C.E.O. Carl D. Newman, A.A.E., addresses veterans.
The Jackson Municipal Airport Authority (JMAA) was proud to lead the charge for veterans in the state of Mississippi. JMAA brought businesses together at the Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport in October to participate in a workshop to learn more about the Edge4Vets programs. The workshop, conducted by Tom Murphy, the Founder of the program, focused on the businesses. The program is geared toward teaching vets how to translate their military strengths into tools for civilian success. So, on November 6th, it was time to connect the businesses with the veterans.
The program, originally started in New York, is open to all veterans, military service personnel, (including the National Guard) and their families. Over twenty veterans attended the five-hour workshop at the Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport. The workshop was held in the Community Room on the 3rd floor. They registered and were greeted by JMAA staff and a free lunch was provided, which yielded the perfect networking opportunity for business mentors and veterans alike. Veterans who pre-registered were provided with orientation materials to prepare for the event. They were also advised to be job-interview ready, including their attire, because essentially the workshop could posture them for vacancies with participating businesses. JMAA, as well as the Sonny Montgomery V.A. Medical Center, provided free shuttle service for veterans.
Tom Murphy, Founder of Edge4Vets
Edge4Vets is offered by the Human Resiliency Institute at Fordham University in partnership with Airports Council Int’l – North America as the airport association’s official vehicle to prepare and connect veterans to jobs at airports throughout the US and Canada. The program is currently being offered at Houston airports, LAX in Los Angeles, and CVG in Cincinnati, just to name a few.
Edge4Vets offers veterans what employers say they need most; support through a resiliency workshop and online follow-up support to learn how to translate their leadership strengths from the military, including strong values and skills, into tools for civilian success. Edge4Vets will be conducting a pilot program this fall to establish momentum. This will posture us to expand the program as regular effort to support our airport stakeholders and businesses in Jackson and provide an ongoing source of veteran ‘job ready’ talent.
Training material provided to the veterans.
We are excited to bring this program to Jackson, as a host, but we would love to include you as a business partner at no charge to you for our PILOT program. What better way to give back to the veterans that have served our country? If you’re interested in this program, please contact Yolanda Clay-Moore: ymoore@jmaa.com.
Additional information about Edge4Vets and how the program operates can be found at http://edge4vets.org.
Veterans and employers engaged in tabletop discussions.