RUSTLE
The PSI Post | September 2026
Letter From The Editors Happy Fall! In this edition of the PSI Post, we were inspired by the fresh feeling that a new season brings. Life can feel hectic and uncertain, especially when schedules shift or new challenges arise. As you look through, you will find triumphs from fellow employees, cozy recommendations, and much more. Our hope is that each page gives you comfort, warmth, or even just a break from work. As always, thank you to everyone who contributed to this newsletter. We hope you enjoy! From, The Marketing Team
Table of Contents
4 8 13 16
Company Updates
Employee Features
Main Articles
Step into Fall
PSI · FALL 2026
Fresh From the Stand This season's contract wins, picked ripe and set out for the market
INNOVATION
HEALTH
ARPA-H CIRCLE
HEALTH earch (DSR) • HHS SPESS Division of Safety Res tions MA-IDIQ • DHA PEO DHMS Deployment Solu ) IDIQ • VA Community Care Network (CCN rral • DHA MQS2 NG TOPR 10598 - Refe ations Management Serv ices @ Multiple Loc sicians @ • DHA MQS2 NG TOPR 10675 - EM Phy
DEFENSE/CIVILIAN
DHS FEMA HQ AV/VTC Maintenance
BACH
ical Office • DHA MQS2 NG TOPR 10682 - Med Clerks @ Barksdale AFB s @ Madigan • DHA MQS2 NG TOPR 10660 - CMA and • DHA MQS2 NG TOPR 10697 - Nursing Ancillary Serv ices @ Madigan
Growing stronger together this harvest season — thank you to every team behind these wins.
PSI NEWSLETTER · FALL 2026
Fall Updates Across PSI From IT, Quality & HR
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
A New Help Desk Experience Arrives Sept. 20th
On September 20th, PSI's new Help Desk portal goes live — bringing ticket submission, tracking, and prioritization into one PSI-managed solution. Nothing else changes: same Help Desk URL, email, and phone number. Just visit the same site you've always used to get started.
Make PSI Connect Your First Stop
Looking for employee resources, training, forms, or support? PSI Connect is PSI's central hub for information and tools — built to help you find what you need and stay in the loop. Haven't explored it yet? Now's a great time to take a look. -
-> help.plan-sys.com
QUALITY
Successful ISO Audits! PSI just wrapped our weeklong external ISO audits — and we're keeping our ISO 9001, ISO 20000-1, ISO 27001, and ISO 14001 certifications with no major findings. The win reflects real work across PSI: launching PSI Connect, harmonizing processes, strengthening metrics reviews, expanding internal auditing, running business continuity exercises, and building the new Help Desk. Thank you to everyone who prepped evidence, sat for interviews, supported the auditors, and does the everyday work that keeps PSI's management systems sharp.
> plansys.sharepoint.com/sites/PSIConnect
HUMAN RESOURCES
Keep Growing with Training & Development Your professional growth matters! As your skills, technology, and responsibilities continue to evolve, the PSI Training & Development program is here to support your continued growth. If you find training, certification, or continuing education opportunities that relates to your job and career at PSI, you may be eligible for reimbursement through the program. It's one way PSI supports employees in building relevant skills, strengthening performance, and preparing for future career opportunities. Interested in learning more? Visit the PSI Training & Development Resource Site for program details. Keep learning. Keep growing. Keep building your future at PSI.
Discover Financial Wellness with FinPath Financial wellness is an important part of overall well-being, and the FinPath Financial Wellness Program by HUB is here to help. The program provides all PSI Enterprise employees with complimentary access to personalized financial tools, educational resources, and confidential coaching designed to make managing money simpler and less stressful. Through FinPath, you can use a Digital Money Assistant to gain insights into your finances, explore workplace benefits, and track financial goals. You also have unlimited access to one-on-one financial coaching and on-demand courses through FinPath University, helping build confidence in budgeting, saving, and planning for the future. Getting started is easy. Simply visit finpathwellness.com/register, enter your work email address, and follow the activation instructions sent to your inbox. Take advantage of this valuable benefit and start your journey toward greater financial confidence today.
-> finpathwellness.com/register
FINAN CIAL WELL NESS
FALL UPDA TES ACRO SS PSI
HUMAN RESOURCES CONT.
Open Enrollment Is Coming Soon: Mark Your Calendars! It's almost time for Open Enrollment, the annual opportunity to review your benefits and make any necessary changes for the upcoming plan year.
November 2–17, 2026 Mark your calendars! This year's Open Enrollment period will run from November 2, 2026, through November 17, 2026. During this time, employees can enroll in benefits, make changes to current elections, or decline coverage as needed. Keep in mind that Open Enrollment is the primary opportunity to update your benefits unless you experience a qualifying life event during the year. Taking time to review your options can help ensure you and your family have the coverage that best meets your needs. Additional information, benefit resources, and enrollment instructions will be shared through company email next month. Be sure to watch your inbox for important updates and details on this year's enrollment process. Mark your calendars now and stay tuned for more information as Open Enrollment approaches!
Referral Bonus Program & Careers Site: Great People Know Great People Think about the people you've enjoyed working with throughout your career. The colleague who always stepped up when something needed to get done. The person you trusted to solve the hard problem. The teammate who made everyone around them a little better. Who would you want to work with again? At PSI, our people have always been at the center of what we do. The missions we support, the solutions we build, and the trust we earn with our customers all start with having the right people on our teams. And some of our best people come from people who already know PSI. That's why our Employee Referral Bonus Program rewards eligible employees who help introduce talented people to our organization. Depending on the position requirements, you could earn:
$1,000 — No clearance or below Sec ret $2,000 — Secret clearance $3,000 — Top Secret clearance But the bigger opportunity is simpler: help us find people you'd be proud to call a PSI colleague. Take a look at our open positions. Think about the people in your network. Share an opportunity. Make an introduction. Because as PSI continues to grow, the people we bring along with us matter. And you may already know someone who belongs here. Eligibility requirements and program terms apply. Referrals must be identified before or at the time the candidate applies. Please see Section 9.1.1 of the PSI Employee Handbook for complete program details. -> careers-plansys.icims.com
HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH This Hispanic Heritage Month, we’re proud to spotlight four of our Hispanic employees and celebrate the experiences, perspectives, and contributions they bring to PSI! “Belonging at work comes down to three key pillars: transparency, mutual trust, and open communication.” - Lourdes Pineda Credentialing Training Coordinator, US Army National Guard
“Embrace what makes you different. Find mentors, build relationships, and don’t be afraid to step outside your comfort zone.” - Steven W. Barbosa, PMP, CSM Senior QA Analyst
“We were taught the Golden Rule- to treat others the way we want to be treated.” - Michelle Dishong Senior Administrative Assistant
“Moving to a new country taught me to adapt, stay curious, and embrace change.” - Lucia Bohorquez Web Developer/Software Engineer, NOAA
Impact Award 2026 Congratulations to our 2026 Impact Award Recipients for Q2! Derek Brown and Samantha Amundson embody our SOUL value of Uplifting and Serving One Another. From Derek’s leadership in driving exceptional team performance and strengthening customer relationships to Samantha’s proactive solutions that expand H2F services and enhance soldier care, their contributions are making a meaningful impact. Congratulations to Derek and Samantha, and thank you for the difference you continue to make for your teams, our customers, and PSI!
Samantha Amundson
Derek Brown Program Director VA ESD Tier 1 w/ Cognito
Samantha Amundson Lead Athletic Trainer H2F
Length of Service Awards
5 YEARS
Carrie Donat Sarah Heckart Walter Brown Sarah Else Jason Rose William Sharp Aaron Brown Richard Ngo Danielle Trout Clarence Monroe Erin Ulsh
Jeff Tlapa Fedele Milillo Bryan Ly Santiago Zegarra Valente Lunas Ajumobi Leon Madrigal Michael Gillette Caleb Mortensen Britney Lewis Brad Anderson Sean Fleming
Lucas Morgan Sheshu Iyer Courtney McDonald Lisa Bautista Barry Thibodeau Gary DeBord Mark McClelland Kiana Harper Jasmine Hart Alan Katruska Alfreda Corbin
10 YEARS Rebekah Chong Shihjung Loh Victoria Parks Chiang Ren Kimberly Stephens
15 YEARS Clifton Brown George Hodges Charlie Lin Richard Roberts Peter Rosales Jennifer Sheehan Erick Soricelli Russell Tilgner David Truong
20 YEARS Shelli-Rae Reid
John Namias Tuan Truong
25 YEARS
30 YEARS
Kenneth Monteith
MIDLIFE & WELLNESS · FALL ISSUE
Rethinking Midlife A Conversation with Dr. Jill Schramm on Menopause and Long-Term Health Menopause is discussed more openly than ever, yet still widely misunderstood. Dr. Jill Schramm on what every woman should know about perimenopause and the decades beyond. INTERVIEW CONDUCTED BY PSI EDITORIAL STAFF
A Personal Lens on Healthy Aging
I do not view midlife
My interest in healthy aging is both professional and personal. My mother, a lifelong farmer and rural postal carrier, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease shortly after retiring in her 60s—watching that change was devastating for our whole family, even with four of my six siblings working in healthcare.
decline. I see it as an
That experience reshaped how I think about aging. As a clinician, I see women in their 40s and 50s who are focused on the symptoms they are experiencing today, but I am also thinking about what their health may look like 20 or 30 years from now. Midlife is a critical window to evaluate cardiovascular health, metabolic health, bone and muscle strength, sleep, and cognitive function.
as the beginning of opportunity to ask what we can do now to support our health for the decades ahead.”
The Question She Hears Most “Why am I gaining weight when I am eating the same way I always have?” is the question Dr. Schramm hears most. The answer isn’t willpower—shifting estrogen changes body composition and fat storage, while muscle mass naturally declines with age. Her advice: adequate protein, fiber, and healthy fats, paired with strength training to preserve muscle. “Maintaining muscle is one of the best things we can do for metabolic health as we age,” she notes.
What Women Wish They’d Known Sooner “I wish someone had told me this could start so early,” Dr. Schramm hears often. Perimenopause—marked by fluctuating hormones—can begin years before periods stop and last up to a decade. She also points to a generational wound: after the 2002 Women’s Health Initiative study, many women stopped hormone therapy abruptly, though the study’s participants averaged 63—over a decade past typical menopause onset. Today’s understanding is far more nuanced, weighing age, hormone type, dose, and delivery method. The Underrated Habit: Sleep Asked which habit is most underestimated in midlife, Dr. Schramm doesn’t hesitate: sleep. Poor sleep affects appetite, blood sugar, mood, and focus. Her guidance: consistent sleep and wake times, limiting alcohol near bedtime, and addressing chronic fatigue rather than accepting it as “just aging.”
RETHINKING MIDLIFE
Beyond Hot Flashes: The Bigger Picture Menopause is often reduced to hot flashes, but it’s a pivotal checkpoint for long-term health—bone density, cardiovascular risk, cholesterol, glucose regulation, and muscle mass all deserve attention. Dr. Schramm wants to reframe the conversation: not “how do we get through menopause,” but “how do we use this stage to protect health going forward?”
It is not only about how many years we live, but how many of those years we are able to remain healthy, active, independent, and engaged in the things that matter to us.”
Symptoms That Catch Women Off Guard Beyond hot flashes and night sweats: sleep disruption, mood changes, memory lapses, joint discomfort, and migraines. The most surprising symptoms are often brain fog and joint pain— because women don’t intuitively connect them to menopause. Still, any new or severe symptom deserves proper evaluation.
Clearing Up Common Myths No single treatment fits everyone— care should be individualized. “Bioidentical” doesn’t mean compounded: FDA-approved estradiol and progesterone products can be bioidentical, while compounded versions bypass the same FDA review for potency and consistency. Hormone pellets, meanwhile, can’t be adjusted once inserted—worth understanding before choosing that route.
Knowing When to Ask for Help If symptoms affect your sleep, work, relationships, or quality of life, that’s reason enough to talk to a provider. Come prepared: your most bothersome symptoms, when they started, what you’ve tried, and your medication and family history. Ask not just “Do I need hormones?” but “What is the best plan for me based on my symptoms, my health history, and my priorities?” A Normal Part of Women’s Health “Menopause is a normal, unremarkable part of women’s health,” Dr. Schramm says. “There is nothing embarrassing about asking questions.” Women in midlife, she adds, are “often at the height of their careers”—and this stage of life shouldn’t define them.
GETTING THE TERMINOLOGY RIGHT Perimenopause The lead-up to menopause, sometimes lasting a decade, marked by variable hormone production.
Menopause A single point in time, reached after 12 consecutive months without a period. Average age in the U.S.: 51.
Postmenopause
LEARN MORE The Menopause Society’s Patient Education Center — menopause.org U.S. Office on Women’s Health — womenshealth.gov/menopause
Byte-Sized In this episode of Byte-Sized, we spoke with Yvonne Hobson about her role as Vice President of Clinical Staffing and Human Performance! Tune in to hear who motivates her, what it’s like staffing for Medical Treatment Facilities (MTFs), and more!
Keven’s Kitchen Dolly Parton’s Famous Chicken and Dumplings Ingredients: 1 (3-lb) chicken 2½ tsp salt ¾ tsp pepper 1 onion, peeled and left whole ¼ cup chopped celery leaves 2 cups all-purpose flour, plus extra for kneading ½ tsp baking soda 3 Tbsp vegetable shortening ¾ cup milk Combine the chicken and two teaspoons of the salt with two quarts of water in a Dutch oven. Cover and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium and add the pepper, onion and celery leaves. Simmer the chicken until the meat falls away from the bone. Remove the chicken and onion from the pot, and strain out the celery leaves. Discard the onion and celery leaves, and set the chicken aside to cool. When the chicken is cool enough to handle, remove the meat from the bones and cut into 1-inch pieces. Set aside. Discard the skin and bones. Meanwhile, raise the heat to high and bring the broth to a boil. Combine the flour, baking soda and the remaining ½ teaspoon of salt in a medium bowl. Cut in the shortening with a fork and knife or a pastry cutter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Gradually stir in the milk until the dough is moist. Turn the dough out onto a floured surface and lightly knead for about five minutes. Roll out to ½-inch thickness and cut into 1½-inch squares. Drop the pieces of dough into the boiling broth. Reduce the heat to low, cover and cook for 10 minutes. Stir gently. Add the chicken back to the pot, stir and cook until the chicken is heated through, about eight minutes. Serve warm.
Book Nook Para Method: Simplify, Organize, and Master Your Digital Life by Tiago Forte. Ever feel like your digital life (emails, notes, documents, ideas, and to-do lists) is scattered everywhere? In The PARA Method: Simplify, Organize, and Master Your Digital Life, Tiago Forte offers a surprisingly simple solution. PARA stands for Projects, Areas, Resources, and Archives, four categories designed to organize virtually any digital information based on how useful it is to you right now. Rather than creating complicated filing systems, Forte focuses on making information easy to find when you actually need it. It’s a quick, practical read for anyone who has ever thought, “I know I saved that somewhere…” and wants a simpler way to turn digital clutter into something useful.
The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros Discover The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros, a moving coming-of-age novel told through a series of short, beautifully written vignettes. Follow Esperanza Cordero, a young Mexican-American girl growing up in Chicago, as she navigates identity, family, friendship, and her dreams for the future.
The Calamity Club by Kathryn Stockett Step into the world of The Calamity Club by Kathryn Stockett, a highly anticipated historical novel perfect for your fall reading list. Filled with compelling characters and rich storytelling, it’s a great pick for readers who enjoy stories that bring the past to life.