Mary  Allison Yourchisin
Tech  USA Government Solutions
  Western  Florida Region

Mrs. Mary Allison Yourchisin  is the Distinguished Young AFCEAN for the Western Florida Region.  As the  Tampa-St. Petersburg Chapter Secretary, Mary Allison is a tireless promoter  within AFCEA and the local community.  She consistently reaches out and  immerses herself in activities that bring others to understand what AFCEA is  all about and what it can do for them as individuals or as organizations.   She has lead or volunteered as a primary participant for eleven AFCEA and  community-related events.  Her  professionalism, selfless service and outgoing character inspires those around  her to do the same. 

AFCEA International has over  35,000 members throughout the organization.   This distinguished award is only given to 15 people around-the-world  each year.

  AFCEAN  Awards Ceremony February 2, 2010, San Diego, CA

Over the past 12 months as a  Young AFCEAN, Mary Allison was nominated and selected to serve as the Chapter  Secretary and has led or volunteered as a primary participant for at least a  dozen AFCEA and community-related events including the following:

 
• Actively  involved with monthly coordination of   executive meetings and luncheons as well as ensuring all meetings are documented  and posted
 
• Primary  Young AFCEAN lead for Tampa TechNet 2009.   During this year’s Tampa TechNet, Mary Allison volunteered countless  hours to promote attendance from corporate sponsors and Young AFCEANs, directly  resulting in record breaking attendance and increased chapter membership. 
 
• Pelican  Chapter’s Annual Scholarship Golf Tournament, March 09.  In addition to her efforts during TechNet,  Mary Allison was a volunteer at the annual Golf Tournament, responsible for  organizing, planning and executing the most successful tournament in the past  23 years, with over 165 players and netting in excess of fifteen thousand  dollars towards the chapter’s scholarship funds.
 
• Hope  Children’s Home orphanage (www.hopechildrenshome.org)  Holiday Party, December 2008 and 2009 – As one of our premiere events for Young  AFCEANs, Mary Allison organized the past two Christmas events for the Hope  Children’s Home, coordinating the overall event and gift giving tailored to  each individual child from the orphanage.
 
• Coordinated  five Young AFCEAN social events, with attendance in excess of 30 Young AFCEANS  per event, to increase awareness and resulting in developing camaraderie and  teaming of young AFCEANs within the chapter.  
 
• 3rd  Annual Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business and Veteran Owned Small  Business Technology Conference, 28 & 29 October 2009 – Mary Allison  dedicated two full days at this event in the Tampa Convention Center as a  “walking AFCEA booth”, visiting with SDVOSB owners in promoting how AFCEA can  provide assistance in their efforts in promoting small businesses.  Additionally, she targeted SDVOSB whose  owners fell into the Young AFCEAN category in encouraging their involvement in  the Young AFCEAN program, either here in Tampa or at their respective home  station locations. 
 
• LandWarNet  – she attended as the Pelican Chapter’s Young AFCEAN representative and  initiated a connection with Miami chapter’s Young AFCEAN program to start  developing a regional Young AFCEAN program.
 
• Operation  Helping Hand – Mary Allison has attended monthly dinners at the local James  Haley Veterans hospital, bringing encouragement and hope to those recovering in  our local veteran’s facility.   Additionally, she regularly sends care packages for special events and  holidays to other VA hospitals throughout the United States
 
• Wounded  Warriors foundation – Mary Allison has been active with USSOCOM’s Wounded  Warrior Foundation in supporting Special Operations Forces who are recovering  from wounds received in Iraq, Afghanistan and other SOF deployments world-wide.
 
• Walter  Reed Army Medical Center – Mary Allison has actively promoted of other local  and regional young AFCEANS to send cards and letters to military members  recovering at the medical centers  in  Maryland
 
• Young  AFCEAN professional development event – Mary Allison attended Lockheed Martin’s  War on Terrorism educational seminar as a Young AFCEAN chapter representative,  contributing to the professional dialogue and discussions during the event.

In  summary, Mary Allison is the spirit and energy of the Pelican Chapter’s Young  AFCEAN efforts.  LTG(R) Dubia and COL(R)  Stripoli from AFCEA International and COL(R) Ramos, Regional VP for all Florida  chapters have reached out to Mary Allison and asked her to become the regional  Young AFCEAN, coordinating the efforts of all Florida chapters into a cohesive  and coordinated program.  Her  contributions ensure that our chapter continues to grow and contribute to the  local community as well as the future of Communications and Electronics among  the Armed Forces.  She is a dynamic  individual and Young AFCEAN, well-deserving of the recognition of Distinguished  Young AFCEAN of the Year.