Washington, D.C. – The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and George W. Bush Institute have released the highlights video of Mission Transition: Creating Employment Opportunities for Post-9/11 Veterans and Military Families that features President George W. Bush and FASTPORT co-founder Jim Ray as the opening and closing speakers.

The event hosted at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s historic Hall of Flags centered on recognizing current Veteran hiring initiatives and began with President Bush’s remarks on the outstanding work that has been done in the effort to provide Veterans with needed employment when they return home. To advance this important work, the U.S. Chamber asked FASTPORT to represent the trucking industry and discuss how and why companies have successfully united to hire Veterans.

To illustrate the reasons behind the trucking industry’s success, Jim shared FASTPORT’s “playbook” on attracting and hiring Veterans to America’s varied industries by using a collaborative approach.

As the video above shows, Jim echoed many other speakers who praised the talented men and women of the United States military who are in need of lasting, meaningful employment and was realistic about the work that still needs to be done to advance the goal of industry collaboration. Highlights from just a few of those speakers include:

Mission Transition solidified the idea that industry collaboration is the key to Veteran hiring success. A coalition of leaders working toward the greater good of the industry will have a more immediate, lasting, and expansive impact than multiple companies working separately (and competing against each other). Trucking has seen this type of industry unity on truckingtrack.org, which has introduced over 10,000 Veterans to their new careers, and that number grows every day thanks to leaders working together.

“A strong trucking industry is critical to the growth of our country and our economy, but it also provides great economic opportunities for our Veterans and military families,” said Eric Eversole, Vice President at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and President of Hiring Our Heroes. “FASTPORT and its partners are working hard to connect leading transportation companies with military talent, and Hiring Our Heroes is proud to join them in that effort.”

George W. Bush, Former President of the United States of America

“When a resume says United States military, to me it says you can count on the applicant to be loyal, disciplined, a team player, and a proven leader. Across our country, businesses are recognizing that hiring Veterans is not just the right thing to do, but the smart thing to do…[but] there is more work to do to help America’s Veterans.”

Margaret Spellings. President of the George W. Bush Presidential Center 

“This collective effort is paying off. We see that in improved hiring and employment rates. While there have been many successes, there is still work to be done. It’s too early to declare victory. We must sustain the attention, resources, and effort we’ve begun to give this critical issue. We must leverage the lessons and best practice as we address the gaps that remain and better focus our efforts going forward.”

Tom Donohue, U.S. Chamber of Commerce President

“[Hiring Our Heroes] was built around a pretty simple idea. If we could honor the men and women who have served our country by connecting them with good jobs and putting them on fulfilling career paths, we would be doing something highly significant. There was and remains a real need for these efforts as nearly a million service members transition out [from] active duty into the civilian workforce in the next year.”

Soledad O’Brien, CEO Starfish Media and former voice of CNN

“Those people that come out the other side [of PTSD], what they have to offer as employees—but more importantly of course as human being—is incredibly valuable, it makes all of us better. So, I’m pleased to be part of the conversation today because I think this is a crucial message that is often lost in our daily reporting about Veteran, the contributions and the potential for contributions is huge.”

Tom Perez, U.S. Secretary of Labor

“We’re moving in the right direction. And we have a vast network of partnerships. That is the key. You’ll hear me say the word partnership so many time because that’s really what it is about, making sure that our federal partners are imploding stove pipes and working together and making sure that we avail ourselves of the leadership of people like President and Mrs. Bush. Making sure that we’re working with our friends in the business community, making sure that we are learning everything we can.”

Admiral James A “Sandy” Winnefeld

“This is a room full of passionate advocates, a powerful coalition and an amazing network…This is a powerful network in this room. All you have to do is see the many connections that are being made and the many, many familiar faces that we see in so many venues we have and its passionate caring for our military members and Veterans is incredible, so thank you for your continued support of our men and women both in and transitioning out of uniform. We have much more to do, but you’re making a big difference.”

Laura Bush, Former First Lady of the United States of America

“While it is so important to see that service men and women [it is important to] care for their families as well. As we’ve heard this morning, employment support is the perfect place to start.”

Dakota Meyer, Medal of Honor Recipient

“All [Veterans] need is the resources and opportunities that your organizations are providing for them. Many of these employers in this room have responded to the call of Veterans by recruiting Veterans and military spouses into your ranks. Rather than a handout, you decided to meet the need with an opportunity and that decision has paid off for those companies tenfold. Still, there are just as many companies out there who have yet to experience these benefits.”

David Plouffe, Chief Advisor to Uber and 2008 Campaign Manager for President Obama

“We’re trying to build a business, and we’re very focused on that. But in terms of Uber Military, nothing’s more important to us as making sure that we are standing by these Veterans, providing them with an opportunity, providing them the kind of service that they and their families need…I look forward to the road ahead with all of you.”

Jim Ray, Co-Founder FASTPORT

“The whole way Hiring Our Heroes presents Veteran hiring is smart because they take an industry approach. Now you think about it, you’re a Veteran, what’s the very first thing you ask? You don’t even know what industry to go into. So the idea of taking an industry approach and selling your industry is huge.”

Mission Transition solidified the idea that industry collaboration is the key to Veteran hiring success. A coalition of leaders working toward the greater good of the industry will have a more immediate, lasting, and expansive impact than multiple companies working separately (and competing against each other). Trucking has seen this type of industry unity on truckingtrack.org, which has introduced over 10,000 Veterans to their new careers, and that number grows every day thanks to leaders working together.

“A strong trucking industry is critical to the growth of our country and our economy, but it also provides great economic opportunities for our Veterans and military families,” said Eric Eversole, Vice President at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and President of Hiring Our Heroes. “FASTPORT and its partners are working hard to connect leading transportation companies with military talent, and Hiring Our Heroes is proud to join them in that effort.”