In DC Greeting LP’s AUK Summer Interns

by Ryan Markiewicz | Jul 23, 2024 | Berlin's Wall

All,

As you may know, LP is one of the prime backers of AUK (The American University of Kyiv). This year, along with several other companies, such as JP Morgan, Blackstone, DOKA, and others, we are sponsoring their summer intern program. This program gives these young women a chance to escape the war for a few months (as we’ve done with the hockey camps) and get the experience of working in a Western company.

Our interns are Katerina (Kate) Bykova and Oleksandra (Sasha) Yusupova. I came to DC Sunday night to meet them and spend a few days with them and our friends from AUK before they head to Erie for the summer. Dan Rice, the President of AUK, is our host for the week. And what a busy program they’ve arranged.

Our first visit was to CISA, which I know none of you have ever heard of, but it is the US Government’s Cybersecurity Agency in charge of everything from cyberattacks to election fraud. A BIG portfolio. Dan went to West Point with the now-Director of CISA, Jenn Easterly, who spent an hour and a half with the interns and their sponsors, explaining the challenges they face (even the recent Crowdstrike crash we all experienced, which, though not an attack, still falls squarely in their lap) and graciously answering questions.

As is often the case, I’ve found Jenn and her team are yet another example of how smart, caring, and well-meaning the faceless “bureaucrats” who labor every day to help run this nation are. She and her team were sharp, down to earth, and very approachable. (Funny when one of the sponsors mentioned how calm they all seemed, even with the recent chaos of the Crowdstrike outage still affecting the nation, Trent Frazier, one of her deputies, responded, “Not calm. Tired.” 😉) Since CISA is a “Voluntary Agency” that looks to work with private partners to help stop attacks, and to communicate better and more seamlessly, Emile, Keith, and our IT gang will connect with them to get involved. Good.

A good start to the visit. More to come!

At CISA – Kate, Sasha, Dan Rice, Jenn Easterly, and me.

Sasha and Kate

A cloudy day in DC

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Predictions (Review)

by Ryan Markiewicz | Jul 18, 2024 | Berlin's Wall

Per my earlier blog about betting and predicting the presidential elections–remember that I said I quit betting because you never know what’s gonna happen.

The shooting in Butler is a case in point. Unexpected, out of the blue, and a possible game changer–hopefully for the best (as these bad events sometimes are).

Because even though almost everyone is saying it now, it’s true–we need to tamp down the hate and the outrage and anger in this country.  And getting shot at, and having the shooter miss by an inch–whether it was God’s hand that turned his head or sheer dumb luck–that’ll make you think.  That will make you realize how fragile life is, even for a former, and possible future President.  Today we could have very easily been having Donald Trump’s funeral, instead of his acceptance speech at the Republican convention.  Life is very often a game of inches, and turns on a dime.

So hopefully, this talk will sincerely promote unity, will tone down the volume. Hopefully in that regard, Donald Trump is a changed man and will lead his followers and others to do the same. We’ll see.  I am hopeful, and actually would bet on it, if I were still a betting man. But, I know I could be wrong as well. Let’s see how this goes.

But, to me, original prediction–if you remember:

1. Biden was going to drop out.  Still think that is going to happen.
2. I don’t think the Dems will “coronate” Kamala Harris to run, but will instead have a competition with those 7 or 8 folks who want to toss their hats into the ring. Maybe one a week in prime time over the next 4 weeks. “Must-see tv”. They will show America who/what they’ve got, and even though it will be fast and bloody, someone will emerge to run against Trump/Vance.  I still think that’s going to happen.
3. But, here’s where the unexpected might make a difference (See above).  Originally, I said that after all the chaos, someone from the Dems would emerge who would be younger and would make Trump look old in comparison, and that most of America would see that it was time for a change to the next generation of leadership.  That still might happen, but I think that if Trump comes out of this a bit different, softer, more empathetic and less “bully”, Trump could beat the new guy/gal. And, IF he does, and IF he becomes a “Unifier” (never his strong suit before), that could work out well for America too.

So…let’s see. We should know more in the next few days.

In any event, so glad that today is a speech and not a eulogy.

“Seaster” Cities Proposal

by Ryan Markiewicz | Jul 10, 2024 | Berlin's Wall

All,

At the bottom of this blog is a very cool presentation our good friend Diane Chido created for us to propose making Erie and Chornomorsk sister cities.

Sister cities are a good way to connect people through schools, universities, businesses, sports teams, different levels of government, the Port of Erie, of course, cultural institutions, etc.

Our team in Ukraine is also working on the Chonomorsk side. As background, Chornomorsk is the port we used to deliver nearly 100,000 MT of Vorex gas pipe (another Erie company, like Logistics Plus) to help support Ukraine’s energy needs. These were the first non-grain ships to deliver to Ukraine since the invasion!

This will be terrific. Especially after the recent bombing of the Kyiv Children’s Hospital, and with the current NATO meeting n Washington, what an appropriate time to be doing this–to “make a statement” and to more concretely stand with the people of Ukraine.

(And who knows, maybe this will start a trend of more sister-city relationships between the US and Ukraine?)

Thanks, all. -JB

(Click the image to open the presentation)