Heroes Foundation held training workshop to help Veterans prepare for hiring event

The Daniel and Salvador Montoya Heroes Foundation (Heroes Foundation), a Veterans Health Administration (VHA) partner, helps Veterans find work with corporate organizations.

The foundation offered a training workshop for Veterans, transitioning service members and their spouses before the 10th annual “Hiring Red, White & You!” event.

“The hiring event has always been successful, which is why I’m excited to try this,” said Chris Montoya, president and CEO of Heroes Foundation. “I think as we continue to grow the partnership, it will continue to gain momentum and be able to reach more and help more as we go forward.”

The statewide hiring event, which took place in early November, spanned across Texas with both in-person and virtual components that connected event participants with employers currently hiring in the state.

Over 2,800 same day hires since 2012

Texas is known to be the highest Veteran-populated state with an estimated 1.5 million Veterans. According to the Texas Workforce Commission, the event has already connected 39,310 Veterans with 18,268 employers and facilitated over 2,800 same-day hires since beginning in 2012.

For this year’s event, the Texas Veterans Commission asked the Heroes Foundation to give a training workshop where participants received professional advice and guidance to help prepare for meeting with recruiters and company representatives at the hiring event.

A few topics they focused on were insight on resume tips, interview advice, developing an ‘elevator pitch,’ and more.

“The training workshop was an opportunity for us to help Veterans in a unique way by preparing them for future opportunities with employers,” said Lakeitria Luter, of Service King Collision Repair Centers. “It was important for us to give back and help those that have served our country. Mission To Hire, our Veteran hiring program, is that pledge as we have hired at least 500 military Veterans and spouses in five years. We’ve provided opportunities in a wide range of roles and will continue infusing our organization with talented Armed forces Veterans across the U.S.”

Service King Collision Repair Centers was one of the companies that participated in the Heroes Foundation training workshop. With multiple employer representatives from different companies, Heroes Foundation provided a variety of expertise to participants.

“It feels good when the workshop participants come out with an interview or an opportunity to meet with the person they want to talk to,” Montoya said. “At the minimum it’s what they’ve earned and deserve.”

Since the coronavirus pandemic, many companies adapted their interview process and recruitment strategies to online platforms. The Heroes Foundation was excited to offer this new experience virtually, which helped any participants hoping to become more comfortable within a digital environment, practice before “Hiring Red, White & You!”

Partnership designed to provide Veterans’ economic stability

Heroes Foundation understands how challenges such as lack of employment and transitioning from the military to civilian life can impact the health of Veterans and their families, and is confident the workshop provided an opportunity for success at the hiring event.

VA partnered with the Heroes Foundation to provide opportunities to improve Veterans’ economic stability, health literacy and increase access to employment opportunities. The partners will work together to support employment opportunities for Veterans, transitioning service members and their spouses.

Heroes Foundation and VA will also provide education about VA benefits and services to companies and supply them with VA resources such as Veteran suicide prevention training. Also, VA and Heroes Foundation commit to raise awareness among Veterans, family members and employers about possible risk factors, as well as VA benefits and services.

For more information about the upcoming event or to register, visit https://workforcesolutions.net/event/10th-annual-hiring-red-white-you-virtual-job-fair/.

To learn more about HAP partnerships, visit https://www.va.gov/healthpartnerships/.