Today, at the 2014 International CES, leaders from top U.S. technology industry trade associations announced the launch of USTechVets.org, an online community to connect the one million service members who are transitioning back into civilian life to employment opportunities within the technology industry. Sponsored by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA)®, the Northern Virginia Technology Council (NVTC) and Monster Worldwide, Inc Monster.com, U.S. Tech Vets' seeks to facilitate veterans' transition to civilian careers, reduce veteran unemployment and provide America’s veteran workforce access to jobs within the technology industry. Owned and produced by CEA, the 2014 CES, the world’s gathering place for all who thrive on the business of consumer technologies, runs Tuesday, January 7 through Friday, January 10.
“The technology industry is one of America’s fastest growing sectors and is hungry for high-quality talent,” said Gary Shapiro, president and CEO of CEA. “Veterans bring valuable skills and experience to the job, such as leadership, team-building, motivation, a strong work ethic, and quick-thinking as well as experience working in a mission-focused environment. These qualities are highly-prized in the technology sector. We understand that a workforce with these outstanding merits can be an incredible competitive advantage in the marketplace. More, veterans have served our nation. It’s our duty to give back to them.”
USTechVets.org, powered by Monster.com, the premier global online employment solution, features free tools and resources for employers and for transitioning military personnel, veterans and their family members. Tools for veterans include a military skills translator to match each veteran’s skills, training and collateral duties to civilian jobs; a searchable database of jobs in the technology sector; and educational resources to help veterans develop skills to thrive in a private sector career. USTechVets.org member companies will receive free access to Monster’s database of more than 800,000 veteran resumes, powered by Monster’s award winning 6Sense semantic search technology. Employers also can automatically or directly post their jobs to the site, which veterans can search.
“At Monster, successfully connecting people with job opportunities is in our DNA,” said Steve Cooker, executive vice president of Global Government Solutions for Monster Worldwide. “Through our subsidiary, Military.com, we also have a deep and rich legacy providing members of the military, veterans and their family members with vital information, tools and resources. We are proud to harness our innovative technology and community reach to connect veterans with careers in the technology industry and to help employers find veteran talent better and faster.”
Combining Monster’s technology and audience reach with the support of technology associations, the site will create the largest collection of veteran job candidates and technology jobs available anywhere.
“NVTC member companies believe overall workforce development is one of the greatest long-term challenges facing our technology community,” said NVTC President and CEO Bobbie Kilberg. “Through the combined power of the organizations involved in this initiative, we hope to accelerate veterans’ transition to civilian life by providing access to thousands of employment opportunities across the technology sector and the tools and resources they need to succeed.”
Joining CEA and NVTC in this effort are several national technology associations including the Custom Electronic Design and Installation Association (CEDIA), Central Station Alarm Association (CSAA), CompTIA, Electronic Security Association (ESA), National Association of Broadcasters (NAB), Professional Services Council (PSC), Security Industry Association (SIA), Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA), and Wireless Infrastructure Association (PCIA). In addition, DAV, a national veterans advocacy and assistance organization with more than 1.2 million members, is partnering to promote U.S. Tech Vets to its constituents.
“We believe veterans often have the background to pursue a successful career in the residential electronics industry. That is why we worked to get CEDIA’s certification program and CEDIA’s basic and home theater boot camp trainings approved for Montgomery GI Bill Benefits,” said Don Gilpin, CEDIA executive director and COO. “This partnership will take our efforts to train transitioning veterans to the next level.”
“Veterans with the right mix of business, communication and technical skills can find rewarding careers in the tech industry. In the past two years, some 16,000 veterans have earned nearly 22,000 CompTIA certifications. These IT skills certifications can be a first step in transitioning from active duty to civilian life,” said Todd Thibodeaux, president and CEO of CompTIA. “We applaud the launch of USTechVets.org as it helps to connect employers and veterans and to expand the tech workforce.”
“The Electronic Security Association is pleased to support USTechVets.org in the effort to create the largest collection of veteran job candidates and open technology industry jobs,” said ESA Executive Director and CEO Merlin Guilbeau. “We frequently hear that finding and hiring quality talent is a continuous challenge for our members. Our goal is to connect our members with highly skilled returning veterans that have sacrificed so much for our freedom as they transition to civilian life.”
“There can be no better fit for the electronic security industry than our nation’s veterans,” added CSAA Executive Vice President and CEO Steve Doyle, who is a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps. “They have the work ethic, discipline and team spirit as well as the training to go above and beyond the call of duty in whatever enterprise they engage in. They have learned the value of self-sacrifice for the good of the whole in ways most people will never understand. A great many are easily adaptable to technical trades and they have been tested already in these applications in the toughest environment there is, and that is why, CSAA is pleased to support this initiative.”
“The next generation of veterans will play a vital role in our nation’s workforce,” said NAB President and CEO Gordon Smith. “NAB is proud to join U.S. Tech Vets to connect veterans to employment opportunities within the broadcast industry.”
“PCIA is honored to be a charter member of the U.S. Tech Vets initiative. America’s returning heroes are an excellent fit to fulfill the need for a skilled workforce – particularly in the wireless sector, which is experiencing tremendous growth due to skyrocketing mobile broadband demand,” said Tim House, vice president of external relations for PCIA – The Wireless Infrastructure Association. “Veterans possess proven leadership and problem solving skills, and often have hands-on experience with new or emerging technologies – all of which will aid our industry’s efforts to build and advance mobile broadband networks.”
“As leaders of the federal services sector, assisting our qualified and deserving veterans is our member companies’ duty and honor. We are pleased to participate in the U.S. Tech Vets employment initiative,” said Stan Soloway, president and CEO, Professional Services Council (PSC).
“We are fortunate to have millions of veterans in this country who are skilled, dedicated professionals, many of whom have technology training and experience that has been tested in extremely adverse conditions,” SIA CEO Don Erickson said. “These are exactly the kinds of candidates that many security industry employers are seeking, and SIA is proud to be part of the USTechVets.org partnership.”
“This initiative is near and dear to my heart because, like so many Americans, I have a family member transitioning back to the workforce. In working with America’s leading ICT companies, I know that our high-tech industry can benefit greatly from the valuable skills and experience veterans bring back with them. TIA is committed to joining with the rest of the industry to connect those who serve with employees who can use their skills,” said Grant Seiffert, TIA president.
“The U.S. tech industry understands that hiring veterans is more than just the right thing to do – it’s a smart business investment,” said DAV National Adjutant Marc Burgess. “U.S. Tech Vets offers a platform to connect the skilled and dedicated men and women who served our nation with meaningful employment. This is a service that will greatly benefit DAV’s 1.2 million members and veterans across the country.”
