2013 United Way Campaign

We just completed another successful United Way Contribution Campaign and we're incredibly pleased with the results.  Our goal this year was $44,000 and we were able to surpass it with a total of $47,282 pledged for 2014.  Many thanks to our generous Valkyrians for their willingness to share their good fortune.  Also, congratulations are extended to our 15 winners of the various raffle prizes ranging from a $100 Uncorked.com gift card to a $1,000 Best Buy gift card.  Prizes will be awarded in January.
Since 2007, when we opened our doors, Valkyrie has been a proud supporter of the United Way.  Over the years, Valkyrians have donated an impressive $148,355 to the United Way!  Take a moment to let that sink it....one hundred forty-eight thousand dollars! Just to give you an idea of what that has done for our communities, that amount is what it takes to provide:
114    Children with a year of after-school care
89,013    Meals for hungry children
2,853    Weekly visits/support for at-risk teens on the street
228    Adults with urgent medical and dental services
30    Elderly, home-bound neighbors with daily in-home meals and care.
Again, many thanks to our Valkyrie employees who have supported our United Way campaign through the years.  And from our family to yours, Happy Holidays!!!

SOS: Save our Ships!

Just passing along a note from the President of the VA Ship Repair Association President:


Virginia Ship Repair Association Members,

Many of you may have already received this but in the event that you have not …..

The SCA, on a national basis has formally announced the launching of a multi-faceted PR/media and grassroots campaign called “Save Our Ships” – SOS.  VSRA is in lock step with the SCA regarding this initiative.  I am sending this to encourage all of you to please consider pushing the below petition out to all your company employees for them to consider signing the petition and also then pass it along to other stakeholders or interested parties in the ship repair industry.  Attached is a fact-sheet infographic on the impacts of sequestration and CR funding on the shipyard industry – please feel free to utilize as you wish in your advocacy efforts.

Click here to sign the petition.
Click here to view the Fact-Sheet Infograhic

The goal in this campaign is to create nationwide awareness and educate policy-makers and the Administration on why it is important to “Save Our Ships” from the arbitrary budget cuts under sequestration and end the budget uncertainty from continuing resolutions.  Please let me know if you have any questions, concerns, or would like further information regarding this campaign. 

With my utmost respects,
Bill
William W. “Bill” Crow, President

Virginia Ship Repair Association (VSRA)
wcrow@VirginiaShipRepair.org
Office telephone: (757)233-7034
fax: (757) 233-7035

Valkyrie Enterprises is the National Center for the Middle Market's Company of the Month

Posted by The Middle Market Center on Twitter:

Gary Lisota, CEO of VE, notes the importance of talent: “We hire the best to be the best.” tinyurl.com/me7q5ga@ValkyrieNews

Full article found here.

Thank you, Veterans!

On this Veterans Day and ALWAYS, we are grateful for our brave Veterans who have served in our Armed Forces; their sacrifices are not forgotten! Happy Veterans Day to all our Brothers and Sisters in Arms past and present. And to those veterans who are currently struggling with issues such as PTSD, know that our thoughts and well-wishes are with you. THANK YOU for your service.

Valkyrie Exhibiting at I/ITSEC December 2-5 in Orlando

Are you going to be at the world's largest Modeling, Simulation, & Training Conference?  We are!  Be sure to visit us in booth #2719!

Inc. magazine’s Hire Power Awards recognizes Valkyrie as being among America’s leading job creators

Excerpt from a recent press release:

New York, NY (October 24, 2013) – Headquartered in Virginia Beach, Virginia, Valkyrie Enterprises was featured in the 2^nd annual Inc. Hire Power Awards, recognizing the private businesses that have generated the most jobs in the past three years.

Valkyrie placed among the top 20 private business job creators within the state of Virginia and 9^th nationally in the Government Services category.

“This year has certainly been full of challenges…the sequester, a government shutdown, and no DoD budget (again) for FY14. Nonetheless, we are honored and humbled to have made the 2013 Hire Power list,” stated Gary M. Lisota, President and CEO of Valkyrie Enterprises.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that only 222,000 full-time jobs were added in 2012—compare those numbers to the honorees of the Inc. magazine’s HIRE POWER AWARDS, which created 69,182 jobs between January 1, 2012 and June 30, 2013. The numbers become even more amazing when you look closer—the top job creator, Universal Services of America added 14,240 employees to a workforce of 35,000; second-place Vivint added 1,943 to 6,496 and third-place Heartland Dental Care added 1,759 to 4,965. These small to mid-sized companies and others just like Valkyrie could hold the key to restoring America’s economic vitality.

“For the second year in a row, we are pleased to recognize the employers who are putting Americans back to work for a second time,” says Eric Schurenberg, Editor-in-Chief of Inc. “The HIRE POWER AWARDS are the only awards that single out job creators. We think it’s fitting to pay tribute to company founders not just for their business prowess but also for their immense contribution to the welfare of U.S. workers and the vitality of the U.S. economy.” 

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To see Valkyrie's Inc. com profile, click here.

His Mission: To help "EASE THE BURDEN-FIND THE CURE"

Please join us in congratulating our very own Don Bradway on his recent appointment as President of the Hampton Roads Chapter of the American Parkinson Disease Association.

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive disorder of the central nervous system affecting more than 1.5 million Americans.  APDA is a national organization whose goal is to “EASE THE BURDEN-FIND THE CURE” for Parkinson’s disease. The local chapter of APDA is involved with support of people with Parkinson’s disease and their caregivers, education of the local community, and fund raising for national research initiatives and Parkinson Information and Referral Centers.

Don has been a Hampton Roads resident since 1974 and he has been involved in the local non-profit community for over 30 years.  His volunteer and Board leadership experience, combined with his experience in small business, positions him well to help the Hampton Roads chapter of the APDA further its missions. For information about Parkinson’s Disease and/or chapter activities, please visit www.hrparkinsons.com  or contact Don at info@hrparkinsons.com

The Virginia Beach Beacon interviewed Don for this recent "Close-up" article that ran on Thursday, October 18.

Jobs at Valkyrie

Take a look at our available job opportunities and feel free to share them with friends!

Welcome to our newest Warriors!

Please joins us in welcoming our newest Valkyrians: 

Cheryl Bergeron

Accounts Payable

Corporate

Dennis Welch

Engineering Technician

Technical Services

Mae Walker

Instructional Specialist

Training

Adri McAloon

LAN Network Specialist

Training

Janet Martin

Project Control Analyst

Training

Jerred Truman

Engineering Technician

Technical Services

Laura Jones

Administrative Assistant: Security & HR

Corporate

Please join us in congratulating Justin VerSchneider!

Justin joined the Valkyrie team over four years ago in March of 2009, as a part-time Junior Draftsman/Engineering Aide in the Marine Engineering Design Division. Still in high school and attending the Virginia Beach Advanced Technology Center (ATC) in their newly established Marine Engineering and Design curriculum, Justin worked 2-3 hours each afternoon to start. As an intern, he was exposed to as many different facets of the industry as possible.

During his employment here at Valkyrie, Justin has been mentored in the accomplishment of ship check/site checks (including climbing the mast of an Aircraft Carrier!), honing his skills in freehand/mechanical sketching, data collection/research, and development of detailed Ship Installation Drawings (SIDs), all necessary skills to support a career in the Marine Engineering and Design industry. He has provided drafting support for various programs including our Alteration Installation Team (AIT) installs (JPALS and N-UCAS), Army Watercraft Service Life Extension Program (SLEP), IP Modernization Shore Facility Upgrades, and numerous other special projects. He has been exposed to the Hull, Mechanical and Electrical (or HM&E as we call it) functional areas of marine design to provide him with a better understanding of the field and aid him in selecting a career path forward.

Based on this exposure, he has expressed an interest in the Hull/Structure side of the business and is currently pursuing an engineering degree in Civil/Structure engineering at Tidewater Community College.  Justin has established himself as a hard, dependable worker and a valuable part of the division and we are pleased to promote him to a full-time position as a Junior Designer.  Please join us in congratulating Justin!