Legion hosts events for job seeking veterans
Ryen Macababbad, an Army veteran and program manager for Microsoft, spoke at the networking luncheon during the Legion's 98th national convention in Cincinnati. Photo by Clay Lomneth/The American Legion

Legion hosts events for job seeking veterans

The American Legion’s Veterans Employment & Education Commission hosted various events supporting veterans’ employment at The American Legion’s 98th national convention in Cincinnati.

Retired U.S. Navy Career Counselor and Military Relations Project Manager for Lockheed Martin David Wallace presented information to local business representatives about how to effectively recruit veterans and military spouses and why it benefits their organization. Wallace, who is also the Department of Virginia’s Veterans Employment & Education chairman, highlighted the ease and importance for companies to create a military branding strategy.

“There are so many resources out there already; don’t recreate the wheel,” Wallace said. He also stressed the importance of establishing an on-boarding program that pairs up a new employee with a fellow veteran to help them understand the company and culture.

The Legion also partnered with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Hiring Our Heroes to host a veterans job fair and networking luncheon for Legionnaires and veterans in the Cincinnati area on Aug. 30. The job fair hosted approximately 60 employers and 135 job seeking veterans, spouses, active duty and reserve servicemembers.

Ryen Macababbad, an Army veteran and program manager for Microsoft, shared her experience as a homeless, combat veteran to completing a Microsoft information technology training program. She said her success and hard work directly correlated to her military service, and she emphasized the benefits for companies to hire veterans.

“I understand what mission accomplishment is, and I will do whatever work is necessary to get there,” Macababbad said.