U.S. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES 4TH ANNUAL HIRING OUR HEROES AWARD FINALISTS

RECOGNIZED EMPLOYERS AND INDIVIDUALS HAVE GONE ABOVE AND BEYOND TO HIRE, RETAIN, AND HONOR NATION’S VETERANS AND MILITARY SPOUSES

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Hiring Our Heroes programannounced the finalists for the 4th Annual Hiring Our Heroes awards. These 22 nominated employers and individuals have demonstrated leadership in addressing the challenges faced by veterans, transitioning service members, military spouses, and military caregivers in their search for meaningful employment.

“Over the past few years, we have made tremendous strides in addressing veteran and military spouse employment challenges, and these 22 finalists are a big part of that progress,” said Eric Eversole, a vice president at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and executive director of Hiring Our Heroes. “These are employers and individuals that have not only led their companies to hire the skilled men and women who have served our country, but have encouraged their peers to develop veteran and military spouse hiring initiatives and best practices. They are true leaders who have demonstrated both professional and personal dedication 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; Recovering Warrior and Military Caregiver Employment; Military Spouse Employment and Mentoring; Small Business Veteran and Military Spouse Employment; and Individual Leadership. This year’s finalists are:

Lee Anderson Veteran and Military Spouse Employment Award, for overall excellence in hiring and retaining veterans, transitioning service members, and military spouses: Capital One; Hospital Corporation of America (HCA); Ryder; Union Pacific Railroad

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: The Home Depot; Lockheed Martin; USAA; Verizon Communications Don Weber

Recovering Warrior 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: Deloitte; Anthony Odierno – JPMorgan Chase & Co.; Southwest Airlines; Volt Workforce Solutions

Military Spouse Employment and Mentoring Award, for demonstrated hiring, mentorship, and support of military spouses in their search for meaningful employment: Military Officer Association of America (MOAA); Toyota Motor Sales USA; USAA

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.; Lock-n-Load Java; FASTPORT

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: Frank Bisignano, Chairman and CEO, First Data Corporation; Derek Blake, Vice President of Marketing and Military Programs, La Quinta Inns & Suites; Chris Phillips, Military Recruiter, PNC Bank; CSM(R) Robert Van Pelt, Program Coordinator of Family Programs, New York National Guard

The winners in each category will be announced at the 4th Annual Lee Anderson Hiring Our Heroes Awards Dinner at the U.S. Chamber on November 12, 2014. The Hiring Our Heroes Awards Committee will select the winners.

Hiring Our Heroes launched in March 2011 as a nationwide initiative to help veterans and military spouses find meaningful employment. Working with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s vast network of state and local chambers and other strategic partners from the public, private, and non-profit sectors, the goal is to create a movement across America in hundreds of communities where veterans and military families return every day.

To date, Hiring Our Heroes has hosted more than 800 hiring fairs in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia, helping 24,000 veterans and military spouses find jobs.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation (USCCF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit affiliate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce dedicated to strengthening America’s long-term competitiveness by addressing developments that affect our nation, our economy, and the global business environment.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation (USCCF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit affiliate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce dedicated to strengthening America’s long-term competitiveness by addressing developments that affect our nation, our economy, and the global business environment.