Honoring Our Veterans: Conversations with SGH Service Members
At SGH, we are proud to honor the veterans among us—colleagues whose leadership, resilience, and teamwork continue to strengthen our firm. This Veterans Day, we spoke with Project Consultant Bassam Alshaha, Senior Marketing Specialist Marion Roosa, IT Manager Sean Burns, and Principal Jim McDonald about their time in the military, what they learned, and how those experiences continue to influence their work at SGH.
Can you describe your time in the service?
Bassam with his platoon.
Bassam: I served in the Massachusetts National Guard (U.S. Army) as an aircraft power train repairer and non-destructive inspector. I joined in January 2021 and served in Missouri, Virginia, Texas, Oklahoma, Iraq, Kuwait, and Syria.
Marion: I served in two branches! I first joined the Florida Army National Guard (FLARNG) in college, serving as an administrative specialist to prepare soon-to-be-deployed units with critical forms and benefits paperwork. After college, I transferred into the U.S. Navy, where I served as a deck division officer aboard the U.S.S. Ogden and later as assistant strategic planning officer at Naval Station Bremerton in Washington State. I joined FLARNG in 1995, the Navy in 1999, and served until 2002. My assignments took me across Florida, California, Washington, and on training exercises to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico; Seattle, WA; Vancouver, Canada; and Ketchikan, AK.
Sean: I served in the U.S. Marine Corps as a Sergeant. I spent time in the Middle East and African Theater and was stationed on the eastern coast of North Carolina at Camp Lejeune from 2003 to 2007.
Jim: I served as an infantry officer in the U.S. Army. I was assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division and the 20th Engineer Brigade while on active duty from 1989 to 1994. I served an additional twenty-five years in the U.S. Army Reserves until 2019.
What inspired you to serve in the military?
Bassam with his daughter.
Bassam: Honor, discipline, and being a role model for my daughter.
Marion: Military service runs in my family. However, I was the first female to serve.
Sean: The movie Major Payne, and also esprit de corps!
Jim: I wanted to serve my country, and it was a great way to pay for college.
What’s something memorable you took away from that experience?
Bassam: During my first SGH interview, I was in Iraq while we were getting bombed. SGH was kind enough to wait until things cleared up so we could continue the interview, something I will never forget.
Marion: I really enjoyed the camaraderie in the FLARNG, working together to complete readiness prep at each unit. We had a good time doing our work and even more fun afterwards. SGH feels the same in that regard. We work hard and make a point of enjoying each other’s company while we do it.
Sean: While rebuilding city centers and hospitals on a humanitarian mission in Mozambique, I learned that I could competitively play foosball against the locals (but not football).
Jim: I developed the resolve to persist and overcome challenging situations. Also, jumping out of airplanes.
What skill or skills did you learn that you still use today?
Sean in the Marines.
Bassam: Discipline, attention to detail, and teamwork.
Marion: Attention to detail. I abhor making mistakes and use multiple tactics to prevent them. I also developed strong confidence and communication skills, learning how to lead and interact with people at all levels. Finally, organization is key. I am great at paperwork, which is one of the reasons I love developing marketing pursuit packages.
Sean: Prioritizing high- and low-level issues, and that I can hang upside down like a bat while ironing my uniforms.
Jim: I learned how to solve problems or overcome obstacles with limited resources and information.
How does your military experience shape how you approach teamwork or problem-solving at SGH?
Marion in the Army.
Bassam: There are many similarities between the Army and SGH. You can always ask for help, and everyone is ready to support and share their knowledge.
Marion: I find listening to be most important. Unless I already have a well-formed idea, I like to take a back seat initially. Hearing diverse perspectives from others gives me time to process and contributes to my own creativity.
Sean: The ability to quickly become an expert on a new problem helps my day-to-day with overcoming errors and issues that require an immediate resolution.
Jim: My time in the military shaped my mentality that every effort—including engineering projects—is a team effort. Building a strong team is the root of all productivity, and with one you can solve any problem.
What does Veterans Day mean to you personally?
Bassam: It means a lot to me. It is a day to be recognized as part of the armed forces and to honor the service of all veterans.
Marion: I appreciate the “thank you for your service” messages, but I ask that people do not restrict their thanks to just one day a year. That sentiment may be just what a veteran needs to hear on any given day.
Sean: It is a day I feel should be celebrated for anyone who fights oppression, whether through military service, elected office, protesting, or understanding the power of their right to vote or not vote.
Jim: It gives me time to reflect and reach out to some of the people I served with.
Thank You to All Who Served
We are grateful to Bassam, Marion, Sean, Jim, and all of SGH’s military veterans for their service to our country and to our firm. Your experiences, perspectives, and commitment continue to inspire us every day.