Veterans Connect Radio
A spotlight episode of Atlanta Business Radio and powered by Business RadioX. Co-Hosted by Ryan “Redhawk” McPherson and Brandon Skolnick with Gathering Of Angels. Featuring veteran entrepreneurs, support organizations, outreach groups and more in the Atlanta area continuing to serve our families, our communities and our country.
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Gretchen G. Evans Command Sergeant Major (R) / U.S. Army
Veterans Outreach, Marketing and Communications Lead
Emory Healthcare Veterans Program
Emory’s Veterans Program offers post-9/11 veterans expert and collaborative care to help heal the invisible wounds of war. Our comprehensive approach combines behavioral health care, including psychiatry and neurology, rehabilitative medicine, wellness, and family support to help you reintegrate and reclaim your life.
Gretchen G. Evans is a A native of Texas, CSM (R) Gretchen G. Evans entered the United States Army in September 1979. Shortly after completing Basic Training at Fort Leonardwood, MO and Intelligence Analysis School at Fort Huachuca, AZ she reported to Heidelberg, German where she was assigned an Intelligence Analysis for the Command in Chief, Europe. She was a lead analyst in the Peacetime Aerial Reconnaissance Program responsible for directing aerial reconnaissance for multiple platforms to include the SR-71 aircraft.
CSM Evans was then selected to attend the Counterintelligence Program at Fort Huachuca to become a Counterintelligence Agent. Following this came her assignment to the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, CA where she studied German and Italian. Following graduation from language school she was assigned to the 66th Military Intelligence Group, Field Office Vicenza, Italy. She was directly involved in the pursuit and subsequent release of General Dozier from his kidnappers.
CSM Evans was then selected to become a member of a black operations unit. She attended Basic Airborne and Advance Airborne (High Altitude Low Opening) training at Fort Benning, GA. There were numerous other training requirements to include Bill Street’s Driving School, Sniper training, Demolition training and covert operations training before CSM Evans began her black operations career. During this time she also deployed with the 82nd Airborne Division on many occasions.
After her black operations CSM Evans then reentered the “Green Army” with an assignment to the 313th Military Intelligence Battalion, Fort Bragg, N.C. and the 519thMilitary Intelligence Battalion, Fort Hood, Texas.
CSM Evans then was assigned to the National Guard for a number of years. She served with the Arizona and Texas National Guard. During her tenue with the Arkansas National Guard she mobilized units on 11 September 2001, and was the Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge of securing all airports and military installations for the state of Arkansas. She later became the personal security officer for Governor Mike Huckabee. She deployed as the First Sergeant of the 216thMilitary Police Company to Guantanamo Bay. Her company was responsible to set up and receive the incoming detainees from Afghanistan. Also, while in Arkansas she was selected by Governor Huckabee to head up his drug interdiction program to help rid the state of Arkansas of meth labs.
CSM Evans was then transferred to the Texas National Guard with the 136th Signal Battalion. She was pulled from this Battalion to go with the 111th Area Support Group to Afghanistan. She was the Command Sergeant Major of Commander, Combined Forces Command, and Afghanistan. She was responsible for the security and personnel on all bases and forwarding operation bases in Afghanistan.
CSM Evans sustained combat injuries while serving in Afghanistan.
CSM Evans awards include: the Bronze Star, six Meritorious Service Medals, campaign medals from Grenada, Somalia, Bosnia, Kosovo, Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom and numerous other citations and medals for action.
CSM Evans currently works for Emory Healthcare Veterans Program as the Lead, Veterans Outreach Coordinator and serves as a member of the Executive Board for America’s VETDOGS. She has a hearing service dog named Aura.
CSM Evans retired with 27 years of total service and currently resides with her husband, Robert in Decatur, GA.
Kenneth Morton / Elekta
Product Support Specialist
Born and raised in St. Thomas, USVI Kenneth Morton graduated from high school in 1990 and, following in the footsteps of an older brother, he joined the Navy and set off to see the world.
Over the course of twenty years and multiple tours of duty, Kenneth was stationed in California and Washington State, where he was deployed on aircraft carriers in the Gulf and honed his skills as an aviation electronics technician. Rising through the ranks he held the positions of Work Center Supervisor, Instructor and Training Petty Officer. His last rank before retirement was Petty First Class Officer.
“When I left the Navy in 2010, I knew I wanted a job that made a difference but I wasn’t sure what that would be. Of course I knew about cancer but I wasn’t familiar with radiation oncology. Today I have a job that matters. I make sure that the patient on the table gets the treatment they need, when they need it.”
Throughout his naval career, Kenneth learned to maintain, troubleshoot and repair sophisticated equipment and also managed the software systems that support the machines. The skills he developed in the Navy prepared him for his second career in the medical device industry, but the military gave Kenneth much more than a technical education.
“In the military, you’re exposed to diverse cultures and people. You learn to understand and respect where people are coming from and how to emphasize their strengths. Being in the military taught me to stay calm in high-pressure situations and get the issue resolved.”
Kenneth joined Elekta in 2011 and after four years as a Field Service Engineer, he moved to Atlanta and became a Product Support Specialist, with a principle role of providing real-time virtual technical support to leading medical institutions across the country.
“My military career gave me an education in life and I am proud to have served our country for twenty years. Building a career in medical technology has also given a chance to serve people in need. It’s an overwhelmingly satisfying job.”
Glenn “GG” Dale Gordon / We Gotcha Back
Founder, President, CEO
“We Gotcha Back” is the latest invention brought to you by Gordon G Enterprizes Inc.
Gordon G Enterprize inc has built a reputation synonymous with relief and support. This redesigned invention is a customized compression support belt that relieves the back, lumbar and total body. The belt induces improved blood circulation, which directly reduces pain and inflammation.
With We Gotcha Back , total body relief goes much further. Paired with two cold 8″ by 12″ gel packs and two hot 8″ by 12″ gel packs, this compression support back belt kit answers the call for total body relief from Sciatic Nerve problems and arthritis.
The direct benefits of using this product include: Weight loss and decreased dependancy on medication to manage pain. The inventor of “We Gotcha Back”, suffers from sciatic nerve problems and arthritis in the lower back, he has experienced back problems for over 25 years. After using the “We Gotcha Back” belt he no loger needs medication to manage the pain. “We Gotcha Back” is all you need.
