Dr. Gina Di Nola

I am deeply honored to share that I have been commissioned as a Kentucky Colonel by Governor Andy Beshear.

This is the highest title of honor bestowed by the Commonwealth of Kentucky, and it recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions through service and civic engagement.

This recognition did not come from a single role or a single moment. It came from decades of showing up.

As a Military Spouse, volunteerism is not a side project. It is woven into the fabric of how we serve alongside our Service Members. Every PCS, every deployment, every new installation brought a new community that needed hands, hearts, and leaders willing to step in.

My volunteer journey spans roles many Military Spouses will recognize:
- Army Community Service volunteer and trainer,
- Family Readiness Group leader and support volunteer,
- American Red Cross SAF deployment presenter and call center volunteer,
- BSA Scouting USA volunteer, teaching Scouts how to apply project management skills on their path to Eagle Scout rank,
- PMI Military Champion and PMI Chapter volunteer,
- And countless roles in between that never came with a title or a certificate.

Here is what I have learned along the way: volunteerism is compound interest for your community. Each hour you invest pays dividends you may never see directly, but someone downstream always benefits.

To my fellow Military Spouses, your volunteer work matters. The skills you build while leading an FRG, coordinating a Scout troop, or training fellow volunteers are real, transferable, and valuable. Do not let anyone (including yourself) dismiss them.

To the Commonwealth of Kentucky, thank you for this incredible honor. I share it with every volunteer who has ever served beside me.

If you are a Small Business in/around El Paso, please join us tomorrow and every 2nd Tuesday!

🗓️ Financial Friday - Big news for anyone who's ever received a confusing letter from the IRS.

The Internal Revenue Service Math and Taxpayer Help Act (H.R. 998) is now law.

This bipartisan legislation requires the IRS to actually explain what they changed on your return and why.

What this means for you:
Before: The IRS could send vague notices like "your income or deductions were calculated incorrectly" without explaining what was wrong.
Now: The IRS must include: - A clear explanation of the specific error, - The exact line number on your return where the issue occurred, - The reason for the adjustment, - A prominent reminder that you have 60 days to dispute it.

Why it matters: Taxpayers only have 60 days to request abatement of an IRS math error. Miss that window, and you lose your right to challenge it in Tax Court.

Clear notices help you protect your rights. This is a win for every taxpayer.

what a great opportunity to expand and hone your data analytical skills! Check it out at https://learn.generalassemb.ly/military-spouse-sponsorship/

Applications for Operation Purple Camp are now open!

Operation Purple Camp NMFA will host Operation Purple Camp for nine weeks at eight locations across the country this year. Apply Now!

Working overtime? There's a new deduction for that too.

🗓️ Financial Friday

Last week I covered "No Tax on Tips." But there's more from the One Big Beautiful Bill. Overtime pay now qualifies for a deduction too.

How it works: The "half" portion of your "time-and-a-half" overtime compensation can be deducted from your taxable income.

The limits:
- Maximum deduction: $12,500 ($25,000 for joint filers),
- Phases out at $150,000 MAGI ($300,000 for joint filers),
- Must be overtime required under the Fair Labor Standards Act,
- Available whether you itemize or not.

Why this matters: If you or your spouse works overtime to make ends meet (and many military families do), this puts real money back in your pocket.

What to do: Review your W-2 or 1099. If you earned qualifying overtime in 2025, you may be able to claim this deduction on your return this year.

More details: irs.gov/newsroom/one-big-beautiful-bill-provisions

One, Big, Beautiful Bill provisions | Internal Revenue Service The One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act has a significant effect on your taxes, credits and deductions.

El Paso has a talent problem, and Military Spouses are the solution nobody is talking about.

My op-ed, published today in El Paso Inc., is both a wake-up call and a challenge to this community.

Military Spouse unemployment runs 4x higher than the national average. Not because of a lack of skill or ambition. Because the system was never designed with them in mind.

Twenty+ years as a Military Spouse. A doctorate, two master degrees, and a career spent navigating a system not built for people like me. That experience is not unique. It is systemic, but it is solvable.

El Paso has the infrastructure, the talent, and the drive to get this right. Military Spouses are not a charity case. They are an untapped economic asset. What they need now is opportunity.

Read it. Share it. This conversation is bigger than one op-ed: https://tinyurl.com/37p2wym9

El Paso can unlock the talent of military spouses Drive across El Paso, and you’ll see uniformed service members training and running the logistics of military life. What’s less visible are the military spouses who hold families together while

Honored to serve as Moderator for a critical discussion on Education and Employment for Military Spouses and Caregivers on February 20, 2026.

Thank you to our outstanding panel partners — El Paso Community College, Texas Workforce Commission, and Borderplex Workforce Solutions — for collaborating to expand access to opportunity in our region.

Empowering Military Families through education, workforce pathways, and strategic partnerships remains a priority. Proud to support this mission.

&FamilyCaregiverExpo2026

🗓️ Financial Friday

Big news for tipped workers: "No Tax on Tips" is officially law. The One Big Beautiful Bill includes a new deduction for qualified tips starting with your 2025 tax return (the one you're filing now).

Here's what you need to know:

Who qualifies: Wait staff, bartenders, salon workers, personal trainers, gig economy workers, and others who customarily receive tips.

The details: - Maximum deduction: $25,000 per year, - Phases out at $150,000 MAGI ($300,000 for joint filers), - Applies to cash tips, charged tips, and tip sharing, - Available whether you itemize or take the standard deduction.

Why this matters for military families: Many Military Spouses work in hospitality or service industries for PCS flexibility. This deduction means keeping more of your hard-earned income.

Action step: Make sure your tips are properly reported on your W-2, 1099-NEC, 1099-MISC, or 1099-K. You can claim this deduction this filing season.

The weekend is here and guess what I'll be doing? That's right - advocating for Military Spouses and Caregivers. Join me and other presenters as we share information and resources in support of Veterans, Spouses, and Caregivers.

Register at https://share.google/rPg067PuifNNX0zdp

Got a confusing IRS notice? New law has your back.

🗓️ Financial Friday

Big news for anyone who's ever received a confusing letter from the IRS. The Internal Revenue Service Math and Taxpayer Help Act (H.R. 998) is now law. This bipartisan legislation requires the IRS to actually explain what they changed on your return and why.

What this means for you:
Before: The IRS could send vague notices like "your income or deductions were calculated incorrectly" without explaining what was wrong.

Now: The IRS must include:
- A clear explanation of the specific error,
- The exact line number on your return where the issue occurred,
- The reason for the adjustment,
- A prominent reminder that you have 60 days to dispute it.

Why it matters: Taxpayers only have 60 days to request abatement of an IRS math error. Miss that window, and you lose your right to challenge it in Tax Court.

Clear notices help you protect your rights. This is a win for every taxpayer.