On today’s Up To Speed Live:
- Wildfires in the Ruidoso, NM, area.
- 2024 Copa América kicks off today!
- V Teamer Mark Woosley shares his Cancer journey.
- Two awards we can all feel proud of.
- The new Gizmo Watch 3 is now available in stores and online.
Supporting the Ruidoso, New Mexico, area amidst devastating wildfires
Since its start on Monday, June 17, wildfires have been burning around the Ruidoso area of New Mexico – consuming over 21,000 acres, destroying an estimated 1,400 homes and other structures.
With a State of Emergency in place, crews are relying on Verizon to provide critical connectivity, especially for wild land firefighters who are working to contain these deadly fires. Public safety officials are working with Verizon’s Frontline Crisis Response Team, which deployed temporary cell sites like COLTS (Cell on Light Truck), SPOTS (Satellite Picocell on a Trailer) and RRCU’s (Rapid Response Connectivity Unit), to affected areas.
Multiple charging stations have also been deployed to at least four Red Cross shelters in the area.
⚽ Total by Verizon is making your voice heard at the 2024 Copa América!
The 2024 Copa América kicks off today at 8 PM ET with a match between Argentina and Canada, and we know plenty of V Teamers are excited for this important tournament.
Folks have their picks of who they’re personally rooting for, but if you need another team to cheer on, Total by Verizon will be showing up big for our customers, something we can all feel proud of!
It’s no secret that ticket prices can be very expensive, so Total is doing something neat for fans who may not be able to attend the games in person. Starting today, they’ll be launching their “Text-to-sign” campaign – here’s how it works:
Leveraging our most reliable 5G network, soccer fans can send a text with a message to 1-855-504-SIGN in support of their favorite teams, players, or the sport itself. And guess what? The message you send may be featured on a sign held up by our “Total Sign Guy” who’ll be present at five games this summer!
Super cool! What would your sign say? Let us know in the comments below!
For more on how Total by Verizon is helping fuel soccer fan love, visit Total by Verizon on Instagram.
V Teamer Mark Woosley shares his Cancer journey
V Teamer Mark Woosley is a Director of Cybersecurity Operations based in Castle Rock, CO. Mark shared his inspiring cancer journey, which began in late 2021 after a visit to the emergency room.
Mark shared that he’d been feeling off and after a full MRI scan, doctors found a tumor growing off his right kidney that had grown to 12 centimeters and taken over adrenal glands and lymph nodes in the area. He proceeded with surgery to remedy what they could, and says the eight weeks of medical leave he received through Verizon were instrumental in the healing from the procedures. He stressed how grateful he was that applying for the leave was simple, especially during such a stressful time.
Mark went on to share that he wasn’t a candidate for chemotherapy, and so he decided to embark on a more holistic journey, turning to alternative forms of medicine like an ayurvedic therapist, breathing exercises and switching to a fully plant-based, vegan diet. As the months went by, he re-did his CT scan and found that his numbers had improved and the size of the two tumors they were monitoring were shrinking. He took that as confirmation that his lifestyle choices were having the greatest impact on his recovery and overall health.
When it came time to consider what these treatments were going to cost him, he was delighted to find out that the acupuncture, ayurvedic medicine and therapy for grief were all covered by Verizon’s insurance.
Be sure to watch Mark’s full story in the replay video above.
🎉Awards for Verizon India!
Our Verizon India office was recently named #3 in the Top 5 Inspiring Workplaces across Asia.
Verizon India was awarded for investing in the V Team, through programs and initiatives for leadership, people development, transparency and well-being.
But that’s not all! Verizon India also ranked as the #8 best place to work in India by Great places to work for 2024! That’s a jump from #22 last year!
Congrats team! What an honor.
⌚ A gift for the cool kid in your life!
The new Gizmo Watch 3 - Adventure is now available in stores and online. If you’re looking for a kid’s smartwatch for summer travel, this is the one to get.
If you want to learn more about the Gizmo Watch 3 - Adventure, click here.
Click here for a transcript of the webcast.
