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WELCOME.[Coffee with the CEO on September 23, 2021.]
AGAIN, AND I'M SO GLAD THAT YOU WERE ACTUALLY DOWN THE HALL AND THAT YOU WERE ABLE TO MAKE SURE TO GET DOWN TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE HALL AND WALK INTO HIS OFFICE AND MAKE SURE TO GET ON.THANKS FOR JOINING US AND NOW YOU HAVE THE FLOOR AND YOU CAN MAKE SOME REMARKS.
JUST LIKE I SAID, WE CAN ATTEST TO THIS.
I HAVE A RETIRED MARINE AND ARMY HERE AND WE ALWAYS ADAPT AND OVERCOME, RIGHT?
>> THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING FLEXIBLE FIRST AND FOREMOST.
TRUTHFULLY I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW EXCITED I AM TO BE PART OF THIS CONVERSATION.
ONE IT'S WARRANTED AND ANYTIME I CAN SPEAK ABOUT OUR FELLOW VETERANS AND THEIR MILITARY SPOUSES I TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT.
THERE'S A LOT OF WORK TO DO AND ONE GREAT WORK THAT'S BEING DONE, BUT THERE'S ALSO A LOT OF INFORMATION THAT NEEDS TO BE HAD BY OUR FELLOW VETERANS AND CORPORATIONS WANTING TO HIRE THESE VETERAN, SO THESE CONVERSATIONS ARE IMPORTANT, SO I WANT TO THANK AS YOU MENTIONED EVERYBODY THAT'S PART OF PUTTING THIS TOGETHER BECAUSE IT'S AN IMPORTANT CONVERSATION TO HAVE AND INCLUDED ME IN THIS CONVERSATION.
>> WELL THANK YOU SO MUCH AND, SO I DID INTRODUCE YOU AND I WENT THROUGH YOUR BIO.
I RECOGNIZED AND DURING OUR CONVERSATIONS EARLIER THIS WEEK I FOUND OUT YOU'RE A TEXAS NATIVE.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR JOURNEY AND HOW YOU GOT TO THIS POSITION?
>> I TELL YOU, IT'S BEEN A FUN JOURNEY.
I SAY FUN, BECAUSE I'VE LEARNED A LOT OF THING AS LONG THE WAY AND I'VE HAD A LOT OF GREAT MENTOR AS LONG THE WAY.
I'VE BEEN FORTUNATE TO WORK WITH A PHENOMENAL TEAM ON ACTIVE DUTY AT THE MARINE
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CORP.AND ALSO, HERE WITH THE VETS AND I'VE HAD GREAT SUPPORT FROM MY FAMILY.
ALL THREE OF THOSE ALLOWED ME TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN MY VIEW, BECAUSE SUCCESS IS HOW YOU DETERMINE IT.
SO, FOR ME TO LIVE AND BE IN AN ORGANIZATION AND HAVING A GREAT FAMILY SUPPORT ME IS MY VERSION OF SUCCESS.
IT'S BEEN A GREAT JOURNEY FROM THIS POINT.
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COMING FROM A SMALL TOWN.I DON'T THINK EVEN MOST PEOPLE WITH FIND IT ON THE MAP.
7,000 PEOPLE IN A PLACE CALLED RAMSAY'S PASS.
I WAS THERE SPEAKING TO THE HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR CLASS TALKING ABOUT HOW YOU BECOME SUCCESSFUL WHEN YOU'RE FROM A SMALL TOWN AND GAVE A LITTLE STORY OF MY JOURNEY, BUT THE TRUTH IS EDUCATION IS A GREAT EQUALIZER AND UNDERSTANDING THAT WHEN WE GET EDUCATED WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE.
THERE'S OTHER WAYS TO GET EDUCATED.
NOT ONLY THROUGH THE UNIVERSITY, BUT APPRENTICESHIPS AND THINGS WE'LL TALK ABOUT LATER, BUT EDUCATION IS IMPORTANT AN AWAY TO SUCCESS.
SO LET ME START OFF BY SAYING THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AT EVERY LEVEL.
IT'S BECAUSE OF PEOPLE LIKE YOURSELF AND THE TEAM THAT'S ON HERE.
YOUR SERVICE MAKES OUR COUNTRY GREAT SO THANK YOU FOR THAT.
>> AND GETTING INTO THE ROLE THAT YOU'RE DOING WHAT ARE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES VETERANS FACE AFTER SERVICE?
>> I WAS ASKED THIS QUESTION IN FRONT OF CONGRESS AT THE HOUSE OF VETERAN'S AFFAIRS COMMITTEE.
THEY SAID WHAT'S THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE FOR VETS TRANSFERRING OUT AND I CAN TELL YOU, PROBABLY ALL OF OUR TEAM HERE HAVE THE SAME QUESTION.
WHAT DO I WANT TO DO WHEN I GET OUT.
HOW CAN I USE THE SKILL SETS THAT I HAVE LEARNED AND OBTAINED IN THE MILITARY? HOW WILL I USE THAT IN SPECIFIC AREAS IN THE INDUSTRY SO UNDERSTANDING WHAT THAT INDUSTRY IS.
THEY'LL BE RECEPTIVE TO YOUR SKILL SETS AND TWO HOW DO I TRANSLATE WHAT I DO IN THE MILITARY INTO CORPORATE SPEAK.
PEOPLE SAY WHAT DID YOU DO IN THE MARINE CORP.? AND I SAID IF YOU HAVE TIME I CAN EXPLAIN, BUT TRUTHFULLY, I DID A LOT OF THINGS.
I HAD FIVE ADDITIONAL M.O.S, BUT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING FOR ME WAS THE ABILITY TO LEAD AND MANAGE PROGRAMS, SO I FEEL THAT'S WHERE I COULD MAKE MY TRANSITION TO THE RIGHT SPACE.
I THINK FORTUNATELY, I HAD ENOUGH TIME AND I HAD A GOOD MENTOR TO HELP ME THINK THROUGH THAT PROCESS.
LOT OF YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN DON'T HAVE THAT POSSIBILITY TO HAVE A STRONG NETWORK OR THE ABILITY TO HAVE INSIGHT FROM SOMEBODY THAT'S MADE THAT TRANSITION ALREADY.
IT'S A CHALLENGE FOR THEM TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THEY WANT TO DO WHEN THEY TRANSITION OUT.
IT IS A COMPLICATED QUESTION AND A COMPLICATED PROCESS.
WE'RE HERE TO HELP FACILITATE BETTER UNDERSTANDING AND EDUCATION ON HOW THEY CAN BE MORE SUCCESSFUL WHEN THEY UTILIZE THE RESOURCES THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO THEM.
ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE EQUATION, OBVIOUSLY ARE THE EMPLOYERS AND WHAT'S YOUR MESSAGE TO EMPLOYERS ON WHY TO HIRE VETERANS.
>> I WANT TO THANK THEM ON THIS CALL BECAUSE THAT MEANS YOUR PASSIONATE ABOUT HIRING VETERANS AND WANT TO UNDERSTAND HOW TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN THE PROCESS OF HIRING VETERANS.
I WAS IN TWO LARGE COMPANIES AND I WAS ABLE TO SUPPORT VETERAN EMPLOYMENT IN BOTH OF THOSE COMPANIES.
EVERY ORGANIZATION WILL TELL YOU THEY'RE A BETTER ORGANIZATION WHEN THEY HAVE VETERANS WORKING FOR THEM.
THE REASON IS WE BRING SUCH A WIDE VARIETY OF SKILL SETS NOT OFTEN OBTAINS IN JUST FOUR YEAR INSTITUTION OR COLLEGE OR EDUCATIONAL PLATFORM.
BECAUSE OF THE ABILITY TO BE FORCED INTO BEING A TEAM PLAYER AND A LEADER.
THOSE ARE A LOT OF SKILL SETS THAT YOU DEVELOP IN THE MILITARY BECAUSE YOUR THRUST INTO THOSE ROLES EARLY ON WHETHER IT'S FOUR YEARS OR MORE LIKE MYSELF.
AS AN EMPLOYER, IT'S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO SAY THAT YOU ARE NOT GOING TO BENEFIT FROM HAVING VETERANS ON YOUR TEAM BECAUSE OF THEIR BALANCE SKILL SET THAT THEY
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HAVE.I'LL TELL YOU A STORY REAL QUICK, IF I CAN.
I'VE ONLY BEEN OUT OF THE MARINE CORP.
FOR ABOUT THREE MONTHS AND I WAS SITTING IN A HIGH RISE HERE IN DOWNTOWN ARLINGTON AND ALL OF THE THE SUDDEN I SAW A LOT OF PEOPLE RUNNING BY MY OFFICE, SO MY FIRST INSTINCT IS, SOME THINGS GOING ON.
I RUN DOWN AND I SEE EVERYONE IS STANDING AROUND AND ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES IS ON THE FLOOR TURNING RED AND PURPLE.
SO PEOPLE DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO REACT.
PEOPLE ARE STANDING AROUND, BUT ME, BASED OFF MY YEARS OF TRAINING IMMEDIATELY JUMPED IN AND DIRECTED PEOPLE TO DO WHAT THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO DO.
STARTED DOING CHEST COMPRESSIONS AND THINGS LIKE THAT TO HELP SAVE THIS MAN'S LIFE.
LONG STORY IS WE SAVED HIS LIFE AND HE FULLY RECOVERED, BUT BECAUSE OF MY TRAINING I WAS ABLE TO TAKE CHARGE OF THAT ACTION AND HELP SAVE THIS MAN'S LIFE.
>> THAT'S NOT SOMETHING THAT I ALWAYS TALK ABOUT.
IT'S ACTUALLY THE FIRST TIME I'VE EVER TALKED ABOUT IT, BUT WE BRING SKILL SETS THAT CAN BE VALUABLE TO ANY ORGANIZATION.
TALK ABOUT BEING IN THE RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME FOR ESPECIALLY TO SAVE SOMEONE'S LIFE LIKE THAT.
I'M SO GLAD TO HEAR HE SURVIVED AS A RESULT OF YOUR TRAINING AND EXPERTISE ON THAT.
WHAT'S THE BEST WAY FOR EMPLOYERS TO CONNECT WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND TO FIND AND HIRE VETERANS?
OFTEN TIMES I GET THIS QUESTION.
WE WANT TO HIRE VETERAN BUT WE JUST DON'T KNOW HOW TO FIND THEM.
ONE THING I WANT TO EMPHASIZE WITH THAT STORY AND I GOT EXCITED TO POLICIES THERE, BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT VETERANS AND YOU TALK ABOUT THE QUALIFICATION THIS BRING NOT ONLY FROM THEIR MILITARY SKILL SETS IF YOU LOOK AT THE CALIBER OF THE PEOPLE SERVING IN OUR NATION THROUGH OUR BRANCHES OF SERVICE THAT THEY'RE IN, WE LITERALLY HAVE ONE, WE HAVE AN USUAL VOLUNTARY FORCE, BUT ONLY 29%, LET ME SAY THAT AGAIN.
ONLY 29% OF 17 TO 24-YEAR-OLD YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN CAN ONLY EVEN QUALIFY FOR THE MILITARY AND THAT'S THROUGH A LOT OF REASONS, BUT THE MILITARY TAKES THE BEST AND THE BRIGHTEST.
WE HAVE THE MOST HIGHLY EDUCATED MILITARY IN OUR NATION'S HISTORY NOW, SO TAKE ALL OF THAT AND COMBINE IT WITH WHAT THEY LEARN FROM A LEADERSHIP PERSPECTIVE AND YOU HAVE A GREAT EMPLOYEE.
BUT TO YOUR QUESTION, RICK, HOW CAN THEY WORK WITH US, FIRST AND FOREMOST WE HAVE AMERICAN JOB CENTERS.
I'M SURE MOST OF YOU AND TO THIS CALL ARE FAMILIAR WITH THEM.
WE HAVE THEM ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
THERE'S 180 LOCATIONS IN TEXAS ALONE AND SEVERAL HERE IN THE DALLAS AREA.
I KNOW SOME OF YOU HAVE WORKED CLOSELY WITH THEM.
I HATE TO SAY THIS, BUT OUR AMAZING ROXANNE GRIFFITH IS MOVING ON TO BIGGER AND I DON'T WANT TO SAY GREATER THINGS, BUT SHE'LL DO GREAT THINGS AT THE WOMEN'S BURROW AND WILL CONTINUE TO SERVE OUR CITIZENS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
WE'LL GET TO A GREAT PERSON TO REPLACE ROXANNE, BUT OUR AMERICAN JOB CENTERS ARE IMPORTANT.
THEY PLAY A CRITICAL ROLE IN THE LOCAL LEVEL CONNECTION TOUR AN EMPLOYERS AND PROVIDE PERSONAL INSIGHT IN TO WHY YOU CAN HIRE VETERANS AND THE TYPE OF VETERAN YOU WANT TO HIRE AND WE OF AN AN EMPLOYERS GUIDE ON HIRING VETERANS AND YOU CAN GO TO THAT ON OUR WEBSITE.
AND LOOK AT THE WEBSITE AND IT GIVES YOU A HOW TO GUIDE TO EMPLOYEE VETERANS.
WE'RE ALWAYS AVAILABLE TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL CONTEXT AROUND CONVERSATIONS YOU MAY WANT TO HAVE AS YOU'RE WORKING WITH YOUR TEAM TO HIRE VETERANS.
NOW YOU MENTIONED WE TALKED ABOUT EDUCATION AND WE TALKED ABOUT TRAINING AND WE TALKED ABOUT HOW TO, WHAT THE IMPORTANCE IS THERE AND WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT THE UNIQUE SKILL SETS THAT VETERANS HAVE.
REGARDING WHEN THEY TRANSITION INTO THE WORK OR TO RE-ENTER THE WORKFORCE, WHAT SKILLS BASED OPPORTUNITIES TRAINING IS IT AS IT RELATES TO THAT?
WE HAVE A PHENOMENAL RELATIONSHIP WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE.
IT HAS A PROGRAM CALLED SKILL PROGRAM IT OFFERS OPPORTUNITIES FOR
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TRANSITIONING SERVICE MEMBERS TO TRANSITION INTO APPRENTICESHIPS, INTERNSHIPS AND JOBS AND THEY CAN DO THIS WITHIN THE SIX MONTH TIME BEFORE THEY SEPARATE FROM THE MILITARY.THIS GIVES THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN THAT INDUSTRY AND ORGANIZATION AND TO FIND OUT IF THAT'S SOMETHING THEY REALLY WANT TO DO WHEN THEY TRANSITION OUT.
OFTEN TIME WHENCE WE'RE TRYING TO MAKE THAT DECISION ABOUT WHAT WE'LL DO WHEN WE SEPARATE, WE HAVE A PRE-CONCEPTION ON HOW WE'LL BE ABLE TO USE OUR SKILL SET IN THAT JOB AND THEN WE GET IN THERE AND REALIZE THIS WAS NOT THE RIGHT CHOICE, BUT I'M STUCK BECAUSE I HAVE TO PROVIDE FOR MY FAMILY.
BUT THROUGH THIS THEY CAN GET PAID WHILE ON ACTIVE DUTY SO IT IS A WIN FOR THE VETERAN AND SERVICE MEMBER AND THE CORPORATIONS.
WE HAVE A GREAT PARTNERSHIP WITH TRADE UNIONS AND OTHER COMPANIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
THERE'S A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF RESOURCES THERE.
THERE'S 1100 EMPLOYERS PARTICIPATING IN THIS PROGRAM.
THE DOD SKILL BRIDGE PROGRAM SO WE WANT TO USE THAT IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO AGAIN PROVIDE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES TO OUR SERVICE MEMBERS AS THEY'RE TRANSITIONING OUT AND TO CORPORATIONS THAT WANT TO GET INVOLVED IN THIS, BECAUSE TRUTHFULLY, I'VE TOLD THIS TO OUR TEAM AND OUR TEAM HAS BEEN GREAT ABOUT LOOKING AT OTHER INDUSTRIES WE MAY NOT HAVE LOOKED FOR IN THE PAST.
WE TALK ABOUT BLUE COLLAR INDUSTRIES AND I CAN TELL YOU THERE'S OPPORTUNITIES ACROSS WHITE COLLAR INDUSTRIES, AS WELL.
IF SOMEONE IS WILLING TO TAKE THAT LEAP INTO STARTING A PROGRAM.
WE HAVE FOLKS ACROSS THE COUNTRY THAT CAN HELP START THE PROGRAMS ESPECIALLY WITH PARTNERSHIPS WITH T.O.D.
WE HAVE A QUESTION THAT WAS SUBMITTED FROM SOMEBODY FROM COLIN COLLEGE IN THE AREA.
AND ALSO I WANT TO REMIND EVERYBODY THAT IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION, YOU CAN SEND YOUR QUESTION TO DEANNA AT GDHC.COM.
MY MOST IMMEDIATE QUESTION FOR THE ACTING ASSISTANT SECRETARY IS AS A CAREER FORCE AT A TECHNICAL CAMPUS.
MILITARY SPOUSES IN TRADE AREAS AND I'VE SEEN A GREAT INTEREST IN THE TRADES AND IT HAS BAFFLED ME THAT THERE IS NOT A PROGRAM COMPONENT THAT EMPHASIZES HIGHER EDUCATION AS A TRAINING HUB FOR COMPANIES AND AN APPRENTICESHIPS AND PARTNERSHIPS WHEN WE HAVE SOME OF THE MOST STATE-OF-THE-ART FACILITIES TO OBTAIN MARKETING SKILLS AND HANDS ON EXPERIENCE THAT EMPLOYERS NEED WHEN CREATING PIPELINES AND SUPPLEMENTING THOSE EMPLOYERS FOR THE OTHER END OF THOSE THAT ARE AGEING OUT AND THEY PROJECT TOGETHER BE LEADING THE INDUSTRY ACCORDING TO THE BUREAU OF LABOR AND STATISTICS.
>> THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION AND GREAT ACADEMIC QUESTION ON TOP OF THAT.
I DO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S TREMENDOUS RESOURCES AT THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE LEVEL, AND I BELIEVE WHOLEHEARTEDLY IN COMMUNITY COLLEGES.
I WENT TO ONE MYSELF ON ACTIVE DUTY AND THEN TRANSFERRED TO A FOUR YEAR UNIVERSITY AND I SAW THE VALUE THERE.
I THINK OFTEN TIMES, THE RESOURCES THAT ARE ALLOCATED AT THE COMMUNITY COLLEGES ARE OVERLOOKED, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU.
THIS IS D OL AND WE'RE WORKING ACROSS THE TEAMS TO IDENTIFY ORGANIZATIONS AS YOU MENTIONED THAT HAVE TOOLS THAT ARE SUPPORTING OUR VETERANS IN THIS CASE SO WE CAN GET THEM INTO THE WORKFORCE.
WE KNOW THAT THERE'S A GENERATION GAP IN A LOT OF THE TRADES AND WE KNOW THAT PEOPLE IN THE TRADES, AS THEY AGE AND TAKE THEIR EXPERIENCE WITH THEM, WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO FILL THAT.
THERE'S A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES FOR WOMEN, BUT WE HAVE TO REALLY PUSH FOR WOMEN TO GET INTO THE VARIOUS SKILL TRADES, SO WE DO WANT TO PARTNER WITH ORGANIZATIONS LIKE THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE TO MAKE SURE WE'RE GETTING RESOURCES TO VETERANS AND THAT CORPORATIONS UNDERSTAND THESE RESOURCES EXIST.
THERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE INFORMATION AND WE'RE MORE THAN HAPPY TO DO THAT.
WE KNOW WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE OFFICE OF APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM HERE, THEY HAVE A PASSION FOR DOING WHAT I JUST SPOKE ABOUT, BUT THEY CAN SPEAK ABOUT IT MORE ELOQUENTLY THAN I DID.
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IT IS IMPORTANT FOR US TO COMBINE EFFORTS TO ENSURE WE'RE WORKING CLOSELY WITH ORGANIZATIONS IN AND AT THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE LEVEL T MAKE SURE WE HAVE A PATHWAY TO SUCCESS.SOMEBODY HAS GAINED THOSE SKILL SETS.
HOPEFULLY I ANSWERED THAT QUESTION.
WE CAN FOLLOW UP AND ACTUALLY THINK THERE'S ANOTHER QUESTION COMING FROM PRESIDENT AND CEO OF OUR PARTNER ORGANIZATION THE REGIONAL HISPANIC CONTRACTORS WHO IS A PARTNER MAKING THIS EVENT POSSIBLE.
HIS QUESTION IS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE AND LIFE'S WORK.
THE REGIONAL HISPANIC CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION WORKS ON BEHALF OF HISPANIC CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS OWNERS AND CONSTRUCTION WORKERS.
WHAT PROGRAMS AND EFFORTS ARE YOU WORKING WITH TO ENSURE CONSTRUCTION WORKERS SAFETY ALL THOUGH HISPANICS MAKE UP A HUGE PART OF THE WORKFORCE ONLY 17.3% ARE IN APPRENTICESHIPS AND AN IN ADDITION THEIR HISPANICS ARE OPENING BUSINESSES MORE THAN ANY OTHER GROUP IN THE UNITED STATES.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO HIRE AND DIRECT VETERANS TO OPEN THEIR OWN BUSINESSES?
>> THAT IS A GREAT COUPLE OF QUESTIONS ALL PILED INTO ONE.
THE FIRST ONE WITH THE SMALL BUSINESS PIECE.
WE WORK CLOSE WITH THE SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION BECAUSE A LOT OF VETERANS ARE WANTING TO BE ENTREPRENEURS AND GO INTO JOBS AND SKILLS THAT THEY WANT AND DEVELOPED IN THE MILITARY, BUT MAYBE SOMETHING THEY DID NOT DO IN THE MILITARY, BUT THAT THEY'RE PASSIONATE ABOUT.
WE WORK CLOSELY WITH OSHA WHEN WE LOOK AT THE SAFETY OF OUR VETERANS AND PEOPLE IN GENERAL WHEN THERE ARE INDUSTRIES LIKE CONSTRUCTION.
WE KNOW OFTEN TIMES UNFORTUNATELY THERE'S A HIGHER SUICIDE RIGHT THAN A LOT OF OTHER INDUSTRIES WHEN PEOPLE ARE IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY SO WE WANT TO PROVIDE RESOURCES TO HELP PREVENT AND COMBAT THAT.
TO THE FINAL POINT, HOW TO WE WORK WITH ORGANIZATIONS LIKE YOURS? IT REVOLVES AROUND ESTABLISHING A GOOD SOLID FOUNDATION FOR LONGEVITY MEANING WE WORK WITH YOU, ESTABLISH A PLATFORM FOR SUCCESS THROUGH THE APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM AND THE SKILL BRIDGE PARTNERS AND THEN THROUGH OUR TRANSITION PROGRAMS. ONE OF THE THINGS WE WORK ON CURRENTLY RIGHT NOW IS WE'RE WORKING FOR AN OFF BASE TRANSITION PROGRAM.
VETERANS THAT ARE UNEMPLOYED OR AT RISK OF UNEMPLOYMENT WE WORK WITH THEM TO HELP TRAIN THEM AND GET THEIR RESUMES UP-TO-DATE AND GET THEM TO UTILIZE THEIR SKILL SETS AND GET PREPARED FOR ENTERING JOB MARKET WHEN THEY'VE LOST THEIR JOB DUE TO THE PANDEMIC.
THE OTHER THING IS OUR EMPLOYMENT NAVIGATING PILOT PROGRAM.
WE'RE WORKING AT 13 INSTALLATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY WITH ALL BRANCH OF SERVICE INCLUDED.
WE'RE PROVIDING INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING TO SERVICE MEMBERS WHEN THEY'RE PLANNING TO SEPARATE FROM THE MILITARY AND GIVING THEM INFORMATION LIKE THIS TO HAVE A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT TYPE OF EMPLOYMEN OPPORTUNITIES EXIST AT SPECIFIC LOCATIONS THEY'RE RETURNING TO AFTER TRANSITIONING OUT SO THEY UNDERSTAND THAT THE INDUSTRIES EXIST.
IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN BECOMING PART OF THE EMPLOYMENT NAVIGATION PILOT, BY ALL MEANS REACH OUT.
WE'RE MORE THAN HAPPY TO WORK WITH YOU AND YOUR ORGANIZATION, AND IF YOU GOOGLE IT, THERE'S A LOT OF INFORMATION ON OUR WEBSIT THERE THAT WILL POINT YOU TO THESE RESOURCES THAT I JUST MENTIONED.
>> THAT WAS GOING TO BE MY QUESTION.
THIS IS INFORMATION IF YOU ARE OKAY WITH THAT.
WE CAN DISTRIBUTE TO THOSE THAT ARE MEMBERS AND THOSE THAT ARE ATTENDING OR JOINING US THIS MORNING.
SO ANY INFORMATION REGARDING HOW TO CONTACT YOU OR ANYTHING ELSE, WE'RE MORE THAN HAPPY TO HELP PASS THAT ON TO EVERYBODY AS WE CONTINUE DOWN THIS EVENT HERE.
>> GOING BACK TO THE TOPIC, THE VERY IMPORTANT TOPIC OF APPRENTICESHIPS AND WE HAVE TOUCHED ON THIS, BUT I WANT TO GO BACK.
>> THIS IS SOMETHING WE'RE TRYING TO DO A BETTER JOB EDUCATING OUR SERVICE MEMBERS AND MILITARY SPOUSES AND AN APPRENTICESHIPS.
I THINK PEOPLE HAVE A MISCONCEPTION MANY TIMES ABOUT THE VALUE OF APPRENTICESHIP, SO LET ME GIVE YOU NUMBERS.
ACCORDING TO THE STATISTICS AND THE OFFICE OF APPRENTICESHIP THE AVERAGE STARTING SALARY AFTER AN APPRENTICE COMPLETES A PROGRAM IS $70 THOUSAND.
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IN MANY PLACES THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY DEPENDING WHERE YOU ARE.THAT'S A GOOD STARTING SALARY FOR A LOT OF MEN AND WOMEN IN SPECIFIC FIELDS.
AFTER COMPLETING THE PROGRAM THIS CAN LEARN TO EARNING $300,000 OR MORE OVER A CAREER.
ONE OF THE STATISTICS IF YOU TAKE AN APPRENTICE COMPARED TO SOMEBODY WITH A FOUR YEAR DEGREE AND COMPARE THE APPRENTICE IS MAKING $30,000 OR MORE COMPARED TO THE PERSON WITH A FOUR YEAR DEGREE SO THERE'S A LOT O BEN FITS WHEN IT COMES TO SALARY.
THERE'S A WAY TO GET INVOLVED THAT GIVES YOU A LONG-TERM OUTLOOK ON A CAREER, VERSES JUST A SINGLE JOB.
I THINK THAT'S THE IMPORTANT PIECE OF THAT.
THAT'S WHERE THE UNIONS COME IN QUITE WELL.
THEY HELP TO ESTABLISH FOR LONGEVITY AND THEY GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO DEVELOP A CAREER VERSES JUST GETTING A JOB AND WE KNOW THAT'S IMPORTANT.
AS I MENTIONED BEFORE APPRENTICESHIP.GOV IS ONE OF THE WEBSITES YOU CAN LOOK AT AND IT GIVES YOU MORE INFORMATION ON THE VALUE OF APPRENTICESHIPS.
THE GOOD NEWS IS ANY EMPLOYER CAN CREATE IT FOR RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION AND WE'RE MORE THAN HAPPY TO HELP AND PROVIDE INFORMATION FOR TO THEM ON HOW TO DO THAT.
I WANT TO REITERATE SOMETHING I SAID BEFORE.
JUST BECAUSE THERE IS NOT MAYBE AN APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM WITH ANY FIELD YOU MAY HAVE OR ARE WORKING IN, DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE CAN' BUILD ONE THERE.
THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH HELPING PEOPLE TO GET INTO YOUR FIELD.
WE WANT TO WORK WITH YOU AT THE LOCAL AND FEDERAL LEVEL SO BY ALL MEANS, LET US KNOW.
WE'LL PROVIDE INFORMATION TO SOME PEOPLE AND WE'LL HAVE MORE INFORMATION ON HOW THESE PROGRAMS CAN BE DEVELOPED AND HOW WE CAN WORK CLOSELY WITH THEM.
>> WELL, THAT'S GREAT INFORMATION AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING OPEN TO LISTENING TO IDEAS ON NEW PROGRAMS AND NEW OPPORTUNITIES TO HELP SUPPORT THESE VETERANS AND ONCE AGAIN JUST SO EVERYBODY CAN BE AWARE, THIS IS APPLICABLE TO VETERANS AND THEIR SPOUSES, CORRECT? IS THAT WHAT YOU SAID?
>> SO OUR APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS, YES.
OUR PROGRAMS ARE APPLICABLE TO ACTIVE DUTY SERVICE MEMBERS AND MILITARY SPOUSES.
I WANT TO ALSO ADD THAT OFTEN TIMES WE KNOW THERE'S A COST ASSOCIATED WITH THIS SO A LOT OF TIMES CORPORATIONS INCUR COST BUT HERE'S A GOOD BENEFIT FROM THAT.
BENEFIT TO SUPPORT TRAINING AS PART OF APPRENTICESHIP AND THEY RECEIVE A HOUSING STIPEND SO THEY'RE GETTING PAID ON TOP OF THE SKILL SETS THEY ARE LEARNING SO THAT'S A VALUE TO ADD TO ANY ORGANIZATION.
SPEAKING OF THESE TYPES OF INITIATIVES, ARE THERE RECENT OR UPCOMING APPRENTICESHIPS YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH EVERYBODY THAT WE HAVE NOT TALKED ABOUT?
TRANSITION STANCE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
OFF BASE TRANSITION TRAINING PROGRAM.
THOSE THAT ARE AT RISK OF BEING UNEMPLOYED IT HELPS THEM THINK OF THE SKILL SETS AND PUT IT IN A SOLID RESUME AND WE HELP TO ALIGN THEM WITH EMPLOYERS.
WE TALKED ABOUT THE NAVIGATION PROGRAM WHERE WE TAKE THE INITIATIVE TO GET OUR MILITARY AND MILITARY SPOUSES TO UNDERSTAND WHERE THE JOBS ARE THAT THEY WANT TO BE IN AND WHERE THEY CAN USE THEIR SKILL SETS IN SPECIFIC CAREER FIELDS.
ONE THING THAT I DID NOT SPEAK ABOUT IS TRANSITION EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE FOR MILITARY SPOUSES.
WE HAVE NINE COURSES THEY CAN TAKE ON-LINE TO HELP THEM UNDERSTAND HOW AGAIN, TO TAKE THEIR SPECIFIC SKILL SETS AND DEVELOP A GOOD SOLID RESUME AND FIND THE RIGHT INDUSTRY.
WE'RE OBVIOUSLY IN THE BUSINESS OF WORKING WITH THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY AND OUR MISSION TO GROW AND SUPPORT THE HISPANIC COMMUNITY IN NORTH TEXAS AND WE WORK WITH HISTORICALLY UNDER UTILIZED AND SERVED COMMUNITIES IN GENERAL IN OUR PROGRAMS. WE HELP THEM BUILD CAPACITY AND YOU ADVANCE EQUITY AND INCLUSION IN UNDER-SERVED
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VETERAN COMMUNITIES.WHAT DOES THAT MEAN AND WHAT'S SOME OF THE WORK YOU'RE DOING THERE?
>> THAT'S A FIRST AND FOREMOST PRIORITY FOR ME AND THE SECRETARY OF LABORS JOB RIGHT SO WE KNOW WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO.
UNEMPLOYMENT DATA INDICATED THAT PANDEMIC EXACERBATING EXISTING ECONOMIC INEQUALITIES IN VARIOUS GROUPS AND CAREER PATHS AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
WHAT WE WANTED TO DO IS TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT HOW WE CAN FIND THOSE GAPS AND WHERE THE RESOURCES NOW BEING ALLOCATED TO YOU IN THE UNDER-SERVED POPULATIONS.
WE WANT TO SEE HOW TO BEST REACH THOSE UNDER-SERVED POPULATIONS WITH RESOURCES.
WE KNOW WE IDENTIFY THE GAPS, BUT WE HAVE NOT HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO STEER RESOURCES THERE AND NOW WE'RE DOING THAT.
WE HAD TO LOOK INTERNALLY AS A TEAM TO FIGURE OUT WHERE TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL RESOURCES TO WHERE IT WILL BE THE MOST IMPACTFUL AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
THIS IS SOMETHING WE SAID WE NEEDED TO DO DOWN THE ROAD.
I HONESTLY CAN TELL YOU, I CAN NOT BE MORE PROUD OF OUR TEAM HERE.
WE BROUGHT THIS UP AS A PRIORITY WITH EVERY SINGLE PERSON ON OUR TEAM BECAUSE WE KNEW IT WAS SOMETHING WE HAD TO DO AND WE'VE LOOKE AT ALL THE AREA WHERE'S WE'RE NOW PROVIDING RESOURCES TO SPECIFICALLY WITH VARIOUS WAYS THAT WE PROVIDE GRANTS TO HOMELESS VETERANS THROUGH THE HOMELESS VETERAN'S REHABILITATION PROGRAMS AND THE GRANT RECIPIENTS THAT SERVE A LOT OF UNDER-SERVED POPULATION, SO WE HAVE IDENTIFIED AREAS WHERE WE CAN PROVIDE ADDITIONAL RESOURCE, SO WE'RE DOING THAT.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE, AGAIN, WE TAKE AN EQUITY APPROACH ON HOW WE HIRE WITHIN OUR ORGANIZATION AND THAT'S ONE THING THAT'S OFTEN OVERLOOKED.
YOU PUT PROGRAMS IN PLACE AND SOMETIMES YOU DON'T LOOK INTERNALLY SO WE DID THAT ALSO TO MAKE SURE WE HAD AN ORGANIZATION THAT REPRESENTED WHAT WE WANTED TO GET DONE FOR OUR VETERAN, SO WE EMBARKED ON THAT PROCESS THROUGH THE HIRING PROCESS HERE AND THIS IS ACROSS DOL AT-LARGE.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE'RE AT THE FOREFRONT OF LEADING THESE TYPES OF EFFORTS.
SO NOT ONLY ARE YOU MAKING THIS AVAILABLE, BUT YOU ARE PRACTICING WHAT YOU PREACH INTERNALLY.
YOU MENTIONED GRADS AND I KNOW THIS IS SOMETHING TOUCHED ON BEFORE.
GRANTS RELATING TO ORGANIZATIONS SEEKING TO COME UP WITH NEW IDEAS AND OFFER PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES.
CAN YOU TALK MORE, AND I KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT THIS WEEK LEADING UP TO THIS EVENT ABOUT THE GRANT PROCESS OR THE GRANTS THAT ARE AVAILABLE FOR ORGANIZATIONS.
COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND SUCH AND OTHER RECIPIENTS THAT ARE AVAILABLE AND HOW THAT LOOKS AND WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE AS FAR AS PROCESS?
>> I TELL YOU RICK, THAT IS A GREAT POINT.
I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THIS AT-LARGE.
THERE'S GRANTS, LET ME REPHRASE THAT.
THERE'S A LOT OF GRANTS TO BE HAD, WOMEN'S BUT ROW, EDUCATION TRAINING ADMINISTRATION, WHERE IT'S VETS.
WE HAVE GRANTS TO SUPPORT PEOPLE THAT HAVE A PASSION FOR DOING WHAT'S BEST FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AND IN OUR CASE, VETERANS, RIGHT? WE HAVE GRANTS THAT SUPPORT NON-PROFITS THAT HELP HOMELESS VETERANS REINTEGRATION PROGRAM.
OUR GRANTS ARE GEARED TO HELP THAT VETERAN FIND EMPLOYMENT SO WE WORK CLOSELY WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERAN AFFAIRS BECAUS THEY'RE ABOUT HOUSING FIRST AND THEN MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH AND WE COME IN AND APPROACH THE EMPLOYMENT PART OF THAT.
THE OTHER ONE IS, OUR GRANTS THAT SUPPORT THE JOBLESS VETERANS STATE GRANT PROGRAM SO WE PROVIDE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF GRANTS ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY AT THE STATE LEVEL TO HELP THEM WORK WITH VETERANS TO FIND EMPLOYMEN OPPORTUNITIES AND ESTABLISH VETERAN PROGRAMS AND MAKE SURE THAT THE TWO ARE MEETING IN THE MIDDLE AND WE'RE CONNECTING DOT, SO WE CAN GET VETERANS INTO THOS SPECIFIC JOB MARKETS AND CORPORATIONS UNDERSTAND HOW WE CAN SUPPORT THEM AND IDENTIFY WHERE THOSE VETERANS ARE AND CONNECTING THEM TO THE ORGANIZATIONS.
THE OTHER THING WE DO IS FROM A GRANT PERSPECTIVE WE PROVIDE GRANTS FOR STAND
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DOWNS AND I DON'T KNOW IF YOU HEARD, BUT SOME CITIES BRING IN A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF SUPPORT DIFFERENT PARTS OF RESOURCES SUCH AS MEDICAL, DENTAL, EMPLOYMENT.ALL KINDS OF DEPARTMENT RESOURCES COMING TOGETHER FOR THIS ONE DAY, SOMETIMES TWO DAYS, BRING IN VETERANS SO THEY PROVIDE GRANTS FOR THAT.
WE DO PROVIDE GRANTS FOR THAT AND YOU CAN GO TO OUR WEBSITE AND I SAY THAT BECAUSE THERE'S A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF INFORMATION THER THAT CAN START THE CONVERSATION, BUT TWO, GIVE YOU A BETTER UNDERSTAND HO WE AS AN ORGANIZATION CAN OPERATE AND WHAT TO SUPPORT?
>> WHAT'S THE WEBSITE? DOL.GOV.
>> RICK, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT HIRE VETS.GOV.
WE TALKED ABOUT ALL THESE CORPORATIONS BECAUSE WE'RE ON THIS CALL, BUT SECOND, IF THEY ARE ALREADY HIRE VETS WE HAVE A HIRING VETS MEDALLION PROGRAM AND WHAT IT DOES IS HIGHLIGHT ALL OF THESE COMPANIES HIRING VETERANS AND THEY GO THROUGH A NAVIGATION PROCESS AND THEY GO THROUGH PART OF A SCREENING AND VETTING PROCESS, AND IF THEY MEET ALL THE REQUIREMENTS THEY RECEIVE AN AWARD.
THE ONLY FEDERAL AWARD PROVIDED TO CORPORATIONS FOR HIRING VETERANS COMES FROM OUR OFFICE.
IT'S SECRETARIAL LEVEL AWARD SO SECRETARY OF LABOR SIGNS OFF ON THE AWARDS AN RECOGNIZES THE CORPORATIONS DOING GREAT THINGS WITH HIRING MILITARY MEN AND WOMEN AND THEIR SPOUSES, SO I ENCOURAGE YOU TO GO IN AND APPLY FOR THIS AWARD.
WE HAD 850 CORPORATIONS SMALL AND LARGE APPLYING FOR THE AWARD AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THE NUMBER CONTINUES TO GROW BECAUSE IT DOES TWO THINGS.
IT ALLOWS US TO RECOGNIZE THAT COMPANY AND SO IF JAMES TRANSITIONS OUT OF MILITARY AND I'M LOOKING IN TEXAS AND SEEING THE COMPANIES HIRING VETERANS THAT'S WHERE I WANT TO BE.
POPULATED ON OUR WEBSITE IS ALL THE INFORMATION.
THEY CAN CLICK ON YOUR WEBSITE AND BE CONNECTED WITH YOU.
LET ME TALK ABOUT THAT BECAUSE I THOUGHT THAT WAS IMPORTANT AND I DIDN'T WANT TO MISS THAT PIECE.
THAT WILL LEAD ME TO MY QUESTION REGARDING BRANSON AND THE RECIPIENTS THAT DO GET THE GRANTS.
CERTAIN AGENCIES, WE KNOW ARE REQUIRING GRANTS TO BE AWARDED THROUGH LOCAL GOVERNMENT ENTITIES OR STATE GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES.
YOU MENTIONED AT THE STATE LEVEL, REGARDING SOME OF THE GRANT AWARDS THAT WERE PROVIDED, I GUESS IN ONE OF YOUR PROGRAMS. IS THERE A REQUIREMENT THAT YOU HAVE TO GO THROUGH A LOCAL GOVERNMENT ENTITY OR MUNICIPALITY OR CAN AN ORGANIZATION OR NONPROFIT, COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION, APPLY OR CORPORATION DIRECTLY APPLY FOR THESE GRANTS AND BE AWARDED THEM DIRECTLY OR IS THERE A MIXED BAG ON THOSE?
>> NO FOR OURS THEY CAN APPLY DIRECTLY SO THEY'RE AWARDED FROM US DIRECTLY AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.
LIKE ANYTHING ELSE THERE'S AN POLITICIAN PROCESS, BUT THEY CAN GO AND APPLY DIRECTLY.
WHEN YOU TALKED ABOUT, AT THE STATE LEVEL IN THAT PROGRAM YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT, CAN YOU GIVE A LITTLE MORE INFORMATION ON WHAT THAT MEANS? IS THAT A STATEWIDE SCOPE OF WORK REQUIRED OR IS IT THE STATE AGENCY THAT YOU HAVE TO APPLY THROUGH?
>> SO THANKS FOR ALLOWING ME TO CLARIFY.
OUR JOBLESS VETERAN STATE GRANT IS A GRANT WE GIVE AND WE HIRE AT THE STATE LEVEL.
DISABLED VETERAN OUTREACH LEAVE AND WHAT THAT GRANT DOES IS FUND THOSE FOLKS THAT ARE BOOTS ON THE GROUND THAT ARE WORKING WITH CORPORATIONS AND THEIR VETERANS TO AS SURE THEY ARE CONNECTED FIND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES.
THOSE ARE NOT SOMETHING WE PROVIDE TO AN ORGANIZATION OR COMPANY.
WE PROVIDE THEM IN THE FORM OF RESOURCES THROUGH THESE PROGRAMS. THE OTHER GRANT PIECE FOR HOMELESS VETERAN REINTEGRATION PROGRAM IS AWARDED THROUGH NON-PROFITS THROUGH AN APPLICATION PROCESS SUPPORTING VETERANS THAT THE ARE HOMELESS OR ARE AT RISK OF BEING HOMELESS AND THAT IS A FEDERAL APPLICATION PROCESS.
THANKS FOR LETTING ME CLARIFY.
>> THAT CAN BE COMPLICATED AND CONFUSING AT TIMES BECAUSE IT DOES HAPPEN.
SO AS WE'RE WINDING DOWN HERE AND COMING UP TO THE END I WANT TO GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT ANYTHING ELSE YOU HAVE GOING ON THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO
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SHARE OR ANYBODY ON YOUR TEAM THAT ANY OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS THAT YOU'D LIKE TO MAKE, SO THAT OUR COMMUNITY IS AWARE.I GOT ONE MORE QUESTION AFTER THAT I WANTED TO ASK REGARDING HOW WE CAN IS IMPORTANT YOUR EFFORTS GOING FORWARD.
I THINK THIS IS AN IMPORTANT CONVERSATION BECAUSE FIRST AND FOREMOST THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT DOL VET HAS SPOKE WHEN THE HISPANIC O DALLAS.
I THINK YOU DO AMAZING WORK AND THE OTHER PIECE IS WE HAVE HISPANIC MEN AND WOMEN WITH THEIR OWN CORPORATIONS LEADING IN INDUSTRIES THAT OFTEN TIMES ARE OVERLOOKED SO I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTINUE THIS PARTNERSHIP AND I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING THE CONVERSATION FIRST AND FOREMOST AND FOR DOING ALL THE GREAT THINGS YOU'RE DOING AND SETTING THE PRECEDENCE FOR OTHER FUTURE LEADER AND ENTREPRENEURS THAT LOOK AT THIS SCREEN AND SAY THERE'S RICK, PHIL, THERE'S SAM, AND I CAN GO ACROSS THE SCREEN.
THESE ARE THE ONES I'VE SEEN AND THEY HAVE BUILT THEIR OWN CORPORATIONS AND ARE LEADING AND I CAN DO THAT EXACT SAME THING WHEN I'M A YOUNG PERSON OF HISPANIC HERITAGE IN TEXAS OR ANYWHERE ELSE.
ON TOP OF THAT THE OTHER FACT THAT IT INCLUDES IS BEING ABLE TO SEE HISPANIC AND LEADERSHIP ROLES IN GOVERNMENT OR NON-PROFITS OR INDUSTRY IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT SHOWS WE AS THE SOCIETY HAVE THE ABILITY TO GROW INTO THESE POSITIONS AND LEAD ORGANIZATION SO IS WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR THAT AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE IN THIS CONVERSATION WITH YOU ALL.
AND THEN MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE PIECE ABOUT WHAT WE DO IN SUPPORTING OUR VETERANS.
THERE'S OVER 200,000 SERVICEMEN AND WOMEN SEPARATED FROM ACTIVE DUTY EACH YEAR AND WE WANT TO GIVE THEM RESOURCES TO UTILIZE WHEN THEY MAKE THAT TRANSITION AND HAVING PARTNERS LIKE ALL OF YOU ON THIS CALL IS IMPORTANT TO THEIR SUCCESS AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO YOUR SUCCESS, AS WELL BECAUSE WE KNOW THERE WILL BE A VALUABLE RELATIONSHIP AND PARTNERSHIP THERE.
ACTUALLY I, SO SPEAKING OF CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE, IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING YOU HAVE A DAUGHTER THAT WORKS AT A CHAMBER OF COMMERCE HERE IN THE REGION, TOO?
CAYCE RYAN RODRIGUEZ AND SHE'S MY YOUNGEST DAUGHTER AND SHE LEADS THE LEADERSHIP YOUTH PROGRAMS AT THE DALLAS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
I TELL YOU WHAT, SHE LOVES HER JOB AND THE PEOPLE SHE WORKS WITH, BUT SHE'S PASSIONATE ABOUT WORKING WITH YOUNG LEADERS AND I COULDN'T BE MORE PROUD OF HER.
SHE IS WHAT MY WIFE AND I WORKED ALL OF OUR LIVES, RIGHT? MAKING SURE THAT ONE, WE TRY TO BE SUCCESSFUL, BUT ALSO MAKING SURE THAT OUR DAUGHTER IS SUCCESSFUL BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT WE KNOW THIS WAS AWAY TO ESTABLISH THE LEGACY OF OUR FAMILY, AND AS I MENTIONED I KNOW IT IS A CHALLENGE WHEN YOU COME FROM A SMALL TOWN HIKE MANY OF YOU HAV EXPERIENCED AND IT'S A CHALLENGE TO MAKE YOUR WAY THROUGH WHATEVER INDUSTRY IT IS AND TO REACH SOME OF THE PINNACLES OF YOUR CAREER, SO WHEN YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO THAT, BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY WHEN YOU'RE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO SEE YOUR CHILDREN SUCCEED, I COULDN'T BE MORE PROUD OF HER.
>> WE HAVE A GREAT PARTNERSHIP WITH THE DALLAS REGIONAL CHAMBER SO WE'LL MAKE SURE TO TRY TO CONNECT WITH HER.
I KNOW ONE OF OUR TEAM MEMBERS CONNECTED WITH HER, SO WE LOOK TO SUPPORT HER EFFORTS, AS WELL.
YOU MENTIONED, WE TALKED ABOUT CONNECTING WITH ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS OURS FOR THE FIRST TIME AND REALLY JUST WHAT ELSE CAN WE DO TO HELP SUPPORT YOUR EFFORTS? IS THERE NEGLECT ELSE YOU NEED FROM US?
>> I THINK THE ABILITY TO ESTABLISH PARTNERSHIPS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN ESTABLISHED IN THE PAST.
FIRST AND FOREMOST THAT'S MOST IMPORTANT.
THERE'S NUMEROUS INDUSTRIES THAT WE HAVE NOT EVEN PUT OUR VETERANS IN WITH APPRENTICESHIPS AND EMPLOYMENT YET SO IF THERE'S THE OPPORTUNITY TO ESTABLISH PARTNERSHIPS WE WANT TO DO THAT.
AT THE STATE LEVEL, REGIONAL AND FEDERAL LEVEL.
UNDERSTANDING HOW TO BUILD PROGRAMS THAT NOT ONLY HIRE VETERANS, BUT RETAIN THEM.
THAT'S THE IMPORTANT PIECE, RIGHT? OFTEN TIMES YOU KNOW WE BUILD PROGRAMS, BUT WE DON'T BUILD THEM WHERE WE HAVE THE MIND-SET OF HOW WE RETAIN THESE VETERANS WHEN WE BRING THEM INTO THE WORKFORCE.
I USED TO SAY THIS IN THE INDUSTRY.
THERE'S AN OLD SAYING, IF YOU BUILD IT THEY'LL COME IF YOU BUILD IT CORRECTLY,
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THEY'LL STAY AND TO ME, THAT'S IMPORTANT SO WE WANT TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO HIRE VETERANS AND ALSO, RETAIN THOSE VETERANS, AND IF YOU DO THAT, I THINK ANY ORGANIZATION IS GOING TO BE SUCCESSFUL.SO WE'VE COME UP TO THE END HERE AND I WANT TO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.
HOW OFTEN DO YOU COME BACK TO TEXAS BY THE WAY?
>> I WAS DOWN IN THE AUSTIN AREA AND I FLEW IN BACK IN YESTERDAY EVENING.
MY OLDER DAUGHTER IS IN GEORGETOWN NORTH OF AUSTIN AND ALL OF OUR FAMILY IS IN TEXAS, SO I GET BACK QUITE FREQUENTLY AND I CAN TELL YOU, AS A NATIVE TEXAN THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE TEXAS.
I KNOW SOME PEOPLE DON'T LIKE TO HEAR THAT, BUT IT'S TRUE.
I'VE LIVED ACROSS THE COUNTRY, BUT I'M ALWAYS HAPPY TO COME BACK TO MY HOME STATE OF TEXAS.
HOPEFULLY AS WE TRANSITION BACK TO IN-PERSON EVENTS WE HOPE YOU'LL JOIN US DOWN THE ROAD.
ANY EVENT WE HAVE THAT CAN HELP YOU GET THE WORD OUT AS PART OF YOU'RE OUT REACH EFFORTS AND THANK YOU AND YOUR TEAM FOR JOINING US AND CONGRATULATIONS TO ROXANNE ON HER NEW POSITION AND WE HOPE TO HEAR FROM HER AND TRY TO CONNECT WITH HER AS WE GO FORWARD AND LEARN MORE ABOUT THE WORK SHE'LL BE DOING, AS WELL.
I KNOW THAT MR. TOLL IS SOMEWHERE BACK THERE SO THANK HIM AND I'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK ALL OF OUR SPONSORS AND PARTNERS WITH ENCORE AND TEXAS INSTRUMENTS AND DALLAS COLLEGE OF COURSE, COCA-COLA, SOUTHWEST BEVERAGES AND TOYOTA, SOUTHWEST PACKAGES, REGIONAL HISPANIC CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION AND THE SOUTHEAST DALLAS HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND OTHERS.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY.
THIS WAS IMPORTANT AGAIN, THE CONVERSATION TO HAVE AND THANK YOU ALL FOR TAKING TIME TO INVITE ME TO SPEAK AND ENGAGE WITH YOU ALL AND IT'S GOOD TO MEET YOU ALL AND I HOPE WE CAN DO THIS IN THE FUTURE AGAIN IN-PERSON.
>> THANK YOU EVERYBODY AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AND I HOPE YOU HAVE A GREAT REST OF THE DAY TODAY.
>> THANK YOU ALL, APPRECIATE IT.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.