Participants of the Manufacturing Institute’s Heroes MAKE America program. Photo credit: National Association of Manufacturers
Samsung partnered with the Manufacturing Institute to bring awareness to the rise of veteran unemployment due to COVID-19. The Veteran Reskilling in Today’s Economy digital event featured veterans, industry leaders and experts discussing best practices, resources, tools and solutions to help attract and retain valuable veteran talent.
Speakers included:
Megan Pollock, VP of Strategic Communications, Samsung
Carolyn Lee, Executive Director, The Manufacturing Institute
Babs Chase, VP of Military & Veterans Programs, The Manufacturing Institute
John Lowry, Assistant Secretary of Labor, Veterans’ Employment and Training Services
John Buckley, Military Relations Manager, Koch Industries
George Clay, Production Supervisor, Sherwin Williams
Andrew Morton, Director of Veterans and Certification Affairs, SHRM
Megan Pollock, VP of Strategic Communications, Samsung, opened up the event by highlighting how Samsung and the Manufacturing Institute has been working together to bridge the gap between the military and manufacturing. Pollock also touched on several other Samsung initiatives that support American veterans. “We have learned that servicemen and women have an incredible skill set that’s specially designed for the advanced manufacturing field,” said Pollock. “Hiring managers don’t always understand that.”
Shortly after, Carolyn Lee, Executive Director, The Manufacturing Institute, highlighted how The Manufacturing Institute has been expanding how they have been helping service members bridge the gap into the manufacturing industry. “We’ve evolved now into an umbrella initiative,” said Lee. “Where we are training people in multiple branches, in multiple locations, with multiple skillsets, and helping the broader military community transition into the sector.”
John Lowry, Assistant Secretary of Labor, Veterans’ Employment and Training Services, shared his views on the importance of the Heroes Make America program. “One of the things that’s great about it is that it connects existing service members before they leave the service and helps them get the tools before they hang up the uniform,” said Lowry. “I’ve been incredibly impressed with the outcomes of the program.”
Babs Chase, VP of Military & Veterans Programs, The Manufacturing Institute, moderated a panel that focused on the reskilling of military talent for the manufacturing sectors. The panel consisted of three veterans who have successfully made the transition from service to manufacturing.
“Reskilling under the Heroes Make America program is very comprehensive,” said John Buckley, Military Relations Manager, Koch Industries. “It really does a great job in preparing our veterans.”
“We start looking at what veterans are bringing to organizations,” saidGeorge Clay, Production Supervisor, Sherwin-Williams. “It’s a lot more than the common soft skills that you look at.”
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