Paramount Veterans Network

In honor of Women’s History Month, the Paramount Veterans Network recognizes and celebrates Paramount Veterans and Military Family Members Today we are honored to celebrate a brilliant and admirable human being, who leads with her heart, Karen Kraft. Karen Kraft?began her documentarian career at Discovery Channel. She ultimately led their International Production Unit where she wrote and produced many programs including?Marvel Superheroes’ Guide to New York City?(Travel Channel), Wildfire Rescue?(Animal Planet),?and?World Heritage?for Discovery. She is currently producing several documentaries and art exhibitions including Bombero: An American Story of 9/11; War Ink: Combat Veteran Stories Told Through Their Tattoos and Live Free: Ukraine at War. Karen is a member of the Producer’s Guild of America. Karen is a founding partner of “Shark Park: 400 Million Years in the Making,” an entertainment destination, along with Academy Award-nominee Walt Conti of Edge Innovations. As a former U.S. Army officer, Karen serves as Chair for two nonprofit boards: Veterans in Media & Entertainment (helping veterans transition into the industry to find jobs and internships, and Operation Snow Leopard (helping evacuate at-risk Afghans). On Service: “Service means sharing of myself (time, energy, resources) to support others in their growth which, in turn, fulfills me. It’s dedicating myself to helping others to have a better life, and hoping that they in turn help someone else…and that makes the world a better place.” Thank you for your selfless service, Karen! We love you, your humor and your big heart! We appreciate you always and your partnership! #paramountvetnet #paramountveteransnetwork #paramountveterans #army #veteran #veterans #military #service #militaryservice #womenshistorymonth #whm #armyveteran #hooah #VME #VMEConnect

In partnership with the Paramount Veterans Network and DAV (Disabled American Veterans) I’ve had the honor of participating in this article and it reminds me that there is always hope, especiallly when great organizations are out there making a difference where it counts. More specifically, amazing people like Betty D. who works endlessly advocating on behalf of veterans for opportunities in the media space and for some a new hope that they can look forward to…. Thank you so much. ??????

HOW A PARAMOUNT PROGRAM EMPOWERS VETERANS WORKING IN MEDIA BY LIZ STETLER, DAV (DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS) DAV (Disabled American Veterans) Betty D. Torrin Fields Joshua Reyes Chris Murray https://lnkd.in/erVrQD54

Sneak Peek of our most recent Paramount Veterans Network Coffee With Vets with Writer and Director of the movie, MY DEAD FRIEND ZOE, Kyle Hausmann-Stokes, whom the film is based on, and the film’s co-Star Sonequa Martin-Green who plays an Army Afghanistan veteran, Merit (based on Kyle). The session was moderated by CBS’ Beyond The Gates’ Maurice P. Kerry, Actor and Marine Corps Veteran. When asked “Were there any moments in the film where Kyle shared something from his experience that deeply impacted your character? Without any spoilers what were those moments?”…Sonequa and Kyle answers here (clip). Stay tuned for full interview, which will be made available this week! Award-Winning Film, MY DEAD FRIEND ZOE, Theatrical Release is this Friday, Feb 28, 2025 in select theaters near you! Starring: Sonequa Martin-Green, Natalie Morales, Ed Harris and Morgan Freeman https://lnkd.in/e3xraRMZ

The American Music Awards return on Memorial Day—Monday, May 26—bringing the largest single-day music celebration to audiences everywhere. A true culture-defining tentpole, the?#AMAs?will honor today’s biggest artists while paying tribute to our country’s troops. https://bit.ly/4kfY9Va, Paramount Veterans Network

Join us in recognizing and saluting our Paramount Veteran and Military Family community in honor of Black History Month Maurice P. Kerry plays Randy Parker on the CBS soap opera,?Beyond the Gates, a new show set to premiere on February 24th on CBS (2 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT). Maurice P. Kerry’s journey is a powerful narrative of overcoming adversity, redefining purpose, and living with unshakable resolve. Born in Atlanta, Georgia, as the eldest of 3 children to Adrianne D. Pless and Donald S. Horton, his name—meaning “handsome and dark”—poetically reflects his depth, strength, and charismatic spirit. A decorated U.S. Marine Corps Combat Veteran, Maurice served with distinction during Operation Iraqi Freedom II. However, his greatest battles came after his military service. Transitioning to civilian life, he faced over a year of homelessness in Southern California. During this challenging chapter, Maurice refused to let his circumstances define him, leaning into his creative talents and dreams of an acting career. In 2006, Maurice began securing background roles in Hollywood, but his path took a detour when he chose to prioritize his family. Still driven by a creative spark, he channeled his energy into music as “7K,” a San Diego rapper performing with the Marine Corps rap group SouthuNoyZ. Today, Maurice is a multifaceted talent and dedicated father. He is a director, gamer, acting coach, and personal motivator who advocates tirelessly for mental and physical health. A proud disabled veteran living with PTSD, he uses his platform and experiences to inspire others, embodying resilience in every facet of his life. Living by mantras such as?“Don’t Quit, Grit!”, “Hard ain’t impossible,”?and?“The enemy couldn’t kill me…so what can your opinion do to a man like me?”, Maurice exemplifies perseverance and purpose. His life is a testament to the transformative power of grit, growth, and unconditional love—a legacy he proudly shares with the world. #paramountveteransnetwork #marine #veterans #military #militarybasketball #paramountvetnet #veteran #usmc #blackhistorymonth #bhm #marinecorps

We are excited to announce our newest Paramount Veterans Network Ambassadors. Please welcome CBS’ THE SUMMIT’s Punkin Jackson (Season 1 Winner) and Geoff D. Green II, Ph.D, CPC (Season 1 Competitor) to the VetNet family. They will be joining our current Ambassadors, Toni Trucks, Judd Lormand, Neil Brown Jr., A.J. Buckley, Merryl Tengesdal, Montel Williams and many others. Let’s get to know Punkin and Geoff... ? *Three words to describe you: Punkin: ?Resilient, compassionate, ambitious Geoff: ?Spontaneous, intentional, curious *What do you do? Punkin: ?I’m a logistician for the United States Air Force Geoff: ?Cognitive Performance Consultant: I teach professionals how to get more done in less time while beating burnout once and for all! ?Football: WR, play football overseas in Germany ?Neuroimaging consultant: Instruct neuroimaging data acquisition and analysis for The Ohio State University *Favorite hobby: Punkin: ?Traveling and content creation Geoff: ?Traveling through foreign countries partaking in any thrill seeking sports (skydiving, bungee jumping, scuba diving, surfing, cliff/bridge jumping, etc.) *What would people be surprised to learn about your job? Punkin: ?I think people would be surprised to find out how fluid it is. There are so many things you can do within my career field. You can work statistic data with AI (supply and demand), be the person counting inventory, or be jumping out of planes. My job has so many different faces and I love it bc I’m always getting to learn new things and I’m never bored. Geoff: ?The fact that I’m a neuroscientist who also plays pro football typically surprises people because it is very contradictory. ?It is no secret that neuroscience has revealed how risky football could be with respect to brain health. *Biggest Takeaways from your time at THE SUMMIT? Punkin: ?You can do ANYTHING you set your mind to do. Your mind is your biggest obstacle. Once you can overcome that, you can literally conquer anything that’s in your path. Geoff: ?Don’t shrink down just to make others more comfortable or less intimidated. If your motives are pure, keep being you. The right people will come. *What is on your bucket list? Punkin: ?Become a TV host (interviewing people, red carpets, tv shows, etc.), be in movies/TV shows, be on MTV The Challenge, and travel to as many places as I possibly can. (just to name a few). Geoff: ?I HAVE to see Fiji…and I want to go to space… and I want to ride an ostrich at top speed *Who is your Hero? Punkin: ?My mom for sure is my SHEro! Geoff: ?The original Geoff D. Green (aka my Pops)

On January 22nd, The Paramount Veterans Network, veterans and service members attended the New York Premiere of STAR TREK: SECTION 31 at Jazz at Lincoln Center. “Thank you for the opportunity to attend the early Star Trek: Section 31 screening…Experiences like this mean the world to veterans, offering moments of connection, inspiration, and joy. Your generosity reminds us that we are seen, valued, and supported. Events like these truly make a difference in our lives—thank you for making it possible.” —Dr. Tyshawn Jenkins, Air Force https://lnkd.in/eYybuT_9 #paramountveteransnetwork #veterans #military #paramountvetnet #veteransnetwork #paramount #startrek #weareparamount #popularisparamount #section31 #startreksection31 #paramountplus

2024 was a year of unexpected challenges, but through it all, we showed resilience, adaptability, and an unwavering commitment to making an impact in our communities. Thank you to those who have been supporting us and cheering us on. We are so grateful for each and every one of you. Reflecting on the journey, we are proud of what we have accomplished. Excited for this next chapter and all the possibilities it brings! https://lnkd.in/e3pfQ8be Christopher Barrett Joshua Reyes Betty D. Joseph Perez Torrin Fields Chris Murray Jim G. Mike Pannacciulli Matthew Kushner Kevin Brown #paramountveteransnetwork #army #navy #airforce #marines #nationalguard #spaceforce #coastguard #airnationalguard #veterans #military #paramountvetnet #veteransnetwork #community #paramount #2024 #weareparamount #popularisparamount

We’re halfway through National Mentoring Month, and for the rest of January, we’ll be spotlighting matches like Betty and Noelia. Betty’s own mentoring journey helped her realize her potential, and now she’s sharing that experience with her Little—showing how mentoring can reach far beyond a single match. By donating, you help to create more powerful connections and keep our 120-year legacy going for another 120 years! Ready to fuel the next 120 years of mentoring? Click this link, https://lnkd.in/emWzCMkZ, to donate, and join us in championing the next generation of leaders. #MentoringMatters #120YearsOfImpact #NationalMentorshipMonth #NYC #BigandLittle #NYCYouth #NYCCommunity #Mentoring #BBBSNYC #IgnitePotential #120Years