First Data
First Data plays a critical role in supporting the growth of vital markets of our economy and positively impacting communities across the country. Through a company-wide military engagement strategy called First Data Salutes, we provide the military community with access to career opportunities, best-in-class education resources, and premier business solutions to veteran-owned businesses. We aim to be an employer-of-choice and thought-leader in military employment and the premiere business solutions provider to veteran-owned businesses.
As the principal leader of the Coalition of Veteran Owned Business, we are committed in supporting veteran-owned businesses to grow their customer base; provide simple and complete ways to protect their business and stay compliant with ever-changing payment card industry requirements; and uncover insights and leverage valuable data to grow and scale. Our company’s commitment to hiring veterans and helping veterans grow their businesses isn’t just the right thing to do — it’s also good business.
IVMF
The Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) has partnered with First Data and Coalition members to lead an initiative that connects veteran owned business with commerce and supplier opportunities; and engages corporate, non-profit and governmental organizations. It is the objective of the IVMF that this Coalition will help veteran, service member, and military spouse entrepreneurs connect with organizations, resources and information that enable them to start or grow their businesses and create more jobs for veterans and military spouses within their communities.
American Express
BP America
Over the past 10 years, BP has invested more than $90 billion in the U.S. – more than any other energy company. BP is a leading producer of oil and gas and produces enough energy annually to light nearly the entire country for a year. Employing around 18,000 people in all 50 states, BP supports nearly 200,000 additional jobs through all of its business activities. Our commitment to the American economy includes a dedication to the development and growth of a diverse supply chain. As leaders in an industry where safety and discipline are paramount, veteran employees and veteran-owned businesses are a natural fit.
Enterprise Holdings, Inc.
Enterprise Holdings is proud to support our nation’s service members and their families. Veterans, reservists and their spouses hold mission-critical roles throughout our organization. And when we’re not actively enlisting them to join our ranks, we’re providing superior service to military agencies and volunteering our time. It’s simply been that way from the beginning.
World War II Navy veteran Jack Taylor started our company in 1957. Lessons he learned in the Navy – including the values of integrity, hard work, team spirit and simply doing the right thing – helped shape his personality and made their mark on the company he founded. Today, the Taylor family still owns Enterprise, and is committed to maintaining these values and reflecting this deep military heritage.
Enterprise Holdings – which owns the Enterprise Rent-A-Car, National Car Rental and Alamo Rent A Car brands – and its affiliate Enterprise Fleet Management, together offer a total transportation solution, including extensive car rental and car sharing services, truck rental, corporate fleet management and retail car sales. Combined, these businesses accounted for $19.4 billion in revenue, employed more than 93,000 and owned 1.7 million vehicles throughout the world in fiscal year 2015. In addition, Enterprise Holdings’ Supplier Diversity program supports Veteran-Owned Small Businesses and Service Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses.
FleishmanHillard
FleishmanHillard has long supported broadening economic opportunities and paths to business collaboration for veteran- and military-family owned businesses and transitioning veterans. As a founding member of the Coalition for Veteran Owned Business, FH has the opportunity to elevate awareness of the significant potential for shared value between veteran-owned businesses and corporate America within the supply chain and on Main Street, helping to ensure the viability of America’s next class of small business owners.
FleishmanHillard is the world’s most complete global communications firm, specializing in public relations, public affairs, marketing, paid media, and transmedia and social content. FleishmanHillard delivers on The Power of True, reflecting the firm’s high values, and unique ability to guide clients through a world demanding unprecedented authenticity and transparency. FleishmanHillard was named PRWeek’s 2014 Global Agency of the Year, “Standout Agency” on Advertising Age’s 2013 A-List; NAFE’s “Top 50 Companies for Executive Women” for 2010-2014; and among PRWeek’s 2013 “Best Places to Work.” The firm’s award-winning work is widely heralded, including at the Cannes International Festival of Creativity. FleishmanHillard is part of the DAS Group of Companies, and has 88 offices in 31 countries, plus affiliates in 42 countries.
KKR
In 2011, KKR launched Vets@Work, its initiative aimed at recruiting, hiring, and retaining veterans across its U.S.-based private equity portfolio companies. KKR focuses on hiring veterans as their specialized skills, extensive training, leadership experience, and strong character from years of military service make them welcome additions to its diverse companies across the United States. To enhance these efforts, KKR hosted an inaugural Portfolio-Wide Veterans Hiring Fair with Hiring Our Heroes in 2014. Additionally, in 2014, KKR launched the KKR Veterans Advisory Council (VAC) led by General (Ret.) David Petraeus. The VAC oversees the program’s evolving focus on veterans’ retention, development, and skills training. KKR is eager to participate in The Coalition for Veteran Owned Business. As a member, KKR will seek to advocate for the inclusion of veteran, service member, and military spouse-owned businesses into its supply chain and the supply chains of its relevant private equity portfolio companies.
La Quinta
Lockheed Martin Corporation
Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace company that employs approximately 112,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. At Lockheed Martin, we believe veterans are an asset to companies, communities and our country. Providing opportunities that enable them to own their own businesses and employ others benefits our business and the economy, and we are proud to join the Coalition in this effort.
SunTrust Banks, Inc.
“At SunTrust, we understand that military service often brings its own set of financial challenges,” said SunTrust executive vice president Peter Mahoney. “As our military and veteran clients move from deployment to discharge to civilian life, we make it our mission to provide services and products to help ease their transition. Participating in this coalition deepens our commitment to the military community, and to veteran-owned businesses by providing the tools, resources and support to help them achieve their business and financial goals.”
SunTrust Banks, Inc., headquartered in Atlanta, is one of the nation’s largest banking organizations, serving a broad range of consumer, commercial, corporate and institutional clients. SunTrust is dedicated to providing military and veteran clients, their spouses and families with what they need to set them on the path to reaching their goals
USAA
The USAA family of companies provides insurance, banking, investments, retirement products and advice to 10.7 million current and former members of the U.S. military and their families. Known for its legendary commitment to its members, USAA is consistently recognized for outstanding service, employee well-being and financial strength. USAA membership is open to all who are serving our nation in the U.S. military or have received a discharge type of Honorable – and their eligible family members. Founded in 1922, USAA is headquartered in San Antonio.
U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation
Hiring Our Heroes (HOH) is a nationwide initiative of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation to help veterans, transitioning service members, and military spouses find meaningful employment. Since March 2011, HOH has connected employers of every size and industry with hundreds of thousands of military candidates. As a strategic partner of the coalition, HOH will contribute best practices and recruitment resources to the coalition’s veteran, service member, and military family-owned businesses.
U.S. Small Business Administration
The U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Office of Veteran Business Development (OVBD) has a number of programs and services to support aspiring and existing veteran entrepreneurs and military spouses through training and mentorship, access to capital, preparation for opportunities in federal procurement and cultivating connections within commercial supply chains. Each year SBA serves over 200,000 veterans, service disabled veterans and military spouses across the United States and at military installations around the globe.
Verizon Communications Inc
In 2011, Verizon began a national initiative to support, engage, attract and retain service members across the enterprise in all areas of the business. As a global leader in communication technology and with 85% of military occupations having a direct civilian counter-part at Verizon it was clear it was more than just doing the right thing for Veterans. It was a business imperative for an industry leader.
Verizon’s approach was to integrate veterans, transitioning service members, and military spouses into its existing business operations and by investing inwardly by developing a dedicated team of experts. Verizon’s Military Recruitment Team (MRT) is comprised of Veterans representing each major branch of service, including a military spouse and their focus is exclusively military engagement. Today Verizon is one of the top rated military friendly employers in corporate America.
Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, Nasdaq: VZ), headquartered in New York, is a global leader in delivering broadband and other wireless and wireline communications services to consumer, business, government and wholesale customers. Verizon Wireless operates America’s most reliable wireless network, with 108.6 million retail connections nationwide. Verizon also provides converged communications, information and entertainment services over America’s most advanced fiber-optic network, and delivers integrated business solutions to customers worldwide. A Dow 30 company with more than $127 billion in 2014 revenues, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of 176,200.
Walmart and Sam’s Club
“At Walmart, we strive to honor the military service and sacrifice of our associates, our customers, our suppliers, and the citizens in our communities every day. It is our honor and duty to support our men and women in uniform not only when they are on the battlefield, but also when they return home and transition to civilian life. We believe veterans represent the largest, diverse, talent-rich pool in the world and are an essential segment of the next generation at Walmart. We are grateful for the sacrifice our nation’s veterans have made in service to our country, and are honored to have the opportunity to employ them, to learn from them, and to support them in every way we can.”
Walt Disney Company
The Walt Disney Company works in three areas of the veteran environment.
Heroes Work Here focuses on veteran talent acquisition and providing the tools necessary to find a career.
Heroes Supply Here assist Veteran and Disabled owned companies in becoming suppliers to Disney.
The Veteran Institute is a B to B program that provides a one day complimentary seminar to assist companies who want to build their own Veterans program.
Bob Iger-Chairman and CEO of Disney summed it up when he said “hiring a veteran is not only the right thing to do but the smart thing to do.”