Operation Hire: How to be a Veteran Ready Employer

Description

What is, "Operation Hire: How to Be a Veteran-Ready Employer"?  This event will be an insightful event designed to help businesses understand the value of hiring veterans and how to create a supportive work environment tailored to their unique needs. Attendees will gain practical strategies and resources to attract, retain, and engage veteran employees, ensuring their workplace is inclusive and veteran-friendly. This event is ideal for employers seeking to harness the exceptional skills, discipline, and leadership veterans bring to the workforce while fostering a culture of support and understanding. 

Who should attend?  Business leaders/owners/managers, Human Resources/Talent professionals and anyone involved in hiring and recruitment that is looking for exceptional employees in Northeastern Wisconsin. 

This event is a collaborative effort between: Progress Lakeshore, The Chamber of Manitowoc County, Lakeshore Area Human Resources Association and the Wisconsin Veterans Chamber of Commerce.

Event Agenda:

8-9am: Check-in & Networking
Light refreshments will be available, resources on hand to answer questions.

9am: Welcome & Introductions

9:15am: Keynote Presentation: NEW North Hires Heroes
Rebecca Deschane, NEW North

10am: Invest in Vets
Zach Zabel, Vice President, Wisconsin Veterans Chamber of Commerce (WVCC)

Discover the "Invest In Vets" (IIV) program—WVCC's comprehensive consulting initiative that empowers businesses to recruit, develop, and retain veteran talent effectively. Zabel's expertise in aligning veteran skills with corporate needs has helped countless organizations build stronger, more resilient teams.

10:35am- Introduction to Resources

Meet Derek Joblanicky of the Office of Veterans Employment with DWD and Steve Janke, Mission Wisconsin/Semper Forward and learn how they can be a resource to helping you hire veterans.

10:45am-11:45am: Panel Discussion: Veteran Best Practices
Panelists include: Cindy Enli, U.S.Venture, Jodi Gruhn, Central Processing Corp.

Gain firsthand insights from employers who are successfully hiring veterans, including what strategies are effective and how you can start incorporating veterans into your workforce.

11:45am-12pm: Closing & Next Steps for Employers


About the Speakers:
 

Rebecca Deschane, New North, Inc. Rebecca Deschane is the Vice President, Talent Development at New North, Inc., the regional marketing and economic development organization for the 18 counties of Northeast Wisconsin. She has held the position since January 2021. In her role, Deschane enhances strong collaborations with local and regional partners while coordinating and managing initiatives, projects and programming focused around talent development. Included in her responsibilities are the implementation and enhancement of the New North Talent Hub; military- veteran attraction efforts in conjunction with Mission Wisconsin; coordination of college-alumni recruitment with area institutions of higher learning; oversight of New North’s Inspire deployment and its Talent Hub website; support of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion task force; identification of career pathways for key regional industries; and retraining initiatives such as the Microsoft/gener8tor Skills program and the NEW BOOST™ for Hidden Talent digital literacy training initiative.

Cindy Enli, U.S. Venture Cindy Enli is a Sr. Technical Recruiter at U.S. Venture where she hires talent and creates programs to drive talent acquisition and retention strategies. Cindy is also a founding member of Women in Technology – Wisconsin and serves as the Co-Chair of the Talent Committee for the NEW IT Digital Alliance. Cindy graduated from the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh with degrees in Human Resources and Marketing.

​Jodi Gruhn, Central Processing Corp. Jodi Gruhn is the Talent Acquisition & Employee Experience Manager at Central Processing Corp, supporting their customers County Materials Corp, County Ready Mix Corp, County Prestress & Precast, LLC as well as County Materials – Florida.  Jodi started her career in the Engineering field for 6 years, then discovered her passion for recruiting.  In her current role at Central Processing Corp, Jodi is responsible for overseeing the recruitment process, ensuring the company attracts and retains top talent, and enhancing the overall employee experience.  Jodi has had the opportunity to recruit for Engineering and manufacturing, IT, Accounting, Planning/Purchasing, Maintenance, Project Management, Leadership and supporting roles.

Steve Janke, Mission Wisconsin/Semper Forward

Derek Joblanicky, Office of Veterans Employment - DWD

Zach Zabel, Wisconsin Veterans Chamber of Commerce Zach Zabel is a dynamic leader dedicated to bridging the gap between veteran talent and the business community. As Vice President of the Wisconsin Veterans Chamber of Commerce (WVCC), Zach has spearheaded impactful initiatives designed to support veteran-owned businesses and drive veteran hiring across the state. His commitment to fostering inclusive and sustainable workforce strategies has made him a respected voice in the veteran and business communities. With a background that combines strategic leadership, community engagement, and a passion for innovation, Zach has been instrumental in developing the "Invest In Vets" (IIV) program—WVCC's comprehensive consulting initiative that empowers businesses to recruit, develop, and retain veteran talent effectively. His expertise in aligning veteran skills with corporate needs has helped countless organizations build stronger, more resilient teams. Zach's presentations are known for their actionable insights and engaging delivery. Drawing on years of experience and extensive collaboration with business leaders, HR professionals, and veteran organizations, he provides practical strategies to unlock the potential of veteran talent and integrate it seamlessly into any workforce. Zach is excited to share the vision and successes of the IIV program, as well as inspire others to join the mission of creating more veteran-friendly business environments.