The Top 40 Under 40 Military Class of 2012 Southern Company's

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NOV/DEC
2012
The Essential Military-to-Civilian Transition Resource
The Top 40 Under 40 Military Class of 2012
E
sprit de corps, combined with a
determination to assume roles
of leadership and compassionate
service, centrally define the
CivilianJobs.com Top 40 Under 40
Military honorees in 2012.
Each year, CivilianJobs.com
gives a nod to military service
members that are set apart from
the rest. Again this year, the slate
of nominees didn’t disappoint.
Here are some highlights:
NASA astronaut candidate and
Navy LT Kyle Kobold “decided to
serve in the U.S. military in order to
seek adventure and to be a part of
something larger than myself,” he
says. Kobold is Strategic Weapons
Officer on the USS Henry M. Jackson
submarine. His most significant
achievements include completing
nuclear power school, earning
submarine dolphins, being placed
in charge of a nuclear submarine as
the Officer of the Deck, completing
Navy SCUBA school and working
with Navy SEALs for 2 1/2 years.
He’s a “bedrock leader,” says his
former Commanding Officer, CPT
Scott C. Swehla.
“I had complete confidence in
Kyle’s abilities to lead his division and
direct the ship through complicated
nuclear evolutions or the most
demanding secret mission. He
never let me down and continues
his drive for excellence in his pursuit
as a Naval Astronaut,” Swehla says.
Whether service members take
the skills that they learned in the
military and pursue travels among
the stars, as Kyle has, or transition to
roles on terra firma within corporate
America, there is no question that
military leadership can translate into
civilian success. Perhaps even in a
CEO role. And it seems militaryexperienced CEOs will be in
demand more than ever before.
According to a paper written
by former Harvard Professor of
Economics Efraim Benmelech (now
Associate Professor of Finance at
the Kellogg School of Management)
and MIT Associate Professor Carola
Frydman, the number of militaryexperienced CEOs of publicly-held
companies has dropped from 59
percent to just 8 percent since 1980.
But their impact on private industry
can be significant: “CEOs who have
served in the military tend to have
lower investments; their firms are
less likely to be involved in fraud;
and they seem to perform better in
times of industry distress.”
Some of the Top 40 Under 40
Military take their skills into the
public sector rather than in private
enterprise. Army 1st LT Carrie
Papproth is a public health nurse
at the Defense Information Systems
Agency in Fort Meade, MD, and
active drilling Reservist. Her focus
is suicide prevention, PTSD and
military sexual trauma, and she is
working on a dissertation project
involving PTSD.
“In my civilian career as an
occupational health nurse manager
for a federal government agency,
I have been privileged to be on
hand for employees when they’ve
needed me most, in life threatening
emergencies.” Papproth says.
And then, sometimes it’s what is
not said that says everything about
the “Top 40 Under 40” winners.
Special Forces Army SSG
Christopher Ellis is reluctant
to discuss the details of his
achievements in covert missions and
three deployments to Afghanistan.
But his colleague Nick B. Tran,
who served alongside him, says,
“There are times in combat that a
man is overcome with fear, and the
defining factor that separates true
men from those lesser
is the ability to push
through and forward,
despite that fear. That is
the definition of courage
and Chris has proven
that on more than one
occasion,” Tran says.
The Top 40 Under 40
Military issue would
not be possible without
the hard work of an
extended team at
Civilian Job News, not the least
of which includes the panel of
distinguished judges:
40R40
E
D
N
U
• William W. Basnett, Brigadier
General (Retired), USAFR,
past Commander of the 94th
Tactical Airlift Wing (TAW),
Past President and Membership
Director for the Reserve Officers
Association (ROA)
• Steve Clarke, Captain (Retired),
USN, President of Strategic
Performance Group, Inc.
• Kenneth A. Konstanzer,
Lieutenant Colonel (Retired),
USAR, Aviation. Chairman,,
U.S. Service Academy Selection
R Y
A
T
L I
I
M
TM
Board for the Office of U.S.
Senator Saxby Chambliss and
Congressman Tom Graves,
past Commander, U.S. Military
Academy Admissions Field
Force, State of Georgia.
• David M. Thompson Colonel,
USMC (RET) Logistics Colonel,
currently Project Manager for
AC FIRST in Afghanistan, former
USMC Battalion Commander
in Iraq and Deputy Logistics
Director in Afghanistan and Iraq,
civilian experience with Frito Lay
and General Mills.
Please turn to this issue’s
center spread to review bios
for each of 2012’s Top
40 Under 40 Military.
Southern Company’s Pledge to Veterans
“S
outhern Company has a
demonstrated record of
hiring veterans, guardsmen and
reservists,” says Susan Story,
Southern Company executive vice
president and Southern Company
Services president and CEO. “This
year 15 percent of our new hires
have military experience, and
for our new, innovative nuclear
units, it’s around 38 percent.
We’re actively recruiting from
military for the new units and our
fleet of operating nuclear facilities
in Alabama and
Georgia. To that
end,
we’re
a
partner in the Naval
Nuclear Propulsion
Program, are a
founding partner of Troops to
Energy Jobs and support Joining
Forces, a White House initiative.
Hiring veterans is the right thing
to do – for veterans and the
company!”
Troops to Energy Jobs
As a leading U.S. producer of
electricity, Southern Company
is leading the way in providing
military veterans employment
in the energy sector. In July
of 2011, Southern Company
became a founding partner of
Troops to Energy Jobs, a program
that provides veterans a link to
civilian jobs in the energy sector.
The company owns electric
utilities in four states and a
growing competitive generation
company, as well as fiber optics
and wireless communications.
Southern Company values
diversity as a true asset and seeks
to cultivate a culture of innovation.
Veterans bring new perspectives
and a can-do attitude that add
to diversity and foster creativity.
While on active duty, veterans
made a commitment to serve,
protect and defend the nation.
That dedication fits well with
the company’s “Southern Style,”
which embodies unquestionable
trust, superior performance and
total commitment. The company
Continued on page 5
INSIDE THIS MONTH’S ISSUE
Ask the Recruiter:
Answering the
tough questions
......................page 3
Spouse Series:
The Command
Team
................ page 4
Playing
to
Win
....... page 6
Career
Coaches' Corner
Standing Out at
Job Fairs.....page 11
Job Fairs
Mark Your
Calendars
.........page 12
2
November/December 2012
JOIN OUR RANKS
Our goal is to be the best trucking company in America. Not necessarily
the biggest–although we are one of the industry’s largest companies–
but the very best, in everything we do.
To accomplish this we need to hire more of the best people including:
– Professional Truck Drivers
– Shop Technicians
– Office Management
We’re looking for men and women with honesty and integrity, who
assume responsibility and adhere to a code of ethics. In other words,
if you succeeded in the military, we’d like to enlist your services.
There are no shortcuts™
800-998-2221 | 800-669-0322
cretecarrierjobs.com/military
November/December 2012
Publisher
Managing Editor
Art Director
Associate Editor
Contributing Editors
Director of Technology
Executive Consultant
Account Representative
Account Representative
Account Representative
Account Representative
Pete Charest
Kathy Scott
Alec Trapheagen
Anthony Morris
Janet Farley
Carolyn Heinze
Heidi Russell Rafferty
Tom Wolfe
Don Nowak
Marla Smith
Rhonda Davis
Jason Duarte
Leah Penland
Geoffrey Reabold
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©2007-2012 Civilian Jobs, LLC. All rights reserved.
Civilian Job News and CivilianJobs.com are
wholly-owned subsidiaries of Bradley-Morris, Inc. (BMI),
the largest military-focused placement firm in the U.S.
3
Ask the Recruiter
•Q:
In my last interview, I was asked two
questions that I found difficult to answer:
“How will your military experience assist in
this new job?” and
“Why have you decided to leave the military
after 10 years?”
•A:
Good questions. Answering this first
question the right way, you can really nail your
interview. Right now, the current sentiment and
appreciation for veterans within the business
community is very positive. We see a number
of pro-military initiatives as part of today’s hiring
climate (The 100,000 Jobs Initiative, the US
Chamber of Commerce’s “Hiring Our Heroes”
program, Joining Forces, etc.). However, companies
still need to see the ‘bottom line’ value that you,
specifically, will bring to the company. You
can do this by explaining how your military
experience reinforced the positive stereotypes
associated with wearing the uniform: Strong
work-ethic, reliability, flexibility, mission first/
people always – all powerful traits when properly
communicated to an employer.
Concerning the question as to why you decided
to leave the military, you can go a number of
safe directions with this question. However,
under no circumstances should you commit
the interviewing sin
of ‘going negative.’
The sure fire way of
sinking an interview
is to bad-mouth an
old boss or speak ill of a former employer – this
includes Uncle Sam. If you served honorably
for ten years and decided that the best thing
for you and your family is for that next chapter
to be in the civilian world – that is not to
your detriment. We all know there are natural
‘decision points’ during your time in service right
before or after assignments, school, etc. which
prompt us to evaluate whether or not to stay in or
transition out. The multiple ‘crossroads’ during a
typical military career are there by design – our
military couldn’t handle every soldier, sailor,
airman, or marine serving for 20 years. So,
‘I’ve accomplished everything I’ve wanted to
accomplish while serving’ or ‘I’ve always wanted
to serve my country and will always be proud of
my time in uniform, but I’m ready to seek out new
challenges’ are perfectly acceptable answers.
Mike Arsenault is Director of Candidate Services
at Bradley-Morris, Inc. He can be reached at (800)
330-4950 ext. 2105 or by email at marsenault@
bradley-morris.com
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November/December 2012
Borden Dairy, formerly known as LALA USA is a subsidiary of
Grupo LALA. Borden is one of the largest and most recognized
brands in the dairy industry. We have been nurturing families with
our great tasting, premium dairy products for over 150 years.
Mission Transition:
Trust the high five Cs
by Janet Farley
Contributing Editor
“A
command team. That’s what you’re
a part of when you are married to
someone in uniform. You may not wear
any rank, but never doubt for a minute that
you’re an integral member of the command
team.
Your role is important all the time.
• It matters when you are first married,
and you don’t know the difference between
an LES and PX/BX.
• It matters as your spouse rises through
the ranks, and you become the unofficial
person that the newbie spouses turn to
when they’re in trouble or when they need
to better understand things.
• It matters as you transition out of the
military, when your common attentions turn
to your civilian future together.
As you make your own military-to-civilian
career transition, rely on those well-honed
skills that have served you well in the past.
In other words, if it’s not broken, don’t try
fixing it now.
Trust the High Five Cs.
1. Commitment. You understand what it
means to dedicate yourself to a lifestyle, an
ideal and a cause. You’ve lived it. You’ve
survived more PCS moves than you care to
count, starting your life and perhaps your
own career over each time. Gorilla Glue
has nothing on you. While you may think
you are ready to become a civilian family
versus a military one, you may not be
completely comfortable with the idea yet. It
is, after all, a new concept to you.
What will it be like… a life without a
front gate, a required ID card or a readily
available community of like minds? Your
concern is understandable. It takes time to
transition from one lifestyle to one so very
different. Commit to the transition just as
you committed to all those other new duty
assignments along the way. Look ahead
to new opportunities and embrace the
possibilities of your and your family’s future
ahead.
2. Competencies. You have your skill
set and your spouse has his (or hers). In
this career transition, be confident that you
bring the most important things with you
– experience and knowledge. Continue to
take on the challenges and tasks for which
you’re best suited, and let your significant
other take on the ones with which he or she
is most comfortable. Divide and conquer. It
has worked well in the past, and it will work
well now.
3. Creativity. In the military, even with
the best planning, things didn’t always work
out the way you had hoped. Unfortunately,
as civilians, that is not going to change.
You will still have to exercise those powers
of creativity when the job doesn’t come
through or when you decide that a job you
started isn’t the right one for you after all.
You’ll have to tap into those creative juices
when you want to advance within your new
organization or when you decide it’s time to
move on, or when you suddenly realize you
miss being in the military family but you
can’t go back. You can only go bravely and
creatively forward, making what doesn’t
work somehow work for you anyway.
4. Collaboration. If there was ever a
time for you and your spouse to work
together, it is now during this mil-to-civ
transition. You may be of like minds, with
every decision being an easy one. Or not.
When you’re not (and even when you are),
working together towards the immediate
goal, whatever that may be, is important.
Make the extra effort to get the information
you need to make the best joint decisions
for yourselves and for your family members.
Effective collaboration, in many cases, may
even call for compromise.
5. Communication. Without communication,
forget it. You know this all too well from your
experiences in the military. Its importance
doesn’t diminish as you transition to a civilian
life and job(s). If anything, its importance
only grows. Effective communication means
you continue to express yourself clearly. It
means you listen without being judgmental.
It means you keep an open mind because
you don’t always know what’s coming at
you, and you have to be able to adapt as
you go. Wow. Sound familiar?
You have been a great command team
while your spouse has served in uniform.
Now it’s time to be a great command team
as you transition out of the military and into
the civilian world.
Our commitment to quality, freshness, and great service is our way
of showing our family pride. Our consumers know they can serve our
wholesome dairy products to their families with confidence and be
proud to be a part of the Borden tradition. Our corporate headquarters
are located at 8750 North Central Expressway Dallas, TX 75231.
Open positions: Route Sales Drivers
Maintenance Mechanics
You view and apply to all
of our current openings at
www.bordendairy.com
Borden Dairy Company is an
equal opportunity employer
Ferring Corporate Recruitment ad_8.14.12_final.pdf
1
8/14/12
5:00 PM
Who am I? A person just
like you who enjoys helping others
while growing as an individual.
C
M
Y
CM
MY
CY
CMY
K
Hooah.
Janet Farley is the author of "The Military
Spouse’s Guide to Employment: Smart Jobs
for Mobile Lifestyles” (Impact Publications,
2012) and “Quick Military Transition Guide:
Seven Steps to Landing a Civilian Job” (Jist
Publishing, Inc., 2012). Follow her on Twitter
@mil2civguide and @smartjobchoices for
tips, news and inspiration.
Ferring considers recruitment as an investment in the future. Our recruitment
process is intense, challenging and we are passionate about identifying
true leaders. Leaders of people, projects, processes and products.
We aim to attract, select and retain people of the highest quality who
have the talent and the potential to progress within the company.
Ferring fully recognizes that the performance of its employees are
fundamental to long-term success.
Ferring Pharmaceuticals offers career opportunities to skilled individuals
in a wide range of disciplines in the following areas:
▪
▪
▪
▪
▪
Finance
Regulatory Affairs
Research
Compliance
Clinical R&D
▪
▪
▪
▪
▪
Sales
Medical Affairs
Human Resources
Quality
Manufacturing
▪
▪
▪
▪
Marketing
Legal
Technical Operations
Regulatory Affairs
To learn more about career opportunities at Ferring Pharmaceuticals and
to apply online, please visit our website a www.ferringusa.com/careers
©2012 Ferring B.V.
November/December 2012
5
WIN for
America
WANTS YOU
J
ames Price, Texas Army National
Guard veteran and one of WIN Home
Inspection’s newest Strategic Partners (that’s
WIN-speak for franchisee) exemplifies how
one can make a successful transition into
civilian life through business.
“I became interested
in franchising while
studying business in
college, and came
across WIN through
my research at the
International Franchise
Association (IFA),” says
Price. “They stood
out, offering amazing veteran initiatives
through their ‘WIN for America’ program,
and from the moment I inquired about
an opportunity with them, they worked
hand-in-hand with me to determine startup costs and potential market size, while
compiling a complete competitive analysis
and business plan.”
The recipient of a $40,000 service award
per the ‘WIN for America’ program, with
his full franchisee fee waived, Price adds,
“I appreciate the operating procedures they
have in place, while allowing their Strategic
Partners to truly stake claim within the
company. We are all on the same team.
Even as I grow, I have full support behind
me every step of the way.”
It’s not often that veterans represent
one-quarter of a company’s franchisee
base, but at WIN Home Inspection, that
is exactly what you will find. Inspired by
the International Franchise Association’s
(IFA) “Operation Enduring Opportunity”
initiative, WIN committed $1.2 million in
financing and created its own “WIN for
America” program to honor veterans. By
awarding revered veterans the opportunity
to waive their franchise fee, this program
aids them in the transition into the civilian
business world, while capitalizing off their
valuable military skills.
Steve Wadlington, president of WIN
Home Inspection, established three goals
of this operation: reward qualified veterans;
provide realistic opportunities for vets to
become successful business owners; and
serve as a key contributor to a positive lifechanging event for veterans.
Wadlington believes in leveraging the
training and skills veterans are taught
in combat to achieve civilian world
accomplishments. “It’s no secret within
corporate America that military training
sets a career course, and most veterans
excel in the workforce,” says Wadlington.
“Our military veterans regard core values,
commitment, and teamwork, thus making
them ideally positioned for success within
WIN Home Inspection.”
And, Price agrees. When asked if he
plans on hiring veterans when expanding his
growing business, he says, “That’s probably
the best employee you will ever have.”
We’re sure many others can attest to that.
“Southern Company’s Pledge to Veterans”
continued from page 1
signed an Employer Support of the Guard
and Reserve statement. Additionally,
the company annually participates in
more than 30 military recruitment events
and partners with military transition
centers across the country. To learn
more about Southern Company, log onto
SouthernCompany.com.
provides opportunities for veterans to
continue exhibiting pride, honor and
discipline in civilian careers. Further,
the company supports guardsmen and
reservists who continue service while
building a civilian career.
Commitment to Veterans and Customers
Southern Company is focused on
energy innovation to deliver safe, clean,
reliable and affordable electricity for its
customers. In addition to Troops to Energy
Jobs, the company is also a Naval Nuclear
Propulsion Program partner, pledged to
support the Joining Forces initiative and
About WIN Home Inspection
WIN Home Inspection began offering
home inspection business franchises in the
Pacific Northwest in 1993. Within a year, the
company dominated this regional market, and
it has since expanded across the U.S. with
more than 168 locations in 28 states.
The WIN for America program is just
one facet of the WIN Home Inspection
organization that stands out in a billion dollar
home inspection industry. As the housing
market strengthens, WIN is experiencing
a steady increase in the overall volume of
homes inspected, confirming that the home
inspection business is a high demand service
in a solid industry. WIN Home Inspection
is also a participant in the International
Franchise Association’s Veterans Transition
Franchise Initiative (VetFran) and the IFA’s
MinorityFran Program.
To apply for the “WIN for America”
qualification, please visit
www.WINforAmerica.com
or call 800.967.8127.
Join CivilianJobs.com on...
6
November/December 2012
Playing to Win
Figuring out where you, the military job seeker, fits on the team
by Carolyn Heinze,
Contributing Editor
E
ver watched a sporting event where you
knew, straightaway, that your favorite
team was going to lose? My sport is soccer,
so it’s what I think of when the star forward
is having an off-day, but he’s still hogging
the ball; the soon-to-be star forward
unsuccessfully tries to get it away from him,
delivering it to the opponent; the defenders
seem to have forgotten to be united in
their defense; and although the mics aren’t
picking up the exact words that are spilling
out of the frenzied goalie’s mouth, you don’t
have to lip-read to know what he’s saying
or screaming. During games like this, one
wonders: Remind me why these guys are
making so much cash?
Apply this sorry display of teamwork to
a military operation, and you’re headed for
disaster. Apply it to any other business, and
at best, it won’t be a very happy place to
work. At worst, chances are, there eventually
won’t be any business left to lose.
“In the civilian world, the best performing
organizations have a participative
environment,” says Kim Davis, who heads
up the Veteran’s Initiative program at the
Cleveland, Ohio-based coaching firm,
CareerCurve. “Teamwork is extremely
critical and important, as well as individual
contributions. Most organizations are looking
for someone who is going to be a good fit,
and someone who is going to fit the team.”
But the civilian version of teamwork isn’t
always parallel to what veterans experienced
in the military. “One thing that is really
different about the military environment is
that people already know what the mission
is,” says Lance Walker, a veteran who
served in the U.S. Air Force from 1983 to
1987, and a career coach who now heads
up WeHireHeroes.com. “Once you get
through basic training, everybody is pretty
much on the same mission.”
In civilian organizations, this isn’t always
the case: like those overpaid soccer players,
coworkers often have their own separate
agendas.
“Getting people to work together, a lot
of times in my experience, is kind of like
herding cats,” adds Walker. “They just don’t
take orders well. You have to actually get
them to want to do what you want them
to do, which makes teamwork a much
different looking animal.”
Walker believes that in order for a
team to function, leadership must exist
at all levels within a company: senior
management (which handles business
strategy), mid-level supervisors (who
oversee tactics), and at the administrative
level, which is often on the front lines with
customers, and plays an integral role in
controlling costs. In the military, he argues,
members receive leadership training from
the get-go, “because you might be behind
enemy lines, or your commander may be
dead or wounded,” he illustrated. “It may be
up to you to get the rest of your squadron or
your platoon out of danger. You’re not just
taught to follow orders, you also learn how
to give orders, and how to lead.”
With this in mind, veterans should focus
on showing employers that they have what
it takes to solve problems.
Janelle Moore is president of Federal
Concierge, LLC, in Tampa Bay, Fla., a
consultancy for businesses selling products
or services to government agencies.
Under the name Janelle Hill, she has
co-authored several books, including
“Life After the Military: A Handbook for
Transitioning Veterans,” “The Wounded
Warrior Handbook,” and “The Military
Marriage Manual: Tactics for Successful
Relationships.” She underlines that one of
the most significant assets that veterans have
– and therefore can apply to being part of a
team in any organization – is the extensive
training they received while in the military.
“Seldom do you see an active duty service
person serving more than a one-, twoor three-year tour before they are moved
to another job or opportunity, and they
move from geographic region to geographic
region,” says Moore. “And so, they get more
diverse experience. They get a lot of on-thejob training. They are constantly working
with different individuals, spanning different
languages, different cultures, and different
backgrounds.”
What is unique about military service
members, she notes, is that on top of the
standardized training they receive in any
number of areas, they also cultivate qualities
like cultural awareness.
“Military people, once they leave active
duty and transition, they’re more versatile.
They have worked for different leaders, they
have worked for different managers, they’ve
had different assignments, and so they tend
to be adaptable, and they tend to be able to
function in a climate of change and still be
able to take action or initiative.”
Moore also underlines that the stress
and pressure that military members
are exposed to makes them virtually
unflappable in corporate America.
“Many of these individuals have rotated to
Afghanistan and into the Middle East theater
repeatedly,” she says. “They have had to
work and function in a high operational
capacity under tremendous pressure, and
in very difficult climates and environments.
These folks are very well-suited to come
in and take command, or roll up their
sleeves and hit the ground running, in
virtually any environment because they
are adaptable and because they have these
unique skills.” Deadlines, irate customers or
difficult managers – things that many civilian
professionals don’t know how to handle –
aren’t such a big deal.
The idea of marketing one’s attributes is
difficult for many veterans, as is the entire
job campaign. While Davis concedes that
the Transition Assistance Program (TAP)
offers some great guidance, based on his
experience on both sides of the fence –
recruiting and career coaching – he believes
that veterans benefit when they seek out
additional resources.
“The veteran needs some additional
support that goes beyond TAP to configure
and create a job campaign that is unique
and specific to them,” he said.
Walker also suggests using all of the
social media and research tools that are
available to find out: Who are the veterans
that own the companies? Who are the
veterans that may be in the human resources
department or the senior management
department at these companies? How can
you connect with them?
When Walker transitioned out of the Air
Force in 1987, TAP consisted of, as he puts
it, a 30-minute briefing, a brochure and a
handshake.
“One of the first problems that I had
– and it turned out to be very important
in the long run – was that I had no
idea what my job title was in the civilian
world,” he recounted. In the Air Force,
Walker was an avionics communications
specialist. But he was three years into his
transition before, during an informational
interview, when he learned that “avionics
communications specialist” means “radio
frequency technician.”
“Once I started using that title, everything
opened up. Within a month, I had six job
offers. And I had been struggling for three
years, simply because I didn’t know what
to ask for,” Walker relayed. “One of the
first pieces of advice that I would give to
veterans is to get informed about what you
actually do, and how that can apply to the
market. There is this huge gap: the people
coming out with the experience and the
education don’t know how to apply it, and
the people with the jobs don’t know how
to reach the people with the experience.
The end result is that you hear things that
are simply incorrect from both sides. One
side says, ‘Well, there are no jobs.’ Not true
– there are tons of jobs. The other side says,
‘Well, we can’t find anybody qualified.’
Not true – they just don’t know how.” He
adds that, with WeHireHeroes.com, a large
part of what he considers to be his mission
right now is to connect those two groups
of people.
Walker recognizes that for many, the
military provides a sense of mission – and
not all civilian jobs do the same. “If that’s
important to you, then you will want to
look for that in the company that you are
approaching,” he said. “If manufacturing
widgets doesn’t ring your chimes, maybe
you shouldn’t look at what job happens
to be available. Look at what job it is that
you would like to have. As long as you are
solving a problem that needs to be solved
in that company, people will actually create
a job title or position for you. You don’t
necessarily have to wait to find out if a
position is open.”
Carolyn Heinze is a freelance writer/editor.
November/December 2012
7
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8
November/December 2012
Christopher
Baggett
Air Force, MSgt
Aircraft
Mechanic
Air Force MSgt Christopher
Baggett spends his days ensuring that aircraft
are maintained properly, “so pilots can out-fly,
out-gun and out-perform any other country in
the air, and then safely return to their families,”
he says. Baggett is an aircraft mechanic on fifth
generation aircraft and has served 20 years in
the Air Force. In 2007, Baggett was awarded the
“412th Maintenance Group CMSgt. Thomas N.
Barnes Crew Chief of the Year.”
Marc D. Benson
U.S. Coast Guard, LT
Enforcement Officer
Lt. Marc D. Benson’s Coast
Guard career has involved “saving boaters in
peril, seizing over two tons of illegal narcotics
and securing the coasts and borders of
America.” Benson’s demanding leadership roles
have included leading 18 sailors as executive
officer of a patrol boat in the Persian Gulf.
Benson earned the 2012 Pat Tillman Military
Scholar Award. Benson will attend Columbia
Business School for the next two years.
Bryan Bergjans
Navy, LTJG
Assistant Vice President and
Lending Manager, Mortgage
Banking Division of Chase Bank
Navy LTJG Bryan Bergjans was on active duty
from 1995 to 1998 and then transferred to
the Reserves, until 2001, when he exited. He
reentered the Reserves in 2007 and received
his officer commissioning in 2010. He currently
serves in the Naval Reserves as a Supply Corp
Officer. Since April 2010, Bergjans has also
been assistant vice president and lending
manager for the Mortgage Banking Division of
Chase Bank.
Mike Boswell
Navy, LT
Nuclear Engineering Officer
and current student at
Columbia Business School
Lt. Mike Boswell, who worked as a nuclear
engineering officer, hopes to work in
management consulting after graduating with
an MBA from Columbia Business School in
May 2013. During his Navy career, Boswell
notably developed a plan to turn around an
underachieving maintenance group, resulting in
a 60-percent reduction in material deficiencies
in less than a month. At Columbia, he interned
at PowerAdvocate and did an analysis of
supply chains of multiple Fortune 500 utility
companies.
David Bryant
Army, CPT
Graduate Student,
University of London
Army Captain David Bryant’s most significant
achievement has been “training our Army’s
youngest soldiers” as a Basic Combat Training
Company Commander. He will receive a
master’s in Public Policy and Management
from the University of London in 2014. A West
Point graduate, Bryant was Executive Officer
for the 2nd Infantry Division HQ. Two years
later, he assumed command of a Basic Training
Company in Fort Jackson, S.C. “I had the honor
of leading the most professional soldiers I’ve
ever encountered,” he says.
Thomas Bushur
Air Force, Capt
Protocol Officer
Being compared to “duct
tape” was “the most personally gratifying
statement” that Air Force Captain Thomas
Bushur received from a supervisor, because of
his knack for “holding everything together and
keeping the mission on track.” Bushur received
his master’s degree in Public Administration
in May 2012 from Bowie State University.
During his military career, he was stationed at
RAF Mildenhall, United Kingdom, as a section
chief, providing personnel services to more
than 4,600 members.
Andrea M. Deese
Navy, PO1
Recently exited from the Navy
While serving with Assault
Craft Unit 4 (the home of the Navy’s Atlantic
Fleet Hovercraft), Petty Officer 1st Class
Andrea M. Deese performed in “spectacular
fashion,” says Captain Kenneth C. Levins. Her
myriad of duties included working with the
command training department as an instructor
and collateral duty career counselor, assisting
more than 690 sailors in their professional
development.
Jared Dela Cruz
Navy, PO2
Service Assistant at the VA
Palo Alto Health Care System
in Palo Alto, Calif.
Born and raised in Tarlac, Philippines, Edwin
Jared J. Dela Cruz completed 51 semester hours
of a pre-med program at the University of the
Philippines before immigrating to the United
States. In 2008, he enlisted in the Navy and
was deployed to Bagram, Afghanistan in 2009.
“He is a positive go-getter and risk taker,” says
Mario Teron Lamar, a colleague onboard the
USS Emory S. Land.
Denis Delacruz
Navy, PO2
Recently exited
from the Navy
PO2 Denis Delacruz “stands out among
others, because he is a true top performer with
exceptional rating knowledge, leadership and
his ability for completing projects with superior
quality,” says Jesse Lillico, who worked with
him a year in the Public Works Department,
Naval Facilities Engineering Command,
Marianas, Guam. He received commendations
from a rear admiral for superb leadership and
also for exemplary performance and exited in
September 2012.
Christina Rivera Dibble
Army, SGT
Program Manager for Military
Talent Acquisition at Sears
Holdings Corp.
Former U.S. Army Sergeant Christina Dibble
“has built a rock solid reputation in veteran
advocacy,” says Chris Brathwaite, vice president
of communications and public relations for
Sears Holding Corp. where Dibble works as
program manager of employment. In addition
to being a veteran, she is also a military spouse.
At Sears, she increased military hiring by 150
percent in fewer than two years. Dibble has
worked on the Annual Shareholders Meeting
and “has been an exemplary ambassador” for
Sears, adds Brathwaite.
Carlos L. Dinkins
Army, CPT
Category Manager for
PepsiCo in Nashville, Tenn.
Captain Carlos L. Dinkins recently graduated
with an MBA from the McCombs School of
Business at the University of Texas at Austin.
In August, he became category manager for
PepsiCo in Nashville, Tenn. Dinkins, a former
Army Captain, led a UAV Platoon that was
recognized as one of the best in the U.S. Army.
“I wholeheartedly believe that there is no
greater honor than leading soldiers in combat
and knowing that I brought all my soldiers back
from Iraq safely with numerous accolades,”
Dinkins says.
Michael D. Dovilla
Navy, LCDR
State Representative of Ohio
Lt. Commander Michael D.
Dovilla is one of 99 legislators in Ohio’s House
of Representatives. In 2007, then Lt. Commander
Dovilla served as a key leader in the Directorate
of Intelligence for Combined Joint Task Force,
Troy. He provided detailed analysis of more
than 25,000 improvised explosive device
events in Iraq. For that, Dovilla received the Joint
Meritorious Service Medal. He also received the
Army Achievement Medal.
Christopher S. Ellis
Army, SSG
Special Forces
Special Forces Staff Sergeant
Christopher S. Ellis takes his missions in stride,
noting, “I’m just proud to serve with a bunch
of guys who share a common interest and
attitude towards freeing the oppressed.” He
joined the Army in 2002. His colleague, Nick
Tran, deployed with him to Afghanistan in
2005, says “Chris’ contributions during that
deployment saved lives, not just for the men
in our unit, but made it safer for our coalition
partners and the people of Afghanistan.”
David Evetts
Army, CPT
External Affairs Group for
USAA
As a new West Point graduate, Army Lt. David
Evetts went to Iraq as a fire support officer
assigned to 1-18IN within the 1st Infantry
Division. In 2011, Evetts entered USAA’s Junior
Military Officer Career Development Program.
He is now working with a newly formed
External Affairs Group to develop an integrated
strategy for reaching members, prospects and
stakeholders for USAA.
Richard Kerr
Navy, LTJG
Supply and Logistics Officer
for the USS Kentucky
Navy LTJG Richard Kerr’s team is known
across the squadrons and Pacific Submarine
force for getting the job done and blazing trails
through the world of submarine logistics. Kerr
is the supply and logistics officer on the USS
Kentucky. In February 2013, he’ll become
Comptroller and Logistics War Planner for
Naval Forces, Korea.
Patrick T. King
Navy, LT
Inspection Team Leader on the
TYCOM Material Inspection
Team for Commander, Naval
Surface Forces Pacific
Lt. Patrick T. King earned his Navy Nuclear
Engineer qualification and served as a
nuclear division officer on an aircraft carrier.
He is currently inspection team leader on
the TYCOM Material Inspection Team for
Commander, Naval Surface Forces Pacific.
“We inspect Navy warships in the Pacific Fleet
for material condition and combat readiness,”
he says.
Kyle D. Kobold
Navy, LT
Strategic Weapons Officer,
USS Henry M. Jackson
The Navy selected Lt. Kyle D. Kobold to
become a NASA astronaut candidate, and the
CivilianJobs.com C
2012 Top 40 Un
interview process with NASA is still ongoing.
Currently, Kobold is strategic weapons officer
on the USS Henry M. Jackson submarine. He
“mentored a struggling division into a cohesive
team,” says Captain Scott C. Swehla. After
that, Kobold conducted Naval Special Warfare
operations, including SEAL support, for Naval
Special Warfare Group Three in Coronado,
Calif.
Brian Randy Kossler
Army, CPT
Selected to be
Company Commander at
Fort Riley, Kansas
Captain Brian Randy Kossler “performed
magnificently, preparing his unit for combat
and remained steadfast during a 12-month
deployment to battle in Iraq,” says retired Col.
Mark J. McKearn. Kossler successfully led a
mechanized Cavalry platoon into combat with
no casualties in Mosul. He’s been awarded
the Bronze Star for his combat service. He will
become a company commander in January
2013 at Fort Riley, Kansas.
Robert K. Lytle
Air Force, Capt
Operations Officer, 32nd
Aerial Port Squadron (32 APS)
at the 911th Airlift Wing/ARS
in Coraopolis, Pa.
During his 2011 deployment, Air Force Captain
Robert Lytle led one of the Air Force’s largest and
busiest aerial ports in Iraq, says Lt. Col. James
M. Klein. Today, Lytle is the Operations Officer
and Flight Commander for Passenger Service
section and Air Terminal Operations Center at
the 911th Airlift Wing/ARS in Coraopolis, Pa.
He plans to stay in the Reserves for eight more
years. He also is a warehouse professional for
a privately-owned company.
Howard Martell, Jr.
Navy, PO1
Network Security and
Information Assurance
During his 20-plus-year Naval service career,
Petty Officer, 1st Class Howard Martell, Jr.
traveled to 48 countries and helped hundreds
of sailors with financial counseling as a
Command Financial Specialist. His greatest
achievement while in the military was receiving
five Navy Marine Corps Achievement medals.
Today, Martell is an information technology
professional, specializing in network security
and information assistance.
Clarence Matthews
Army, CPT
Department Supervisor,
Pegasus Steel, LLC
Clarence Matthews, a former Army Captain
who saw two Iraq tours, enjoys that his current
November/December 2012
9
responsible for identifying and launching
software startups for the Cloud marketplace.
Sergeant O’Connor had two deployments to
the Middle East, where he supported aircraft
operations. “His attitude was top-notch in
difficult situations, and he made life aboard a
ship in theater bearable,” says Curtis Larsen,
who served on the Tarawa with him.
John Olson
Navy, LT
Independent Financial
Advisor, First Command
Financial Services
Congratulates the
nder 40 Military
work as a department supervisor with Pegasus
Steel, LLC continues to support the military. “It’s
nice working in the ‘heartbeat’ of America’s
economy and, better yet, I still get to support
our efforts overseas and protect soldiers. He
organized a bicycling fundraiser in May and
raised several thousand dollars for GallantFew,
Inc. Matthews was trained in the Army’s antisuicide program and is listed on GallantFew’s
website as an emergency contact.
Robert W. McFarlin, IV
Navy, LCDR
Surface Force Detailer
As Commanding Officer of
the USS Typhoon, Lt. Commander Robert
W. McFarlin IV conducted a six-month
deployment to the Persian Gulf. “Just days after
President Ahmadinejad threatened to close the
strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, my ship was
selected to conduct a transit to prove that the
U.S. would not flinch from such saber rattling.”
He received the 2009 Navy and Marine Corps
Society Leadership Award. McFarlin also
volunteers as a Big Brother.
Sean McGee
Air Force, SSgt
Field Service Technician,
Worthington Compressor
Services
As a SSgt, McGee was awarded the Air
Force Achievement Medal for hard work and
discipline while deployed to Turkey in 2007.
“Not a day goes by that I don’t use a skill
someone taught me through their excellent
leadership abilities or personal knowledge
of aircraft maintenance,” he says. In January
2012, he became a field service technician
for Worthington Compressor Services in
Alpharetta, GA.
Troy Mueller
Air Force, Lt Col
Department Head for Systems
Engineering and Acquisition at
MITRE Corp.
Air Force Lt. Col. Troy Mueller leads a 40-person
team supporting multiple organizations within
the Undersecretary for Management structure
of the Department of Homeland Security. His
team’s successes range “from development
and implementation of information technology
governance and oversight frameworks, to
guiding a $2.7 billion program through the
Federal Department Level oversight and
approval processes,” he says.
Brian O’Connor
Marines, Sgt
Account Executive for
SalesForce.com
As an account executive for SalesForce.com,
former Marine Sergeant Brian O’Connor is
Former Navy Lt. John Olson is a financial
advisor for First Command Financial Services
in Annapolis, Md. Olson is a 2002 U.S. Naval
Academy graduate. He served aboard the USS
Connecticut from 2004-2007. After, he was
a staff officer who briefed the Chief of Naval
Operations and Secretary of Defense.
Sean P. O’Reilly
Army, CPT
General Manager,
JP Morgan Chase
Since former CPT Sean P. O’Reilly exited the
Army, he’s led military recruiting programs
at Leo Burnett, USAA and JP Morgan. He is
currently general manager of the JP Morgan
and Chase Sapphire credit card portfolios.
He was on active duty from 1994 to 1998.
He earned an MBA from the Wharton School
in 2010 while working full-time at Chase.
Carrie Papproth
Army, 1LT
Public Health Nurse,
Federal Occupational Health
at the Defense Information
Systems Agency (DISA),
Fort Meade, Md.
Army 1st Lt. Carrie Papproth is an “exemplary
model for nursing care, patient advocacy
and public health education” in her service
with the Federal Occupational Health at the
Defense Information Systems Agency, Fort
Meade, Md., says Nellie N. Washington,
wellness program manager. Her focus is
suicide prevention, PTSD and military sexual
trauma. She and another soldier administer
PTSD support on a social media site.
Aaron S. Reed
Army, SGT
Lead of Surgical Technology,
Aurora Lakeland Medical
Center, Elkhorn, Wis.
Former Army Sgt. Aaron S. Reed is Lead
of Surgical Technology at Aurora Lakeland
Medical Center, a 40-bed hospital in
Elkhorn, Wis. During his combat tour in
Afghanistan, Reed supervised the night shift
of an operating room and was a key player
on the hospital’s security team. He served on
three humanitarian aid missions in South and
Central America.
Christina I. Rodriguez
Marines, Sgt
Christina Rodriguez has a B.S.
in Professional Aeronautics
with a double minor in logistics and
management. She was NCO of the quarter
for the Marine Aircraft Group 31 four times
and received a Naval Commendation Medal
for being second Marine aircraft wing NCO
of the quarter.
Stephen Rubright
Army, MAJ
Senior Legislative Advisor,
Army Congressional Budget
Liaison, Pentagon.
West Point graduate Major Stephen Rubright
had already fulfilled his duty service obligation
and was a sales and marketing manager for
Merck Co. when the Iraq War broke out. So
he volunteered for the Army Reserves and
requested duty in Iraq. Today, he’s senior
legislative advisor within the Army’s Budget
Liaison office. He regularly briefs senior Army
leaders, including the Secretary of the Army
and Chief of Staff of the Army.
Nicholas A. Schaaf
Navy, PO2
Student, DePaul University,
Chicago
Petty Officer, 2nd Class Nicholas A. Schaaf
served from 2004 to 2012. Schaaf deployed
to the Middle East in 2006. He was part
of the Forward Deployed Naval Force
from July 2007 to September 2009. He
also volunteered to produce and install 43
murals on Navy ethos and history at a Navy
Apprenticeship School at the Naval Station
Great Lakes.
Aaron Scheinberg
Army, CPT
Director of Strategy and
Research for The Mission
Continues
Former Army Captain Aaron Scheinberg
“has followed an impressive arc, from
undergraduate service at West Point, to
combat military service in Iraq, to international
service,” says Spencer Kympton, COO of The
Mission Continues. Scheinberg is director
of strategy and research at The Mission
Continues. During his 2005 deployment to
Iraq’s “Triangle of Death,” Scheinberg used
Arabic skills to build relationships and was
civil affairs director for the Haswah and
Iskandariah region.
Matthew Sibley
Marines, Cpl
Small Arms Service Center
Supervisor, AC First
U.S. Marine Corps, Matthew Sibley’s shop
oversees the small arms repair efforts
covering half of Afghanistan for allied
personnel. He also served as an armorer
for SEAL Team 3 during OIF, helped train
the Saudi Arabian Royal Marines in antiterrorism tactics, and graduated No.1 of 795
in marksmanship at Arizona’s Correctional
Officer Training.
Van Standifer
Army, CPT
MBA at Georgetown
University
Army Captain Van Standifer became a
paratrooper after working in government
and public consulting. Standifer was the
senior HR officer for a 600-soldier combat
unit at U.S. Army Garrison Schweinfurt
(Germany), says Lt. Col. Everett S. P. Spain.
He led numerous unit improvement projects,
coordinated dozens of special ceremonies
and executed a one-year Afghanistan
deployment, Spain observed.
Janson Taylor
Air Force, SSgt
Munitions Controller,
Hurlburt Field
Air Force Base
For the past three years, Air Force
Staff Sergeant Janson Taylor has been
munitions controller at Special Operations
Headquarters at Hurlburt Field Air
Force Base. He’s “displayed exceptional
leadership” by controlling several munitions
operations and overseeing the build-up and
delivery of munitions worth $44 million, says
Captain Jessica L. Terrell. “I have seen him
train and mentor airmen that he supervises
to members of a team with integrity,” Terrell
says.
Kevin J.
Terrazas
Army, CPT
Lawyer, Yetter
Coleman LLP in
Houston
Since joining the Houston law firm of Yetter
Coleman LLP, former Captain Kevin Terrazas
has handled matters ranging from civil rights,
to intellectual property, to commercial
litigation. He notably litigated a case against
the City of Austin for discrimination against
officers in its fire department and protected
the voting rights of a citizen from Boerne,
Texas. Terrazas was deployed to Iraq with
the 101st Airborne as the Division Artillery’s
assistant operations, personnel and supply
officer.
Charles Trim
Marines, SSgt
Maintenance Production
Supervisor, Naval Aviation
Maintenance Programs
Marine Staff Sergeant Charles Trim is the
maintenance productions supervisor for the
Aviation Division at New River Air station
in Jacksonville, N.C. “With his experience
in both the aircraft electrical maintenance
and the administrative know-how of quality
assurance, he was able to successfully
prepare a division of over 220 Marines for a
multitude of required inspections in April and
again in August of 2012,” says Captain Marc
C. Riddle, Avionic Officer.
J.M. Woody van Horn
Navy, PO2
Accredited Certified
Sommelier
Former Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class J.M.
Woody van Horn served in the Navy from
2003 to 2007, where he worked in a highstress environment, specializing in tactical
information coordination, anti-submarine
warfare and Tomahawk missile strikes. Today,
he’s an accredited certified sommelier by the
American Chapter of the Court of Master
Sommeliers, Certified Wine Professional™
by the Culinary Institute of America and a
Certified Specialist of Wine (CSW) by the
Society of Wine Educators
John R. Young, Jr.
Army, 2LT
Government contractor with
Fluor Government Group
As an African-American, Army
2nd Lt. John R. Young Jr. “wanted to continue a
time-honored tradition of serving that started
with individuals like Col. Charles Young, the
Tuskegee Airmen, and the Buffalo Soldiers.”
Young was deployed to Iraq in September
2003 to May 2004 for nine months. He is
currently pursuing his master’s in Supply
Chain Management at Florida Institute of
Technology, and works as a government
contractor with Fluor Government Group
working as a Logistics Supervisor and serving
in Afghanistan.
10
November/December 2012
TEEX VA Approved Programs
ª Recruit Fire Academy
The Recruit Academy is a 12-week program consisting of classroom and hands-on field application training.
ª Basic Peace Officer
The Central Texas Police Academy (CTPA) delivers the Basic Peace Officer course. Participants receive
classroom training designed to ready each student for the Texas state licensing examination.
ª Unexploded Ordnance
This 200-hour course provides participants with comprehensive, hands-on training in the safe
detection, location, identification and disposal of unexploded ordnance.
ª Emergency Medical Services
The 634-hour course is offered in either a 10 or 15 week format.
ª Certified Safety & Health Official
The TEEX CSHO Program is available to professionals in private industry and all government agencies.
The time has never been better for military veterans to further their training.
The Texas Engineering Extension Service (TEEX) is committed to helping
veterans make the best choices possible while attaining the maximum
assistance, guidance, and support using the GI Bill and other programs.
Qualifying veterans may use GI Bill benefits for certain TEEX programs.
Texas Engineering Extension Service
200 Technoloty Way • College Station, TX 77845-3424
877.833.9638
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C12.5583.10
Humana’s Spotlight on Veterans
‘Humana is an amazing
company to work for’
René Brown – Project Manager, Humana Pharmacy Solutions
Louisville, Kentucky
René Brown developed exceptional business and leadership skills during more
than 26 years in the U.S. Army. Now the highly decorated combat veteran is
serving Humana and its members.
René holds a bachelor’s degree in microbiology and a master’s in global business
management. He’s also a graduate of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff
College with a concentration in strategic operations.
“My military experience as a logician greatly assists me in my role as project
manager,” says René, who joined Humana in January 2012. “It allows me to
successfully manage multiple projects across a wide spectrum from pharmacy to IT.”
“If you are looking for an exciting work environment where you feel valued,
empowered, trusted, and that you matter, Humana is an amazing company to work
for,” René says. “The bottom line: I’m very honored and humbled to work alongside
®
such a talented group of Humana associates who epitomize Perfect Service
!”
Lt. Col. Brown held a variety of senior management and leadership positions
in the Army, including combat tours in Iraq, Kuwait, Somalia, Yemen, and
Saudi Arabia. After retiring from the military, he was a senior logistics planner
for Base Realignment and Closure at Fort Knox, Kentucky.
Be part of something special again. Humana is looking for veterans and their
spouses for positions across the country.
Go to www.jobs.net/jobs/Humana-Veterans to find out more and apply.
1,000 strong by 2014
Humana is proud of our long history of serving veterans.
GNHHEJ5HH 1012
November/December 2012
11
career
coach’s
corner
by Tom Wolfe
Career Coach and Contributing Editor
P
icture this: Gathered together at a
central location are two distinct groups
of people. On one side of the curtain are
dozens of job seekers. On the other side
are representatives of organizations with
hundreds of jobs to fill. The job seekers
are there because a large group of hungry
employers are in attendance, and the
recruiters are there because they have
openings and expect to find an impressive
talent pool. What you witness when the
curtain comes up is a Job Fair.
You can maximize your odds of success
at a job fair by keeping many things in mind,
and here are the 12 most important points:
1. Be selective
Thousands of job fairs in hundreds of
cities are held throughout the year, but
many of them are probably not appropriate
for you. If you have a geographic focus, then
target job fairs being held in that location.
If you have specialized training or
experience that you intend to market, then
find a fair that is organized around that
theme. Most importantly, pick job fairs
where the organizations in attendance
want to hire people like you. For that
reason, I strongly recommend the job fairs
like those sponsored by the publisher of
this newspaper. The company’s 2012-2013
calendar of job fairs can be found online
at CivilianJobs.com.
2. Be realistic
Understand your objective. It is not to
land a job on the spot, as companies rarely
extend job offers during a job fair. The job
fair interview is just the first step—a door
opener. A more reasonable target outcome is
to seek a second interview with a company.
Your goal is to generate further interest in you
from every organization that interests you.
3. Be prepared
Try to obtain a list of the attending
organizations in advance of the job fair.
Even better, determine what positions they
are trying to fill. Do your homework. Learn
all you can. Show that you care enough
to put in the work before you show up. In
addition to researching a company and a
position, research you. You need to know
what you bring to the table that is relevant
to a particular job or company objective.
Also, make sure you have sufficient copies
of your resume to support your activity.
4. Be appropriate
Although a job fair is not a formal event in
a formal setting, it is a professional event. You
need to treat it as such and act accordingly.
Unless instructed otherwise, you should
dress as if you were going to a formal
interview and wear appropriate business
attire. Job fairs held on or near military
installations will often allow the uniform
of the day to make it easier for active duty
personnel to attend. When in doubt, ask the
organizer of the job fair for guidance.
5. Be smart
Dozens of companies will be in
attendance; not all of them are appropriate
for you. Select the ones that interest you and
prioritize your list. Balance your priority list
against the length of the line at that booth or
table. Decide whether to jockey for position
at the front of the line or to go back later in
the day when the line is shorter or perhaps
when there is no line.
6. Be patient
Expect to spend some time standing in line.
Job seekers almost always outnumber the
hiring organizations, so lines are inevitable.
Put this time to good use. Mentally rehearse
your opening pitch. Review your notes and
research. Read your resume. Organize your
paperwork. As you get close to the front of
the line, resist the temptation to show your
impatience with those in line ahead of you.
Your turn will come soon.
11. Be diligent
Just because the job fair is over does
not mean you are done. In fact, you
have just begun, as engaging in follow-up
activity can help you stand out. Sending
an email that expresses your gratitude and/
or interest is very important. Make sure
you get the necessary contact information
and preferred method of communication.
Honor deadlines and stick to agreed-upon
actions and follow-up.
How many contacts did you make? What
leads did your develop? Did you generate
follow-up activity? Did you land a job?
If so, congratulations! Now would be a
great time to reach out to the organization
that sponsored the event by sharing your
feedback and results. Better yet, if that fair
led to your new job, make sure to thank the
sponsoring group for the assistance.
12. Be thoughtful
Once you have the job fair in your rearview
mirror, take a few minutes to analyze the
results. What did you learn about your job
market? What did you learn about yourself?
Tom Wolfe is contributing editor &
columnist for Civilian Job News and author of
‘Out Of Uniform: Your Guide to a Successful
Military-to-Civilian Career Transition.’
GOOD HUNTING!
7. Be memorable
You will be one of several, even dozens, of
candidates that the company representative
will meet during the job fair. Will you
be remembered at the end of the day?
Hopefully yes, and for positive reasons.
One of the best ways to accomplish this is to
enhance your presentation with a personal
story which relates to the open position. Try
to inject your personality into the interview.
Another excellent technique is to establish
rapport with the recruiter or interviewer.
Find some common ground. Learn a little
bit about them.
8. Be self-confident
Yes, it is normal for you should to be a bit
nervous, especially if you are new to this
type of event; however, you want to make
sure that nervousness comes across as
energy and enthusiasm, rather than fear or
self-doubt. Although the potential employer
holds most of the cards at this point, you
too have a few in your hand. You have the
talent, skill, and attributes that will benefit
the right organization.
9. Be friendly
Do not underestimate the value of a
firm handshake, a nice smile, and a warm
delivery. Your goal is not only to make the
recruiters/interviewers see you in the job,
but also to like you enough to want to help
you. Establishing and building empathy
will increase your odds. You want these
people to advocate for you and that will be
much easier for them if they know they are
recommending a highly qualified candidate
who is also warm, friendly, and interested.
10. Be bold
How do you feel about this organization
and the position being filled? Does it
interest you? Do you want the process to go
forward? Are you interested in learning more?
Assuming a yes answer to those questions,
a more important one is this: do they know
it? Just because you stood in the line does
not mean you are interested. Tell them! Stick
your neck out! Ask for the next step!
Your military skills and leadership are
just what we need to create one of the
nation’s great banks. Join us.
† Innovative, collaborative culture
† Opportunities to grow with a
financial services leader
† Outstanding benefits, including
time off for military training and
active duty obligations
www.capitalonemilitary.com
www.capitalone.com/careers
Capital One is committed to supporting the hiring of veterans and
their spouses and helping them build successful civilian careers.
Civilian_Jobs_qtrpg_ad.indd 1
3/27/12 2:22 PM
12
November/December 2012
Job Fair
Calendar
Date:
Location: Sponsor:
November 6, 2012
Kaiserslautern ACS Job Fair
- Kazabra Club, Bldg 2057,
Vogelweh Kasern,
Ktown Germany
ACAP Job Fairs - contact:
Pascale Bonnin,
(314) 493-4221 -
Date:
Location: Sponsor:
November 7, 2012
Fredericksburg Expo
Center and Conference
Center/ 3 p.m. - 7 p.m.
2371 Carl D. Silver Parkway,
Fredericksburg, VA 22401
JobZone, Janet Giles,
(434) 263-5102 or
(540) 775-4199,
www.jobzoneonline.com
Date:
Location: Sponsor:
November 8, 2012
Ft. Bragg, NC Ft. Bragg Club /
10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
CivilianJobs.com,
(866) 801-4418
Date:
Location: Sponsor: November 9, 2012
Fort Belvoir 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. American Legion,
6520 Amherst Ave
Springfield VA
ACAP Job Fairs POC Vernita Holifield,
(703) 805-9263 -
Date:
Location: Sponsor: November 9, 2012
USAG Daegu Korea
Community Job Fair Evergreen Club,
Camp Walker 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
ACAP Job Fairs POC Joseph Lee, DSN
(315) 768-7951/7112
joseph.lee18.civ@mail.mil
Date:
Location: Sponsor: November 14, 2012
Ft. Meade Community
Career Fair - 9 a. m. - 2 p. m.
Club Meade,
6600 Mapes Rd,
Ft Meade MD 20755
ACAP Job Fairs Vicki Torrence,
(301) 677-5502 -
Date:
Location: Sponsor: November 15, 2012
Ft. Hood ACS
Community Job Fair Location: TBD
ACAP Job Fairs Teresa Shipman,
(254) 287-6067 -
Date:
Location: Sponsor:
November 27, 2012
Ft. Polk Chamber of
Commerce/ACAP 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. - Warrior
Community Center,
1321 Corps Rd, Bldg 352,
Ft Polk LA
ACAP Job Fairs POC Stacey Delgado
(337) 531-6922 -
Date:
Location: Sponsor: November 28, 2012
Ft. Hood, TX Club Hood / 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
CivilianJobs.com,
866-801-4418
hrc.tagd.acapcomm@gmail.com
hrc.tagd.acapcomm@gmail.com
hrc.tagd.acapcomm@gmail.com
hrc.tagd.acapcomm@gmail.com
hrc.tagd.acapcomm@gmail.com
Date:
Location: Sponsor: November 29, 2012
Ft Leonard Wood Job Fair Ft Leonard Wood National
Guard Armory
ACAP Job Fairs Beverly Rowe,
(573) 596-2755 -
Date:
Location: Sponsor: November 29, 2012
Ft. Sam Houston, TX The Sam Houston Club /
10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
CivilianJobs.com,
866-801-4418
Date:
Location: Sponsor: December 3, 2012
Yuma ACS Job Fair Location: TBD
ACAP Job Fairs POC Connie Everly
(928) 328-3350 -
Date:
Location: Sponsor: December 4, 2012
Patuxent River NAS Bay District Vol Fire Dept
Social Hall - 3 p.m. - 6 p.m.
JobZone, Janet Giles,
(434) 263-5102 or
(540) 775-4199,
www.jobzoneonline.com
Date:
Location: Sponsor: December 4, 2012
Ft Huachuca ACAP Job Fair 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Murr Community Center,
Sierra Vista AZ
ACAP Job Fairs POC Roger Shepard
(520) 533-7314 -
Date:
Location: Sponsor: December 4, 2012
Ft Bliss AUSA
Chamber of Commerce
Job Fair - Location: TBD
ACAP Job Fairs POC Laura Dempsey,
(202) 463-5377,
Date:
Location: Sponsor: December 4, 2012
Ft. Campbell, KY - Cole Park
Commons/ 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. 9 a.m. - 10 a.m. floor opened
to Wounded Warriors only.
1610 101st Airborne
Division Road,
Fort Campbell, KY 42223
CivilianJobs.com,
866-801-4418 or 678-819-4157
Date:
Location: Sponsor: January 24, 2013
Ft. Benning Conference
Center/ 10 a.m.- 2 pm.
CivilianJobs.com,
866-801-4418
Date:
Location: Sponsor: February 7, 2013
Camp Lejeune, NC Marston Pavilion /
10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
CivilianJobs.com,
866-801-4418
Date:
Location: Sponsor: February 21, 2013
Ft. Stewart, GA Stewart Club / 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
CivilianJobs.com,
866-801-4418
hrc.tagd.acapcomm@gmail.com
A Different
Uniform You Can
Take Pride In
Averitt Salutes Our
Military and Veterans
Averitt wants to thank the men and women
of the armed forces, past and present. We
appreciate the services provided every day to
keep our country safe and Averitt would be
honored to have you join our growing team of
veterans. Get the respect you deserve at Averitt.
hrc.tagd.acapcomm@gmail.com
STArT YOUr CAreer
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» Equal Opportunity Employer
» Females and Minorities Encouraged to Apply
Facebook.com/averittcareers
888-362-8603 » AVerITTsalutesyou.com
For more job fair dates and locations, go to CivilianJobs.com
cjn-AV-military-nov-vet.indd 1
10/4/12 12:45 PM
37153 Jerome
Richards 10.188x13.pdf
November
/December
2012
1
8/30/12
13
2:03 PM
At Coca-Cola, we have always been behind
our troops. In 1941, our Chairman, Robert
Woodruff committed…“to see that every man
in uniform gets a bottle of Coca-Cola for 5
cents, wherever he is and whatever it costs
the Company.” Our partnership with the USO
has been going strong for 70 years.
Today we employ over 5,500 Veterans in
North America. But we aren’t stopping there.
In 2012 we’re rolling out even more ambitious
programs when it comes to recruiting,
retaining and developing dynamic career
paths for the Veterans we hire.
See what we mean at
enjoycareers.com/military
No artificial flavors, added preservatives.
Since 1886.
®
©2012 The Coca-Cola Company. “Coca-Cola,” “open happiness” and the Contour Bottle
are registered trademarks of The Coca-Cola Company.
14
November/December 2012
They took off their
uniform, but they
are not done serving
Why Join the
Estes Team?
Post-9/11 veterans serve again - here at
home - with The Mission Continues.
service, they are telling us – daily – that
while they appreciate our gratitude for their
military service, they want – and need – to
answer a new call for civilian service.
Aaron Scheinberg, honored with 39 other
heroes in this special Top 40 under 40 issue,
answered this call. Aaron graduated from
West Point in 2003, where he was also a star
running back on the sprint football team.
Like many of his classmates, he deployed to
Iraq. In the infamous “Triangle of Death”,
Aaron served as both an infantry platoon
leader and civil affairs officer, earning the
Bronze Star for his service. He transitioned
out of the military in 2008, and earned an
MBA from Columbia Business School and
an MPA/ID from the Harvard Kennedy
School of Government. He pursued work
in international development, was selected
fellowships at a nonprofit of their choice, The
Mission Continues gives veterans a channel
to apply their passion for service, while
they rebuild the sense of purpose they had
in the military. Anthony is now serving his
fellowship at Serve DC, the lead agency for
community-based emergency preparedness
and national service in Washington, DC.
Anthony applies his military leadership
skills and strategy to a critical need in the
DC community. While he is helping to
inspire 190,000 veterans in DC to help their
community ready themselves for disasters
and emergencies, he is also readying
himself: he is completing his bachelor’s
degree in political science and preparing
for a Master’s in National Security Policy.
His transition from military to civilian life
has been successful; through community
service, he has restored purpose and set
goals and committed himself to a new path
as a leader.
The Mission Continues has awarded over
500 fellowships to veterans like Anthony.
Mission Continues Fellows have served in
over 350 organizations in 43 states. They
are tackling a variety of community issues,
from youth development to homelessness to
community arts to public health. They are
challenging themselves with new missions
here at home. They are pursuing goals that,
like Anthony, will establish them as citizen
leaders in their communities. Through their
as an Education Pioneer Fellow, and then
joined Deloitte as a consultant. As a civilian,
Aaron continued to achieve just as he had
as an Army Officer. But something was
missing from his life. Gone was the sense of
purpose he had while in the military. Gone
was the deep connection to a team, and the
unwavering pursuit of a mission. He was
achieving, but he was not fulfilled.
Aaron found that purpose again at
The Mission Continues. He joined The
Mission Continues as director of strategy
and research. Aaron is ensuring that our
programs are having measurable and
positive effects on veterans’ reintegration
success and transition outcomes. He works
daily with a fantastic team of people who
are all dedicated to changing the way this
country welcomes home veterans. He is
having deep impact on his community of
veterans, and the community at large. And,
he is fulfilled.
At The Mission Continues, we believe that
veterans are among our country’s greatest
assets, who have the power to change and
inspire their communities. Anthony and
Aaron are proving why, every day.
Spencer Kympton is the Chief Operating
Officer of The Mission Continues. He
is also a U.S. Army veteran. Learn more
about applying for a fellowship or staff
positions with The Mission Continues at
www.missioncontinues.org.
• Competitive wages
• Comprehensive
benefits
• Growth opportunities
• Terrific work
environment
• Company stability
(Celebrating 80 years
of service!)
Positions Available!
• Drivers
(Class A CDL with
Hazmat and Doubles)
• Supervisors
• Dock
• Clerical
• Mechanics
(Power and Trailer)
© 2011 Estes Express Lines 07/11-0218
A
nthony DeMarino knows what it
means to serve. He served eight years
in the Air Force as an Explosive Ordnance
Disposal Technician. He deployed to
Iraq twice, combating the lethal IEDs
that endangered soldiers and convoys for
years. In 2006, on a mission to dispose
of a weapons cache, his vehicle flipped,
and he sustained two herniated disks. He
pressed on, and he unloaded and disposed
of the cache, completing his mission. His
injuries, however, eventually prevented him
from continuing to serve in uniform. He
medically retired in 2010.
But Anthony was not done. He wanted
to serve his country again. He sought a
fellowship from the national nonprofit
organization - The Mission Continues.
Through six-month community-service
• Great schedules—Most
drivers are home daily
or every other day
Be sure to visit www.Work4Estes.com
for a complete list of positions available.
Toll-free recruitment line:
1-877-WRK4ESTES (1-877-975-4378)
Current
Operating
Area
AA/EOE
11-0218 110729 Estes Civilian Job Ad.indd 1
7/29/11 11:50 AM
November/December 2012
15
HOT JOB OPENINGS
ALPHARETTA, GA
Confidential Company, Repair Technician - Confidential
company seeks candidates with excellent electro-mechanical
skills; experience in welding and fabricating; a background
in auto or appliance painting and a successful history
of meeting production deadlines. Candidate must have a
record of solving problems and a willingness to implement
new processes. Superior organizational and planning skills
and superior communications skills needed as well as the
ability to cooperate effectively across departments. Primary
responsibilities include oversight of refurb logs and QC of
all physical refurb before ATM techs begin their work. Also
responsible for ensuring that all necessary parts needed to
complete each task are available ahead of time and, if not,
inform the appropriate personal in a timely manner. To learn
more, visit CivilianJobs.com’s Job Board.
JOLIET, IL
Toys R’ Us, Assistant Human Resources Manager - For
Toys R’ Us is currently seeking an HR professional that will
support all human resources functions within the Joilet, IL
facility. Employee will handle associate relations issues (work
performance, conflict resolution, discipline, etc.) and advise an
appropriate course of action including essential documentation,
referrals, and/or counseling. The hours of the position will vary
to include split shift, nights and weekends. The environmental
requirement of the position consists of working indoors in an
average office environment 80% of time and in a warehouse
environment 20% of time. Qualifications include: Bachelor’s
Degree in Human Resources, Management, Communications
or related field and/or equivalent work experience and
minimum of 2-4 years Human Resources experience. Apply
online at CivilianJobs.com’s Job Board, reference job
number 34435.
WISCONSIN
Compass Group/Bon Appetit Management Company,
Executive Chef - Charlotte-based Compass Group North
America is the leader in foodservice management and
support services. At Bon Appetit Management Company, we
are committed to two things, great food and outstanding
service! At Bon Appetit you won’t find our managers referring
to a corporate recipe book or our chefs microwaving the
lunch special. We do not have standardized recipes or central
commissaries, instead, our chefs and managers are expected
to stay abreast of current culinary trends and bring cutting
edge food into their cafes. We are a restaurant company that
operates in contract food service. That means you will have
the freedom to be creative, take risks, and truly shine. We
are committed to our staff growing, trying new things, and
learning all that they can. Our rapid growth and breadth of
accounts translates into exciting opportunities for our people!
Qualifications include: Culinary degree preferred, three to
five years of culinary management experience, high volume
production and catering experience is essential, previous
experience managing cost controls and a desire to learn and
grow with a top notch foodservice company. To learn more,
log onto the CivilianJobs.com’s job board.
ATLANTA, GA
Asbury Automotive, Management Training - Asbury
Automotive seeks candidates for our Management Training
Program. If you are a self-motivated professional with a
proven ability to generate customer loyalty - and accept
nothing less than being part of a top-performing team- a
career with Nalley, part of the Asbury Automotive group, may
be for you. Rapid advancement into leadership roles are
available within the company. Responsibilities include the
ability to multi-task and work in a fast-paced atmosphere;
have a strong record of customer service success and proven
sales experience, superior communication and follow-through
skills. Base of 30K+Bonuses. Contact Geoffrey Reabold,
Account Representative, 678-819-4121
OVERSEAS
CONTROLLEED FLUIDS, INC.. Fluid Power and Pneeumatic Products, Repairrs, Design, and Custom Fabrication Now Hiring: •
Machinists •
Hyydraulic Technicians •
Fieeld Service Teechnicians www.confluids .co
om ‐ email: danar@con
nfluids.com ‐ P: 409.833..2630 VETERANS!
Here’s a great new mission:
MIDDLE EAST,
Riyadh or Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia
Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories (SEL), Field
Application Engineer - Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories
(SEL) is a global manufacturer that provides products and
services for the protection, control, automation, integration,
communications and metering of electric power systems
for industrial and utility markets. The company has an
immediate need for a Field Application Engineer for the
Middle East. If you are looking to challenge your expertise
in power protection, expand your knowledge and join a
dynamic team, we invite you to explore your potential and
join Schweitzer Engineering Labs, Inc. If you have over five
years establishing and growing technical customer accounts
with utilities, industrial users and/or technical sales experience
with utilities and industrial markets, please submit your CV to
www.selinc.com/careers.
Where America’s Military
Connects With Civilian Careers
Employers
If you are seeking to recruit / source
military talent, let CivilianJobs.com
design a staffing solution to fit your needs:
Job Seekers
CivilianJobs.com is more than a
great place to post your resume.
Your skills are valuable and
marketable, and we provide you
with the best methods to pursue
military-friendly employers
including via our job board and
military job fairs.
• Contract Recruiting
• RPO
• Per Hire or Contingency
• “IQ” Talent
• Military Base Newspaper/ Employer Advertising
• Military Job Fairs
• Military Job Board
Northern California
College of Construction
Stockton, California
www.ccc-north.com
toll free: (800) 870-9757
The leading career resource for the military community.
Red Rock College
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
www.redrockcollege.com
toll free: (888) 616-5446
1-866-801-4418
Founded by military veterans with years of experience
in placing military candidates in new careers.
November/December 2012
16
Idea Power.
®
We’ve found more than a few good men and women. Southern Company
is committed to building a staff comprising the most talented people
possible. That’s why, this year, 15 percent of our hires have been
veterans, guardsmen or reservists. And currently, 11 percent of our
workforce has a background in America’s military. These men and
women exemplify the values we strive for every day–leadership,
responsibility and innovation. Some work in our offices while others
work in the field, but all work hard to lead their communities into a new
and brighter energy future. To see how Southern Company is turning
ideas into power, go to southerncompany.com/military.
©2012 Southern Company