Business, State Agency and Federal Legislative Programs Cited
SEATTLE – The introduction of a comprehensive Veterans Employment Bill by US Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash) on April 20, 2010 is one of the latest in a number of efforts to combat soaring jobless rates among former military members. The proposed bill reinforces the advocacy efforts of Hire America’s Heroes, a Puget Sound Area organization that works with major corporations to open employment opportunities to veterans. Hire America’s Heroes sponsored a Symposium held at McChord Field on Thursday that brought together over 200 attendees to seek solutions to veteran, National Guard and reservist unemployment.
Besides leaders from all military services, the offices of Senator Murray, Congressmen Norm Dicks and Dave Reichert and “First Mike” Gregoire, Director of Washington Department of Veterans Affairs John Lee attended and reviewed the technical skill, work ethic and determination found in this growing pool of talent.
Human Resources vice presidents and senior managers representing Hire America’s Heroes sponsors provided program overviews and best practices to peers from nearly 50 companies in attendance including:
- CEO Tay Yoshitani described the Port of Seattle Veterans Fellowship Program bringing interns with full pay and benefits to selected Port positions for six months of on-the-job-experience leading to full time employment with the Port or Port contractors.
- Doug Kight, Boeing Commercial Aircraft’s Vice President for Human Resources cited outreach programs to former military, an internal mentoring program to help in the “on-boarding” process and the heritage of commitment to former service personnel as demonstrated in the large percentage of Boeing workers with military experience.
- Microsoft, represented by HR Director Sean Kelley, announced the launch of Elevate American Veterans Initiative – a competitive program that provides software, technical training and grants to those helping make service members and families even more competitive in the technology-based job market of today.
- The Volt Military Heroes Program was referenced by Steven Shaw, President & CEO of Volt, a staffing company started by his father in 1950 using the Engineering degree he gained from the original GI Bill. Marjorie James, Program Manager, Volt Military Programs, was one of the founders of Hire America’s Heroes and has been President of the organization since its inception in 2007.
In addition to corporate programs to facilitate the hiring of former military, Tom Riggs from the Washington Army & Air National Guard described their new Employment Enhancement Program which will be evaluated as a national model over the next four years under Murray’s proposed legislation.
The 2010 Hire America’s Heroes Symposium was hosted by the 446th Airlift Wing, a US Air Force Reserve organization intimately familiar with transition issues faced by their citizen airmen. The 2011 Symposium will be held at Fort Lewis, Joint Base Lewis McChord in partnership with the US Army.
