Hire Heroes USA

Hire Heroes USA Offers New Insight on Veteran Employment

National nonprofit marks Labor Day with release of inaugural Hire Heroes Report

In connection with the Labor Day holiday, Hire Heroes USA is releasing its Hire Heroes Report, a new resource that is aimed at providing added insight on the issue of veteran employment, especially as it applies to post-9/11 veterans, who make up the majority of the clients we assist.

Hire Heroes USA, which is now in its 11^th year, has assisted more than 27,000 transitioning military members, veterans and military spouses into new careers in the civilian workforce, and it will reach the milestone of 30,000 before the end of the year.

This edition of the Hire Heroes Report is based on an extensive and detailed analysis of data collected from more than 19,000 military members, veterans and military spouses who signed up for services in 2017. Among this group of men and women were nearly 12,000 job seekers, each of whom was paired one-on-one with a Hire Heroes USA Transition Specialist.

Key observations include:

Hire Heroes USA’s client base exceeds the U.S. military in racial and gender diversity, and – on average – reports higher levels of education than their peers in the military
U.S. states with strong job centers attract high inbound migration from the job seekers
The majority of Hire Heroes USA clients meet or exceed their desired salary

“We are excited to release the inaugural edition of this report,” said Hire Heroes USA CEO Christopher Plamp, a decorated Air Force combat pilot. “It’s a testament not only to the scale that Hire Heroes USA now operates, but to the success we’ve had in doing what we do – getting transitioning military, veterans and military spouses into jobs.” He stressed, “The true measure of our impact is the difference we make in the life of every individual who seeks our assistance.”

CLICK HERE TO READ THE REPORT

Fundraising Motorcycle Ride Saturday in Raleigh Supports Local Work of Hire Heroes USA

August 25^th “Ride for Heroes” begins at Tobacco Road Harley-Davidson; Kickstands Up at 1pm

ATLANTA, August 23, 2018 – North Carolina bikers and veteran supporters will be gathering on Saturday in Raleigh for Ride for Heroes, a fundraising event to support national nonprofit Hire Heroes USA’s free employment services for area veterans.

Hire Heroes USA, now in its 11^th year, has assisted more than 26,000 transitioning military members, veterans and military spouses into new careers in the civilian workforce. That includes hundreds helped just in the local Raleigh area alone and more than 2,000 statewide in North Carolina.

“This event is an exciting first for us,” said Hire Heroes USA CEO Christopher Plamp, a decorated Air Force combat pilot who will be attending Saturday’s festivities. “Together with Tobacco Road Harley-Davidson and Dirtbag Ales Brewery, our Raleigh team has organized a great daylong event that, at its core, is really about the men and women who reach out to us every day, seeking help to find a job.”

The Presenting Sponsor for the Ride for Heroes is Carolina Career College, which donated a custom Harley, designed and built by Tobacco Road Harley-Davidson. The bike will be raffled off at the event, with all proceeds supporting Hire Heroes USA’s employment services for veterans.

“We are very proud to be part of the inaugural Ride for Heroes by donating the Custom Harley-Davidson to help raise funds, so Hire Heroes USA can continue the outstanding work they do!” said Scott Aaron, president and CEO at Carolina Computer Learning Systems, Inc. “My staff and I at Carolina Career College firmly believe in Hire Heroes USA’s mission and want to assist in any way we can to bring awareness to the struggles that U.S. military members, veterans and military spouses have when transitioning into the civilian workforce. I am looking forward to an exciting and successful event.”

To register for the Ride for Heroes motorcycle ride or purchase tickets for the raffle, go to hireheroesusa.org/fundraisingevents. Supporters can also choose to dedicate one mile of the ride to a military member – past or present. Already, about 40 dedications have been made.

For those who are unable to pre-register, ride registration will also take place Saturday, starting at 11am EDT, at Tobacco Road Harley-Davidson in Raleigh, with kickstands up at 1pm EDT. “We are excited to be working with such a fine organization and helping with this ride to assist veterans. It’s going to be a great event!” said Kris Weiss, director of marketing and promotions at the dealership.

Saturday’s ride ends at Dirtbag Ales in Hope Mills, where the fun continues until 10pm with music by Mark McKinney & Co. – Acoustic Trio. Tickets for the concert portion of the event are also available online.

Vernardo Simmons-Valenzuela, head brewer and co-owner at Dirtbag Ales, said, “As a veteran-owned and operated business, we take great pride in helping to support not only our local service members, but also those across our nation. Hire Heroes USA has been a wonderful asset in helping to do just that. We are thrilled to host this event and cannot wait to help such a wonderful organization. Cheers!”

Other sponsors of Saturday’s Ride for Heroes include P&A Fabrications, Modern Woodmen Fraternal Financial, Smithfield’s CHICKEN ‘N BAR-B-Q, and Mad Ethel’s Tattoo.

Here is a map of the route for the ride on Saturday.

About Hire Heroes USA:

Headquartered in the Atlanta metro area, with additional branch offices around the country, Hire Heroes USA is the leading veteran service organization specifically targeting the issues of underemployment and unemployment among veterans. Funding for the nonprofit’s services is exclusively through private grants and public donations. Hire Heroes USA has earned Charity Navigator’s highest possible 4-star rating for a third consecutive year and it also has a GuideStar Platinum Seal of Transparency. For more information about our mission, services and how to get involved as a corporate partner, employment partner, donor or volunteer, visit hireheroesusa.org and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

A digital copy of this press release is also available online

Hire Heroes USA Featured Employer: Travelers

Travelers: A Military-Friendly Company

Travelers is a leading provider of property and casualty insurance with a rich history that dates back over 160 years. The company has always had a dedication to the country’s military community and is continually recognized as a Military Friendly® Employer by VIQTORY, publisher of G.I. Jobs, and as a company that is “Best for Vets” by Military Times.

“Those with a military background have delivered significant value to our business,” said Diane Bengston, Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer of Travelers. “We’re proud to support our veterans, guard members and reservists by offering employee programs and partnering with organizations that assist veterans in developing their careers.”

The company supports military service members in a number of ways, including:

Employee and community programs

Since 2010, Travelers has supported American Corporate Partners, a national nonprofit focused on helping returning veterans discover their next career. The partnership has helped to create life-changing mentorships between Travelers employees and hundreds of post-9/11 veterans.
The company’s Military and Veterans Diversity Network is a resource group open to all employees and dedicated to promoting veterans’ career development and building awareness of veterans’ skills and experiences. Since its launch in 2013, the network has grown to more than 2,800 members nationally.

Benefits for those on active duty

The company provides full benefits and supplements employees’ military pay for the duration of their deployment, up to five years.

Lisa Kopitzke, a former Army Medic, now the Advanced Analytics Information Technology Center of Excellence Lead at Travelers, said, “In the active military, I was in the medical field, and there isn’t a day at Travelers that goes by that I don’t draw upon that skill set of helping others and growing in my leadership skills. I’m also proud to be a member of our Military and Veteran’s Diversity Network and can feel the immense backing of such a large, caring community.”

Travelers actively recruits transitioning service personnel for opportunities in a number of functions, including claim, customer service, investigations, information technology, nursing, risk control and underwriting. Learn more about employment opportunities with Travelers at careers.travelers.com/military.

Hire Heroes USA Founder Rejoins National Nonprofit’s Board

Announcement comes as organization targets another milestone for client hires

ATLANTA (PRWEB) AUGUST 16, 2018

Hire Heroes USA, the preeminent nonprofit organization providing employment services to transitioning military members, veterans and military spouses across the United States and around the world, today announced that its founder, John Bardis, has rejoined its board of directors.

“John is and always will be an important part of this organization. It is because of his vision and his sincere passion for our active duty military, veterans and their families that we exist in the first place,” said Hire Heroes USA CEO Christopher Plamp, a retired Air Force combat pilot. “The crucial work we do every day to assist these men and women into jobs in the civilian workforce is a testament to John’s foresight on the critical need for our services.”

Now in its 11th year, Hire Heroes USA continues to grow and evolve, just like the suite of services it provides. These include: online workshops and training modules, job matching, virtual career fairs and an exclusive job board, plus core services like resume, networking and interview assistance, as well as expert guidance on navigating federal employment opportunities.

In late May, the veteran service organization hit, and quickly passed, a milestone 25,000 lifetime hires. It expects to reach 30,000 before the end of the year.

“Results like these are a tribute to the extraordinary team at Hire Heroes USA. I look forward to working with CEO Christopher Plamp and CFO Nate Smith again,” said Bardis, adding, “Ultimately, it is all about the incredible value that our nation’s veterans bring to employers and the civilian workforce, and Hire Heroes USA continues to prove that it is making a real impact in the lives of those individuals.”

Hire Heroes USA’s long-term success can be traced back to a chance encounter Bardis had in 2005, when he met a post-9/11 Army sergeant, who was a patient at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. The sergeant had been severely injured in a landmine explosion while on patrol in Afghanistan. He had undergone extensive physical therapy and multiple surgeries, including below-the-knee amputation. It was while sitting on that park bench that the veteran confided his genuine uncertainty about his future and his employability. That encounter and very personal conversation not only inspired Bardis to offer the sergeant a job on the spot, it eventually led to the creation of Hire Heroes USA.

Bardis has more than 30 years of experience in the healthcare industry. In 1999, he founded MedAssets, serving 15 years as chairman, president and chief executive officer, and as chairman and CEO until his retirement in 2015. More recently, he served in Washington D.C. as the Assistant Secretary for Administration at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

About Hire Heroes USA:
Headquartered in the Atlanta metro area, with additional branch offices around the country, Hire Heroes USA is the leading veteran service organization specifically targeting the issues of underemployment and unemployment among veterans. Funding for the nonprofit’s services is exclusively through private grants and public donations. Hire Heroes USA has earned Charity Navigator’s highest possible 4-star rating for a third consecutive year and it also has a GuideStar Platinum Seal of Transparency. For more information about our mission, services and how to get involved as a corporate partner, employment partner, donor or volunteer, visit hireheroesusa.org and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

A digital copy of this press release is also available online

Hire Heroes USA CEO Named ‘Charity Pioneer’ by Sage Foundation

Hire Heroes USA’s Christopher Plamp among select group of nonprofit leaders named

Atlanta, GA, August 3, 2018 – Sage Foundation has named Hire Heroes USA CEO Christopher Plamp as one of its Charity Pioneers, a select group of nonprofit leaders that it describes as “the most inspiring, groundbreaking and life-changing charitable faces” working in the United States and the United Kingdom today. Each was chosen because of their outstanding and inspiring stories.

“It is an incredible honor, not only to represent Hire Heroes USA as a member of this esteemed group, but also to receive this extraordinary recognition from the Sage Foundation, which continually supports our efforts to assist transitioning military members, veterans and military spouses into the workforce,” said Plamp, a decorated combat Air Force pilot.

More than 40 employees of Sage Group plc in the United States also volunteer with Hire Heroes USA, donating their time to mentor transitioning military members, veterans and military spouses through career counseling, interview practice and networking guidance.

In addition to Plamp, Sage Foundation’s Charity Pioneers include: in the U.S., Chris Ford, founder and CEO of the National Association of Veteran-Serving Organizations (NAVSO); James Franklin, CEO of technology nonprofit TechBridge; Ryan Manion, President of the Travis Manion Foundation; and Jack Harris, President & CEO of Atlanta-based Junior Achievement of Georgia. Leaders in the UK include: Turly Humphrey, founder of Circle Collective, which helps young people find employment; Jocelyn Hillman, founder of Working Chance, which helps women who served time in prison find employment; Hannah Underwood, who heads up youth-focused organization The Key; Lady Juliet Hughes-Hallet, chair and co-founder of Smart Works, which helps prepare low-income unemployed women for job interviews; Jen Kamins, Executive Director of Brave Initiatives, which introduces girls to coding and technology; Huffty McHugh, who has dedicated her career and professional practice to The West End Women and Girls Centre for more than 30 years ; and, Danielle Taylor, who has been fundraising for more than 15 years for small charities that support people with learning disabilities.

If you know a philanthropic trailblazer who should be added to this list, click here to submit their name. Sage Foundation is accepting nominations until September 21, 2018.