CONFERENCE AGENDA
SPRING CONFERENCE | APRIL 13, 2023
Employing U.S. VETS Conference
Hosted by VETS Indexes, this semi-annual conference includes discussions of best practices and challenges related to veteran employment, recognition of companies going above and beyond for vets and their families, and lots of opportunities to network. The Employing U.S Vets conference is designed to offer attendees actionable tools and information to establish and build upon veteran initiatives. It also provides a great opportunity to network with peers from leading companies, non-profits, government agencies, and others seeking to employ veterans.
(All Times Are Eastern Time)
8:00am-8:45am
Registration and Continental Breakfast
8:45am-9:00am
Welcome and Opening Remarks
George Altman
Managing Director | VETS Indexes
9:00am-9:30am
Morning Keynote Address
Dr. Yashika D. Neaves, Chief, Strategic Plans & Initiatives, Department of Defense
Dr. Yashika D. Neaves leads strategic plans and initiatives for the Department of Defense Military-Civilian Transition Office, under the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness. Her portfolio spans public and private stakeholder engagements; strategic communications; interagency policy and partnerships; public affairs and organizational development related to military pre-separation counseling, psychosocial prevention/interventions, career transition, and reintegration for active and Reserve Components. She is responsible for maturing evidence-based programmatic strategies, operations, and organizational structure utilizing technical authority and subject-matter expertise to resolve operational gaps in the DoD Transition Assistance Program (TAP) and the Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program (YRRP).
9:30am-10:10am
5-Star Employer Best Practices in Recruiting & Hiring
A panel comprised exclusively of employers recognized previously with our top award level, 5-Star Employers, discussing the most effective approaches to recruiting and hiring veterans, as well as challenges to overcome and pitfalls to avoid.
MODERATOR
George Altman
Managing Director | VETS Indexes
PANELISTS
Michael Quinn
Founder and CEO | HireMilitary
Tommy Jones
Associate Director, Talent Acquisition, Military, Diversity & Emerging Talent Recruitment Program | Verizon
Sidney Covington
Associate, Veterans Engagement | AmeriVet Securities
10:10am-10:50am
Leveraging the Leadership and Resilience of Veterans
Sponsored by Fiserv
With so many employees today experiencing burn out, anxiety, and uncertainty, employers need the leadership and resilience of veterans now more than ever. This session will focus on how veteran employees are faring in the current climate, analyzing their leadership skills and qualities, and how the resilience learned during their military years can help elevate their civilian employers.
MODERATOR
James Hendon
Commissioner | NYC Department of Veterans’ Services
PANELISTS
Dan Goldenberg
VP and Executive Dir. | Call of Duty Endowment
Jesse Gemberling-Johnson
Director of Talent Recruitment and Development | MCFA
Jeffrey Harley, PhD
Rear Admiral, US Navy (ret.), Director for Military Engagement | Western Governors University
Seth Peterson
Corporate Citizenship Manager, Military & Veteran Affairs | Fiserv
10:50am-11:10am
Morning Break & Network Session
11:10am-11:50am
How To: Read a Military Resume and Interview to Hire Great Talent
Sponsored by USAA
When recruiters and hiring managers review a military resume, how do they decode the exportable and transferable skills, experiences and values a veteran candidate will bring to the company? In this panel, we will discuss interpreting MOS (military occupational specialty) codes, understanding how military skills can apply in the civilian workforce, and interviewing military-connected talent to unearth their potential.
MODERATOR
Lida Citroën
CEO and Founder | LIDA360, LLC
PANELISTS
Tricia McGrath Hess
Recruiter – Tax and Treasury | Google Veterans Network NYC
Marcus “Ohley” Ohlenforst
Lead Military Talent Strategist | USAA
Jeremy C. Strathmeyer
Vice President – Client Engagement | Greencastle Consulting
Bobby Thompson
Director of Construction | Caruso Homes
11:50am-12:30pm
Skills Focus: Veteran Technical Skills in Logistics and Operations
Sponsored by GXO Logistics
Many of the skills most important to military operations are also crucial for civilian employers — and perhaps there is no better example than logistics. This panel will explore how the military-grade training service members receive to handle the armed forces’ enormous logistics and operations challenges can be repurposed to supercharge how civilian employers do business.
MODERATOR
Steven Lewis
Division President | GXO Logistics
PANELISTS
John Lees
Sr. Manager, Talent Acquisition & Outreach, Human Resources | Serco
12:30pm-1:30pm
Luncheon
1:30pm-2:10pm
How Training Your Nonveteran Workforce Can Create a More Veteran-Inclusive Workplace
Sponsored by GM
There are countless programs dedicated to training veterans to acclimate to corporate culture, but what effort are employers making to train their nonveteran workforce to better understand the military and meet vets halfway? Such training in military career paths, culture, structure and jargon is increasingly common — and can be key to building a workplace that is welcoming to and inclusive of military-connected employees.
MODERATOR
Michelle Aguirre
Assistant Manager, DEI External Partnerships, Global Diversity & ERG | GM
PANELISTS
Kevin Schmiegel
Chief Executive Officer | ZeroMils
Bruce Townshend
Chief, Employer Engagement | Department of Defense | ESGR
Latoya Roberts
Vice President, Project Manager, Veteran Talent | JPMorgan Chase
2:10pm-2:50pm
How To: Market & Brand Your Company Around Veteran Employment
Sponsored by Comcast NBCUniversal
One of the biggest challenges facing companies focused on veteran employment is how to market and brand themselves to attract and retain military talent. In this panel, we will explore the strategies and tools companies are using to bring in top-quality veteran candidates.
MODERATOR
Ed Carr
Sr. Director, Military & Veteran Affairs | Comcast NBCUniversal
PANELISTS
Tony Gilbert
Program Manager, Military and Veteran Recruitment | Raytheon Technologies
Blair Ciccociopoo
Senior Specialty Recruiter-Case Management | Select Medical
Jim Lorraine
President and CEO | America’s Warrior Partnership
2:50pm-3:10pm
Afternoon Break & Networking Session
3:10pm-3:50pm
Finding Veteran Talent in Apprenticeships and Skills-Specific Certification Programs
Employers are increasingly recruiting veterans on college campuses, but few have recognized the enormous veteran talent pool in non-degree-granting programs. This panel will discuss how to leverage skills-based certification, training, and apprenticeship programs for top-tier military-connected talent.
MODERATOR
Mauricio Grant
District Manager | United Rentals
PANELISTS
Steve Bovee
Military Program Talent Attraction Manager | Spectrum
Won Palisou
Founder | wVOWS
Laura Schmiegel
Senior Vice President, Strategic Partnerships | Orion Talent
Anne Trenkle
Executive Director | Helmets to Hardhats