SPRING 2022 AGENDA

Our Spring, 2022 Conference was a huge success! We encouraged (and always do) feedback from everyone – from vendor, sponsor, speaker and attendee – and all of the comments were positive and lifting. We thank you for such a great event. Below are the highlights!

(All Times Are Eastern Time)

8:00am-8:45am
Registration/Continental Breakfast

Sponsored by VETS Indexes

8:45am-9:00am
Welcome and Opening Remarks

George Altman
Managing Director | VETS Indexes

9:00am-9:30am

Morning Keynote

Jonathan Cleck
Director | Greencastle Associates Consulting

9:35am-10:25am
5-Star Employer Best Practices: Veteran Employee Retention & Promotion

A panel comprised exclusively of the top rated, 5-Star VETS Indexes Employers, discussing how best to improve retention rates for veteran employees and to promote them to higher-ranking positions throughout the organization. It’s not just about recruiting veterans; it’s about helping them develop strong careers and become senior leaders at your organization.

MODERATOR

George Altman
Managing Director | VETS Indexes

PANELISTS

John Perez
Head of Military & Veterans Affairs | Johnson & Johnson

George Bernloehr
Lead Associate, Corporate Affairs/Military and Veteran Affairs | Booz Allen Hamilton

Edward Carr
Sr. Director, Military & Veteran Affairs | Comcast NBCUniversal

Phil McConkey
President and Partner | Academy Securities

10:30am-11:00am
Morning Break and Networking Session

Sponsored by Comcast NBCUniversal

11:05am-11:55am
Veterans Leading the Way As Ideal Entrepreneurs

Sponsored by Fiserv

With an estimated 2 million-plus veteran-owned businesses in the U.S., accounting for over 6 million jobs, it should come as no surprise that many of the skills learned through military service translate directly to the world of entrepreneurship. Our panel of experts will explore how veterans are using their military mindsets to become their own bosses, how they are addressing the challenges they encounter and what resources are available to assist them.

MODERATOR

Meg Hendricks
Vice President, Head of Military and Veterans Affairs, Corporate Citizenship | Fiserv

PANELISTS

Misty Stutsman Fox
Director Entrepreneurship and Small Business at Institute for Veterans and Military Families | IVMF

Christopher Dambach
Owner | Industry Standard USA and Empire Material

Stephannie Addo-Zuniga
Principal Owner | ACJ Luxury Maintenance LLC
Founder | Champs for Autism

12:00pm-12:50pm
Addressing Unemployment and Underemployment of Female Veterans

Sponsored by AmeriVet Securities

Too often, female veterans are forgotten or under-represented in veteran initiatives. This trend can make it particularly difficult for women leaving the military to get their civilian careers off to a good start. Our expert panel will discuss unemployment and underemployment of female veterans and what companies can do to address these issues.

MODERATOR

Sidney Covington, LMSW
Associate, Veterans Engagement | AmeriVet Securities

PANELISTS

Nneka Bell
Owner | Celebrities Fashion Group
President | Celebrities Quality Painting
Adjunct Professor | Metropolitan College of New York

Alec Mizner
Manager of Military Recruiting | Werner Enterprises

Flossie Hall
CEO/Founder | FHall Consulting

Laura McKenna
Academy Advisor and Field Representative | USAA Military Affairs

12:50pm-1:50pm
Luncheon & Afternoon Networking

Sponsored by Oracle

1:55pm-2:45pm
How Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs) can help you improve your veteran recruiting, support, and outreach

Sponsored by Spectrum

With their large numbers of veteran members, expertise in veteran issues, and nonprofit missions to improve conditions for veterans, Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs) can be uniquely valuable partners for employers that need help building or improving their veterans programs. This panel will discuss the ways that VSOs can help employers, detail how to build such partnerships with VSOs, and explore the elements of a successful collaboration.

MODERATOR

Timothy Cochrane
Vice President Growth | Tenova LLC/HireMilitary

PANELISTS

Patrick Sence
Military Program Manager | General Dynamics Bath Iron Works

Blake Hogan
CEO | Bunker Labs

Thor O’Connell
American Legion

Omari J. Faulkner
Veterans and Military Ambassador | ManTech International Corp.

2:50pm-3:40pm
Branding your organization as a top veteran employer: How to use marketing & promotion to get the recognition you deserve

Sponsored by FASTPORT

Building a strong veterans program is a significant undertaking, requiring buy-in from your organization’s senior leaders, support from your staff, and engagement with your veteran employees. But once you’ve built that great veterans program, how do you spread word about it outside of your organization? Our panel of experts will discuss the techniques they have used to market and brand their organizations as employers of choice for veterans.

MODERATOR

Anthony “Tony” Gilbert, MA, USA (Ret)
Program Manager, Military and Veteran Recruitment | Raytheon Missiles & Defense

PANELISTS

Bruce Townshend
Chief – Employment Engagement | DOD/ESGR

Clayton Still
National Director of Military Affairs | Power Home Remodeling

Dave Harrison
Executive Director, ​Workforce Development and Government Relations | National Apprenticeship

Nikita Wallace
Manager of Military Talent Attraction | Spectrum

3:45pm-4:00pm

Closing Remarks

George Altman
Managing Director | VETS Indexes

4:00pm-5:00pm
Networking Cocktail Reception

Sponsored by VETS Indexes