Employers Recognized for Hiring Veterans

The Fourth of July marked the beginning of the Michigan Works! for Veterans campaign, a new campaign organized by the Michigan Department of Career Development (MDCD), the Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, and the Michigan Works! Service Centers. The campaign was designed to promote the hiring of qualified veterans and to recognize employers who hire veterans. During the campaign, which ran from July 4 through Veterans’ Day (November 11) staff from the Michigan Works! Service Centers contacted employers to highlight veterans who were locally available for employment.

Lieutenant Governor Dick Posthumus opened the ceremony.

The campaign culminated in November with local and statewide recognition of participating employers. “Although the Michigan Works! Service Centers and the Michigan Department of Career Development have been providing employment-related services to veterans for many years, this campaign is a new way to increase awareness of our efforts on behalf of veterans and the employers who hire them,” said Dr. Barbara Bolin, MDCD Director who also oversees the Employment Service Administration (ESA). “When employers realize the value of veterans as employees, everybody benefits, and we want to call attention to this.”

“In the military, members are disciplined in the very values that employers are looking for, such as loyalty, duty, respect, and integrity, ” said Major General E. Gordon Stump, the state’s adjutant general. “Veterans and members of the military bring these merits with them to the civilian workplace.”

(left to right) Lt. Colonel Daryl Lundy, Department of Military and Veterans Affairs; Bert Day from Road and Rail Services; Dr. Barbara Bolin, Executive Director of the Michigan Department of Career Development; Jon Gaddis from Road and Rail Services.

As a part of their military service, veterans have received a high level of training in their field. They also possess a high level of discipline. Many veterans have transferable job skills and actual work experience needed by employers in the civilian world. Many military jobs have their counterpart on the civilian side, including those in information technology, telecommunications, management, office work, plumbing, construction, carpentry, truck driving, food preparation, health care, and others.

The more than 100 Michigan Works! Service Centers statewide assist veterans and others to find jobs. The centers also help employers to find qualified veterans and non-veterans to consider for hiring. Employers who need qualified workers should call 1-800-285-WORKS (1-800-285-9675) toll-free. Callers will be connected automatically to their local Michigan Works! Service Center. At Michigan Works! Service Centers, employers can post job orders on the Internet, get referrals for pre-screened candidates who meet specific criteria, and learn about tax benefits for hiring veterans – at no additional cost.

The SEMCA nominee for an employer who has answered the call to seek out veterans to fill employment needs is Road and Rail Services. This company has several sites in Michigan including one in our region in Melvindale, Michigan.

The recruiter, Jon Gaddis is a veteran himself and makes a point of specifically seeking out veterans. Whenever they have openings, Mr. Gaddis, calls our Southgate Service Center to notify Ramon Coutinho, our MDCD ESA veterans’ representative. He then comes to our Service Center to interview and hire.

Road and Rail Services are in the Transportation and Service Industry. The types of jobs vary by location but they have good pay, benefits, and training.

Our veterans’ representative Ramon, states, “My customers are very satisfied with the pay, benefits and job duties.”

Ramon went on to say “I have only good feedback from customers and I have been more than satisfied with Jon Gaddis’ professionalism and commitment to hiring veterans.”

Lieutenant Governor Dick Posthumus was present at the ceremony to present the plaques to the employers. He commented that “These employers recognize the skills and talent of our veterans and are taking full advantage of those talents to improve their own businesses and Michigan’s economy as a whole.”

Veterans who are looking for employment or considering a job change should call 1-800-285-WORKS (1-800-285-9675) toll-free and ask for a Veterans’ Employment Specialist, who can provide information on employment services as well as other state and federal services for veterans.

Bert Day of Road and Rail Services shakes hands with Dr. Bolin as Lt. Governor Dick Posthumus holds the plaque that was presented to Road and Rail Services on November 13th.

Did You Know... A national survey found that the unemployment rate for recently separated veterans was 70 percent higher than the general population.

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