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The following corporate partners and individuals have earned the award of Hire Heroes USA Pacesetter for their tireless efforts on behalf of the Hire Heroes USA mission:
HHUSA Pacesetters 2010: Mr. Bruce Maples and Mr. Rocky Sickman
 Mr. Bruce Maples and Mr. Rocky Sickman have earned this award due to their tremendous dedication to our Nation's veterans, their initiative and significant contributions to Hire Heroes USA, through hosting numerous fundraising events and opening the door for many partnership opportunities with companies to help hire veterans.
Bruce Maples is the Chairman of the National Coalition of AssociationsBruce Maples of 7-Eleven Franchisees, a professional trade group that represents the owners of more than 5,000 franchised 7-Eleven stores across the country. Mr. Maples, who most recently served as a vice chairman of the National Coalition, has been a 7-Eleven franchisee since 1988 and an active National Coalition Board member since 1989. He is also president of the Tucson Franchise Owner’s Association. Previously, Mr. Maples served six years as Southwest Regional Chairman of the National Coalition, five years as a 7-Eleven National Advisory Council member, and as Chairman of the Arizona Food Marketing Alliance.
 Rocky Sickmann is the Director of Military SalesforAnheuser-Busch. InRocky Sickman 1979, just 15 days into his tour of duty with the U.S. Marine Corps at the American Embassy in Tehran, Iran, Rodney “Rocky” Sickmann became a player in one of the most terrifying events in U.S. history.
On November 4, 1979, after months of turmoil marked by the return of the exiled Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the American Embassy in Tehran was overrun by militants and its employees taken captive. Sergeant Rocky Sickmann, then just 21, was one of 65 Americans taken hostage. Sickmann remained a hostage for 444 days before being released on Jan. 21, 1981 following 14 months of diplomacy by President Jimmy Carter. Three months later, Sickmann retired after six years in the U.S. Marine Corps and entered the private sector, where his military experience has made him a valuable contributor at Anheuser-Busch for nearly 26 years.
As Director of Military Sales, Sickmann is responsible for increasing Anheuser-Busch’s market penetration among the Military by training wholesalers, coordinating marketing and publicity, executing national sales promotions, and planning special military events. Sickmann helped coordinate the “Here’s to the Heroes Tour” which salutes the men and women of the armed forces which allowed Americans to show their support for the troops via recorded messages filmed on location at community events, celebrations and festivals nationwide this during the summer of 2005 which were widely distributed to the U.S. troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.
HHUSA Pacesetter 2009: Mr. Joe Vonder Haar
HHUSA proudly and humbly presents the 2010 Pacesetter Award to Joe Vonder Haar, Vice President of the Convenience Store Channel and Military Sales for Anheuser-Busch, Inc., in recognition of his initiative and significant contributions to Hire Heroes USA, through numerous fundraising events and opening the door for partnership opportunities with companies to help hire veterans. As a sponsor of the St. Louis Cardinals Legend’s Camp and the 1st Annual Salute to Veterans Golf Classic events in Pittsburgh and Alpharetta, Vonder Haar and Anheuser Bush have donated over $100,000 worth of beverage product and prizes this year alone.
Since Hire Heroes USA’s inception in 2007, Vonder Haar has donated over $500,000 both monetarily and through in-kind donations. On a personal level, Joe’s enthusiasm regarding the Hire Heroes USA program has also led to partnerships with such companies as 7-11 and Anheuser Busch. His continued dedication to our organization can only bring about more wonderful partnerships in the years ahead. The HHUSA Team extends its deepest gratitude to Joe Vonder Haar.
HHUSA Pacesetter 2008: Mr. Carl P. Meyer
The Hire Heroes USA team would like to extend its heartfelt thanks to a man who exemplifies the impact one individual can make. Carl P. Meyer, Vice President of National Accounts & Distributor Relations with BSN Medical, elected this year to celebrate Independence Day and show his respect for the men and women of our Armed Forces by staging the first annual "100 Holes for Our Heroes" golf event benefiting Hire Heroes USA. The unique event, held yearly on July 4th at Chenequa Country Club in Hartland, WI, is planned and executed by Carl himself and features an attempt by the longtime golfer to play 100 holes of golf in a single day. "The Fourth of July is the perfect day for this," Meyer said. "We are able to celebrate our freedoms because of the sacrifices veterans, past and present, have undertaken."
Funds were raised through the solicitation of both flat donations and pledges per hole played.
In 2008, With his golf cart decorated with American flags and his brother, Chris, serving as caddy, Carl first teed off at 5:45 am. Clocking in at 12 hours and 50 minutes for six rounds, Carl met and surpassed his goal, playing 108 total holes. For the 100 Holes, he recorded 7 birdies, 29 pars, 44 bogies and 20 scores to which he jokingly refers as "other." However, Carl will be the first to point out that it is not his stats which matter. His focus rather was on accomplishing two objectives: to raise money in support of HHUSA's efforts to create opportunities for our returning service men and women through placement in rewarding civilian careers and also to increase the visibility of HHUSA and its mission.
In 2009, Carl surpassed last year's results and golfed an unbelieveable 115 holes!
The results of Carl's efforts far exceeded all expectations. In addition to securing over 350 donations and pledges totaling upwards of $60, 000. This event is featured nationally in numerous print publications and TV news broadcasts. The HHUSA team again extends its deepest gratitude to Carl Meyer. Remarkable individual efforts such as these are inspirations and true gifts.
HHUSA Pacesetter 2007: Sanofi-Aventis Pharmaceuticals
Sanofi-aventis is one of the largest pharmaceutical companies. In the United States, Sanofi-aventis employs approximately 16,000 employees located at 14 geographical sites throughout the country. Of these, approximately 8,000 are field sales professionals, making the company's sales force one of the largest in the U.S. pharmaceutical industry. The U.S. affiliate headquarters are located in Bridgewater, NJ.
Not only are we honored to call Sanofi-aventis our Gold Founding Member of the Hire Heroes USA organization, but we are also pleased to announce they have hired three (3) of our veterans, and are in the process of interviewing a number more. In addition, for every hero hired, Sanofi-aventis also gives our organization a donation, though not required. For their support and recognition of need for HHUSA, we have named them the Hire Heroes USA Employer of the Year, Pacesetter 2008.
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