media relations / social media campaigns / event production / brand ambassador / digital content
USLS FEATURED IN THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
MIRA SAFETY CEO FEATURED ON NEWSMAX
Client: Mat Best, co-founder of Black RIfle Coffee & Author of thank you for my service
Book launch: Fox News Channel (Fox & Friends) Fox Business Network (Morning’s with maria), We are the mighty, military.com, one america news, washington free beacon, the ben SHApiro show, tomi lahren & fox nation…. more to come!
Washington Free Beacon - thank you for my service book Review
Jeffrey Cimmino - AUGUST 25, 2019 5:00 AM
Mat Best is an American man's man, someone who loves "man s—t like beards and whiskey and guns and hot chicks in American flag bikinis." Beneath layers of playful, irreverent humor, Best’s memoir Thank You For My Service is a serious book about a former Army Ranger navigating his way back into civilian life, overcoming an addiction to war, and trying to support his fellow veterans.
Best's book covers everything—his decision to join the military out of high school, his deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan, and more than a modest portion of his sex life. After serving multiple deployments in Iraq, he wrestled with the question of whether to stay in the military.
"Was I going to age too rapidly and burn myself out over here and miss all of my twenties if I stayed? Probably. Would it be more rewarding to stay? Maybe. Would I regret not giving the carefree twenties a shot? I didn’t know," Best writes.
Yet the transition proved challenging. College initially seemed compelling, but an afternoon on a campus listening to students' conversations—and their "fundamental lack of understanding of how the world works"—dissuaded him from that path.
He then opted for a job in private security that ended in a booze-filled sex-fest during a party at the home of a Gatsby-esque Los Angeles billionaire. Best blasts Los Angeles for its "selfishness, rudeness, and disrespect," observing that "it's incredibly mind-blowing how quickly that town can break you down."
After leaving Los Angeles, Best became a private military contractor, a career which proved more fulfilling. It also led him to his next career: entrepreneur.
Scrolling through Facebook one night during a deployment, he found himself upset at the "pathetic chorus of first-world whining" and decided to record a song that would become his first YouTube video: "Champagne Facebook Problems."
Best's online popularity grew rapidly, and with that newfound fame came business opportunities—and realizations. As he considered how his burgeoning fame could be put toward a greater purpose, he had to confront what was keeping him from fully transitioning into civilian life: his addiction to war.
"I had transitioned out of the military once before, and re-entry had been really tough. I was worried that quitting contracting would lead to the same outcome," Best writes.
Best also feared that his time in the military "was the best time of my life," and that he would never experience anything like it again. In a particularly poignant passage, he writes that his "war was with war," and he was "fighting an addiction to war."
Contracting gave him "80 percent of the high," while allowing him to work on projects back home and recognize opportunities. He quit contracting in May 2015 to fully invest in what he had started. In addition to his YouTube videos, he had founded a T-shirt company, Article 15 Clothing, and a liquor business, Leadslingers Whiskey. He would later help to establish another company, Black Rifle Coffee.
"Tapping into my love of music and my capacity for creativity; leveraging the leadership and teambuilding skills I learned in the Army; making great things that make a lot of people happy and helping veterans and their families in the process—that is genuine purpose," Best writes.
Having fully embraced his entrepreneurial ventures, Best sought to use them in support of veterans. He doesn't discount the reality of PTSD or survivor's guilt among some veterans, but he takes issue with the media-made notion that every veteran story is an "endless parade of horribles" and veterans are "ticking time bombs waiting to explode." In his experience, many veterans "loved their time in the military" and consider it among the most "meaningful, enjoyable periods in their lives."
Best tried to make videos that appealed to veterans like him who were grateful they had the opportunity to serve, and he wanted fellow veterans and active military "to know that it was okay to laugh in the face of the horrors of war."
There is certainly no shortage of humor and patriotic fervor in his YouTube videos, with titles ranging from "How to Every Day Carry" to "Because America, That's Why," not to mention a rap battle entitled "ISIS vs. USA" (Spoiler: USA wins).
Best also built his companies on a "veteran-owned, veteran-run, veteran-supported business model."
"My hope is that through my actions as a veteran and an entrepreneur, through the choices we make as a company, that we can inspire our community and show the next generation of veterans to never let anyone or anything stand in the way of their goals," Best writes.
Best's memoir is a raw, authentic account of a soldier breaking free from a love of war and channeling his energy into a new mission in the service of his fellow fighters.
mat best featured on one america news
Client: Black Rifle Coffee company’s ceo & Founder Evan hafer featured on one america news (OAN)
Evan discusses black rifle coffee and the tempe starbucks incident
client: map & CEO jacob levenson featured in the austin american statesman
MAP Health Management founder and CEO Jacob Levenson. MAP’s telehealth “Peer Recovery Support” service helps patients and their families identify relapse behaviors
Austin-based MAP Health Management announced Thursday that the company has partnered with a leading health insurance carrier in New Jersey to improve substance abuse outcomes.
Horizon Healthcare Services Inc. will deploy MAP’s telehealth “Peer Recovery Support” service, the company said. The service aims to help patients and their families identify relapse behaviors and provide communication primarily through phone and video sessions.
“As a result of the opioid epidemic, health care plans are very proactively contracting preventative addiction services,” MAP Health Management CEO Jacob Levenson said. “We have worked for a very long time to get this as a covered benefit for insurance companies.”
MAP Health Management’s peer support service will be made available to Horizon’s commercially insured members, according to Levenson. The costs will be fully covered by Horizon with no co-pay, deductibles or other costs for using the system.
Peer recovery support specialists are individuals who have been in recovery for at least three years and are trained and certified to support patients and their families detect relapse behaviors. Levenson said the company has found that treating patients with the help of a peer “supports a very strong alliance” and improves outcomes for substance use disorders.
“The beauty of that is a peer understands from their own experience what the individual they’re working with has gone through,” Levenson said.
Peer support is used in a number of fields to treat chronic illness. Studies have found that the treatment lowers hospital readmission rates and increases quality of life outcomes, according to the nonprofit Mental Health America.
In 2011, Levenson founded MAP, which stands for “measure action and prevention,” in Austin. The company will add roughly 25 employees with the new Horizon partnership. Currently, 85 employees work for the company, with half based in Austin.
Allen Karp, Horizon executive vice president for health care and transformation management, said in a written statement that peer support programs like MAP’s dramatically improve the chances of a person achieving long-term success.
“By working with MAP, Horizon is taking another step to increase access to programs and resources that can help our members get and stay on the road to recovery,” Karp said.
client: pakprotect featured on cnbc. pakprotect was also profiled by abc-tv san francisco, the washington times, fox 4 st. louis and others.
client: condition one nutrition featured in stars & stripes
Client: OurPact
Media Relations
OurPact featured in smerconish.com
Written by James Piltch
Earlier this week, we had a chance to speak with Amir Moussavian, the CEO of OurPact, an app for parents to help parents limit their children’s phone use. Our conversation covered young people’s phone addictions, what kids can do, and how we all need better boundaries with our technology.
For those who haven’t heard of it, can you just give a quick breakdown of what OurPact is, how it works, and why you think it’s important?
We’re in the midst of a huge cultural shift. Technology is no longer a convenience, it’s a necessity – and it’s systematically changing the way we communicate, learn, and share.
We know there are benefits to giving children access to mobile devices, but there are also risks if that access is unlimited. It’s easy to say screens aren’t allowed at the dinner table and past 8PM, or that only educational apps can be used during homework time… But the reality of setting those boundaries? Not so simple. These devices are mobile – managing how and when they are being used is nearly impossible, and creates a lot of room for conflict.
The goal with OurPact is to close the digital divide between parents and their kids, by allowing parents to remotely manage their children’s device access through a variety of features: selective app control, screen time allowances, automated block schedules, timed remote blocks, internet filtering, and even location monitoring. You don’t need to hover over your child during homework time to make sure they’re using Khan Academy instead of Snapchat, or worry that screens are being used after bedtime. Instead, you can set a clear media plan in the app that only allows educational apps during homework time, and blocks devices automatically during bedtime hours. Not only does this encourage kids to develop responsible device habits from an early age – which is essential – but it also gives parents peace of mind they can’t afford to spare.
Out of curiosity, what was your inspiration for the app? Was it personal?
My wife and I were having a really hard time managing our daughter’s devices. Screens were at the dinner table, causing distractions during homework time, and generally creating a lot of unnecessary tension in our home. I would say an hour of tablet time was OK, then find them still immersed in their games two hours later… If I asked why they went past their allowed time, they would say ‘we lost track of time!’ or ‘we thought you were going to count!’. It was exhausting. Then, one night I found my older daughter wide-eyed, FaceTiming a friend after bedtime. Until that point, I thought I had screen time under control… That was my real wake-up call.
I wanted to set very clear boundaries around screen time, and position their devices as a privilege, but I also wanted to involve my daughters in the process of making those rules, so they could be understood as agreements.
It started with a ‘Pact’ we wrote together and taped on the fridge. One morning, I found myself looking at that contract on our fridge after getting into yet another argument about screens at breakfast. There was still something missing from the equation. At the time, I owned a different software company, and I’ve always been wired to think about how technology can simplify challenges. In that moment, I decided technology was the problem, but it could also be the solution. They say necessity is the mother of all inventions! The rest is history.
Jean Twenge, in her research on “Igen,” points to screen time and social media as a major concern for young people’s mental health. What do you make of this research, and how OurPact can help?
I think it’s really important to frame these conversations around the notion of balance. If kids and teens have unbridled access to social media, problems will arise – that shouldn’t come as a surprise. But, as Jean highlights in iGen, social media also has advantages; if used responsibly, it can help our children understand and feel understood, connect, explore, and learn.
From a parenting perspective, the focus should be on what we can do to guide responsible use into adulthood, and setting clear technical boundaries on when social media should and shouldn’t be used. Connecting with friends online is great, but not during homework time, before bed, or when you are socializing with family and friends in person. Social media isn’t going to disappear tomorrow, so we need to teach kids and teens to be conscious social media participants. Once that foundation is set, we’re in a great position to minimize the risks of these platforms, and amplify their rewards.
As a young person, I see a lot of my friends on their phones all the time. But, in all honesty, the people I know who are most addicted are adults, checking their emails, texting, doing things for work. How do you think parents can use OurPact to parent themselves?
We encourage parents to follow the OurPact guidelines they set for their children, within reason. Again, it comes down to clear boundaries – if you block your children’s devices for family dinners, set yours aside for that same amount of time… Don’t use screens an hour before bedtime, and understand that you can neither send your best work emails from the dinner table or be the best parent and partner in those moments if you are distracted by your device.
Being constantly plugged in isn’t healthy or realistic, and prevents us from being fully present in a meaningful way. We don’t want to pass poor digital habits on to our kids; by practicing what you preach, you demonstrate first-hand the role screens can and should play in our lives.
Finally, I think the biggest concern for some people with OurPact would be privacy–don’t kids deserve their own world? How can parents use the app in a way that doesn’t inhibit kids’ right to be kids while still limiting their screen time?
That’s a great question.
Since day one, OurPact has been geared towards guidance, not control. We really want our solution to help parents and children develop trust, not disrupt it. OurPact doesn’t display text message history, call logs, or social media activity. Instead, it helps parents set up reasonable boundaries, and trust their children to continue making the right decisions from there.
Having ongoing, age-appropriate conversations about how you expect your children to behave online comes first. OurPact acts as an accessory and conduit to those conversations, not a replacement.
client: mantisx
digital production & brand ambassador relations
a 5-part digital marketing production featuring former special forces operators and law enforcement using the mantis x system. On Location in kansas city with mantis x and brand ambassadors: rudy reyes (recon marine), geoff reeves (navy seal), kris paronto (us army ranger & author of 13 hours), ron holmes (recon marine (marsoc) & ENTREPRENEUR) & daniel lombard (chicago police training officer) shooting a digital marketing program produced by specops entertainment.
On Location in kansas city with mantis x and brand ambassadors: rudy reyes (recon marine), geoff reeves (navy seal), kris paronto (us army ranger & author of 13 hours), ron holmes (recon marine (marsoc) & ENTREPRENEUR) & daniel lombard (chicago police training officer) shooting a digital marketing program produced by specops entertainment.
client: inspired elearning
hacked! a cyber comedy
an eight episode digital series digital series: produced & directed by adam handelsman (specops entertainment)
digital video production
HACKED! too busy (EPS. 1)
hacked! episode 1. too busy: some people are just too busy to take cyber security training seriously, and the consequences can make you crawl under your desk.
For Cyber Security Awareness Month, specops created, produced and directed and 8-part digital series for Inspired eLearning. HACKED! takes a light hearted approach to draw awareness to the world of cyber security education. "Too Busy" (episode 1)
HACKED! the it guy (EPS. 2)
HACKED! episode 2. The IT Guy:
Mr. CEO wants to protect his company but doesn't listen to the it guy. let's see what happens.
For Cyber Security Awareness Month, specops created, produced and directed and 8-part digital series for Inspired eLearning. HACKED! takes a light hearted approach to draw awareness to the world of cyber security education.
HACKED! who hacked us? (EPS. 3)
HACKED! Epsiode 3. The hacker: We all think the hack originates by an evil state run organization but in reality it could be anyone, anywhere. see who really hacked the team.
For Cyber Security Awareness Month, specops created, produced and directed and 8-part digital series for Inspired eLearning. HACKED! takes a light hearted approach to draw awareness to the world of cyber security education.
HACKED! The CEO Fired - Episode 5 For Cyber Security Awareness Month. Instead of the traditional gloom & doom, Inspired eLearning created an 8-part series to showcase real world cyber security situations as a Cyber-Comedy.
HACKED! The Sharer - Episode 6 For Cyber Security Awareness Month. Instead of the traditional gloom & doom, Inspired eLearning created an 8-part series to showcase real world cyber security situations as a Cyber-Comedy.
HACKED! Dick & Jane - Episode 7 For Cyber Security Awareness Month. Instead of the traditional gloom & doom, Inspired eLearning created an 8-part series to showcase real world cyber security situations as a Cyber-Comedy.
client: rudy reyes
artist management & public relations
client promo reel
Rudy Reyes
distinguished USMC RECON Marine who served in Afghanistan, Iraq and other areas of conflict. His Battalion was featured in Evan Wright's novel Generation Kill, which later became an award-winning series on HBO. Rudy was the only member of his unit to play himself in the series. He has gone onto star in his own History Channel special (Apocalypse Man), authored Hero Living and is currently a brand ambassador and actor.
client: freshpair.com & national underwear day
event production & media relations
national underwear day - times square nyc
the owner of National Underwear Day, tapped SpecOps to create the ultimate event... and we did. We secured Times Square, the permits, a partnership with iHeartRadio and The Guinness Book of World Records and then invited thousands of people to try and set the World Record for the largest gathering of people in their underwear. While we didn't break the World Record, we did secure over 500,000,000 media impressions.
CLient: acacia research
media relations: los angeles times corporate profile
SpecOps and Adam Handelsman represented Acacia Research for over six years, and the founding CEO was one of the primary reasons we stated our firm. When he retired, we needed to introduce a new CEO with a new vision, and we secured a feature with the Los Angeles Times. Over the years, Acacia was featured in 10 Wall Street Journal and Reuters stories, as well as a frequent guest on CNBC, FOX News and many other news outlets.
client: freshpair.com
Specops Launches frigo with freshpair.com on the today show
FreshPair CEO Launches Frigo on NBC Today Show
SpecOps client FreshPair.com introduced us to Frigo and we delivered for both clients. Matthew Butlein, CEO of FreshPair, appeared on the Today Show to discuss the new $100 underwear about the hit the US market. For over three years, until the company was sold, SpecOps secured hundreds of national media hits for FreshPair.com.
client: game vision by chris paul
sports illustrated feature
![image1[1].PNG](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/59d446eda8b2b0f97b9f88cf/1507139986477-JVX83NXHE9WUGNX1UKYD/image1%5B1%5D.PNG)
sports illustrated launches chris paul's game vision by INNOVATION.
specops secured 4 feature articles for the launch of game vision. sports illustrated, business insider, forbes and cnbc. we also oversaw the social media campaign and post launch outreach.
client: vitamin world
long island newsday
business profile
Vitamin World Featured in Newsday
Twelve months after Vitamin World separated from NBTY and became its own entity, the company hired SpecOps to start an aggressive corporate media program.Two months later, Vitamin World was featured In Newsday (Sunday Edition Business with a two-page profile)
client: frigo by revolutionwear
event management & media relations
REVOLUTION wear launches frigo in nyc
SpecOps was hired to launch Frigo in America at the last minute. The original top-5 agency failed and the hired guns were called in. The three day event launch party featured celebrity appeareances by 50 Cent, Timbaland, Derek Jeter, Darryl Strawberry, Tyson Beckford, hundreds of others. The launch was featured in the Wall Street Journal, NY Post Page Six, GQ, and many others.
