HIGHLIGHTS FROM OUR FALL CONFERENCE
RECORDED ON OCTOBER 9, 2025
Welcome and Opening Remarks
Nicholas Antaki
President, VETS Indexes
Keynote Address
Jared Lyon
National President & CEO, Student Veterans of America (SVA)
5-Star Employer Best Practices in Veteran Recruiting & Hiring
These VETS Indexes 5 Star Employers will provide actionable strategies for fostering a veteran-inclusive culture through targeted recruitment, tailored support, and recognition of veterans’ unique contributions.
MODERATOR
Nicholas Antaki
President | VETS Indexes
PANELISTS
Keith Cassant
Veterans Program Manager Federal Military Family Network Liaison | Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency
James Christman
Senior Engagement Leader Workforce Development Veterans and Disabilities | Con Edison
Tom Downs
Director of Talent Operations and Programs | Booz Allen
Richard Moore
Program Manager, Military Outreach Program | General Dynamics Missions Systems
Breakout 1, Option 1: Leveraging Veteran Networks, Influencers and Organizations to Meet and Exceed Recruiting Goals
MODERATOR
Master Sergeant Crystal C. Romero
(USA, Ret.) | United States Army National Guard
PANELISTS
Kaitlin Cashwell
Director of Development | America’s Warrior Partnership
Lida Citroën
CEO & Founder | LIDA360, LLC
Jesse Shearer
Campus Recruiter | Withum
Breakout 1, Option 2: Veterans in Technology, Cybersecurity and STEM
MODERATOR
Rachelle “Shelly” Waite-Bey
Business Owner | Waite SLTS
PANELISTS
Garrett D. Boesch
Global Supply Base Manager | Teradyne
Stephen Lance
Regional VP, ISP Northwest | Spectrum
Shaun Stephenson
Strategic Military and Veteran Program Manager | Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL)
Jeffrey Wheatman
SVP, Cyber Risk Strategist, Black Kite
Panel 2: The ROI of Hiring Veterans: Understanding Their Value
MODERATOR
Chris Miles
Military and Veteran Relations Manager | Sonepar
PANELISTS
Rob Arndt
CEO & Founder | BufferSprings
Kelli Burke
DEI Lead – External Partnerships and Strategic Pathways | Humana Health
Jordana Megonigal
CEO | The RECON Network
Louis Olander, Ph.D.
Director of Research and Veteran Initiatives | Disability:IN
Breakout 2, Option 1: The Big Impact of Employing Veterans in Small Organizations
MODERATOR
Peggy Kerber
Director of Human Resources | Warrior Service Company, LLC
PANELISTS
Ken Cates, U.S. Army (ret)
Director – Strategic Growth & Regional Operations | Major Talent
Leslie Coffey
Vice President – Military Engagement | American Corporate Partners (ACP)
Derrick Green
Founder | Waffles and Whatnot
Chris Meek
Co-Founder & Chairman | Soldier Strong
Breakout 2, Option 2: Attracting and Retaining Guard and Reserve Members
MODERATOR
Brigadier General David W. May, USAF (ret)
Director, National Guard and Reserve Partnerships | VetJobs
PANELISTS
Celia Croff
Military Recruiting Programs Manager | US Foods
Kelly French
Veterans Talent Acquisition Program Specialist | United Rentals
TJ Martin
Senior Military Recruiting Program Manager | USIC
Panel 3: Retaining Veterans in the First Year
Establishing mentorship and peer programs to support veteran employees’ integration, development, and career advancement is a key component to a robust strategy.
MODERATOR
Janine Smith
Founder/CEO | Sparrow Consulting, LLC
PANELISTS
James Moore
Principal and Co-Chair of Veterans BRG | KPMG
Kyle Freedman
Principal | Director of Talent | Pond & Company
Chambala Roach
Program Manager Military Affairs | HCA Healthcare
Brian Brooks
Talent Acquisition Manager | Knowles Precision Devices