful to Knight Federal, it has given me the opportunity to intern at the Joint Staff J7 after having served in the U.S. Marine Corps Wounded Warrior Battalion – East. This was an amazing experience that launched my current career and allows me to leverage my experience to ease their stress of transitioning and the feeling that they are alone in pursuing the next chapter of their lives,” says Lopez.

Lopez came on board at Knight Federal in July 2016. He was working in Charleston, South Carolina and communicating with his mentor Tim Baker, PKI Director, voicing his unhappiness with his current location and role. Baker told Lopez about a new company that was energetic and young that just became part of the Joint Staff Support team. He asked Lopez to reconsider moving back to Suffolk, VA where there could be a potential opportunity. Lopez recalls immediately recognizing the potential opportunity and took the advice to contact Matt Herring, Knight Federal’s Director of Programs. Herring reassured Lopez that they were not just about filling roles for work awarded, but their mission was to THRIVE as a team. After that call, Knight Federal hired Lopez as a communications technician for the Joint Staff Deployable Communications Shop. There he supported the Joint Exercises Division, as all areas support major simulated exercises for the Joint Staff J7.

“Having a CEO who stands by his employee’s and creates/supports a team environment is a huge plus to this job and company. Since the day I met Chris Baeten he welcomed me and supported me in all of my goals. He heard my story and said we can do more. Having a boss that has never served in the military, but yet understands the struggles of our veterans is highly respectable as a leadership trait in my eyes. Knowing that he supports the veteran community at work and within the community makes me proud to work with him.  Knight federal has become family to me,” says Lopez.

Moving forward Lopez hopes to become one of the leaders of Knight Federal in business development, with the coaching of Herring and Baeten. He continues to learn about its customers, teammates and the overall operations and business goals of Knight Federal.

Lopez has a distinguished military career. He joined the US Marine Corps in 2007. After graduating from Marine Corps recruit training Depot, Lopez was assigned to 2D Battalion 2D Marine Regiment, 2D Marine Division Camp Lejeune North Carolina. He served two tours in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. While serving in Afghanistan, Lopez received wounds from combat and was awarded the Purple Heart along with the Navy and Marine Corps Accommodation Medal with Valor. Lopez medically retired from the Marine Corps in 2012, and now has two children Shawn Jr. and Mia Lopez. He is attending Saint Leo University to pursue a degree in Business Administration. Lopez is involved in the community and currently serves on board of directors and as Tampa chapter president for Operation WetVet.  Additionally, he volunteers with Project Therapy at Sea’s “Taking Combat Veterans from Front Lines to tight lines!” – whose mission is to get Combat Wounded Veterans that suffer from P.T.S.D. together to enjoy a fun day of fishing and therapy along with counseling as needed. In his spare time, Lopez enjoys fishing, rock climbing, skydiving, motivational speaking and spending time with his kids. He also enjoys traveling.

Lopez’s words of wisdom for others: “People think the grass is greener on the other side. What they don’t realize is what it took to turn green. First you need to plow the land, then you plant the seeds, next you water it and feed it. In order to feed it, you have to grab the manure and throw it in front of you and walk through it. This process must be repeated over and over. Bottom line – it takes hard work, dedication, consistency, and commitment. At the end you will have grass. People can go one of two ways – are you going to continue looking over the fence, or are you going to grow your own grass? Stay hungry and do the work – hard work – it’s worth it in the end!”

/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Red_Gray_KFLogo_Tag_CMYK-1030x361.png 0 0 webdesigns@sandymeier.com /wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Red_Gray_KFLogo_Tag_CMYK-1030x361.png webdesigns@sandymeier.com2019-04-12 18:13:462021-07-14 03:03:41From the Frontlines to the Boardroom – Feature on Shawn Lopez

Former J7 Director Leads Wounded Warrior Internship Program

Community Involvement, Employee, News, Philanthropy

Shawn Lopez pictured with Tim Baker, director of the Purple Knight Initiative.

Timothy L. Baker, the former director of the Resource & Acquisition Management Office of the Joint Staff J7, has been appointed to lead the Purple Knight Initiative, a Wounded Warrior Internship program developed by Knight Federal Solutions.

Baker was a Senior Level executive, overseeing a $900M annual budget, managing a $180M annual contract portfolio and all assigned facilities.  He joins Knight Federal with an extensive background in military operations at the federal level, as well as serving in the U.S. Navy for more than 23 years retiring with the rank of Captain. Baker has many received many awards including the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal, and other various service awards.

Knight Federal Solutions’ Purple Knight Initiative connects employers with qualified, impactful and passionate Combat Disabled Veterans to support their business in hopes of providing Wounded Warriors meaningful career opportunities in industry or the federal government to support their recovery and provide them with the opportunity to build the future they so richly deserve. The goal is to provide paid internships to Wounded Warriors seeking to learn a new career, in fields that are conducive to their disabilities and desires for employment, with their safety and welfare in mind first.

“Throughout my 47-year career of supporting the Navy, USJFCOM, The Joint Staff and industry in various leadership positions, I have recognized that the highest quality, most successful organizations have leaders of integrity, high moral and ethical character and who place the welfare, professional and personal development of their staff as their primary objectives.  Knight Federal Solutions is such a quality organization and the Purple Knight Initiative is our company’s commitment to our nation’s wounded war veterans. Through our Wounded Warrior Internship Program, we are giving these American heroes the opportunity to continue to serve our great nation out of uniform and to pursue career opportunities for themselves and their families as part of their program of recovery. Taking care of our people is our core value and what distinguishes Knight Federal Solutions from other companies and it is a great personal honor to be part of this,” says Baker, director of the Wounded Warrior Intern Program for Knight Federal Solutions.

The goal of the program is to provide paid internships to wounded warriors who are looking to learn a new career, in fields that are conducive to their disabilities and desires for employment.

“We are thrilled to have Tim in this position.  His knowledge and expertise are an integral component to this program that will take it to the next level and help so many deserving combat disabled veterans.  I look forward to working with him to build this program into a national model for others to adopt and implement,” says Chris Baeten, CEO of Knight Federal Solutions.

For more information on the Purple Knight Initiative, click here – https://bit.ly/2urG4MF.

/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Red_Gray_KFLogo_Tag_CMYK-1030x361.png 0 0 webdesigns@sandymeier.com /wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Red_Gray_KFLogo_Tag_CMYK-1030x361.png webdesigns@sandymeier.com2018-07-23 14:59:012021-07-14 03:08:24Former J7 Director Leads Wounded Warrior Internship Program

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