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Veterans, employers celebrate YesVets Veteran Hiring Initiative with event in Yakima

Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs and Employment Security Department

Media Release

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WDVA Director Lourdes E. Alvarado-Ramos        ESD Commissioner Suzi LeVine
 

For immediate release

Date:                July 9, 2018

Contact:           WDVA Heidi Audette, 360-725-2154 or heidia@dva.wa.gov

ESD Janelle Guthrie, 360-902-9289 or jguthrie@esd.wa.gov

Veterans, employers celebrate YesVets Veteran Hiring Initiative with event in Yakima

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YAKIMA — Leaders of the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA) and Employment Security Department (ESD) joined with area businesses, veterans and legislators today in Yakima to celebrate the third anniversary of YesVets, a statewide veterans hiring program.

Sen. Gina Mosbrucker from Goldendale sponsored the legislation and helped launch YesVets as a demonstration project in the Yakima area in 2016. The program quickly spread and now any employer in the state can sign up and begin hiring veterans through the program.

Since its launch in February 2016, more than 700 businesses have hired nearly 3,000 veterans.

“We’re thrilled to be a partner in this important effort to connect veterans with Washington businesses,” said ESD Commissioner Suzi LeVine. “If you’re thinking about hiring a veteran, but aren’t sure where to start, simply contact WorkSource. Our veteran staff are experts in the labor market and can help you recruit and hire the right veteran talent. ”

“Veterans make incredible employees,” said WDVA Director, Lourdes E. “Alfie” Alvarado-Ramos. “They have a great work ethic, ability to thrive in a team, self-confidence, discipline, and problem solving abilities that are absolutely unparalleled. When you add the technical skills and [TB(1] abilities that they learned in their military job, you’ve got a pretty unstoppable workforce.”

The group honored businesses and government agencies who had received their YesVets recognition to date. The event also spotlighted the 12 winners of the ESD 2017 Hire-a-Vet awards. The following businesses participated today:

·         Perry Technical Institute

·         Phoenix Protective Corporation

·         Yakima County

·         CH2M Hill

·         Yakima Training Center

·         Shields Bag and Printing

Each business present at the event received an ESD veterans team challenge coin and a YesVets bumper sticker and water bottle.

How it works

YesVets provides public recognition to employers who actively commit to, recruit for and hire veterans into their open positions. By creating a business environment that publically recognizes and values employers who commit to hiring veterans, YesVets hopes to continue decreasing veteran unemployment. The YesVets decal presented to employers who have hired a veteran, also provides a very public way for both customers and veterans to see that the business supports veterans.

Enrolling in YesVets is quick and easy. Employers simply visit www.yesvets.org and enter basic business and contact information into the online form. Then they are contacted directly by their local veterans employment representative who can help them use the new WorkSourceWA.com job match site built and powered by Monster. Once the employer has hired a veteran, their local veteran’s employment representative presents them with their YesVets decal to proudly display on their business window.

More information:      www.yesvets.org

                                        www.dva.wa.gov

                                        www.esd.wa.gov

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