Arizona companies honored for hiring veterans

The U.S. Department of Labor announced the recipients of the 2018 HIRE Vets Medallion Program Demonstration Award and five Arizona organizations were recognized.

The Medallion Program “recognizes job creators for their leadership in recruiting, employing and retaining America’s veterans,” including small businesses, community-based nonprofits, and national companies.

The Department awarded the five Arizona companies recognized by the program at the HeroPreneur National Veteran Business Summit earlier this month.

Started by Alan “AP” Powell, founder of HeroZona, HeroPreneur is a multi-day experience that celebrates and empowers American veterans to find – or start their own – career paths that are right for them.

“We are honored that the U.S. Department of Labor recognized employers who hire the nation’s veterans during the HeroPreneur National Veteran Business Summit. We hope this encourages more companies to hire veterans in order to help them succeed and transition into the civilian world,” AP said.

There are two pillars under the Medallion Program, Gold and Platinum. An organization receives the Gold for hiring 500 or more veterans and Platinum for hiring more than 1,000.

The five Arizona honorees were:

•      STARA Technologies Corporation / Gilbert, Arizona / Gold
•      Shakatronics Audio Video / Litchfield Park, Arizona/ Gold
•      Pinnacle West Capital Corp. / Phoenix, Arizona/ Platinum
•      ISC Consulting Group, Inc. / Sierra Vista, Arizona / Gold
•      P&C Investments / Tucson, Arizona / Gold

Recipients of the award were evaluated based on a range of criteria which included: veteran hiring and retention; availability of veteran-specific resources; leadership programs for veterans; dedicated human resources; and compensation and tuition assistance programs for veterans.

Signed into law by President Donald Trump in 2017, the Honoring Investments in Recruiting and Employing (HIRE) American Military Veterans Act created the HIRE Vets Medallion program. Later the Department announced 2018 would be a demonstration year prior to the program’s full implementation in 2019.

“America’s veterans are proven leaders who bring skills, dedication, and determination to our nation’s workforce,” U.S. Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta said in a statement. “To earn a HIRE Vets Medallion Award, job creators must demonstrate a solid commitment to providing veterans with the opportunity to build a meaningful career. This program recognizes a standard for excellence in veterans hiring, and helps veterans identify employers who are committed to advancing veterans in the workplace.”

Applications for the 2019 HIRE Vets Medallion Program open Jan. 31, 2019. For more information click here.