Upstate Warrior Solution, Theresa Thompson, Deputy Director
Serves all veterans and opening up services to first responders
Local nonprofit born and raised in the Upstate with all money raised locally including grant funding, corporate donations, event fundraising, and private donations
Partnering with PRISMA (and soon Spartanburg Regional) to identify veterans in need following medical treatment
On May 24th Ten at the Top and the Urban League of the Upstate hosted a special lunchtime conversation with White House Photographer Lawrence Jackson.
A staff photographer for President Obama from 2009-2017 and currently the official photographer for Vice President Kamala Harris, Jackson shared some of the pictures and stories from his time covering two administrations.
A graduate of George Wythe High School and James Madison University, Jackson was serving as an Associated Press Photographer when he became a member of the White House Photographer Staff in 2009.
You’ve no doubt heard that employers are struggling to fill jobs. But did you know that 75% of applicants never reach a human being. For veterans and military spouses, it’s 95% that never reach a human being when applying for jobs online.
Employers are struggling to find talent to fill jobs. According to ManpowerGroup’s 2019/2020 Talent Shortage Survey, 69 percent of U.S. employers are having difficulty filling jobs. 40% of these employers cited sourcing candidates as the biggest barrier.
Employers know military veterans have incredible experience. However, it is still hard for a hiring manager to understand how they will get up to speed fast enough for their company. Yet military members have spent their careers going from assignment to assignment, getting up to speed, and delivering quickly. And they bring the skills associated with that experience forward.
For small businesses, even though they are open to hiring veterans very few have the resources, time or experience to translate their skills, understand their titles or get through negative stereotypes. It takes a focused effort to find veterans with the skills industry needs, cost effectively, quickly and efficiently. Because current acquisition strategies target familiar talent pools which isn’t working, employers are missing out on hiring military talent. They need a military-focused strategy.
But that can be a bridge too far with gaps too wide as traditional talent solutions are unable to map the skills or translate the experience and they can be costly.
Veterans ASCEND is AI-powered talent sourcing for candidates versus applicants. Candidates who are qualified. Our algorithm is capable of identifying exact candidate matches quickly and efficiently matched by skills, location and salary to the needs of the organization. Unlimited job profiles allows candidates to match to more than one job and employers can see how they fit across the organization. The point of automation is to get to real-time conversations with real candidates for the position quickly and efficiently. That’s what Veterans ASCEND does.
Our proprietary process is a combination of unique data sets that define the skills and algorithms that automatically align the needs of the employer to the best matched job candidate. Candidates matched on skills, location and salary requirements. Our streamlined hiring process results include reduced time to hire, lower overall recruiting costs, direct connection to untapped talent, focused skills to job alignment and better retention.
Sourcing needs a new solution. Getting to candidates instead of wading through unqualified applicant’s is a must. Veterans ASCEND shifts the hiring paradigm. We eliminate antiquated sourcing and replace it with a web-based, skills matching technology that serves both employers and candidates. Resumes are cumbersome. Job descriptions are non-existent, outdated or simply a list of tasks to be performed, not skills needed to perform the job. Archaic processes, misuse of applicant tracking systems, ineffective job boards and job fairs cost employers hundreds of thousands each year in a perpetual cycle of sourcing, hiring, onboarding and turnover.
With these barriers, military veterans are filtered out or underemployed. Resulting in employers missing out on great candidates who are trained to think about the mission and their role in the mission as part of a team or as an individual contributor. They are trained to be resourceful when there are only round pegs and square holes. They are trained to analyze every situation and get the job done. Veterans ASCEND is the only system that exists to highlight a veterans’ skills and competencies by expertly matching them to employers using artificial intelligence/machine learning. Veterans ASCEND bridges the gaps.
We are changing the way employers source great talent. We are changing how veterans are connected to meaningful civilian careers. Veterans ASCEND is not another resume builder or job board. We don’t use a resume or require the candidate to apply first. We know companies need to hire for skills and quickly assess a person’s fit into their organization. Veterans ASCEND decreases time to hire by instantly identifying skills and ideal candidates in a way no other system can. Our solution is focused on directly matching skills. Our unique matching process starts with automatic translation of military occupations into a skills list and matching those skills to employers.
We improve the quality of hire, reduce the cost per hire and remove barriers and bias through directly matched connections. We unlock the military talent pool.
The BMW Charity Pro-Am presented by SYNNEX Corporation is pleased to announce its 20th year of tournament play June 10-13 at Thornblade Club and The Cliffs Valley. In partnership with the PGA TOUR, South Carolina Department of Commerce and DHEC, South Carolina Charities, Inc. (SCCI) has been diligently preparing modified event plans to ensure safe execution of tournament play and tournament week events.
Daily credentials start at $15 and grant ticket holders one-day access to the tournament course of their choice with ticket prices capping out at $150 for access to the Skybox Club Presented by Gibbs Cancer Center. Parking is included with all tickets, and children 18 and under are granted free grounds access to the tournament when accompanied by an adult ticket holder. Complimentary daily grounds admission is also granted for all active duty, retired, reserve military and veterans, along with their dependents; a valid ID is required for entry.
According to SCCI President Bob Nitto, “We are pleased to welcome spectators back to the BMW Charity Pro-Am this year and look forward to delivering a fun, safe and rewarding experience. This tournament is a win-win for the community and the great causes we are able to support year after year.”
Spectators will also enjoy a great celebrity lineup this year, which includes household names such as six-time Emmy and two-time Golden Globe nominated actor Anthony Anderson, former Major League Baseball player Roger Clemens, Larry the Cable Guy and Cedric the Entertainer.
New in 2021, SCCI will partner with the YMCA of Greenville to host the YMCA Family Fun Zone, located on property at Thornblade Club. In addition, the tournament will welcome back military and first responders in support of the Upstate Warrior Folds of Honor Palmetto State Chapter. The Birdies for Charity program presented by Michelin North America, Greer CPW, and Capital Corporation continues to raise bonus dollars by enabling individual donors to make a one-time flat donation or pledge one cent or more per birdie during the tournament.
The funds raised from tournament programs, including tickets sales, volunteer hours and Birdies for Charity have allowed the BMW Charity Pro-Am to donate more than $13.7 million in charitable funds to the tournament’s featured beneficiaries and ancillary charities in the Upstate community. 2021 tournament beneficiaries include Mobile Meals of Spartanburg, Roper Mountain Science Center, Cliffs Residents Outreach, Cancer Society of Greenville County, Meyer Center for Special Children and Gibbs Cancer Center and Research Institute.
In addition to tournament play from June 10-13, the following events will take place surrounding the tournament and are open to the public:
Pure Barre FORE-K hosted by the BMW Charity Pro-Am on Friday, June 4th at 6:30pm at Thornblade Club
E-Waste Recycling Event Sponsored by MOA Architecture on Saturday, June 5th from 9:00am – 4:00pm at Roper Mountain Science Center; the public is invited to drop off recyclables in the Roper Mountain Science Center parking lot
Upstate Warrior Folds of Honor Palmetto State Chapter “Big Break Warrior” Competition Wednesday, June 9th from 2:00 – 5:00pm at Topgolf Greenville
Thursday Night Shootout with live music and entertainment on June 10th at 7:30pm at 3’s Greenville Golf & Grill
Friday Night Concert Presented by Magna featuring entertainment from Steel Toe Stiletto and tournament celebrities on June 11th at 8:00pm at Camperdown Plaza. Tickets must be purchased in advance.
This year’s event line-up also includes Breakfast with Champions Presented by The Greenville Drive featuring Roger Clemens and PGA TOUR Champion Jay Haas and benefitting Cancer Society of Greenville County and Meyer Center for Special Children. This is a private event with tables and sponsorships available for purchase.
Due to the newly instated capacity restrictions and COVID-19 protocols, all tournament tickets must be purchased prior to this year’s tournament. Tickets are available for digital purchase with contactless delivery. Cash and walk-up purchases will not be accepted.
Greenville, SC | May 18th, 2021 – On Monday, May 24th, Ten at the Top and the Urban League of the Upstate will host a special Lunch and Learn event from 12:00 to 1:00 pm. This event is open to the public and will feature Lawrence Jackson, an official White House Photographer and author of the book Yes We Did: Photos and Behind-the-Scenes Stories Celebrating Our First African American President. This virtual lunch & learn is free to join, but advance registration is required and can be completed by clicking here.
Lawrence will talk about his journey from Richmond, Virginia and James Madison University to the White House, where he served as a photographer for President Obama from 2009-2017 and is currently the official White House photographer for Vice President Kamala Harris. He also will share some of his favorite photos and stories from his White House experiences.
“I have known Lawrence for many years and am excited that he will share about his career journey and amazing experiences working as a White House photographer,” said Dean Hybl, Executive Director of Ten at the Top. “He has not only witnessed history, but he has preserved it for all-time and it will be great to have him share some of the pictures and stories with an Upstate audience.”
Comprised of public, private and civic leaders from across the ten-county Upstate South Carolina Region, Ten at the Top was created to connect and encourage regional collaboration through data-driven research and regular convening of leaders and citizens to address key issues facing the region. Ten at the Top works with regional partners to foster collaboration and strategic planning to enhance the economic vitality and quality of life for Upstate residents both today and as the region continues to grow.
“It is famously said, “That a Picture is Worth a Thousand Words” and we are thrilled to have this unique opportunity with White House Photographer, Lawrence Jackson,” said Sean Dogan, President and CEO of the Urban League of the Upstate. “We look forward to hearing and seeing about Lawrence’s experiences over the years, working to capture history first-hand as it has unfolded over time.”
The mission of the Urban League of the Upstate is to advance equity by empowering black and other underserved communities through advocacy, education and economic stability. Under the leadership of the Interim President and Chief Executive Officer Reverend Sean Dogan, the Urban League of the Upstate continues to support and advocate for the economic equality for African Americans by building strong and stable communities.
Click here to register for the Lunch & Learn with White House Photographer Lawrence Jackson hosted by Ten at the Top and the Urban League of the Upstate on May 24th.
ABOUT TEN AT THE TOP
Comprised of public, private and civic leaders across the ten-county Upstate South Carolina Region, Ten at the Top was created to build regional trust and consensus through data-driven research and regular convening of leaders and citizens to address key issues facing the region. Ten at the Top works with regional partners to encourage quality growth and enhance the economic vitality, natural and cultural resources and quality of life for Upstate residents both today and as the region continues to grow. www.tenatthetop.org.
ABOUT THE URBAN LEAGUE
The mission of the Urban League of the Upstate is to advance equity by empowering black and other underserved communities through advocacy, education and economic stability. https://urbanleagueupstate.org
Robyn Grable, Founder & CEO of Veterans ASCEND/Ability ASCEND
On May 24th Ten at the Top and the Urban League of the Upstate hosted a special lunchtime conversation with White House Photographer Lawrence Jackson.
A graduate of George Wythe High School and James Madison University, Jackson was serving as an Associated Press Photographer when he became a member of the White House Photographer Staff in 2009.
Jackson said that there are three elements he focuses on in his photography with most photos containing at least one of the three:
You’ve no doubt heard that employers are struggling to fill jobs. But did you know that 75% of applicants never reach a human being. For veterans and military spouses, it’s 95% that never reach a human being when applying for jobs online.
For small businesses, even though they are open to hiring veterans very few have the resources, time or experience to translate their skills, understand their titles or get through negative stereotypes. It takes a focused effort to find veterans with the skills industry needs, cost effectively, quickly and efficiently. Because current acquisition strategies target familiar talent pools which isn’t working, employers are missing out on hiring military talent. They need a military-focused strategy.
Veterans ASCEND is AI-powered talent sourcing for candidates versus applicants. Candidates who are qualified. Our algorithm is capable of identifying exact candidate matches quickly and efficiently matched by skills, location and salary to the needs of the organization. Unlimited job profiles allows candidates to match to more than one job and employers can see how they fit across the organization. The point of automation is to get to real-time conversations with real candidates for the position quickly and efficiently. That’s what Veterans ASCEND does.
Sourcing needs a new solution. Getting to candidates instead of wading through unqualified applicant’s is a must. Veterans ASCEND shifts the hiring paradigm. We eliminate antiquated sourcing and replace it with a web-based, skills matching technology that serves both employers and candidates. Resumes are cumbersome. Job descriptions are non-existent, outdated or simply a list of tasks to be performed, not skills needed to perform the job. Archaic processes, misuse of applicant tracking systems, ineffective job boards and job fairs cost employers hundreds of thousands each year in a perpetual cycle of sourcing, hiring, onboarding and turnover.
We are changing the way employers source great talent. We are changing how veterans are connected to meaningful civilian careers. Veterans ASCEND is not another resume builder or job board. We don’t use a resume or require the candidate to apply first. We know companies need to hire for skills and quickly assess a person’s fit into their organization. Veterans ASCEND decreases time to hire by instantly identifying skills and ideal candidates in a way no other system can. Our solution is focused on directly matching skills. Our unique matching process starts with automatic translation of military occupations into a skills list and matching those skills to employers.
The BMW Charity Pro-Am presented by SYNNEX Corporation is pleased to announce its 20th year of tournament play June 10-13 at Thornblade Club and The Cliffs Valley. In partnership with the PGA TOUR, South Carolina Department of Commerce and DHEC, South Carolina Charities, Inc. (SCCI) has been diligently preparing modified event plans to ensure safe execution of tournament play and tournament week events.
According to SCCI President Bob Nitto, “We are pleased to welcome spectators back to the BMW Charity Pro-Am this year and look forward to delivering a fun, safe and rewarding experience. This tournament is a win-win for the community and the great causes we are able to support year after year.”
The funds raised from tournament programs, including tickets sales, volunteer hours and Birdies for Charity have allowed the BMW Charity Pro-Am to donate more than $13.7 million in charitable funds to the tournament’s featured beneficiaries and ancillary charities in the Upstate community. 2021 tournament beneficiaries include Mobile Meals of Spartanburg, Roper Mountain Science Center, Cliffs Residents Outreach, Cancer Society of Greenville County, Meyer Center for Special Children and Gibbs Cancer Center and Research Institute.
This year’s event line-up also includes Breakfast with Champions Presented by The Greenville Drive featuring Roger Clemens and PGA TOUR Champion Jay Haas and benefitting Cancer Society of Greenville County and Meyer Center for Special Children. This is a private event with tables and sponsorships available for purchase.