President Trump honored two storied military veterans during his State of the Union address, including 100-year-old veteran Royce Williams of Escondido, who survived what is believed to be the longest dog fight in military history.
The former Navy fighter pilot, who was seated next to First Lady Melania Trump in the Capitol during the president’s address Tuesday night, flew more than 220 missions in World War II as well as the wars in Korea and Vietnam.
Trump called Williams “a living legend” before describing his war-time heroics.
“In the skies over Korea in 1952, Royce was in the dogfight of a lifetime, a legendary dogfight,” Trump said. “Flying through blizzard conditions, his squadron was ambushed by seven Soviet fighter planes.”
Despite being outnumbered, Williams took down four of the jet fighters as his plane was hit more than 260 times and he was severely injured.
The incident was kept confidential because the Soviet Union was not officially a combatant in the Korean conflict, and American officials feared that if the air battle became known, it could compel the Soviets to formally enter the war.
Williams didn’t speak about the details of the encounter — even with family members — until records about the dogfight were declassified in 2002.
“His story was secret for over 50 years. He didn’t even want to tell his wife, but the legend grew and grew,” Trump said. “Tonight, at 100 years old, this brave Navy captain is finally getting the recognition he deserves.”
Trump then announced that Williams would receive the Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest military decoration. Melania Trump placed the blue-ribboned medal around his neck.
Williams was the guest of Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Bonsall), a fellow veteran.
“My friend, constituent, and lifelong hero Royce Williams is a Top Gun pilot like no other, an American hero for all time, and now, a recipient of the highest honor in the land,” Issa said in a statement. “It was many years in the making, but it is my honor to have fought all these years for Royce to gain a recognition that he has not sought, but so richly deserves.”
Trump also announced that the Medal of Honor would be awarded to Chief Warrant Officer Eric Slover, an Army helicopter pilot who was gravely wounded in the 2026 raid that captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
“While preparing to land, enemy machine guns fired from every angle, and Eric was hit very badly in the leg and hip. One bullet after another, he observed four agonizing shots shredding his leg into numerous pieces,” Trump said.
Despite the gunshot wounds to his legs, with blood flowing through the helicopter he was piloting, “Eric maneuvered his helicopter with all of those lives and souls to face the enemy and let his gunners eliminate the threat, turn the helicopter around so the gunners could take care of business, saving the lives of his fellow warriors from what could have been a catastrophic crash deep in enemy territory,” Trump said.
Trump added, “Chief Warrant Officer Slover is still recovering from his serious wounds, but I’m thrilled to say that he is here tonight with his wife, Amy. Eric and Amy, come on in.”
Slover, with the aid of a walker, entered the gallery. “In recognition of Eric’s actions above and beyond the call of duty,” Trump said, “I would now like to ask Gen. Jonathan Braga to present Chief Warrant Officer Slover with our nation’s highest military award.”
Trump added that he too hopes to one day receive a Medal of Honor.
“But I was informed I’m not allowed to give it to myself,” Trump said. “But if they ever open up that law, I will be there with you someday.”
“The (AU) Council strongly condemns, in the strongest terms, the unilateral recognition of the so-called ‘Republic of Somaliland’ by Israel,” it said in a post on X after a ministerial meeting.
The African Union’s Political Affairs Peace and Security Council called on Tuesday for the “immediate revocation” of Israel’s recognition of Somaliland.
“The (AU) Council strongly condemns, in the strongest terms, the unilateral recognition of the so-called ‘Republic of Somaliland’ by Israel,” it said in a post on X after a ministerial meeting.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar visited Somaliland on Tuesday, a trip Somalia denounced, 10 days after Israel formally recognized the self-declared republic as an independent and sovereign state.
“The Federal Republic of #Somalia condemns in the strongest terms the unauthorized incursion by the #Israeli Minister of Foreign Affairs into #Hargeisa,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced in a post on Twitter/X.
Sa’ar explains why Israel can recognize Somaliland but not Palestine
During his first diplomatic trip to Hargeisa, the capital of Somaliland, Sa’ar explained that, because Somaliland has operated for 35 years in accordance with international law, Israel could recognize Somaliland rather than Palestine.
“We are excited to take part in the brave journey of the people of Somaliland from independence to recognition,” he said. “It is a badge of honor for us to be the first UN member state to recognize Somaliland as an independent and sovereign state.”
Approaching the fifth anniversary of the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, the official plaque honoring the police who defended democracy that day is nowhere to be found.
A replica plaque commemorating the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol riot stands outside the office of House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y, Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington.
(AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson
A replica plaque commemorating the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol riot hangs outside the office of Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif., Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025, at the Longworth House Office Building on Capitol Hill in Washington.
(AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson
A replica plaque commemorating the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol riot stands outside the office of House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y, Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington.
(AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson
A replica plaque commemorating the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol riot hangs outside the office of Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025, at the Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill in Washington.
(AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson
A replica plaque commemorating the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol riot hangs outside the office of Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025, at the Longworth House Office Building on Capitol Hill in Washington.
(AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
Determined to preserve the nation’s history, some 100 members of Congress, mostly Democrats, have taken it upon themselves to memorialize the moment. For months, they’ve mounted poster board-style replicas of the Jan. 6 plaque outside their office doors, resulting in a Capitol complex awash with makeshift remembrances.
“On behalf of a grateful Congress, this plaque honors the extraordinary individuals who bravely protected and defended this symbol of democracy on Jan. 6, 2021,” reads the faux bronze stand-in for the real thing. “Their heroism will never be forgotten.”
Jan. 6 void in the Capitol
In Washington, a capital city lined with monuments to the nation’s history, the plaque was intended to become a simple but permanent marker, situated near the Capitol’s west front, where some of the most violent fighting took place as rioters breached the building.
But in its absence, the missing plaque makes way for something else entirely — a culture of forgetting.
Visitors can pass through the Capitol without any formal reminder of what happened that day, when a mob of President Donald Trump’s supporters stormed the building trying to overturn the Republican’s 2020 reelection defeat to Democrat Joe Biden. With memory left unchecked, it allows new narratives to swirl and revised histories to take hold.
Five years ago, the jarring scene watched the world over was declared an “insurrection” by the then-GOP leader of the Senate, while the House GOP leader at the time called it his “saddest day” in Congress. But those condemnations have faded.
Trump calls it a “day of love.” And Johnson, who was among those lawmakers challenging the 2020 election results, is now the House speaker.
“The question of January 6 remains – democracy was on the guillotine — how important is that event in the overall sweep of 21st century U.S. history,” said Douglas Brinkley, a professor of history at Rice University and noted scholar.
“Will January 6 be seen as the seminal moment when democracy was in peril?” he asked. Or will it be remembered as “kind of a weird one-off?”
“There’s not as much consensus on that as one would have thought on the fifth anniversary,” he said.
Memories shift, but violent legacy lingers
At least five people died in the riot and its aftermath, including Trump supporter Ashli Babbitt, who was fatally shot by police while trying to climb through a window toward the House chamber. More than 140 law enforcement officers were wounded, some gravely, and several died later, some by suicide.
All told, some 1,500 people were charged in the Capitol attack, among the largest federal prosecutions in the nation’s history. When Trump returned to power in January 2025, he pardoned all of them within hours of taking office.
Unlike the twin light beams that commemorated the Sept. 11, 2001, attack or the stand-alone chairs at the Oklahoma City bombing site memorial, the failure to recognize Jan. 6 has left a gap not only in memory but in helping to stitch the country back together.
“That’s why you put up a plaque,” said Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon, D-Pa. “You respect the memory and the service of the people involved.”
Police sue over Jan. 6 plaque, DOJ seeks to dismiss
The speaker’s office over the years has suggested it was working on installing the plaque, but it declined to respond to a request for further comment.
Lawmakers approved the plaque in March 2022 as part of a broader government funding package. The resolution said the U.S. “owes its deepest gratitude to those officers,” and it set out instructions for an honorific plaque listing the names of officers “who responded to the violence that occurred.” It gave a one-year deadline for installation at the Capitol.
This summer, two officers who fought the mob that day sued over the delay.
“By refusing to follow the law and honor officers as it is required to do, Congress encourages this rewriting of history,” said the claim by officers Harry Dunn and Daniel Hodges. “It suggests that the officers are not worthy of being recognized, because Congress refuses to recognize them.”
The Justice Department is seeking to have the case dismissed. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro and others argued Congress “already has publicly recognized the service of law enforcement personnel” by approving the plaque and displaying it wouldn’t alleviate the problems they claim to face from their work.
“It is implausible,” the Justice Department attorneys wrote, to suggest installation of the plaque “would stop the alleged death threats they claim to have been receiving.”
The department also said the plaque is required to include the names of “all law enforcement officers” involved in the response that day — some 3,600 people.
Makeshift memorials emerge
Lawmakers who’ve installed replicas of the plaque outside their offices said it’s important for the public to know what happened.
“There are new generations of people who are just growing up now who don’t understand how close we came to losing our democracy on Jan 6, 2021,” said Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., a member of the Jan. 6 committee, which was opposed by GOP leadership but nevertheless issued a nearly 1,000-page report investigating the run-up to the attack and the attempt to overturn the 2020 election.
Raskin envisions the Capitol one day holding tours around what happened. “People need to study that as an essential part of American history,” he said.
“Think about the dates in American history that we know only by the dates: There’s the 4th of July. There’s December 7th. There’s 9/11. And there’s January 6th,” said Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-calif., who also served on the committee and has a plaque outside her office.
“They really saved my life, and they saved the democracy and they deserve to be thanked for it,” she said.
But as time passes, there are no longer bipartisan memorial services for Jan. 6. On Tuesday, the Democrats will reconvene members from the Jan. 6 committee for a hearing to “examine ongoing threats to free and fair elections,” House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York announced. It’s unlikely Republicans will participate.
The Republicans under Johnson have tapped Rep. Barry Loudermilk of Georgia to stand up their own special committee to uncover what the speaker calls the “full truth” of what happened. They’re planning a hearing this month.
“We should stop this silliness of trying to whitewash history — it’s not going to happen,” said Rep. Joe Morelle, D-N.Y., who helped lead the effort to display the replica plaques.
“I was here that day so I’ll never forget,” he said. “I think that Americans will not forget what happened.”
The number of makeshift plaques that fill the halls is a testimony to that remembrance, he said.
Instead of one plaque, he said, they’ve “now got 100.”
Overwork culture (996 philosophy) destroys value; engagement creates it
Recognition, authentic feedback and role clarity boost employee fulfillment
Empowerment fosters innovation, accountability and problem-solving
Companies that prioritize culture outperform those relying on fear and long hours
Future-ready workplaces measure success in resilience, growth and shared purpose
In my last column, I discussed the lesson of 996 culture, an overwork philosophy that destroys value. Now, the next question is obvious: what actually creates it? The answer isn’t complicated, but it does require courage. Sustainable business success comes from workplaces where people feel valued, fulfilled and empowered.
When employees feel their contributions matter, engagement rises. Recognition —done consistently and authentically—has outsized impact. It reinforces purpose, reduces attrition, and strengthens alignment between individual effort and organizational goals. Treating people like replaceable parts leads to disengagement. Treating them like essential partners creates loyalty.
People don’t want to just get paid. They want growth, challenge and meaning in their work. Fulfillment doesn’t require grand gestures; it comes from clarity of role, opportunities to learn and visible pathways to progress. When employees believe their work connects to something bigger than a paycheck, they bring energy and creativity that no time clock can measure.
Micromanagement and fear extract effort. Empowerment multiplies it. Giving employees autonomy, trusting them with decisions, and equipping them with resources creates accountability and innovation. Empowered employees aren’t just compliant—they’re invested. They solve problems before they escalate and spot opportunities others miss.
Decades of organizational research show the same pattern: Workplaces that invest in recognition, growth and empowerment outperform those that rely on pressure and long hours. They adapt faster to change, recruit more effectively and retain their best people longer. In today’s economy, talent isn’t just a line item— it’s the competitive edge.
Executives face a choice: Chase the illusion of productivity through overwork, or build durable systems where people thrive. The companies that win the next decade won’t be the ones squeezing extra hours. They’ll be the ones creating cultures of clarity, trust and shared purpose—where success is measured not just in revenue, but in resilience.
The future of work is not about grinding harder. It’s about working smarter, leading better, and building organizations where people can excel without sacrificing their health or humanity.
Want managers who maximize effectiveness with clarity, not fear? Let’s talk!
Jaime Raul Zepeda is EVP, principal consultant for Best Companies Group and COLOR Magazine, part of BridgeTower Media.
Wondering whether your organization is on the right path to win? Talk to us at Best Companies Group so we can analyze your organization’s health, your team dynamics, and your leadership’s effectiveness. We’ve helped over 10,000 companies understand and improve their workplace using data-driven strategies. Send me a note at [email protected].
Everyone who leads people wants to be a better leader. (If that’s not the case, you shouldn’t be leader.)
Like most things worth doing, though, wanting to be a better boss and becoming a better boss are two different things. Training, education, experience… all take time.
Or not. Here are five things, backed by workplace and organizational science, you can start doing.
Today.
An Inc.com Featured Presentation
Stop holding so (darned) many meetings.
Ninety percent of employees feel meetings are “costly” and “unproductive,” and they’re right: a Journal of Business Research study found that employee productivity increases by over 70 percent when meetings are reduced by 40 percent.
Why? Fewer meetings gives employees more time to get things done.
And makes them smarter; a Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London: Biological Sciences study found that when employees attend meetings, the average IQ of each individual drops by between 15 and 20 percent. For one thing, if you feel like a “junior” member of a group, your IQ drops. (As with most things, confidence matters.) If you feel your contributions won’t be valued, your IQ drops more. And if other people overtly or implicitly criticize your contributions, your IQ drops even more.
That’s why great bosses hold fewer meetings, especially when the goal is to brainstorm or problem-solve. Research shows idea generation dramatically improves when people first come up with ideas by themselves, or with at most one or two others. That typically leads to greater diversity in ideas, better analysis of the pros and cons of those ideas, and much greater odds of a larger group (if you eventually decide to convene a larger group; more on that in a moment) eventually identifying the best idea.
So be present, but in the real work world. Not the make-believe work world of meetings.
Embrace the ‘mere presence’ effect.
Speaking of presence: being “present,” giving people your full attention, is obviously important. But so is simple presence.
As the researchers write, “Mere exposure had weak effects on familiarity, but strong effects on attraction and similarity,” a fancy way of saying the more often we see you, the more we will like and respect you.
That’s especially hard, though, when you’re in a new leadership position. You’re naturally unsure and uncomfortable; you might be asked questions you can’t answer. You might be asked to handle situations you don’t know how to handle.
It’s tempting to spend less time with the people you lead, not more. (I’ve done that.)
But shying away actually makes your leadership life harder: not only do you get fewer chances to gain skill and experience, but you also lose out on the positive effect of just being present.
If you’re nervous about not having the answers, flip it around and ask questions. If you’re unsure you can handle certain situations, ask people for advice. Let people help you lead.
Not only will you become a better leader, you’ll also build a better and more engaged team.
Stop serving feedback sandwiches…
Conventional wisdom says to deliver constructive feedback by starting with a positive, sharing the negative, and then closing with another positive.
Don’t, because feedback sandwiches — a negative wrapped in two positives — are really tough to swallow. According to a study published in Management Review Quarterly, a feedback sandwich almost always fails to correct negative or subpar behaviors.
Three out of four recipients feel manipulated. Nine out of ten feel patronized. And only seven percent actually change the behavioral meat inside the feedback sandwich.
Just be clear. Direct. And encouraging.
While few employees want to hear how they can improve, good employees appreciate the feedback. And they’ll respect you for being open and candid, especially when you don’t patronize them in the process.
… and start focusing on positives.
No matter how feedback is delivered, a University of Bonn study shows that after a few days or even hours people typically forget the negative feedback they receive.
Yet they remember positive feedback for a long time.
Not just the positive (“You did a great job reworking our fulfillment process”) but also the facts accompanying the positive (“and as a result, our shipping costs are down five percent and our on-time delivery rate is up nine percent”).
Want employees to be more patient when dealing with customer complaints? Praise them when they take extra time to make things right. Want them to spend extra time training struggling employees? Praise them when they step in, unasked, to help a person in need.
In short, focus on positives. Tell people you appreciate their hard work, not just in general but in specific. Explain why that makes a difference, not just to your business but to you.
They’ll remember how good it feels to do something well, and will want to experience that feeling again.
Which also makes it a lot less likely you’ll need to share negative feedback.
And if nothing else, start saying ‘thank you.’
A Deloitte study shows nearly nine out of ten people wish they heard “thank you” in their daily interactions. A Psychology study shows a direct link between gratitude and job satisfaction: the more “thank you” becomes a part of a company’s culture, the more likely employees are to enjoy their jobs. A Wharton study shows that when people are thanked for their efforts, they’re more likely to engage in prosocial — cooperative, helpful, encouraging, etc. — behaviors.
But you should also thank the people you work with — as often as possible — for doing their jobs. For being responsive. For being proactive. For being cooperative, helpful, and supportive.
Because every employee is also a person, and every person wants to be thanked more often.
Four of America’s nominally closest allies — Britain, Australia, France and Canada — disgraced themselves this week by recognizing a so-called Palestinian state. In so doing, these nations didn’t merely betray their Western civilizational inheritance. They also rewarded terrorism, strengthened the genocidal ambitions of the global jihad and sent a chilling message: The path to international legitimacy runs not through the difficult work of building up a nation-state and engaging in diplomacy, but through mass murder, the weaponization of transnational institutions and the erasure of historical truth.
The Trump administration has already denounced this craven capitulation by our allies. There should be no recognition of an independent Palestinian state at this moment in history. Such a recognition is an abdication not only of basic human decency, but also of national interest and strategic sanity.
The global march toward recognition of an independent Palestinian state ignores decades of brutal facts on the ground as well as the specific tide of blood behind this latest surge. It was less than two years ago — Oct. 7, 2023 — that Hamas launched the most barbaric anti-Jewish pogrom since the Holocaust: 6,000 terrorists poured into Israel, massacring roughly 1,200 innocent people in acts of unconscionable depravity — systematic rape, torture, kidnapping of babies. The terrorists livestreamed their own atrocities and dragged more than 250 hostages back to Gaza’s sprawling subterranean terror dungeons, where dozens remain to this day.
Many gullible liberal elites wish to believe that the radical jihadists of Hamas do not represent the broader Palestinian-Arab population, but that is a lie. Polls consistently show — and anecdotal videos of large street crowds consistently demonstrate — that Hamas and like-minded jihadist groups maintain overwhelming popularity in both Gaza and Judea and Samaria (what the international community refers to as the West Bank). These groups deserve shame, scorn and diplomatic rebuke — not fawning sympathy and United Nations red carpets.
The “government” in Gaza is a theocratic, Iranian-backed terror entity whose founding charter drips with unrepentant Jew-hatred and whose leaders routinely celebrate the wanton slaughter of innocent Israelis as triumphs of “resistance.” Along with the kleptocratic Palestinian Authority dictatorship in Ramallah, this is who, and what, Group of 7 powers like Britain and France have decided to reward with an imprimatur of legitimate statehood.
There is no meaningful “peace partner,” and no “two-state” vision to be realized, amid this horrible reality. There is only a sick cult of violence, lavishly funded from Tehran and eager for widespread international recognition as a stepping stone toward the destruction of Israel — and the broader West for which Israel is a proxy.
For decades, Western leaders maintained a straightforward position: There can be no recognition of a Palestinian state outside of direct negotiations with Israel, full demilitarization and the unqualified acceptance of Israel’s right to exist in secure borders as a distinctly Jewish state. The move at the United Nations to recognize a Palestinian state torches that policy, declaring to the world that savagery and maximalist rejectionism are the currency of international legitimacy. By rewarding unilateralism and eschewing direct negotiation, these reckless Western governments have proved us international law skeptics right: The much-ballyhooed “peace process” agreements, such as the Oslo Accords of the 1990s, are not worth the paper they were written on.
In the wake of Oct. 7, these nations condemned the massacre, proclaimed solidarity with Israel and even briefly suspended funding for UNRWA, the U.N. aid group for the Palestinian territories, after agency employees were accused of participating in the attack. Yet, under the relentless drumbeat of anti-Israel activism and diplomatic cowardice, they have now chosen to rehabilitate the Palestinian-Arab nationalist cause — not after the leaders of the cause renounced terrorism, but while its most gruesome crimes remained unpunished, its hostages still languish in concentration camp-like squalor and its leaders still clamor for the annihilation of Israel.
Trump should clarify not only that America will not join in this dangerous, high-stakes charade, but also that there could very well be negative trade or diplomatic repercussions for countries that recognize an independent Palestinian terror state. The reason for such consequences would be simple: Undermining America’s strongest ally in the Middle East while simultaneously creating yet another new terror-friendly Islamist state directly harms the American national interest. There is no American national interest — none, zero — in the creation of a new Palestinian state in the heart of the Holy Land. On the contrary, as the Abraham Accords peace deals of 2020 proved, there is plenty of reason to embolden Israel. Contra liberal elites, it is this bolstering of Israel that fosters genuine regional peace.
The world must know: In the face of evil, America does not flinch, does not equivocate and does not reward those who murder our friends and threaten the Judeo-Christian West. As long as the Jewish state stands on the front lines of civilization, the United States must remain at its side, unwavering, unbowed and unashamed. Basic human decency and the American national interest both require nothing less.
Josh Hammer’s latest book is “Israel and Civilization: The Fate of the Jewish Nation and the Destiny of the West.” This article was produced in collaboration with Creators Syndicate. X: @josh_hammer
The terror organization called the recognition “a deserved outcome of our people’s struggle” and added that it would lead Western countries to isolate Israel.
Hamas lauded the recognition of a Palestinian state by the United Kingdom, Canada, Portugal, and Australia in a Sunday statement, calling the move “an important step.”
“This recognition is an important step in maintaining the right of our Palestinian people to their land and holy sites, and to establishing their independent state with Jerusalem as its capital,” Hamas stated.
The terror organization continued, saying it was “a deserved outcome of our people’s struggle” and that a stop to Israel’s war against it, which it labeled a “brutal genocide” in Gaza, must follow the declaration.
Hamas also called on the international community to “confront the annexation and Judaization plans in the West Bank and Jerusalem,” isolate the Jewish state, and take “punitive measures” against it.
Palestinian Hamas terrorists. February 22, 2025. (credit: REUTERS/Hatem Khaled)
Western nations recognize Palestine
Other nations, including France, are expected to follow the lead of the UK, Australia, and Canada in recognizing a Palestinian state.
French President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday that recognizing a Palestinian state would isolate Hamas in an interview with N12.
“Recognizing a Palestinian state is just deciding to say, ‘The legitimate perspective of Palestinian people and what they suffer today has nothing to do with Hamas,’” Macron said, adding, “Recognition of a Palestinian state is the best way to isolate Hamas.”
Senior Care Authority and WellQor partner to deliver comprehensive care to older adults.
Press Release –
updated: Aug 24, 2020
MELVILLE, N.Y., August 24, 2020 (Newswire.com)
– The unique needs of older adults and demands associated with the current pandemic are creating an extremely challenging situation for all of those involved in senior care. Industry leaders are forging relationships in the interest of broadening their reach and delivering a diverse and comprehensive set of resources to seniors and their loved ones across the country. One such partnership, recently announced by WellQor Behavioral Health and Senior Care Authority, allows clients access to resources from both organizations.
In this time, the needs of the senior population are becoming increasingly complex. The threat of the pandemic to senior populations is a major driver of stressful complications in selecting the right care options. Nevertheless, problems that came before the pandemic have not ceased to exist, and they exacerbate the stress that seniors and their families across the country are dealing with right now. People are burdened with balancing a number of different care options that are essential to their wellbeing. The process of aging and transitioning can be overwhelming, prompting issues with family conflict, anxiety, and depression. When industry leaders collaborate, we can centralize care options and make life easier for seniors and families.
A partnership between WellQor and Senior Care Authority means clients of both organizations can take advantage of their complimentary services. Those working with Senior Care Authority can have access to WellQor services aimed at mediating family conflict, monitoring emotional wellbeing, and normalizing stressful transitions. Likewise, seniors working with WellQor can be referred to Senior Care Authority, where qualified care advisors can help educate families and manage their care and living options. Working with families is a specialty of both companies, offering a great synergy in this endeavor.
The care advisors at Senior Care Authority are now uniquely positioned to ensure the emotional wellbeing of their clients. According to CEO Frank Samson, “our clients come to us looking for answers on how to care for their loved ones, and that can be an incredibly stressful time. Now, we can refer them to WellQor before that stress becomes overwhelming, giving the families we serve another option for peace of mind.”
WellQor is now able to refer clients to resources beyond the scope of mental and emotional wellness. According to CEO David Schwam, “partnering with Senior Care Authority allows WellQor to connect clients with resources we can’t provide. The families we work with are often faced with complex decisions related to available care options, and we want them to be able to live as safely and independently as possible despite the challenges they may be facing. By partnering with Senior Care Authority, we now have a nationwide team of experts in eldercare management available to assist in these situations.”
Ensuring access to comprehensive care is true to the mission of both WellQor and Senior Care Authority. With the best interests of seniors and their families in mind, this partnership allows for collaboration between expert resources that leave everyone feeling happier, healthier, and more secure.
About Senior Care Authority
Senior Care Authority® was founded in 2009 and currently serves locations nationally in 25 states and Canada. The network is comprised of professionally trained and experienced local advisors who assist families with the overwhelming challenges associated with selecting the best options in assisted living, memory care, nursing care and navigating through a complex healthcare system. Learn more at seniorcareauthority.com.
WellQor provides a wide variety of services designed to promote the mental and emotional wellness of seniors across the country. Wellqor is able to meet the needs of older adults and their families by employing educational resources and innovative wellness programs backed by a robust clinical organization.
Media Inquiries Contact:
Ryan Thoms, Media Relations WellQor Management Services, Inc rthoms@wellqor.com Tel (844) 888-0355 x 3002 www.wellqor.com
Senior Care Authority franchise owner Cynthia Perthuis is among 81 franchise owners honored for franchise and community leadership by the independent research firm Franchise Business Review.
Press Release –
updated: Aug 5, 2020
PETALUMA, Calif., August 5, 2020 (Newswire.com)
– Cynthia Perthuis, a Senior Care Authority franchise owner, has been recognized by the Franchise Business Review as a Franchise Rock Star; each year, Franchise Business Review honors franchise owners who set exceptional examples of achieving success within the franchise model. This year’s Franchise Rock Stars were selected from over 28,000 franchisees, representing more than 300 brands that participated in Franchise Business Review’s research in the past 18 months.
Regarding her inclusion as an honoree, Cynthia explains, “It is such an honor to be recognized, and it is a reminder that hard work will always pay off in the end. As a franchise owner in New York and Southwest Florida, my team is able to focus on our clients and their families’ needs, in part, due to the support of the Senior Care Authority corporation. I cannot be successful without the success of my local teams and my colleagues across the country.”
Cynthia joined Senior Care Authority in June of 2018 as a franchise owner with multi-territory ownership. She services families in the New York City and Southwest Florida markets.
The Franchise Rock Stars recognized were nominated by their franchise brand leadership in one of eight categories as franchisees who set admirable examples when it comes to leadership, business acumen, financial and professional success, and contributing to their community. Categories included: Giving Back, Women, Millennials, Veterans, Family-Owned, “Freshmen”, Top-Performers, and Multi-Unit Owners.
Laura Batts, Vice President of Franchise Development, added, “Cynthia has many of the skills and traits we seek in our franchise owners, which has helped her to scale her business quickly. She is an accomplished networker, an excellent communicator, and has solid sales and marketing expertise. Cynthia does what it takes to find the very best solutions for seniors and their families, leaving no stone unturned, no detail unattended.”
As the leading research firm serving the franchise sector, Franchise Business Review provides ratings of franchise opportunities based on survey research that measures franchisee satisfaction and performance. Franchise Business Review publishes rankings of the top franchises in its annual Guide to Today’s Top Franchises, as well as guides throughout the year ranking the top franchises in specific sectors.
About Senior Care Authority
Senior Care Authority® was founded in 2009 and expanded nationally in late 2014 through franchising, currently serving locations nationally in 25 states and Canada. The network is comprised of professionally trained and experienced local advisors who assist families with the overwhelming challenges associated with selecting the best options in assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing, and navigating through a complex healthcare system.
About Franchise Business Review
Franchise Business Review (FBR) is a leading market research firm serving the franchise sector. FBR measures satisfaction and engagement of franchisees and publishes various guides and reports for entrepreneurs considering an investment in a franchise business. Since 2005, FBR has surveyed hundreds of thousands of franchise owners and over 1,100 leading franchise companies. FBR publishes free and unbiased franchisee satisfaction research reports throughout the year.
