Recruiting and retaining veterans in NH’s workforce was the focus of a November symposium in Manchester hosted by the NH Department of Military Affairs and Veterans Services, and NH Employment Security.
In his opening remarks, Maj. General David Mikolaities, adjutant general for the NH National Guard, said that the mission of the Veteran-Friendly Business Network is to build partnerships and to demonstrate the value veterans have for NH’s workforce. “Veterans are not broken products,” Mikolaities said. “They are a valuable commodity.”
The Veteran-Friendly Business network is a “win-win” for everyone, NH Employment Security Commissioner George Copadis said, citing the recruitment of veterans for jobs in NH, the high quality of service they bring to the workforce, and the 1% discount certified veteran-friendly businesses receive on their unemployment taxes that is made possible through the state’s unemployment trust fund.
Panels featured experts speaking on issues of mental health, housing, recovery, military cultural competency, professional licensure, military skills waivers and resources.
Rob Dapice, executive director of NH Housing, addressed the state’s housing crisis and explained why the shortage of affordable housing in the state affects veterans and contributes to workforce difficulties. “People say, ‘I believe you that there’s a housing problem and we should do something, but I like things the way they are,’” said Dapice, a former captain in the U.S. Army who served in Iraq. “If I hadn’t been able to find an affordable home 13 years ago in New Hampshire, I wouldn’t have been able to live and work here.”
Derick Sanders, an Army veteran and corporate sales recruiter and trainer for AutoFair Automotive Group in Manchester, said many of the managers at his company are veterans. One of the challenges veterans face, Sanders said, is finding a sense of purpose following their military service. “There’s a consensus [at Auto Fair], we’re not just selling cars but we’re also offering veterans a sense of purpose,” he said.
To be considered a certified Veteran-Friendly Business in NH, businesses must meet criteria that includes demonstrating support for the military and veteran community, contributing annually to the veteran community through philanthropic efforts, and offering benefits to veterans who are employees to support continued military service. For more information visit dmavs.nh.gov.
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