Profiles in Diversity Journal Honors Top Employers of Veterans
Westlake, OH – Profiles in Diversity Journal recognized 25 of influential employers who are hiring the brave men and women coming back from the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. The publication’s January/February issue honors returning veterans, as well as leading veteran employers and nonprofit organizations that serve and support returning veterans, military personnel and their spouses.
“In the past five years, many organizations across the country have made a commitment to put our veterans to work,” said Kathie Sandlin, Editor-in-Chief of Profiles in Diversity Journal. “We’ve identified 25 of the companies that are influencing the conversation, either by developing programs and best practices, creating or advancing new tools or providing the philanthropic support that is helping to level the playing field.”
These organizations – many of them Fortune 500 companies – have developed entire departments to the cause of placing veterans in the most appropriate position for them within the company. Multiple industries are represented in the Top 25 but they all acknowledge the importance of hiring veterans and the depth of the sacrifice these men and women have made.
JPMorgan Chase united with 10 other corporations to create the 100,000 Jobs Mission that is charged with finding veterans jobs by the year 2020. Maureen Casey, Managing Director of Military and Veterans Affairs for JPMorgan Chase, believes that companies should leave competition at the door when soliciting veterans to come work for them. “The focus is on the issue of veteran employment from a national viewpoint – not just how do we get them in our company but how do we position them for success.”
Many of these companies large-scale campaigns that are trying to solicit veterans to apply for jobs. The successful programs have started educational programs in order to help smaller businesses to begin an initiative of their own.
Director of The Walt Disney Company’s Veterans Initiatives, Ret. Col. Kevin Preston became the first veteran hired by the company’s initiative in 2012. He now leads the effort and works to educate other companies about what Disney has done for veterans. “One of the tenets of Heroes Work Here is encouraging other companies to hire veterans. Through our Veterans Institute we could teach companies everything we had learned and provide them the tactics to put their own program into motion,” he said.
Wal-Mart is one of the companies who has opened their doors to military personnel and their families. The initiative has been successful and has helped many people secure a position. Since launching their Welcome Home Commitment in 2013, Wal-Mart has hired over 26,000 veterans. The Senior Director of Military Programs, Gary Profit believes the company is making every effort to put veterans to work. “Our company’s respect and appreciation for the military runs deeps to the roots of our history. Our founder, Sam Walton, served proudly during World War II. And today, our workforce includes more than 100,000 veterans and another 150,000 associates who are military family members.”
Bank of America has had their own success with bringing on veterans, reservists and active-duty service members. Through the Military and Veterans Affairs Team, the 6,500 employed by Bank of America are given education on transitioning to civilian life, employment, wellness and housing. “The group comprises 25 chapters throughout the United States and one in the UK. Former service men and women represent 60 percent of the groups’ 5,000 members, but all members have an affinity and share the desire to help our new employees succeed, said Jeff Cathy, Senior Military Affairs Executive.
These are just a few programs that are happening within the Top 25 who are focused on putting Veterans back to work. Among the most influential employers for hiring veterans are: 3M Company, Accenture, Amazon, Bank of America, BNY Mellon, Booz Allen Hamilton, CACI International Inc., Capital One, Charles Schwab & Co., Inc., Coca-Cola Company, Deloitte LLP, Edward Jones, JPMorgan Chase, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Starbucks, Toyota, Union Pacific, UnitedHealth Group, UUSAA, Verizon, Walgreens Co., Wal-Mart, Inc. and The Walt Disney Company.
Profiles in Diversity Journal is a bimonthly magazine dedicated to promoting and advancing diversity and inclusion in the corporate, government, nonprofit, higher education and military sectors. For more than 16 years, Profiles in Diversity Journal has helped to stimulate organizational change by showcasing the visionary leadership, innovative programs and committed individuals that make it happen. Please visit www.diversityjournal.com for more information.
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