WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and its National Chamber Foundation today announced that Hunt Companies is a finalist for the Hiring Our Heroes Military Spouse Employment and Mentoring Award. Hunt Companies is among the 25 businesses nominated for five awards because of demonstrated leadership in addressing the challenges faced by veterans, transitioning service members, and military families in their search for meaningful employment. The announcement comes as Hiring Our Heroes crossed the 14,000 hire milestone since the program began in March 2011.
“Hunt Companies is a tremendous example of an employer that has stepped up not only to hire talented veterans and military spouses but to recognize the sacrifices they have made in service to our nation,” said Lieutenant Colonel Kevin Schmiegel (Ret.), executive director of the Chamber’s Hiring Our Heroes program. “These 25 employers represent all sectors of the economy, but they share one invaluable quality—they recognize the value of hiring a hero. It is commitment from employers like Hunt Companies that has helped create a movement and truly make a difference on the issue of veteran and military spouse unemployment.”
The Hiring Our Heroes awards are given in four categories: Veteran and Military Spouse Employment; Wounded Warrior Employment; Post-9/11 Veteran Employment; Military Spouse Employment and Mentoring; and Small Business Veteran and Military Spouse Employment. This year’s finalists are:
Lee Anderson Veteran and Military Spouse Employment Award, for demonstrated leadership in hiring veterans and military spouses and honoring the sacrifices they have made in service to our nation: Comcast/NBCUniversal; Goldman Sachs; Sears; United Services Automobile Association (USAA); Walmart
Don Weber Wounded Warrior Employment Award, for demonstrated leadership in addressing the unique challenges and demands for wounded warriors, spouses, and caregivers in their search for meaningful employment: CACI; Computer Sciences Corporation (CSC); Modern Technology Solutions, Inc. (MTSI); Southwest Airlines; VSE Corporation
Post-9/11 Veteran Employment Award, for demonstrated leadership in enhancing the ability of post-9/11 veterans to find meaningful employment in the private sector: Chesapeake Energy; GE; JPMorgan Chase & Co.; Prudential; Ryder
Military Spouse Employment and Mentoring Award, for demonstrated leadership in supporting military spouses in their search for meaningful employment in the private sector: Booz Allen Hamilton; Capital One; Hospital Corporation of America (HCA); Hunt Companies; The Major Group
Capital One Award for Small Business Veteran and Military Spouse Employment, for demonstrated leadership in hiring veterans and military spouses and honoring the sacrifices they have made in service to our nation: Aaron’s, Inc.; Meineke Car Care Center of Pensacola, Florida; National Military Family Association; Willbros T&D Services; Wittenberg Weiner Consulting, LLC
The winners in each category will be announced at the 2nd Annual Lee Anderson Hiring Our Heroes Awards Dinner at the Chamber on November 14, 2012. A peer committee of veterans and military spouses will select the winners.
In March 2011, the Chamber, in conjunction with the National Chamber Foundation, launched Hiring Our Heroes, a nationwide effort to help veterans and military spouses find meaningful employment. The Chamber started the program to improve public-private sector coordination in local communities, where veterans and their families are returning every day. To date, Hiring Our Heroes has hosted more than 330 hiring fairs in 49 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico, helping 14,100 veterans and military spouses find employment.
The National Chamber Foundation (NCF), a non-profit affiliate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, is dedicated to identifying and fostering public debate on emerging critical issues. They provide business and government leaders with insight and resources to address tomorrow's challenges.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world’s largest business federation representing the interests of more than 3 million businesses of all sizes, sectors, and regions, as well as state and local chambers and industry associations.
