Thousands Take Part in Hiring Our Heroes’ Transition Summits in Hawaii

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Hiring Our Heroes

width= — Sean Kelley, Program Director of Military Affairs for Microsoft, speaks during the first IT employment workshop sponsored by Microsoft at one of the Hawaii summits.

Approximately 2,000 transitioning service members and military spouses participated in the Hiring Our Heroes Transition Summits at Schofield Barracks and Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in Hawaii on July 7-9, 2015.

U.S. Secretary of Labor, Tom Perez, and U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Robert McDonald, were on hand to give remarks and presentations at different points throughout the three days.

The summits were conducted at two separate military installations over a three-day period and were sponsored for the first time by Microsoft, a new member of Hiring Our Heroes’ Veterans Employment Advisory Council.

The Hawaii events featured Information Technology employment workshops powered by Microsoft. Service members were able to talk to industry professionals to learn more about what employment opportunities exist in the IT field for veterans and those transitioning off of active duty. Microsoft will continue to sponsor at least 20 more of these workshops at summits and events across the country.

The service members and spouses who took part in the summits were able to engage in conversations with employers on what to expect when transitioning off of active duty and entering the workforce.

“Make sure that as you’re leaving service, you have a point that you’re moving toward,” said Dennis Nichol, Regional Operations Manager for Microsoft. “Be ready to build a plan moving forward.”

Approximately 100 employers and service providers participated in the hiring events, networking receptions, and job fairs over the three-day period, which included Microsoft, JP Morgan Chase & Co., and Lockheed Martin.