Camo2Commerce Top 3-Finalist for National Award

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation today announced that Camo2Commerce is one of three finalists for the 5th Annual Hiring Our Heroes Capital One Award for Small Business Veteran and Military Spouse Employment.

Camo2Commerce is among 21 finalists nominated for six awards because of demonstrated efforts to connect veterans, transitioning service members, and military spouses with meaningful employment opportunities both within the company and throughout the private sector.

“Camo2Commerce has been a true small business leader in the movement to hire and support our nation’s veterans and military spouses,” said Eric Eversole, a vice president at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and president of Hiring Our Heroes.

Camo2Commerce understands the value in hiring the men and women who have served our country and has dedicated extraordinary efforts toward improving the lives of America’s veterans and military spouses.”

The Hiring Our Heroes awards are given in six categories: Veteran and Military Spouse Employment; Post-9/11 Veteran Employment; Wounded Veteran and Military Caregiver Employment; Military Spouse Employment and Mentoring; Small Business Veteran and Military Spouse Employment; and Individual Leadership.


This year’s finalists are:

• Capital One Award for Small Business Veteran and Military Spouse Employment, for demonstrated leadership by a small business or organization (less than 500 employees) in hiring veterans, transitioning service members, and military spouses: Afterburner Inc.; Camo2Commerce; Greencastle Associates Consulting
• Lee Anderson Veteran and Military Spouse Employment Award, for overall excellence in hiring and retaining veterans, transitioning service members, and military spouses: Comcast NBCUniversal; Hospital Corporation of America (HCA); Union Pacific Railroad
• Steve Robinson Post-9/11 Veteran Employment Award, for effective and sustained efforts to enhance the ability of post-9/11 veterans and transitioning service members to find meaningful employment: Hilton Worldwide; J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc.; PNC Bank; Roush Enterprises; Starbucks
• Don Weber Wounded Veteran and Military Caregiver Employment Award, for demonstrated leadership in addressing the unique challenges and demands for wounded, ill, and injured veterans as well as military caregivers in their search for meaningful employment: APi Group Inc.; Ryder Systems; SunTrust Bank
• Military Spouse Employment and Mentoring Award, for demonstrated hiring, mentorship, and support of military spouses in their search for meaningful employment: First Command Financial Services; Prudential Financial; United Services Automobile Association (USAA)
• Colonel Michael Endres Leadership Award for Individual Excellence in Veteran Employment, for an individual who has gone above and beyond to make a difference in employment opportunities for veterans, transitioning service members, and spouses: Mike Kelly, Assistant Vice President for Military Advocacy, USAA; Keith Nattrass, GM Military & Veteran Affairs, Global Diversity, General Motors; Blayne Smith, Executive Director, Team Red, White & Blue; Kris Urbauer, Program Manager for Military Recruiting, General Electric.

The Hiring Our Heroes Awards Committee will select the winners, which will be announced on November 10, 2015.

Since Hiring Our Heroes began in March 2011, more than 1,500 companies have hired 27,200 veterans and military spouses as a result of 900 hiring events. In March 2012, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and Capital One launched Hiring 500,000 Heroes, a national campaign to engage the business community in committing to hire half a million veterans and military spouses by the end of 2014. This milestone was achieved in June 2015 when more than 500,000 veteran and military spouse hires were confirmed.

WA Service Member for Life Two

Washington State Service Member for Life Transition Summit

Tuesday, September 22, 2015 - 9:00am to Thursday, September 24, 2015 - 4:00pm
Hiring Our Heroes
Joint Base Lewis-McChord,
WA 98433 United States

See map: Google Maps

Join us at the Washington State Service Member for Life Transition Summit at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

This three-day summit brings together key federal and state agencies, influential military leaders, innovators in the business and employer community, and local community leaders with transitioning service members, veterans, and their families.

This summit features participation by and speakers from the Washington State government including the Washington State Department of Commerce, The Office of Governor Jay Inslee, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Hiring Our Heroes, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the U.S. Department of Labor' Veteran Employment and Training Service, the Joint Services Support-Washington National Guard, the U.S. Army's Soldier for Life and Installation Management Command, the U.S. Small Business Administration, Camo 2 Commerce, the U.S. Department of Defense's Transition to Veterans Program Office, Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs, the Washington State Military Transition Council, and local chambers of commerce, as well as the launch of the Onward to Opportunity program.

The three-day transition summit will feature seminars, roundtables, panel events, recruiter training, and facilitated discussions focused on improving competitive employment for service members, veterans, and military spouses in addition to networking opportunities for all involved.

• Day 1 is for senior leaders including companies and employers, senior military leaders (O-3/E-6 or above), local support organizations, chambers of commerce, economic development groups, CEOs and regional support organizations.
• Day 2 will focus on Transitioning Service Members, Family Members, National Guard and Reserve Members and Veterans looking for employment.
• Day 3 will bring together job seekers, employers, and other leaders and culminate in a hiring fair, college and apprenticeship fair, and small business fair.

This summit is held with support from Starbucks, Capital One, First Data, and Camo2Commerce.
Employers: Learn how to make the most of these Transition Summits here.

REGISTRATION
? Job Seekers, Employers, and Service Organizations: Click here to register.

Why register? Job seekers can upload their resumes to be viewed by employers ahead of the event.

For general questions about Hiring Our Heroes, please visit our FAQ page or email us.

VA Launches Campaign to Increase Veterans’ Economic Potential

Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert A. McDonald, with leaders from national and local Veterans service organizations, corporate employers and government agencies, announced the launch of the Veterans Economic Communities Initiative, an effort focused in a total of 50 U.S. cities to promote economic success for Veterans.

The initiative is part of MyVA, which is dedicated to making Veterans the center of all we do. “The best way to get things done for Veterans is to involve partners from both the public and private sectors – national to local,” said McDonald.  “If history has shown us anything, it’s that all you have to do is give Veterans an opportunity and they will go beyond anything you could ever envision.  Community leaders understand the purpose of MyVA and will find innovative ways to support it.”

The goal of the VECI is to increase education and employment opportunities for America’s Veterans by bringing together local and national employers to coordinate services for Veterans, service members and military families.

With the sacred commitment of making customer service for Veterans the focal point, VA will look to communities around the country to help make the VA the best federal agency. “MyVA will work State by state, community by community, person by person,” said McDonald.  “We want to expand our reach and collaboration in communities where Veterans live.”

The Veterans Economic Communities Initiative launch event was hosted in Dallas. Secretary McDonald and Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings provided remarks, during the event. Campaign partners also participated in panel discussions on public-private partnerships.  Representatives from major corporations such as Hilton and TriWest joined Secretary McDonald in pledging their commitment to furthering Veteran economic opportunities.

The Veterans Economic Communities Initiative includes a VA Economic Liaison in each community who will expand and encourage collaboration among private and public organizations that offer resources related to education, training and employment. Through strategic partnerships, and by offering Veterans innovative forms of learning and employment opportunities, these communities will help Veterans gain competitive career skills and knowledge in locally in-demand fields.

Campaign partners include the departments of Defense and Labor, the Small Business Administration and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, in addition to regional and national nonprofits, businesses and educators. The first 25 communities were chosen based on local Veteran unemployment rates, Veteran population and the projected increase in Veteran population.

Communities participating in the Veterans Economic Communities Initiative include:

• Atlanta, Georgia; 
• El Paso, Texas; 
• Las Vegas, Nevada; 
• New York, New York; 
• San Antonio, Texas; 
• Chicago, Illinois; 
• Honolulu, Hawaii; 
• Los Angeles, California; 
• Norfolk, Virginia; 
• San Diego, California; 
• Cincinnati, Ohio; 
• Houston, Texas; 
• Louisville, Kentucky; 
• Phoenix, Arizona; 
• Seattle-Tacoma, Washington; 
• Colorado Springs, Colorado; 
• Jacksonville, Florida; 
• Miami, Florida; 
• Richmond, Virginia; 
• St. Louis, Missouri; 
• Dallas, Texas; 
• Kansas City, Missouri; 
• Nashville, Tennessee; 
• Riverside, California; 
• Washington, DC

Under the Veterans Economic Communities Initiative, communities will develop scalable, sustainable models over the next two years that include:

• Resources and education for employers on hiring and supporting Veterans.
• Employment summits to connect talented job seekers with local employers who have immediate hiring needs.
• Policy academies where experts generate ideas, form partnerships and make policy recommendations that will help lower the unemployment rate and increase economic opportunities among Veterans and their families.
• Learning or resource hubs to help connect Veterans to economic opportunities including entrepreneurship, credentialing and skills building.

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Veterans Career Fair Next Month

SBA Renews Funding for Pacific Northwest Veteran Business Outreach Center

The SBA announced funding in the total grant amount of $3.8 million for 14 Veteran Business Outreach Centers (VBOCs), including the continuation of the VBOC in Seattle, which covers Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Alaska.

The extended funding will enable the VBOC to counsel, train, and provide assistance, comprehensive business assessment and mentoring to veteran and service-disabled veteran entrepreneurs, in addition to Reserve Component, National Guard and transitioning service members interested in starting or expanding a  small business.

A key responsibility of the VBOCs is to support transitioning service members as they embark on post-military service careers that often include small business ownership and other forms of self-employment.

During 2014 alone, the VBOC in Seattle served 831 clients, assisted with 185 business startups, and helped create or maintain 309 jobs.

A portion of the funding will be used to cover costs associated with coordinating, delivering, and conducting outreach to increase participation in the entrepreneurship track of the Department of Defense’s (DOD’s) Transition Assistance Program (TAP), known as Boots to Business, on military installations in the continental United States and its territories. VBOCs are directed by the Small Business Act to participate in the DOD’s Transition Assistance Program.

Each year the SBA helps more than 200,000 veterans, service-disabled veterans and reservists start and grow their small businesses.

To learn more about additional opportunities for veterans available through the SBA, visit HERE.

To connect with the local VBOC, click HERE, call (206) 324-4330 x122 or e-mail HERE.

Boots2Work Comes Back

Chamber Spotlighted for Military Support

The Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber was spotlighted in the Association of Defense Communities 2014 Annual Report/2015 Strategic Plan.

Specific mention was made of the Servicemember for Life Transition Fair, which the Chamber co-sponsored and the several traffic and transportation projects completed or underway now that serve JBLM and ease the congestion of other users along the I-5 Corridor.

Fellowship for Opportunity & Success

Local companies are welcoming heroes of the Heroes Corporate Fellowship program, a partnership between Joint Base Lewis-McCord (JBLM) and Hiring Our Heroes (HOH)/U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation.

The Corporate Fellows program is a result of the Transition Summit held at JBLM in October 2014. The Veteran & Business Service via the Chamber partnership with WorkForce Central, was deeply involved in the planning and implementation of the Summit through supporting the collaborative employment initiatives (one being the Corporate Fellows Program) which have resulted from the energy of the Summit.

The Corporate Fellows program provides separating service members who already have a degree and some years of military experience opportunities to connect with a corporate sponsor, become more familiar with the civilian work place, step into the vernacular of civilian society, and build key relationships that will lead to a meaningful civilian career and successful transition.

The Corporate Fellows program participants are soon-to-separate service members enrolled in the Camo2Commerce Program, vetted through a competitive interview event and do a 3-month project for a corporate sponsor. The participating service members continue to receive their military salary and are released from military activities to pursue the fellowship. Many of the participants will have an opportunity to interview for a position with the corporate sponsor for whom they have completed the 3-month project. It is a win-win for everyone involved and provides a critical “leg up” for separating service members as they transition to civilian life.

The individuals chosen by the Chamber will be doing projects aimed at evaluating the impact and effectiveness of the Veteran & Business Service activity and supporting various general development activities of the Chamber.

Veteran Networking Event

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Crowdfunding Campaign Starts for Veteran & Business Service

The Chamber's Veteran & Business Service promotes to businesses the Veteran Advantage for transitioning and separating service veterans to entrepreneurship, professional careers and apprenticeship opportunities.

The US Department of Labor has reduced funding to our funding sources, the local workforce development councils, so they see a reduction from what they received last year, because the whole state was allocated $3.7 million less in the Workforce Investment Act in 2014-15.

With the reductions in force currently underway at JBLM, nearly 400 service members monthly desiring to have jobs in our community, will have less help doing so. The proposed reduction of up to 16,000 civilian (many vets) and military jobs at JBLM over the next five years will put increasing pressure on the local ability to help these service members.

Our Veteran & Business Service has been honored as a “Chamber of Valor” (three stars, the highest level), by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation. Our service providers, Greg Mowat and Terrence Hodge, who you will learn more of in the video and at our website (see above URL) are qualified, skilled and passionate about their service.

Our program last year was a huge success. Our funding partners have enthusiastically communicated their satisfaction with our services. But they have already done all they can to support our budget.

We’ve pared back our expenses by 53%. But we cannot sustain our services at that level. For $166/day, we can sustain our service levels having both our staff service providers doing their great job promoting the Veteran Advantage.

Visit our campaign at RepayVets.com to donate and help spread the word!

 

Service Member for Life Transition Summit

Save the Date for the JBLM Service Member for Life Transition Summit in October:

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Tacoma Focuses Mixer on Vet Entrepreneurs

Join a networking event focused on the entrepreneurial spirit of our veterans!

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SBA Earns Accolates for Vet Entrepreneurship Programs

The Senate Appropriations Committee praised the Small Business Administration’s “Boots to Business” program for helping transitioning service members start businesses, according to the Association of Defense Communities.

The Senate committee’s draft report accompanying the FY 2015 Financial Services spending bill, which funds the SBA.  The report noted that the entrepreneurial curriculum is offered to service members as an option within the revised transition assistance program. The committee pointed out that many of SBA’s programs for veterans provide counseling and training after service members separate from DOD, even though “pre-deployment training and counseling could potentially be more effective” and save money for veterans and taxpayers.

The panel directs the agency to assess the efficacy of providing counseling and training before deployment, describe the counseling services provided to veteran small business owners in advance of deployment and include recommendations to improve the counseling.

The Appropriations Committee released the report Thursday even though it doesn’t plan to mark up the spending measure.

The panel also said it was concerned about the disparity between the percentage of military personnel that are women, 14 percent, and the portion of veteran-owned small business that are owned by women, 4 percent. The latter figure is “far less than 30 percent of small businesses owned by non-veteran women.”

The committee directs the SBA to assess the current level of outreach for women veterans provided by Women’s Business Centers, Veterans Business Outreach Centers and Small Business Development Centers, “including recommendations for improving outreach to this demographic group.

Veteran & Spouse Networking Event July 17 at The Great American Casino in Lakewood WA

Veteran Networking Event July 17 2014. The networking event is a great opportunity to meet area businesses and discuss current career openings and opportunities for Veterans and their family. The event is for Veterans and their spouse.

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June is "Veteran Advantage Month"

The Chamber salutes the Pierce County Council and Executive for the proclamation that June 2014 is "Veteran Advantage Month" in Pierce County.

This action supports the many local organizations, partnerships, and activities that work tirelessly to accentuate the extraordinary asset and resource that our Veterans and separating service members represent to our communities, businesses, and economy.

From the proclamation: “The Pierce county business community must seek all advantages to increase its competitiveness in the current environment of global competition....... Veterans represent a workforce advantage for Pierce County businesses as Veterans have an abundance of marketable skills that are transferable from the military to all sectors of the economy, are highly productive and motivated men and women who have a strong work ethic and strong character, know the value of hard work, and can fill critical civilian jobs ...”

“...It is in the best interests of the citizens of Pierce County and the Pierce County business community to support the successful transition of Veterans and their families from military to a fulfilling and rewarding post-military career...The Council and Executive hereby proclaim the month of June 2014, to be ‘Veteran Advantage Month’ in Pierce County, Washington and encourage all businesses in Pierce County to hire Veterans as a way to increase economic growth and prosperity, to support our Nation's security, and to honor the many sacrifices made by our Veterans and their Families".

Our country is founded on the promise of opportunity, community, and rewarding work which supports healthy families and thriving neighborhoods. The Pierce County Council and Executive have led the way to honoring and utilizing the training and talents of these women and men who, by their service and actions, are a credit to our way of life. The Chamber applauds their leadership and joins them in this on-going work.

Guest Author: Greg Mowat, Specialist, Veteran & Business Service

County Considers "Vet Advantage Month"

The Pierce County Council will host a hearing on:

Proposal No. R2014-70, a resolution of the Pierce County Council and Executive Promoting the Hiring of Veterans and Proclaiming the Month of June 2014, as "Veteran Advantage Month," in Pierce County, Washington.

The Final Council hearing on this proposal is set for June 17, 2014, at 6:30 pm in Council District No. 7. Each year the Council hosts meetings in each of its seven districts.

The final Council hearing will be held at the Key Peninsula Civic Center, Whitmore Room, 17010 South Vaughn Road KPN in Vaughn, WA. This meeting will be in lieu of the regular 3 pm Council meeting.

Use this link for Proposal information, including hearing dates and related documents.

Veteran & Spouse Networking Event

Veteran Networking Event June 19^th 2014. Opportunity to meet area businesses and discuss career opportunities. This event is for the Veteran and their spouse.

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Veteran Hiring Event (Open to the public)

 Veteran Hiring Event (Open to the public) May 28th 2014 9am - 3pm.
Opportunity to meet over 40+ area businesses and discuss career opportunities.

This event is open to the public. Please bring your resume and dress to impress.

Brandman University & Goodwill Veteran Services Career and Resource Day

Career and Resource Day Thursday June 5th 2014 10am - 3pm.
Opportunity to meet local employers and discuss career opportunities.

Pre-register to reserve your spot for resume writing and mock interviews.
Bulan Sheel (253)573.6789 / 

Pre register here

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Tacoma/South Sound Chapter of SCORE Takes Top Honors

The Tacoma/South Sound chapter of SCORE, is the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) 2014 Washington Veteran Small Business Champion a nonprofit whose volunteers provide free mentoring to small businesses and future entrepreneurs.

The SBA Veteran Small Business Champion Award honors those who have fulfilled a commitment to advancing small business opportunities for veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces. 

The skills veterans acquire from service can be directly translated into owning and operating a business, said Nancy Porzio, SBA Seattle district director. Without the help of the Tacoma/South Sound chapter of SCORE, we wouldn’t be able to reach as many transitioning service members through our Boots to Business program.

The SBA Boots to Business initiative is a two-step training program that ensures every transitioning service member has access to the tools and knowledge they need to identify a business opportunity, draft a business plan, connect with local small business resources, and launch their small business.

Tacoma/South Sound SCORE has led seven workshops to more than 360 veterans at Joint Base Lewis-McChord transitioning from a service member to a business owner through the SBA Boots to Business program.

The chapter is scheduled to conduct eight more workshops during the remainder of 2014.

Joint Base Lewis McChord is located in the heart of the Tacoma/South Sound SCORE chapter, said Dave Binz, Tacoma SCORE president. Leading these workshops is very rewarding.

The SBA 2014 Washington Veteran Small Business Champion will be recognized at a local awards ceremony event May 8 in conjunction with National Small Business Week May 12-16.

National Small Business Week is a time to recognize the impact small business has on our country, said SBA Regional Administrator Calvin Goings. It’s a chance to celebrate the dedicated, hard-working small business owners who are making a difference in their communities.

Each year since 1963, the President has issued a proclamation calling for the celebration of National Small Business Week. SBA recognizes outstanding small business owners for their personal successes and contributions to our nation.