Team,
  
In a year that began with further restrictions and a nervousness around implementing a world-wide vaccination program, we finish 2021 attempting to find a new sense of normality. We continue to feel an overwhelming sense of pride to work with a team that’s shown such incredible adaptability and resilience in the face of such changing times. As the holidays approach, I hope you all get some much needed downtime with family and friends.
 
From the bottom of our hearts, we want to thank our employees, partners, and customers for another successful year.  We’ve grown as a company, but more importantly, we’ve been able to focus on areas that are meaningful for our employees and our customers and that align with our future goals as an organization. We feel blessed every day to work with such brilliant individuals and organizations.  
 
Wishing everyone a wonderful holiday season and a happy new year!
 
Our greatest appreciation,
 
- Dan & Alex

Each year, we take the opportunity to honor and appreciate the sacrifices and selflessness of the men and women who have served in the American armed forces. Here at Markesman, we are proud to have approximately 90% of our team be active and veteran service members. These employees have made remarkable contributions to our country, and we are honored that they are part of the Markesman family. 

Thank you to all the veterans and their family members for your service to our great nation.

Although the focus on today is the ‘Veteran’, I can’t help but be grateful for opportunities the military gave me personally. The military not only helps define character and work ethic, it instills the importance of working as a team to accomplish greater tasks than a singular person is capable of. Unity = Acceleration. 

Dan Markes, CEO

We generally call our team outings ‘socials’, because the term “happy-hour” has the connotation to most of an alcohol related event in a bar with strangers lurking about.  Since the latest incarnation of the modern plague (COVID-19), we have abstained from having socials out of an abundance of caution.  That is until recently, we decided the risk was low enough to gather once again, in public and take our chances... together.    

Both of our last two large socials were at the Guinness Brewery in Harthorpe, MD, near BWI airport.  The first event was a bit touch-and-go; we weren’t exactly sure how eager folks were to attend a large social, and it was raining in waves, often times very heavily; so we were stuck inside.  A couple weeks later we decided to visit the same location again, and this time the weather was perfect, we were able to occupy several tables outside.  Leadership and the Headquarters Management Team were able to travel to Maryland for the social, joining quite a few of the site teammates, a few of their significant others, and little ones, making it a true Markesman event.  In addition, we hosted guests from other federal agencies, and prospective employees. a great time was had by all!

One of the things that makes Markesman Group different than many other companies is our genuine appreciation and support for one another.   We strive to treat one another like family, and we’ve all learned from our military service that things like “mandatory fun” is not fun at all, so we never do that.   All socials are optional, so when you see teammates at our events, or hear about it over the next couple of days, you know automatically that they are there because they want to socialize and enjoy each other’s company in a more casual environment.  The way it should be everywhere! 

If you are an employee, friend or associate of Markesman Group and you’ve never attended one of our socials because of past experiences or still have lingering reservations; you owe it to yourself to give it another chance.   As I like to say, we hope you will join us, but if you don’t or can’t; it’s really ok, we look forward to getting to know you better at another event in the future!

The importance of giving back to society can't be understated. When you give back, you're able to better the lives of the people around you and your community. Finding meaning by giving back to the community benefits us all.

​Markesman HQ’s John (JT) Thompson, Charlene Polk, and Chris Ortega met with the Boys & Girls Club in Newport News, VA to deliver a very special donation of 3 computers and 3 monitors to supplement a new computer lab being organized and run by the Boys & Girls Club.

​This donation is part of Markesman’s initiative to give back to the communities that surround us.  The equipment is only the first step. We plan to continue our services by helping set up and volunteering time to educate, mentor, and help our future generations grow and find their path. Hopefully, that path will lead them to excel in cyber, intel, or IT.

Thank you to the Markesman employees for taking the time to help those in need.

PTSD is a mental health disorder that people develop after living through or experiencing a traumatic event such as war, natural disaster, rape, abuse, or an accident. PTSD is diagnosed when symptoms last more than a month and are severe enough to interfere with relationships or work.

PTSD can occur in mild to moderate levels; each person is uniquely impacted. Signs of PTSD may begin to show soon after the traumatic event, but some people experience a delayed onset of symptoms.

Signs and symptoms of PTSD include:

• Flashbacks (reliving the trauma over and over, including physical symptoms like racing heartbeat or sweating)
• Nightmares
• Frightening thoughts
• Compulsively avoiding places, events, or objects that are reminders of the traumatic experience
• Avoiding thoughts or feelings related to the traumatic event
• Being easily startled
• Feeling tense or “on edge”
• Difficulty sleeping
• Angry outbursts
• Trouble remembering key features of the traumatic event
• Negative thoughts about oneself or the world
• Distorted feelings, like guilt or blame
• Loss of interest in enjoyable activities

PTSD symptoms may disrupt a person’s daily routine. People, places, or things that remind a person of the traumatic event can trigger an episode. These symptoms may cause a person to change his or her personal routine. For example, after being attacked by a dog a person may avoid animals or pets altogether.

Children may react to traumatic events differently than adults. Some signs that your child may be experiencing PTSD include:

• Wetting the bed after being potty-trained
• Forgetting how to talk or refusing to talk at all
• Acting out the traumatic event during playtime
• Clinging on to parents, or the inability to be alone

​PTSD helplines are widely available and provide free resources for people struggling with related issues such as flashbacks, nightmares, anxiety, anger, substance abuse, and others. PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) is a condition that develops when someone is exposed to a shocking, dangerous, or life-threatening event. People experiencing persistent and recurring symptoms can benefit from the guidance provided by a hotline or mental health professional. However, if you or a loved one is in danger of harming yourself or someone else, please call 911 immediately.

​It can be difficult to pick up the phone and ask for help, but calling a PTSD hotline number is a free and easy way to speak with someone who is knowledgeable about PTSD and the treatment options available.

All PTSD hotlines are private and confidential; specialists are trained professionals who can offer guidance and a sympathetic ear. Hotlines are also open to friends and loved ones seeking information and treatment options for someone close to them.

Calling a PTSD crisis hotline can help you:

• Get general information about PTSD
• Talk to someone who understands what you or your loved one is going through
• Get help confidentially and anonymousl
• Find a counselor or therapist specializing in PTSD and/or trauma
• Find a mental health treatment and/or substance abuse facility
• Learn about how PTSD can be treated
• Find local community PTSD support groups
• Find resources for military vets or other special populations who suffer high rates of PTSD

Population surveys show that in the U.S., nearly 4% of men and 10% of women will develop PTSD at some point in their lifetime. Although this is only a small portion of people who have gone through a trauma—about 60% of men and 50% of women experience at least one trauma in their lifetime—this rate of prevalence accounts for about 8 million adults with PTSD in any given year.

About 60% of men and 50% of women experience at least one trauma in their lifetime - this rate of prevalence accounts for about 8 million adults with PTSD in any given year.

While suffering from PTSD can be an isolating experience, it’s important to know that you are not the only one who feels this way, and there are resources available to help you get back to leading the life you want. PTSD can happen to anyone and is not a sign of weakness. PTSD helplines are a non-judgmental, safe first step in the right direction for receiving treatment.  

​Calling a PTSD hotline number is a great way to get your questions answered in a confidential manner. Often, people are not fully aware of the signs and symptoms of PTSD, nor are they familiar with the best methods of treatment.

If someone develops PTSD because of an ongoing source of trauma such as an abusive relationship, they will need help addressing their mental health issues as well as the traumatic environment contributing to them. A good first step is to call a post-traumatic stress disorder helpline. Other associated issues can include panic disorder, chronic depression, substance abuse, and suicidality.2 The purpose of a PTSD hotline is to provide information and connect you to services.

Here are some questions you may want to write down before calling a PTSD crisis hotline about your condition:

• How do I know if I have PTSD?
• What do I do if I’m having a flashback or recurring nightmare?
• Can PTSD be treated or overcome?
• Do I need medication or therapy?
• What are the symptoms of PTSD?
• What if I have other mental health issues?
• Do I need to go to a special treatment program for PTSD?
• How do I find the best form of treatment for my individual issues?
• How much does PTSD treatment cost? Will my insurance cover it?
• Will I ever feel normal?
• What are the next steps I should take?

Family members and friends can feel helpless and lost trying to find help for a loved one. It also may be hard for the actual person struggling with PTSD to ask for help. Friends and family members are often the catalyst that allows someone to receive the critical help they need. It is important to realize that it may take time, but with treatment, your loved one can recover. A post-traumatic stress disorder helpline can help point you in the right direction.

It is important to realize that it may take time, but with treatment, your loved one can recover.

Here are some questions to ask if you are calling about a loved one’s condition:

• What should I do if I think my loved one needs help for their PTSD?
• What resources are available for family members/friends of people with PTSD?
• How do I confront the person about their PTSD and encourage them to seek help?
• What should I do if I think they’re in danger of hurting themselves or someone else?
• What are the symptoms of PTSD?
• What are the triggers for a PTSD episode?
• How do I talk to my loved one about their problem and show my support?
• What if my loved one displays signs of alcohol or drug abuse?
• How do I cope while my loved one is going through this?

As we Americans celebrate Memorial Day, Markesman honors those who paid the ultimate price for our freedom. We ask all to take a moment to salute our fallen heroes. Please remember our brothers and sisters in arms who fought so that we may return home for better opportunities than when we left.

We are eternally grateful to those left on the battlefield and those who returned, as well as the families who were impacted in times of great conflict.

​Thank you for your service, sacrifice, and friendship.
Dan Markes, CEO & Military Veteran

Join us as we celebrate Military Appreciation Month. We honor not only those who are serving in the military today but also those who have served. We recognize and appreciate the commitment and sacrifices they have made on behalf of our country and citizens. 

At Markesman, over half of our employees serve (or have served) in the military including our CEO, Dan Markes. We are a proud service-disabled veteran-owned small business with a work culture centered around military life. We recognize that transitioning from military service is not the easiest; therefore, our goal is to help hire, train, and retain Veterans.​​

We would like to take the time today to thank our military and their families for their sacrifice, bravery and service.
​We salute you!

​This Sunday we honor and celebrate all mothers - biological moms, foster mothers, guardians, adoptive parents, and all those who unconditionally love, guide, and care for us every day of the year. 

Mother’s Day is an important reminder of the additional roles they play that aren’t reflected in their titles, resumes or LinkedIn profiles. The role of a mother however, is the most critical work they do every day.

​With a large number of working parents in our company, it’s important to us that we have policies in place and a culture that celebrates our mothers, expecting mothers, and employees who are thinking about starting a family. Ours is a culture which recognizes that being a parent is a top priority. Creating an environment that empowers employees to be active parents who are successful in their career is shared across our leadership team.

Happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers and caregivers out there!
​Dan Markes, CEO & Alex Wang, COO