Puget Sound EDI (August 2022)
Economic Development Initiative (EDI) Virtual Stakeholder Roundtable 36-Month Follow-up at the Serving Those Who Served Conference
Outreach, Transition and Economic Development (OTED) invited Washington Veteran resource providers to the Serving Those Who Served conference, August 25–26, 2022, held at the Wenatchee Convention Center in Wenatchee, WA.
Serving Those Who Served Conference
Conference sessions offered industry expert insights into more than 20 issues that impact Veterans and their families, including WDVA Programs, Suicide Prevention, Veteran Employment, and Homelessness.
- JVA Education Benefits
- WDVA Programs
- VA Health Care
- VA Disability Benefits
- VA Survivor Benefits
- VA Burial Benefits
- Substance Abuse and Addiction
- PTSD & Traumatic Brain Injury
- LEARN Saves Lives Suicide Prevention Training
- Service Animals
- Supporting Spouses and Military Families
- Veteran Homelessness and Housing Programs
The event also featured a Town Hall hosted by Outreach, Transition and Economic Development (OTED)’s Economic Development Initiatives (EDI). The event took place August 25, 9:00-11:00 a.m. The Town Hall showcased positive results from initiatives developed during Stakeholder Roundtables that took place over a 36-month period. The Roundtables focused on delivering justice-involved, rural, and at-risk Veterans increased access to claims assistance, delivery of benefits and services, mental health literacy, economic advancement, and overall well-being.
Town Hall Schedule of Events: August 25, 2022, 9:00-11:00 a.m.
| Time | Presentation | Speaker |
|---|---|---|
| 8:57 a.m.–9:00 a.m. | Housekeeping | Mike Jones, Master of Ceremonies* |
| 9:00 a.m.–9:07 a.m. | Washington State, Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA) | Lourdes Alvarado-Ramos, Director |
| 9:07 am.–9:14 a.m. | Seattle Regional Office Director | Pritz Navaratnasingam, Director |
| 9:14 am.–9:20 a.m. | Suicide Prevention Programs, VA Puget Sound Healthcare System | Dr. Larry Pruitt, Director |
| 9:20 a.m.–9:44 a.m. | Stakeholder Group One – Report Out: Justice-Involved Veterans | Mary Forbes, Assistant Director; Tim Koerschgen, Program Specialist; Richard Robinson, Reentry Navigator/Cultural Specialist |
| 9:44 a.m.–9:49 a.m. | Question & Answer Session | Mike Jones, Master of Ceremonies |
| 9:49 a.m.–10:13 a.m. | Stakeholder Group Two – Report Out: Rural Veterans | Steven Gill, Veterans Services Administrator and Tribal Liaison; LaVada Anderson, Tribal Veterans Representative; Stephen Strope, Veteran Service Center Manager (VSCM) |
| 10:13 a.m.–10:18 a.m. | Question & Answer Session | Mike Jones, Master of Ceremonies |
| 10:18 a.m.–10:38 a.m. | Stakeholder Group Three – Report Out: At-Risk | Dr. Larry Pruitt, Director for Suicide Prevention Programs, Codie Garza, Suicide Prevention Coordinator |
| 10:38 a.m.–10:43 a.m. | Question & Answer Session | Mike Jones, Master of Ceremonies |
| 10:43 a.m.–10:53 a.m. | U.S. Department of Labor Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (DOL VETS) | Shannon Langley, Washington State Director |
| 10:53 a.m.–10:57 a.m. | Outreach, Transition and Economic Development (OTED) | Shawnta Sampson, Chief |
| 10:57 a.m.–11:00 a.m. | Closing Remarks From Veterans Services, Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs | Mary Forbes, Assistant Director |
*Master of Ceremonies quickly introduced each panelist.