Hire Heroes USA Volunteer Spotlight: Shawn Himes

“Don’t hesitate to get involved,” says Hire Heroes USA Volunteer

To mark National Volunteer Week, Hire Heroes USA profiles another of member of our volunteer team, which is now more than 700 members strong:   

When Shawn Himes retired from a long career in Human Resources, she knew that she wanted to continue working with and helping people through volunteerism. Specifically, she felt compelled to seek out a Veterans Service Organization, which is how she became involved with Hire Heroes USA.

“I have an HR background and when I learned about Hire Heroes USA, I knew I had to get involved. Using my skills to help these amazing men and women transition back into civilian life after everything they’ve given is the very least I can do,” she says.

As an HR professional, Shawn knows the struggles on the employer side when looking at veteran candidates. As a volunteer, she is able to use that knowledge to assist veterans who have trouble communicating their value to employers. “[Their] skills are so relevant to civilian employers and that’s why it’s so important to help veterans showcase their backgrounds, in a manner that is relatable to a civilian.” By helping veterans and military spouses prepare for interviews, talk them through a job search, and check in on job search progress, Shawn is advancing the success of Hire Heroes USA clients.

Shawn isn’t connected to the military herself, but she feels indebted to the men and women who serve our country. Using her time and talent in a volunteer capacity fulfills her need to give back.

When asked what she enjoys most about volunteering with Hire Heroes USA, she said, “Just knowing that in some small way I might be helping to give back to those who have sacrificed so much. Honestly, I consider it a privilege.” Shawn has served in a few different volunteer capacities with Hire Heroes since mid-2014 and has given over 120 hours of service to the organization.

In addition to her work with Hire Heroes USA, Shawn also volunteers at a hospital, children-focused nonprofits, and her local chapter of The Salvation Army. A self-described “fitness enthusiast,” she spends her leisure time preparing for – and participating in – marathons, where she demonstrates the same passion and perseverance that she brings to her volunteer work.

For those thinking about volunteering with Hire Heroes USA, Shawn has this to impart: “The support given to the volunteers is amazing.  The feeling you get when you know one of the veterans you’ve worked with has gotten the job they wanted is priceless.”

 

From You Flowers Tops $50K in Donations to National Nonprofit Hire Heroes USA

Give back campaigns make measurable impact for transitioning U.S. military members, veterans and military spouses

Atlanta, GA (PRWEB) April 27, 2017 — New York-based From You Flowers, which has an affiliation with more than 20,000 premier florists worldwide, has topped $50,000 in donations to Hire Heroes USA, the preeminent nonprofit organization providing employment services to transitioning U.S. military members, veterans and military spouses across the United States and around the world.

The online retailer first partnered with Hire Heroes USA for a Fourth of July campaign in 2016. It has now run a total of three week-long fundraising initiatives, the most recent resulting in a $22,850 donation. Each time, the company enables flower delivery shoppers to be part of the effort through a special “HERO” promotion code. When that code is used for purchase, From You Flowers donates a percent of the order to Hire Heroes USA.

The efforts, so far, have resulted in over 10,000 flower orders using that code and $51,995 in donations by From You Flowers – proof that small donations can add up to make a big charitable impact.

“At a time when we are seeing increasing demand for our free career counseling and job sourcing services, the efforts of From You Flowers, their staff and their customers makes an immediate and real impact on our ability to serve more veterans and military spouses who need our assistance,” said Brian Stann, President and CEO of Hire Heroes USA and a Marine Corps combat veteran. “The response to these fundraising campaigns has been nothing short of amazing. In addition to supporting our services, From You Flowers also provides Hire Heroes USA a significant opportunity to increase awareness about our nonprofit and the vital work we do every day.”

The money raised by From You Flowers means Hire Heroes USA can assist more than 5,000 veterans and military spouses with one-on-one career counseling sessions, an essential part of our free services which also include resume help, individual assessments and mock interviews.

“From You Flowers is grateful for the service that the men and women of the armed forces have taken on behalf of our country. We are proud to have partnered with Hire Heroes USA multiple times to offer our customers an opportunity to give back to those individuals who have given so much. It is our hope to continue to partner with nonprofits that assist our active duty service members, as well as our veterans,” Michael Chapin, CEO of From You Flowers, said.

Since 2007, Hire Heroes USA has worked to make a measurable and long-term impact on veteran employment in the United States, and the numbers speak volumes. To date, Hire Heroes USA has helped more than 16,000 veterans and military spouses into new careers in the civilian workforce and generated an estimated economic impact of $193 million.

About From You Flowers

Founded in 2002 by CEO Michael Chapin, FromYouFlowers.com is a leading online retailer of flowers, plants and gift baskets, offering hand-arranged, same day flower delivery for every occasion and sentiment. In 2011, the firm was acquired by and currently operates as a subsidiary of Tenth Avenue Commerce, an affiliate of Tenth Avenue Holdings, LLC. Tenth Avenue Holdings is a private diversified holding company. Shoppers can Page 2/3 If you have any questions regarding information in these press releases please contact the company listed in the press release. Our complete disclaimer appears here – PRWeb ebooks – Another online visibility tool from PRWeb conveniently make flower, plant and gift basket purchases 24 hours-a-day, 7 days-a-week via the toll-free number, 1-800-838-8853, as well as online at http://www.fromyouflowers.com.

About Hire Heroes USA:

Headquartered just north of Atlanta, in Alpharetta, Ga., with seven additional branch offices around the country, Hire Heroes USA is a Charity Navigator 4-Star rated national nonprofit that provides consistently effective, individualized career coaching services to transitioning military members, veterans and military spouses with an uncompromising focus on results. For more information about our mission, our services, and how to get involved as a corporate partner, employment partner, donor, or volunteer, please visit us online at hireheroesusa.org and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

You can read the online version of this press release here.

 

 

 

Hire Heroes USA Volunteer Spotlight: Noel Taylor

Hire Heroes USA volunteer:  “I’ve found it very rewarding to help our veterans adjust to their transition from military life to civilian life”  

To mark the 2017 National Volunteer Week, Hire Heroes USA shares the story of one member of our volunteer team, which is now more than 700 members strong:   

Noel Taylor pictureNoel Taylor’s selfless spirit, warmth, faithfulness, and collaborative nature make him a real stand-out for the Hire Heroes USA Volunteer Team. Although he sometimes downplays his positive impact to our nonprofit and military families, he has undoubtedly empowered and inspired many transitioning military members, veterans and military spouses. 

Noel joined Hire Heroes USA’s volunteer team in June 2015, after finding our nonprofit online. To date, he has donated 50 hours of his time to mentor our clients through career counseling and mock interviews, and by sharing his professional expertise on project management, human resources, talent acquisition, organizational development, operations management, and corporate culture.

He has worked and hired many military veterans in his past roles, because he’s always been impressed by their strong character, discipline, skills, and talents.

When asked, “Who was the most inspirational person in your life?” Noel answered without hesitation:

“My father who served 20+ years in the Air Force and retired as a Major is my biggest inspiration. He inspired me to always strive for excellence in everything I do, both personally and professionally, and to always give back to the community. While volunteering at Hire Heroes USA, I’ve found it very rewarding to help our veterans adjust to their transition from military life to civilian life, by helping them develop effective career transition strategies.”

Noel mentioned one of his favorite moments at Hire Heroes USA was receiving a LinkedIn recommendation, from a Veteran Transition Specialist (VTS) in our Colorado Springs Office, thanking him for successfully coaching one of his veterans, who obtained employment shorty after their coaching session. The VTS wrote, “Noel, is a great mentor for service members, veterans, and their spouses. He successfully coached a veteran candidate of mine who obtained employment only four days after his counseling session. The veteran had 7-8 interviews prior to his mock interview with Noel. Noel is a Great American!”

Our vital work at Hire Heroes USA relies on the dedication and advocacy of our volunteers. When asked “If you could describe Hire Heroes USA to someone who has never seen or heard of us, how would you go about doing this?” Noel said:  “Many of my colleagues in the human resources and talent management community are interested in hiring more veterans for a variety of roles in their organizations. When I come across anyone who expresses interest in hiring military veterans, I always direct them to the Hire Heroes USA website, go over the list of services we provide to veterans, and talk about how I’m involved in helping our veterans and military spouses. From there, I put them in touch directly with a Hire Heroes USA representative who can help them with their military hiring needs.”

Thank you, Noel, for your passion, generosity, and being an “everyday hero” for our clients!

Why I Became A Monthly Giver

Jordan ParkerAfter eight years in the U.S. Coast Guard, I had no idea what to expect when it came time for me to transition. In the Coast Guard, I was part of a team with a focused, directed purpose and then suddenly I was on my own. I found during my transition that I needed someone to come along and help me navigate my future. Everything – my location, my profession – had all changed. It did take some time, but I finally secured a job. I knew there had to be something more that could be done to help us as we transition.

 While online one day, I came across some information about Hire Heroes USA. After my own challenging transition, I knew this was a group I wanted support. I wanted to come alongside Hire Heroes USA, as they are providing the support I lacked during my transition. I decided to become a monthly donor to Hire Heroes USA to be a constant, steady support for transitioning service members. $10 / month may not seem like much to give, but it sponsors a career counseling for a veteran every month.

Each month, I am empowering a veteran with an opportunity to be mentored through their transition. I could have benefited from having someone in my corner helping me through my transition, and I’m honored to provide it for those transitioning out today through Hire Heroes USA.

HireVergence Supports Veteran Employment Through Partnership with National Nonprofit Hire Heroes USA

New giving program to donate percentage of profits from each client hired

Recognizing the importance of giving back to their country and those who have served it, HireVergence opened 2017 by partnering with Hire Heroes USA to honor veterans by donating a percentage of their profits from each client hired.

HireVergence supports Hire Heroes USA’s mission to empower transitioning military members, veterans and military spouses to succeed in the civilian workforce. In doing so, the Tampa-based company, which offers a full line of staffing services, wants to make every one of its own hires count by establishing this new giving program, “HireVergence Cares Campaign.”

The recent quarterly donation made by HireVergence equated to 2 confirmed hires, 6 professionally revised resumes, and an estimated $24,210 in positive economic impact for veterans, taxpayers, and their communities.

“We are proud to stand behind Hire Heroes USA in support of our veterans,” added Dave Gilden, Partner at MDJ Group (parent company of HireVergence). “There is a tremendous amount of experience and talent that exists in our veteran community, and we look forward to helping make mutually beneficial connections in the commercial enterprise.”

Atlanta-based Hire Heroes USA provides free, expert career coaching and job sourcing to hundreds of transitioning U.S. military members, veterans and military spouses each week. Recognized as a best-in-class veteran service organization by the Call of Duty Endowment and the George W. Bush Institute, Hire Heroes USA has helped more than 15,500 veterans and military spouses move into new careers and generated an estimated $187 million economic impact since 2007.

“As a nonprofit organization, we depend on the support of corporate partners like HireVergence to enable us to continue to serve our nation’s veterans,” says Brian Stann, President and CEO of Hire Heroes USA. “Our partners are vital to the success of our mission.”

The contributions provided by HireVergence will increase Hire Heroes USA’s operational capacity and ability to provide resources to transitioning military members, veterans and military spouses who often face barriers to civilian employment.

About HireVergence:
HireVergence provides IT staffing solutions that are not only designed to find the most technically qualified candidates, but the “right” candidates for our clients. We work closely with our clients to construct a staffing strategy that will identify the right personality traits, skills, experience, and competencies. We differentiate ourselves by having a team with a strong technical background, and matching the “soft skills” of candidates with the “Culture” of our clients. Skill on its own does not ensure success – HireVergence looks for the right “Fit”. For more information on HireVergence and the services that we offer, please visit us online at hirevergence.com, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

About Hire Heroes USA:
Headquartered just north of Atlanta, in Alpharetta, Ga., with seven additional branch offices around the country, Hire Heroes USA is a Charity Navigator 4-Star rated national nonprofit that provides consistently effective, individualized career coaching services to transitioning military members, veterans and military spouses with an uncompromising focus on results. For more information about our mission, our services, and how to get involved as a corporate partner, employment partner, donor, or volunteer, please visit us online at hireheroesusa.org and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

(also available online at: http://www.prweb.com/releases/2017/04/prweb14247798.htm)

Caring For Clients Through The Virtual Domain

Caring For Clients Through The Virtual Domain

A few months ago, I bought a car. I sat down at my computer, researched different models and searched inventory for a few days. When I found what I was looking for, I signed a contract and paid for it, and was promised it would show up in my driveway a couple of days later. All of this was possible without leaving my home, while sitting at my computer.

These days, more and more services are offered virtually. Everything from ordering groceries (or almost anything else) and finding a date, to telemedicine can happen online. Even those of us who didn’t grow up with internet technology love the convenience, expediency and the seemingly limitless choices that are available by going online.

The nonprofit sector is no different.

I am the Chief Programs Officer for national nonprofit Hire Heroes USA. Our organization provides employment services to empower veterans and military spouses to find quality employment, and we do it virtually. Last year, we helped more than 6,300 clients find jobs through phone calls, texts and online interaction. With so much of the employment-seeking process taking place online – from applications to online networking – our virtual service delivery complements the virtual skillset a modern-day job seeker must have to succeed.

We are not unique in this. One of our partner organizations, The Institute for Veterans and Military Families at Syracuse University, uses online classes to help veterans throughout the country gain certifications to enhance their competitiveness. Virtual service delivery greatly enhances accessibility for clients, while also cutting costs.

I often get questions from curious parties or skeptics about the effectiveness of virtual service delivery. “How effective can you be if you’re not working with clients in person?” they ask. As a nonprofit, we exist to provide high-quality services to a demographic in need. That essential function and mission doesn’t change. In fact, we find that by keeping regular contact via phone and email with our clients, we’re able to assist many more individuals than if we only helped them in person. In addition to that, virtual service delivery expands our reach, since each one of our Transition Specialists can help a veteran regardless of where they are – whether that’s Michigan, Georgia, Hawaii, or another location around the world.

The virtual model doesn’t work for all organizations. But the notion that nonprofits which offer virtual service delivery are somehow undercutting clients by not interacting with them face-to-face, is one that I would like to put to rest. In today’s environment, a nonprofit needs to prove it can make an impact on the communities it serves, while using donor money as efficiently as possible.

During the lifetime of our organization, Hire Heroes USA has confirmed over 15,000 individuals hired into quality jobs, and our cost per hire is currently under $1,200 a client. We wouldn’t be able to accomplish those remarkable numbers without virtual service delivery.

Instead of asking why we offer our services virtually, my question is: Why not? Why not do everything we can to make sure as many clients as possible are receiving the high-quality help they need?


Written by Hire Heroes USA Chief Programs Officer Christopher Plamp.