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Villeret, a native of Greenwood, Miss., currently lives in the Jackson area and comes from a strong military background. Her father is a retired captain in the Army National Guard and her father-in-law a retired chief master sergeant in the Air National Guard. She commissioned in 2004 as a logistics readiness officer. She has enjoyed an 18-year career in the Miss. Air National Guard serving in a variety of different positions, from security to logistics. In 2013, she assumed her current position as the State Partnership Program director at the Joint Force Headquarters in Jackson.
“I was surprised that I was selected as one of the 50 leading business women of Mississippi being that I’m in the military and it was a more business-oriented award,” said Villeret. “My job as the State Partnership Program director gives me the opportunity to connect local businesses with our international partners as well as being in charge of multiple budgets, so there is definitely a business aspect to what I do.”
The Mississippi Business Journal’s annual list highlights women nominated by their peers and selected by a board. The Journal considers these women to be “senior decision-makers … making a significant impact on the economy of our state.” Villeret fits that description by directing the global partnerships of the largest employer in the state, the National Guard. She recently had the opportunity to host Bakhtiyar Gulyamov, the Uzbekistan ambassador, connecting him with local business leaders around the state.
Villeret’s experience also led to her selection for the prestigious Leadership Mississippi program held by the Mississippi Economic Council. Leadership Mississippi is a “training program that combines individual study, group sessions, and project experience in using leadership skills.” It is the second oldest statewide leadership program in the nation. Villeret had to go through another extensive application process before being selected. Participants attend leadership sessions all across the state throughout the year. Most recently, the class convened in Gulfport for a special session with former Gov. Haley Barbour, also a Leadership Mississippi alum, to discuss the immediate and long-term effects of Hurricane Katrina.
“The military aspect that Maj. Villeret brings to Leadership Mississippi is a huge asset for the program and communities around the state,” said Cathy Northington, vice president of programs and administration for the state Chamber of Commerce and director of Leadership Mississippi. “Not just as a service member, but as a woman in the military, she brings a unique perspective in representing a specific minority in the Mississippi business community.”
The recognition Villeret has received continues to show the multi-discipline areas that service members have developed since 9/11. Guard members are better equipped to transition back to their civilian jobs after deployments because of the unprecedented interconnectedness of business and defense.
“These awards are a measuring stick for performance that a service member would not typically get,” said Villeret. “But it is a great way for the private sector to validate or affirm the work that is going on in the Guard and how both sectors complement each other.”
| Date Taken: | 09.11.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 02.06.2017 17:00 |
| Story ID: | 222455 |
| Location: | JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI, US |
| Web Views: | 16 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, MSANG Member Blurs Lines Between Business and Military, by CPT William Hill II, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
