NY National Guard Jobs Program adviser from Malta nominated for US Chamber of Commerce Foundation Award

Courtesy Photo | Retired New York Army National Guard Command Sgt. Major Robert Van Pelt, a Malta resident who currently works helping New York National Guard Soldiers and Airmen find jobs, has been nominated for an award by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation.  

LATHAM, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES

11.05.2014

Courtesy Story

New York National Guard

LATHAM, N.Y. - Retired New York Army National Guard Command Sgt. Maj. Robert Van Pelt, a Malta resident who currently works helping New York National Guard Soldiers and Airmen find jobs, has been nominated for an award by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation.

Van Pelt is one of four people being considered for an award honoring their work in helping veterans find employment by the Chamber of Commerce Foundation's Hiring our Heroes program.

Also being considered for the Col. Michael Endres Leadership Award for Individual Excellence in Veteran Employment are:

• Frank Bisignano, chairman and CEO, First Data Corporation
• Derek Blake, vice president of Marketing and Military Programs, La Quinta Inns and Suites
• Chris Phillips, military recruiter, PNC Bank

The award recognizes an individual who has gone above and beyond to make a difference in employment opportunities for veterans, transitioning service members, and spouses, according to Hiring our Heroes spokesman Bryan Goettel.

Twenty-two individuals and companies have been nominated for Hiring our Heroes awards in six categories. These are the categories: veteran and military spouse employment, post-9/11 veteran employment, recovering warrior and military caregiver employment, military spouse employment and mentoring, small business veteran and military spouse employment, and individual leadership.

"These are employers and individuals that have not only led their companies to hire the skilled men and women who have served our country, but have encouraged their peers to develop veteran and military spouse hiring initiatives and best practices, " said Eric Eversole, a vice president at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and executive director of Hiring Our Heroes. "They are true leaders who have demonstrated both professional and personal dedication toward improving the lives of America's veterans and military spouses."

The awards will be presenting Nov. 12 during a dinner in Washington, D.C.

A veteran of the Vietnam War, Van Pelt served in the Army and the Army National Guard before retiring as the command sergeant major of the New York National Guard in 2011.

Since retiring, Van Pelt has headed the New York National Guard Employment Initiative. He works with guard members to help them improve their chances for employment and also works with employers. One of his initiatives has been an online directory of employers who are offering jobs for guard Soldiers and veterans, the New York National Guard Job Zone. (http://dmna.ny.gov/jobs/)

Van Pelt has also been very involved with the Hiring our Heroes effort, working alongside program administrators when the New York National Guard hosted veterans hiring events. The Hiring our Heroes program is a national U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation effort to link up employers with veterans, military spouses and National Guard and Reserve members looking for work.

• Date Taken: 11.05.2014
• Date Posted: 11.05.2014 06:17
• Story ID: 147007
• Location: LATHAM, NEW YORK, US