Legion, Hiring Our Heroes event a success
(Photo by Clay Lomneth)

Legion, Hiring Our Heroes event a success

With one common goal in mind, more than 100 veterans, servicemembers and their families seeking employment attended a Hiring Our Heroes Transition and Benefits Career Fair on Sept. 1. The event was hosted by The American Legion’s Veterans Employment & Education Division as part of the organization's 97th National Convention in Baltimore.

The career fair – co-sponsored by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce – featured 65 employers from the public and private sectors.

While there were many key players at the event that avid job seekers may see at other events, there were several local Baltimore newcomers as well.

“I had the opportunity to get information on a local company not that far from here that installs solar panels,” said Cheryl L. Rogers, a vocational rehabilitation specialist with the Department of Veterans Affairs. “I came here to network and see what opportunities are out there for the veterans that I work with every day. This is information that I have to take back with me to pass on to my veterans and my colleagues.”

Compared to the other local job fairs, Rogers said the prestigious event seemed too good to be true. “I would have to give the event an A plus,” she said. “When I got here, I had to call my coworker to tell her that this is the best job fair I’ve ever been to."

Rogers said her only regret was not finding out about the event sooner. She said she felt the veterans who are a part of her caseload would have really benefitted from attending the event.

Tanya Newton, a recent graduate of the University of Baltimore, came to the event with her husband, an Army veteran, who said the two of them attend a lot of similar events together.

After graduation nearly eight months ago, Newton began looking for a job in the human resources field. After having no luck at other events, she decided to expand the scope of her job search to other fields. That is how she met George J. Thomas, director of business development for Sharp Decisions, a technology consulting firm.

One advantage that Newton had at this event that she had not previously had was getting her résumé looked over on the spot by an employer. Thomas looked over her résumé, offered some advice and told Newton to send him her résumé after she polished it up.

With a newfound glimmer of optimism she said, “This was the most effective job fairs I’ve ever been to.”

Rebekah Stroman, senior manager of Hiring Our Heroes business and state engagement, said “Today was another testament to the fact that partnerships can work."