February 26, 2003: Headlines: Staff: Colmena Press Release: Former Peace Corps Deputy Director Everett Alvarez appointed Chairman of the Board of Colmena Corp
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February 26, 2003: Headlines: Staff: Colmena Press Release: Former Peace Corps Deputy Director Everett Alvarez appointed Chairman of the Board of Colmena Corp
Former Peace Corps Deputy Director Everett Alvarez appointed Chairman of the Board of Colmena Corp
Former Peace Corps Deputy Director Everett Alvarez appointed Chairman of the Board of Colmena Corp
Following closing, it is anticipated that Global's chairman of the board will be Everett Alvarez, a distinguished Naval officer and government executive best known to the public as the first American aviator shot down over North Vietnam. He was taken prisoner of war on Aug. 5, 1964, and held in North Vietnam for 8-and-a-half years until the general release of prisoners on Feb. 12, 1973. Mr. Alvarez earned a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering in 1960, the same year he joined the Navy. He also holds a master's degree in operations research and systems analysis and a juris doctorate. He is a member of the District of Columbia bar. He earned an Alumnus of Distinction Award from the University of Santa Clara, as well as an honorary doctorate in public service. Mr. Alvarez served in program management at the Naval Air Systems Command in Washington, D.C., until his retirement from the Navy in 1980. In April 1981, he accepted an appointment as deputy director of the Peace Corps. President Reagan nominated him to be deputy administrator of the Veterans Administration in May 1986.
Everett Alvarez, Jr.
Everett Alvarez, Jr. is an American hero, a war hero, and a once-chained eagle. Commander and pilot, Everett Alvarez is a man who displayed all the resilience and the endurance that a prisoner of war must tragically endure in order to survive. At the age of 26, he went off to fight for the United States in Vietnam. During his first combat mission in North Vietnam, he was captured when his A-4 fighter-bomber was hit forcing him to make a crash landing. This mission had been launched in retaliation for an alleged attack on U.S. warships in international water in the Gulf of Tonkin. This was the last day he breathed free for many years.
Sadly, he was not released until February 12, 1973. This man had to endure physical torture and the torment of shame if he divulged secrets to his captors. Daily meals consisted of chicken head soup in bowls of grease and plates of black birds with feathers and eyes in tact. Alvarez was one of the longest held prisoners of war in Vietnam. Almost eight and a half years went by in a lonely POW camp in this foreign country. Daily he did not know whether he would ever be able to see his home in Salinas again.
Born in Salinas, California, Alvarez grew up in homes on Pearl, Williams, and Alisal streets. He attended Sherwood Elementary School and El Sausal Junior High. In 1955, he graduated from Salinas High School. He used to pick strawberries in the fields near where Everett Alvarez High stands today. He has very good memories of growing up in Salinas. After high school, he went to Hartnell College, and then earned an Electrical Engineering degree from the University of Santa Clara.
Upon his return from Vietnam, Alvarez was confronted with the joy of being back home and the terror of his memories of the past. For a long time, Alvarez blocked the bad experiences from his mind. Finally, he was able to overcome the silence of his experiences through writing a novel. His book is titled, Chained Eagle, co-written with his fellow comrade Anthony S. Pitch. This book tells the tale of what it was like to live in a time of war as a prisoner with little or no hope of returning to his homeland. This book tells the tale of courage and the strength of the human spirit: "Vietnam was a tumultuous period in our history. In the middle of this period, we had an experience and I wanted to tell about that. The book portrays what you necessarily had to do day-to-day to survive."
COLMENA CORP. ANNOUNCES PLANS TO ENTER GLOBAL HOMELAND DEFENSE INDUSTRY
AND ACQUIRE MATRIX INTERNATIONAL, INC.
BOCA RATON, Fla., February 25, 2003 - Colmena Corp. (OTCBB: CLME), a publicly held Delaware corporation headquartered in Boca Raton, Fla., with a class of securities registered under Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act, today announced plans to enter the global homeland defense industry by acquiring the business and operating plans, including existing employment and business acquisition rights, developed by a group led by Messrs. John Muczko, Everett Alvarez and David A. Shaw (the "Global Group").
A letter of intent was signed with the Global Group on February 25, 2003, which anticipates, subject to successful due diligence investigations and negotiation, and execution of definitive agreements, the acquisition of all business rights pertaining to the global homeland defense industry owned by the Global Group, including the acquisition of Matrix International, Inc., a Louisiana corporation based in Alexandria, Va., on or about March 15, 2003. It is anticipated that members of the Global Group will become Colmena's controlling stockholders, will assume all executive positions in Colmena and control of Colmena's board of directors (as described more fully below), and that Colmena's name will be changed to Global Security and Intelligence Group, Inc. The Global Group rights being acquired envision a continuing acquisition program of companies in the global homeland security industry, with Matrix as the initial acquisition. In addition, the Global Group is currently negotiating with two other potential acquisition candidates.
"Matrix is an established force in the global homeland defense industry, providing security and intelligence expertise to government and private industry customers in the U.S. and abroad since 1998," said Hal Merryman, founder and president of Matrix. "Its executive team, which has extensive background and experience in international security, military and intelligence operations, as well as executive management expertise at global corporations, will play a critical role in the management of Matrix."
Matrix is a profitable company with unaudited revenues for the year ended December 31, 2002 of approximately $650,000. Subject to receipt of $1.5 million in additional capitalization following closing on the acquisition agreement with Global, it anticipates material increases in revenues to $1.59 million, with pre-tax earnings of $238,500 during calendar 2003 as a result of contracts and acquisitions currently under negotiation.
The global homeland defense industry is expected to grow from $4 billion in 2000 to $100 billion in 2003 and to more than $170 billion by 2006, according to San Jose, Calif.-based Homeland Security Research Corporation.
"As the horrific events of September 11, 2001, all-too-painfully illustrated, there is a vast need for products and services that complement the security needs of the United States and other nations of the world," said John Muczko, who is expected to fill the position of CEO following closing. "It is the intent of Global to acquire and develop companies with expertise in wireless communication; detection and monitoring of chemical and biological agents; and the operations and management support of sensitive programs that serve both global corporations and governments."
Colmena president and CEO Anthony Q. Joffe said the firm had been actively searching for the right company to acquire and grow through aggressive business acquisitions. "The Global Group will position our company for exponential growth in an industry that is in its infant stage. The acquisition of Matrix International brings a seasoned executive team of professionals at the highest levels of both domestic and international governments, militaries, and security and intelligence fields. We couldn't ask for a better foundation for expansion in a variety of key industry sectors." Information about Colmena can be found at www.colmenacorp.com.
Since its establishment in 1998, Matrix has been involved in several international security operations, which remain confidential. Accustomed to working almost exclusively in sensitive areas of corporate and government operations, Matrix specializes in providing security services; crisis management and business continuity planning; executive protection; counter-terrorism; special operations services and training; technical security and intelligence services; and unique professional development and training programs.
Matrix has operations in Florida, Virginia, New Mexico and Georgia, as well as representation in Australia, Africa, India, Malaysia, South Korea, South America and the Middle East.
"Global Security and Intelligence Group plans to engage in strategic acquisitions in three specific sectors of the Homeland Defense industry that have been identified as key areas of focus in the war on terrorism," said David Shaw, who is expected to fill the position of executive vice president following closing.
These areas include:
* Wireless technology, as related to detection and monitoring, airborne surveillance, and mobile tactical communication. Specific applications of mobile tactical communication used by first responders include the detection and monitoring of toxic chemicals in indoor air or circulatory systems; screening of shipping containers for weapons and explosives; and detection of bacteria in products from the food, beverage and pharmaceutical industries.
* Counter-intelligence and competitive intelligence, and technical security/intelligence services, as related to counter-terrorism, counter-narcotics and special operations. Applications include comprehensive and professional analytical, technical and management support services; corporate and government security; intelligence; military and paramilitary special operations; law enforcement; as well as an array of security management, training and information technology services.
* Operations management and engineering support services related to acquisition and program management, business operations and management support, logistics, communications, information technology, simulations/visualization, security management, domestic preparedness, systems engineering and integration, emergency operations, and business continuity plans. Applications also include assessed vulnerabilities, alternatives and recommended mitigations.
Global's professionals are drawn from multiple sources within the U.S. government and military organizations, including former CIA, FBI, Secret Service and Special Operations personnel from the U.S. Army, Navy and Marines, as well as senior corporate executives. They are predominantly field operatives from U.S. government agencies that have conducted worldwide intelligence collection operations, direct-action combat missions, technical penetrations, signal intercept and special operations against terrorist organizations and transnational criminals.
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Story Source: Colmena Press Release
This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; Staff
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I would like to hear from Former Peace Corps senior Staff members and RPCVs from the then Republic of Zaire, period : 1984 - 1988. (Dick Wall, Bruce Cohen, Lynda Gray, Cheryl Barton, Dr Jones Beverly, Gary Steele, Patrick Barry, Tom Wayman, Michael Macheal, Ralp Stone, Robert Reynold, Johb Schelp, Jessica Price, Claudia Vondrasek and so on ...)
KIFUKIAU MABAZILA
'KIF'
Progam Assistant
Progamming and Training Office
