AGX Group_Operational Readiness, Support, Logistics And Affordable Housing _ Federally Certified Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business

Flexible Assistance for HUD-VASH Participating Landlords: All Landlords to receive $3,000 incentive for every one-year lease

2022-08-04

The Greater LA Landlords who join the HUD VASH voucher program may finally get the support they were looking for!

2022 Champion of Maryland Manufacturing AGX-LLC

2022-03-31

Key Principles of AGX HBCU National Modernization

STEM Education
Smart Infrastructure
Public-Private Partnerships Funding
Telecommunications (5G/Ultra-wideband/LPWAN) Effective and affordable People-Centered Internet Internet of Things (IoT) devices and sensors
Anchor Institutions
Biometrics/TTL for crime control and prevention
Telemedicine and Health Monitoring

Billion Dollar Roundtable and Veteran-Owned Business Suppliers: The Go-to Partner for Growth

2020-11-17

Billion Dollar Roundtable and Veteran-Owned Business Suppliers: The Go-to Partner for Growth

Various successful prototypes and ideas in the works to becoming real solutions during COVID-19 crisis

2020-07-20

“There’s opportunity in chaos, … there’s a real need right now for the resiliency of America to return. We need strength, we need to be restoring and we just decided we’re going to be that for America, we are going to be the strength of bringing manufacturing back to the states,” Wells said of the CureX Corporation, a new company he and his fellow maker challenge teammates created recently to produce the Ambuscanner and other “engineering solutions for our nation’s toughest challenges.”

Baltimore businesses work to make masks, ventilators amid shortage

2020-04-10

Baltimore businesses work to make masks, ventilators amid shortage

Bunker Labs To Begin New Chapter In Baltimore, AGX Founder DeAndre B. Wells At The Helm As Official Chapter City Leader

2020-02-21

Bunker Labs is starting a Baltimore chapter which will help local military families launch their businesses. The non-profit helps increase entrepreneurship and innovation by assisting military members or their spouses on the journey of starting a business. Bunker’s bread-and-butter — connecting people through events, rather than focusing on teaching and training — will benefit the entrepreneurs in the Capitol region. Bunker Labs now operates in 32 cities and is shooting to be in all 50 states in the next few years.

Bunker Labs was started by veterans who got out of the military and started their own business. As such they understand the unique challenges associated with the transition process combined with the difficulty of starting a business. Bunker Labs has compiled and curated the best entrepreneurial training from the brightest minds in the field into three distinct phases of entrepreneurship.

Bunker Labs Community City Leader De'Andre B. Wells Sgt. U.S Army Ret says Baltimore is an obvious choice for a chapter location.

"The colorful, multicultural city that is Maryland's largest city and economic hub, is at the center of our country's military agencies."

25% of transitioning service members want to start a business and they need places inside their community where they can connect with the people, resources, and support they need to start and grow their businesses. We’re here for them! De'Andre is our City Leader in Baltimore leading the efforts to establish the official Chapter! City leaders are the heart of the Bunker Labs team. They plan and host Bunker Labs events, build connections and serve as the public face of Bunker Labs in their local community.

The new Bunker Labs Baltimore will create a pipeline of opportunities for military veterans who aspire to launch businesses and to empower veterans as leaders in innovation. Bunker Brews is our monthly meet-up or happy hour where the Bunker Labs community — veterans, military spouses, and civilians alike can network with subject matter experts, investors, thought leaders, and more — creating a robust environment for growth and development.

Bunker Labs supports all entrepreneurs in the veteran community to include military veterans, military spouses, and family members. We support these entrepreneurs throughout the journey of starting a business: from the idea stage to the growth stage. Wherever you fit in the local entrepreneurial ecosystem, whether you are a veteran entrepreneur, a local investor, a local co-working space, a potential mentor to Bunker Labs companies…etc. – the best way to get involved with Bunker Labs is to attend a Bunker Brews and meet your local city leader.

Bunker Labs – a 501(c)(3) non-profit – is a national network of veteran and milspouse entrepreneurs dedicated to helping the military-connected community start their own business. We are committed to seeing that every entrepreneur in the military-connected community has the network, tools, and resources they need to start their own business.

HOW TO GET INVOLVED

The easiest way to get involved with Bunker Labs is through your local community and the easiest way to do that is through Bunker Brews, which is a high impact speaker series and networking event to get you in front of the right people at the right time. You will connect with your city’s top leaders, gain actionable insights, and take your career or company to the next level.

Founder and CEO De’Andre B. Wells SGT US Ret to serve on the Veteran Institute for Procurement (VIP) Start and VIP Grow Curriculum Committee

2019-05-29

Leadership in the Federal Marketplace

Maryland, USA May 23rd 2019; AMERICAN GROUP CONTRAX, AGX-LLC Founder and CEO De’Andre B. Wells SGT US Army Ret. to serve on the Veteran Institute for Procurement (VIP) Curriculum Committee for the VIP START/GROW Program. The Veteran Institute Procurement (VIP) GROW Program, a comprehensive training and certification program that helps veteran-owned businesses strengthen their ability to win government contracts and do business with both military and civilian agencies they once served in uniform.

The first program of its kind in the nation, VIP START and GROW is conducted by professional subject-matter specialists in the essentials necessary to win government contracts: law, accounting, insurance, human resources, marketing and proposals. The curriculum is designed to help companies accelerate the rate at becoming procurement ready. The program also provides participants with access to Federal and prime contracting executives along with a national network of veteran-owned small businesses that they can team with on opportunities or serve as mentors.

The role of the Committee is to provide guidance to the Program Director on the relevancy of the VIP curriculum topics. The Committees thought leadership is critical in ensuring that VIP participants continue to receive ‘real-time’ market-based information that results in measurable outcomes for their business.

Annually the Committee reviews the curriculum outline for both START and GROW training along with survey results from class participants that are taken immediately after the course along with the one and two years out performance surveys. The Committee is represented by VIP graduates and prime contractors.

"De’Andre has been selected because of his demonstrated expertise and leadership in the federal marketplace and for his dedication in support of veteran small business success, said Barbara Ashe, President of the Montgomery County Chamber Community Foundation. I truly believe VIP would greatly benefit from his participation.”

VIP START and VIP GROW is a three-day, 27-hour comprehensive certification program. Participants must be a C-level executive in a Veteran-owned small business operating for at least 1 year with one year of revenue generation; must be a W-2 in their company, or full-time employee, and spend 100% of their time in their business; and a small business. With volunteer instructors and at no cost to participants, VIP START AND VIP GROW is fully funded by the Montgomery County Chamber Community Foundation, partners, and VIP sponsors.

For information on AGX: Executive Assistant Crystal Wells, 410-484-0716; cdw@agxgroup.org For additional information, please visit www.agxgroup.org

For information on VIP: Barbara Ashe, 301-738-0015 x215; bashe@mcccmd.com

For additional information, please visit www.NationalVip.org or the Montgomery County Chamber Community Foundation.

AGX Corporate Advisor Dana Weckesser -2019 Circle of Excellence inductee

2019-04-20

By: Special to The Daily Record April 17, 2019

Dana Weckesser

Founder and Chief Executive Officer
Global Health Partnerships Consulting

(2019 Circle of Excellence inductee)

Dana Weckesser founded Global Health Partnerships Consulting, and through her work, more than $318 million has been generated for socioeconomic development and global health initiatives worldwide, including Baltimore.

In 2016, Gov. Larry Hogan appointed Weckesser to the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange Board, which provides accessible, affordable health care coverage to Marylanders. Weckesser also serves as corporate advisor to AGX Group, a company providing health services to people with post-traumatic stress disorder. She also is an active member of Global Partnership for Effective Development Co-operation.

What are some key moments that affected your journey?
My experience as a foreign exchange student in Belgium living with a family who spoke only French was one of the defining moments of my life. Early in my career, I observed that my belief in a student’s capabilities made a tangible difference in his life and due to his diligent work, his grades went from Fs and D-minuses to Bs and A-minuses. This realization moved me and I still seek opportunities to help people embrace their value and light. Working in other countries, such as Haiti, to help strengthen the public health system and improve lives crystallized my professional journey.

This is a winner profile from The Daily Record's 2019 Top 100 Women awards. Information for this profile was sourced from the honoree's application for the award.

AMERICAN GROUP CONTRAX, AGX-LLC RECEIVES VETERAN INSTITUTE FOR PROCUREMENT GROW CERTIFICATION

2019-03-29

AMERICAN GROUP CONTRAX, AGX-LLC RECEIVES VETERAN INSTITUTE FOR PROCUREMENT GROW CERTIFICATION

Buyers from industry and government are actively shopping the VIP Marketplace and matching their requirements to VIP Graduate capabilities. The opportunity to connect our business product to Federal and Prime buyers will strengthen the core of Veteran owned small businesses.

Baltimore, Maryland March 29^th 2019; AMERICAN GROUP CONTRAX, AGX-LLC recently completed the Veteran Institute Procurement (VIP) GROW Program, a comprehensive training and certification program that helps veteran-owned businesses strengthen their ability to win government contracts and do business with both military and civilian agencies they once served in uniform.

On March 28, 2019, AMERICAN GROUP CONTRAX, AGX-LLC was one of 49 businesses from 13 states and the District of Columbia to graduate from the Veteran Institute for Procurement (VIP) GROW Program.

“Each year, the government awards hundreds of billions of dollars in federal contracts to qualified businesses to meet the needs of federal agencies and the military. To sell your products or services to the federal government, your business must meet specific requirements. The VIP Institute curriculum is designed to infuse and reinforce our capability as a highly qualified federal vendor, said De'Andre B. Wells Sgt. US Army Ret. CEO of American Group Contrax, AGXLLC.

The first program of its kind in the nation, VIP GROW is conducted by professional subject-matter specialists in the essentials necessary to win government contracts: law, accounting, insurance, human resources, marketing and proposals. It also provides participants with access to Federal and prime contracting executives along with a national network of veteran owned small businesses that they can team with on opportunities.

Since its launch in 2009, VIP GROW has helped 880 service-disabled and veteran-owned small businesses grow. A survey of 426 of the program's graduates determined that the size of their businesses increased by an average of 64% within a year of graduating from the Institute. More than 82% of surveyed graduates credited VIP GROW for equipping them to make recent business decisions and avoid unseen pitfalls. Additionally, veteran-owned businesses are more likely to hire, mentor and train other war veterans as they transition to private life, which is a national priority.

"We are honored to give back to the men and women who served our country by providing them with the tools necessary to succeed as government contractors." said Barbara Ashe, President of the Montgomery County Chamber Community Foundation. “We hope this training fosters their success as businesses and employers.”

VIP GROW is a three-day, 27-hour comprehensive certification program. Participants must be a C-level leader in a Veteran-owned small business operating for at least two years with a minimum of 3 full time employees, and experience working on government contracts as a prime and/or sub-contractor to a prime. With volunteer instructors and at no cost to participants, VIP GROW is fully funded by the Montgomery County Chamber Community Foundation, partners, and VIP sponsors.

For information on AMERICAN GROUP CONTRAX, AGX-LLC: Crystal Wells, 410-484-0716 ;cdw@agxgroup.org For additional information, please visit www.agxgroup.org

For information on VIP: Barbara Ashe, 301-738-0015 x215; bashe@mcccmd.com

For additional information, please visit www.NationalVip.org or the Montgomery County Chamber Community Foundation.

Turning Assessment Into Action

2019-01-30

Innovative approaches to improving the quality of patient care, measuring the treating physician’s clinical outcomes, and controlling unnecessary costs.

The Opioid epidemic in America stems in part from a chronic pain issue gone unnoticed and under-treated in the last decade. Identifying those patients with chronic pain can be difficult as no one specific diagnosis code exists to unmask it. The Institute of Medicine calculates the total cost of treatment, lost productivity, disability payments and legal fees related to chronic pain are greater than the total cost of medical care for patients with Coronary Artery Disease (CAD), Cancer and AIDS. On Jan 16th, 2019 American Group Contrax, AGX-LLC, and Advanced Medicine Integration Group, L.P. (AMI) formed a contract teaming agreement of mutual dependence and benefit to combat Chronic pain and its hidden co-morbidity. "AMI's unblemished reputation with the government and other customers made this teaming arraignment a no brainer," says De'Andre B. Wells Sgt. US Army Ret, AGX Founder and CEO. "Both firms have proven records of past performance covering elements analytics-based programs and we are excited about our future together."

The AGXI-AMI Integrative Chronic Pain Program (ICPP) is designed to improve both clinical and cost outcomes in a patient-centric, integrative, physical medicine delivery model. AGX-AMI’s care management platform can easily integrate approved BH/SA providers, measurement tools, and other relevant Community Resources for referrals. Our Turnkey model is built on our Fully Credentialed Conservative Medicine Network. This is what makes our program so unique, RN Case Managers facilitate all services for each individual veteran within a 5 miles radius of veterans home: 5 miles is the Average Distance to nearest Fully Credentialed Conservative Medicine Network Provider. We are knocking down the demographic barriers by providing real-time access!!

AMI and AGX share the core values of Integrity, Bringing Vital Services to Under-served Populations, and the Integration of Health Services. Chronic pain is a hidden co-morbidity not captured by conventional data analytics and may be the invisible root cause of many other subsequent medical issues. AGX-AMI’s integrated chronic pain program can create efficiencies, savings and better overall wellness of patients. What does AGX-AMI do that is different from other providers? AGX-AMI identifies the patients in your risk pool that suffer from chronic pain utilizing proprietary algorithms. AGX-AMI works with patients directly to develop unique patient-centric integrated treatment plans.

AGX-AMI Integrates low-cost, high patient satisfaction, complementary alternative medicine (CAM) treatments into the conventional medical case management of high-risk cases. The growing evidence base for the use of CAM modalities for chronic pain and AMI’s own long term results suggest that these conservative non-pharmaceutical CAM options are highly effective in assisting the opioid patient to discontinue or significantly reduce their reliance on a failed and dangerous long term strategy. The AGX-AMI program:

•State-wide Credentialed Integrated Care Network

•Individual, Longitudinal Patient Care Management through Integrative RNs and Referral Coordination with other VA services

•Significant Patient Engagement, Satisfaction, and Remarkable Improvement in Quality of Life

•Patient-Centered Treatment and Veteran Management means long term reductions in:

Overall Medical Expense

Opioids/RX

Emergency Department/Inpatient

Integrative Nurses Partner and Guide Veterans

Customized Treatment and Education Plans

Prevention and Treatment

Behavioral Medicine

Primary Care Physicians

Conventional and Complementary Approaches

Integration of Social Services

This alliance possesses the organic resources of 22 years of Successful Integrative Patient-Centered Programs with evidence-based complementary alternative medicine solutions to pain management, opioid reduction, and overall medical cost savings. The outcomes and program we offer are for "Chronic Pain Plus". The patient population with whom we achieve these outcomes are those identified as having a chronic pain condition. Many who have chronic pain, as many may know, also suffer from other complicating conditions, such as behavioral health conditions and opioid use and abuse. At AGX we have chosen to focus on the chronic pain population for a number of reasons, namely the level of patient suffering and debilitation, the limited efficacy of allopathic treatments, the lack of patient access to effective care, high patient dissatisfaction and the overall high cost of care for this patient population.

Even with all of the challenges encountered while caring for this patient population, use of the AGX-AMI integrative, patient-centered approach addresses every one of the aforementioned challenges, to include patient satisfaction. For the chronic pain patient population, or use case, we are confident AGX-AMI can offer effective care and value. Although we all know opioid use and abuse is at epidemic levels, identifying veterans within that population with chronic pain is central to our standing in a position of confidence in achieving the outcomes we know we can provide.