If you know a veteran, then you know that when vets leave the military, they bring with them an invaluable wealth of transferrable skills. The Adecco Group North America Foundation knows this too, which is why we spearhead the Adecco Group Military Alliance Program.

The program has placed more than 7,000 US Veterans and military spouses throughout 2020. Joyce Russell, President of the Foundation tells us, “The military community is full of highly skilled, highly motivated workers. We take great pride in every military veteran or spouse we hire, and we encourage our clients to consider the skills and experience that this community can bring to their workforces.”

To express our appreciation to our veteran colleagues, last month, The Adecco Group US Foundation hosted Veterans Day virtual events to connect leadership with veterans across all our brands.  Read more from our colleagues below on how they’ve transferred valuable skills from their military careers to their professional ones and what Veterans Day means to them.

How has your military background helped you in your role at the Adecco Group?

Steve Shapiro, US Air Force
VP of Sales, Adecco Professional Recruitment Brands
Through my service in the military, and at the very young age of 18, I quickly learned discipline and responsibility. I’ve carried these traits into my professional career at Adecco.

Jesse Scott, US Army
Resource Development Manager, Modis
My military experience has helped me to communicate with people from all walks of life. In my role at Modis, my goals are to provide businesses with the best talent and provide people with the best opportunities. Being a career IT/computer professional in the military gave me a solid understanding of the various skill sets of the people I recruit, as well as the tools necessary to fill these important jobs for our clients.

Nolan Haughton, US Air Force
Director Operational Excellence (OPEX), Pontoon Solutions
I was awarded an Air Force Commendation Medal for my commitment to operational excellence as a Personnel Employment Manager. In this role, I was focused on reenlistments and service extensions. I created a process that shortened briefing times from one-week to next-day. This experience and training are at the core of my role as OPEX Director at Pontoon, where I establish operational processes that rapidly accelerate the value of our customers’ talent programs.

Jay Stricker, US Navy
Director, Mobile Recruiting Unit, Adecco USA
The discipline that I learned in the military has served me well in my post Navy career. Leadership, a strong work ethic, teamwork, a sense of urgency, attention to detail, and a commitment to excellence are all leadership traits that I have transferred from my military service to my work at Adecco.

What do you want leadership and colleagues to know about veterans?

Steve Shapiro, US Air Force
VP of Sales, Adecco Professional Recruitment Brands
Vets are tough. We work hard, and we don’t give up.

Nolan Haughton, US Air Force
Director Operational Excellence (OPEX), Pontoon Solutions
Veterans are equipped with many skills to be successful in our professional careers, but these skills and attributes are not always obvious on a resume. By leveraging the unique skillsets of veterans, organizations can unlock an invaluable workforce.

Jesse Scott, US Army
Resource Development Manager, Modis
Military service is no longer what you see in old movies. Today’s military is a modern fighting force that uses the latest technologies and leadership strategies. Veterans have a hard time accepting failure, because failure is never an option in the military. There’s always a solution or a work-around.

Jay Stricker, US Navy
Director, Mobile Recruiting Unit, Adecco USA
It takes an incredible amount of dedication (both mental and physical) and personal sacrifice to serve and to be away from home while keeping our country safe.

What does Veterans Day mean to you?

Jesse Scott, US Army
Resource Development Manager, Modis
Veteran’s Day means a time to thank the people in your family and peer groups who have served our country. We can do this every day, but having a dedicated holiday allows people to pause and reflect on all of the great things we have in this country, and to thank those who gave some of the best years of their lives to help preserve all that America is.

Leanne Bostick, US Army
Business Development Manager, Modis
On Veteran’s Day, I usually reflect on the Vietnam era veterans, and how I wish that they were welcomed home the same way that I was when I returned from deployments. It is a day to remember and honor our veterans and their service. Always thank a Vietnam veteran, even if you are a veteran yourself!

Jay Stricker, US Navy
Director, Mobile Recruiting Unit, Adecco USA
It’s a time to reflect on the military legacy within my family. My father was a Marine. My grandfather was a World War II Marine that served in Africa. My uncle served 4 tours in Vietnam as an Army helicopter pilot before moving into an Army intelligence role, where he advised both Colin Powell and Norman Schwarzkopf. All of my relatives were highly decorated, and every Veterna Day, I take time to honor this great legacy.

Steve Shapiro, US Air Force
VP of Sales, Adecco Professional Recruitment Brands
It is a reminder of my commitment and my love of this great country.

About the Adecco Military Alliance

The Adecco Military Alliance program is a partnership between military affiliated groups and military installations in the U.S. serving military families through employment opportunities and career development resources. We recently earned a top ten spot as a 2021 Military Spouse Friendly® Employer, ranking sixth overall, and we were recognized with a 2021 Military Friendly® Employer Gold Award.

Click here to learn more about Adecco’s Military Alliance program.

About the Author

As the Senior Manager of Strategic Partnerships for the Adecco Group US Foundation, Rachelle is passionate about helping military spouses and veterans succeed in the workforce. She is equally inspired by the the Team USA athletes her team supports through one on one career coaching.

Rachelle joined Adecco, the global leader in workforce solutions, as a recruiter in February 2005. Following positions of increasing responsibility within the Government Relations team, Rachelle served as Adecco’s Government Relations Manager from the Fall of 2007-Spring 2010. Tracking political issues of importance to the workforce industry, she conducted research and analysis on employment trends in each congressional district and engaged policy makers on Capitol Hill.

Rachelle now serves as the Senior Manager for Strategic Partnerships and is the Military Liaison for Adecco Group. One of the specialty recruitment programs that fall under her leadership is the military spouse and veteran recruitment program, Adecco Group Military Alliance. Rachelle liaises with Adecco branches and military installations around the country, serving as Adecco’s national representative to the military and numerous military affiliate organizations and partnerships.

­She’s also the Adecco Group US manager for the Athlete Career and Education Program, a program designed to provide Team USA athletes with career counseling, job placement assistance and employment opportunities. Adecco is an official sponsor of the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee and partners with the USOPC to facilitate the ACE program.