Scroll to View a Sampling of Diverse Projects

Project Reassure

Project Reassure: Resources for those caring for youth in the wake of traumatic events

In the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, downloadable resources teaching best practices for helping kids experiencing traumatic stress were urgently needed by their caregivers. But first those particular resources needed to be created.

My younger brother, who was a trained emergency volunteer on the ground, contacted one of our sisters, a professor at the University of Pittsburgh. She called me and asked for assistance writing, editing, and recruiting additional volunteer writers and editors. I also created press releases and engaged media outlets to spread the word. The spontaneous creative collaboration of siblings soon became something much bigger than the three of us.  I

“He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother”

Mental health specialists, crisis responders, educators, students, photographers, designers, and others were inspired to join the effort. Within a matter of days, with coordinated urgency and dynamic teamwork, Project Reassure was born as a collaborative effort of the University of Pittsburgh’s School of Education and The Watson Institute.

The project creates and provides free resources for adults to use while caring for young victims displaced and/or distressed by traumatic events, such as natural disasters or school violence. Project Reassure offers suggestions for coping with traumatic stress, music and play activities to pass the time during long hours, communication strategies, and simple interventions to reestablish calm in the lives of children who are experiencing trauma. The website is still maintained and sustained by an interdisciplinary team of volunteers and graduate students, and has been accessed by 1000s of people across the globe.

SRI 360 by R. Scott Arnell

I provided creative guidance, writing, editing, and proofreading for this book authored by R. Scott Arnell, Founding Partner of Geneva Capital S.A. Before and after the book release, I crafted a series of blogs to promote the book (with search engine optimization to drive traffic to the author’s website). In addition, I created similar promotions for Arnell’s podcast interviews with the global financial experts and thought leaders who are featured in the book.

Finalist in the International Book Awards business category for Personal Finance and Investing (2023)

“I recommend Sustainable & Responsible Investing 360° to any investor who cares about creating a better future for communities everywhere.” — Sir Ronald Cohen, Chair, Global Steering Group for Impact Investment

Enabling Economies for the Future

I provided creative guidance, writing, revisions, edits, and proofreading for this whitepaper.  It was distributed by the General Chair for Harvard University’s Technology and Entrepreneurship Center, following the Strategic Innovation Summit hosted by the university.

CLICK THE LINK BELOW

Click to access EEF_Whitepaper_2015.pdf

How to Activate Your Brain should be standard issue in every nursing home and geriatric facility across the country. Easy to read and simple to use, the exercises outlined in the book can also be valuable for patients wishing to help themselves and for caregivers to the elderly and those suffering from Alzheimer’s.

−ReviewerEllinaGraypel

Severe Weather Reveals Need for Vehicle Lift Maintenance Programs Operator Safety

STEVENSVILLE, MD, USA – If the 2022 Old Farmer’s Almanac is right — and its prognostications are accurate 80 percent of the time — the North American commercial vehicle market could be in for one of the longest and coldest winters in years. 

The challenge is clear: Increasingly harsh weather puts vehicle safety, performance, and longevity at risk.  That in turn impacts not only the dedicated people who service these fleets but the vast number of riders and ordinary citizens who depend on them for everything from their daily commute, food deliveries and school transportation, to emergency medical services, waste removal, utility repairs, day-to-day provisions and virtually everything we consume.

It’s also why heavy duty bus and truck lift leader, Stertil-Koni, is urging vehicle maintenance shops across the U.S. and Canada that utilize lifts to have a game plan in place.  The company recommends a 6-step approach to ensure optimal technician safety combined with enhanced vehicle durability and performance — all of which requires additional focus in wintry conditions.

Here’s the plan:

1. Schedule Vehicle Lift Inspections Each Year
   Heavy duty vehicle operators should make certain their lifts are fully operational by having them inspected each year – ideally by an ALI (Automotive Lift Institute) Certified Lift Inspector.  If one is not available in your area, use factory or manufacturer-authorized technicians to service and repair your lifts.
   
2. Increase Vehicle Washing Intervals
   Each winter, commercial vehicles are exposed to not only a superabundance of snow and ice, but corrosive levels of road salt, dirt, and grime that in turn adhere to the chassis and undercarriages of virtually all buses and trucks in cold-weather climates.  Experts know full well that dirty vehicles translate into added repair time and costs.  Explained Dr. Jean DellAmore, President of Stertil-Koni USA, “Hazardous contaminants and road grime can adversely affect a vehicle’s powertrain, potentially leading to overheating and corrosion.  And, when undercarriages are not cleaned frequently, it can reduce the lifespan of engines and batteries alike.” The result? Added downtime.  In response, Stertil-Koni has engineered a water-resistant heavy duty vehicle lifting system – the SKYLIFT Wash Bay model – which is a true vertical-rise platform lift with water-resistant, anti-corrosion, hot-dipped galvanized steel platforms for runways.  It provides free access to the vehicle from all sides, making it easy to keep a fleet clean.
   
3. Technician Safety
   Regardless of the season, always lift vehicles to a proper height so technicians can move about freely, safely, and comfortably underneath the vehicle. Then, verify lifts are locked in position before standing under the vehicle.  Ideally, select vehicle lifting systems that have mechanical locks as standard – and emphasize to your techs how easy and important it is to utilize these locks.
   
4. Adhere to Proper Lifting Points
   Always use designated lifting points on the vehicle. For in-ground lifts, operators should check that the contact points are properly positioned – a key step that has become even more critical as electric vehicle use proliferates.
   
5. Vehicle Lift Stability is Key
   Always place Mobile Column Lifts on a firm foundation and on level ground prior to lifting a vehicle. And, because these lifts can be relocated outside of the maintenance shop, first check for wind loads – which are often more prevalent in winter.  Further, select a lift with an “electronic synchronization” system.  As the lift goes into motion and continues through the full-range up to its maximum height, vehicles should rise smoothly, even those with unequal weight distribution, such as fire trucks and pumpers. Then, double check that the lifted vehicle itself is level.
   
6. Go Ergonomic!
   Utilize lift accessories specifically designed to help ensure fleet maintenance operator safety and proper ergonomics. One example is a high lift wheel dolly from Stertil-Koni, which allows wheel removal and adequate alignment of dual tire assemblies and brake drums to be completed efficiently and accurately, without back strain. 

“In conclusion,” noted DellAmore, “safety is always mission number one, and winter can present some real challenges. That is precisely why we suggest this six-point program, so shop technicians can perform their duties safely, efficiently, and with complete confidence. These protocols ensure higher workplace morale, greater rates of technician retention, and add longevity to the vehicles being serviced.”

About Stertil-Koni USA

Stertil-Koni – proud to be a Buy America company – is the market leader in heavy-duty vehicle lifts, notably bus lifts and truck lifts, and proudly serves municipalities, state agencies, school bus fleets, major corporations, the U.S. Military and more. Stertil-Koni’s breadth of products meets all ranges of lifting needs and includes Mobile Column Lifts, 2-post, 4-post, in-ground piston lifts, platform lifts, and its axle-engaging, in-ground, scissor lift configuration, ECOLIFT. The company’s innovative, inground telescopic piston DIAMONDLIFT is now available with an optional Continuous Recess system, ideal for low clearance vehicles. Stertil-Koni USA is headquartered in Stevensville, Maryland with production facilities in Europe, The Netherlands, and Streator, IL.