A Community for Veterans

We are very proud of all of the United States Veterans in the Page family, and on this Veterans Day 2014, we offer our gratitude to the following for their service: Gary Adamson, Stephen Bell, Bill Brown, Jose Cruz, Matthew Forester, Mike Francis, Joshua Griffin, Larry Hardaway, George Hellmuth, Richard Ivy, Aaron Jones, Louis Larrey, Robert Morris, Lewis May, Jason Palmer, JJ Puga, Josh Robinson, Dick Robinson, Robert Schoepf, Jonathan Sylvie and David Weiss.

Page is also honored to have assisted Veterans through our work with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs on a number of healthcare projects across the country. Another project which will benefit Veterans may be small in scope, but huge in its mission and potential.

Page designer JJ Puga, a Veteran and graduate of the United States Naval Academy, ’97, was contacted earlier this year by fellow Veteran and former classmate, Robert Armbruster, who had founded an outreach program in New Orleans called VetLaunch. This business accelerator program offers Veterans opportunities to participate in an extensive entrepreneurial training program. The organization, of which JJ is now a board member, also provides job training and job placement in various industries.

Seeking a permanent home for these programs, Robert found a 20,000-square-foot historic warehouse in the Lower Garden District of New Orleans. The building required a complete renovation, so Robert reached out to JJ, who immediately formed a Page team to design the interior build-out of the warehouse.  Alane Ebner, Wendy Dunnam-Tita, Bob Burke and Jon Sylvie (also a Veteran) worked with JJ and Robert to create the spaces which will house what is now called The Landing Zone.

When it opens in January 2015, the Landing Zone will provide co-working space for Veterans, as well as a gathering place for social interaction. More than just office space, it is a complete working and collaborative environment, including informal communal spaces, conference rooms, a full size commercial kitchen and a 3, 500-square-foot gym. The Landing Zone also provides services and a network of mentors to ensure the continued improvement and growth of members’ businesses.

Critical to the success of the project has been Austin-based Workplace Resource, a Woman-owned Small Business, which provided DIRTT wall products at a low cost. Additional furniture was donated by HOS, a New Orleans affiliate of Workplace Resource. Because of requirements related to the historic nature of the building, Johnathan Fricker, an historic preservation consultant, was also brought into the team.

Several homeless vets  were hired to do some of the construction work, and they were provided housing by VetLaunch while working on the project.

Through VetLaunch and the Landing Zone, Robert, JJ and others are providing Veterans the ability to build stable and independent lives after service by helping them launch successful new businesses. Page is very proud to have played a role in making this important outreach program possible.