The leading celebration of the value that military veterans add to society and the economy after their service, the Forces in Business Awards, today reveals the finalists for the first ever USA edition.
The talents of former servicemen and women thriving in their post-military careers are showcased in today’s shortlist reveal for the US Forces in Business Awards, the USA edition of the world’s largest celebration of veterans in business.
Veterans comprise approximately 8% of the U.S. adult population and each year a further 200,000 service members leave the U.S. Armed Forces, forming a talent pool rich with transferable skills and values gained in a world-class training and operational environment.
However, establishing a meaningful second career after military service can be challenging, with visibility of role models and awareness among employers of the veteran talent pool historically lacking. A study by ZipRecruiter and the Call of Duty Endowment found nearly one-third of veteran job seekers are underemployed, meaning they’re employed at a level beneath their experience and capability, a rate 15.6% higher than non-veteran job seekers.
Stereotypical portrayals of veterans in mainstream media, TV and film can fuel negative misconceptions which create and exacerbate the challenges facing military service leavers. Research by Hill & Ponton found that veterans are more than five times more likely to report a lack of job satisfaction than non-veterans, an issue linked to underemployment.
Since launching in the UK in 2018, the Forces in Business Awards has led the way in promoting a more positive and accurate representation of veterans, as assets to companies across all sectors. Through a grand showcase of talented veterans driving business success, the Awards demonstrate the enormous value employers gain by embracing this talent pool.
Over the past seven years the Awards have recognized the post-military achievements of over 1,500 veterans and reservists at award ceremonies attended by thousands of employers. This year marks the inaugural USA edition of the Awards program, which attracted hundreds of nominations. The vast breadth of talent in the U.S. Armed Forces community is evident through the large variety of industries represented on the shortlist.
Dubbed ‘the Oscars of veteran employment’, the Forces in Business Awards arrives in the USA with a track record of not only boosting opportunity for people who served their country, but also promoting the economic advantage gained by Military Friendly employers.
This year’s winners will be revealed on 21 November at a glittering Award Ceremony at the Hilton Washington DC / Rockville Hotel. Jummy Olabanji, co-anchor of NBC’s News4 Today, the number one morning news show in Washington, D.C., will host the Award Ceremony and introduce a special program of guest speakers, award presenters and entertainment.
Ben Rossi, founder of the Forces in Business Awards, said: “The impact of this Awards program in the UK has been tremendous. Showcasing the veteran talent pool on a high-profile, national stage has encouraged many more employers to embrace talent from the military community and contributed to a significant rise in dedicated pathways for veterans into high-value careers.
“We are very excited and proud to now be launching this unique platform in the USA. The exceptional talent displayed on the shortlist for the 2024 US Forces in Business Awards, and the vast breadth of companies and sectors they represent, speaks volumes to the huge contribution that veterans can, and do, make to organizations of all kinds after their service.”
THE FINALISTS – 2024 US FORCES IN BUSINESS AWARDS
ADVOCATE OF THE YEAR
Bruce Mosler, Cushman & Wakefield
Christopher Glanzmann, Barclays
Cynthia Kao, Operation Code
Danielle Sandy, Barclays
Francis Post, Google
Marcel Alvarez, GE Aerospace
BUSINESS LEADER OF THE YEAR
James Trainor, Aon
Joseph Anderson, Rafael Systems Global Sustainment
Josh Forman, Core One
Robert Gray Bracknell, Jefferson Science Associates
Timothy Toomey, Axcel Instructor-Led Training
CHAMPION OF WOMEN AWARD
Dr. Adama Kalokoh, Impact Sierra Leone
Jeanette Miller-Osborn, NetWitness
Lt Col Kate Germano USMC (ret), Cassandra-Helenus Partners
Matice Wright-Springer, Booz Allen Hamilton
Nikki Foster, GE Aerospace
Valinda Samuels, Barclays
D&I INITIATIVE OF THE YEAR
Barclays Military Resource Group, Barclays
GE Aerospace Military Officer Leadership Program, GE Aerospace
Leader Transition Institute
Organized Q
The Shadow Between Us, Tender Heart Crusades
Veterans in Financial Services
EMPLOYER OF THE YEAR
Amazon
Barclays
Fiserv
GE Aerospace
Google
Mallinckrodt Pharmaceutical
ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR
Brandon Sivret, Argento Simulations
Chelsea Mandello, Troopster
David N. Finch, I-2-I Solutions
David Peterson, Fenix Group
Nicole A. Anderson, Skyvoice / Nico Denas
Paul Maguire, Knowmadics
INNOVATOR OF THE YEAR
David Tibbo, Purdue Applied Research Institute
Dr. Dylan Hayden, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
Dr. Myriam Seay, U.S. Air Force
Ernesto Camacho, DHL
Mat Yarger, Demia
Mika J Cross, Strategy at Work
Terry Roberts, WhiteHawk CEC
MILITARY VALUES IN BUSINESS AWARD
Allyson O’Neal, Bayada Hospice
Gilbert Smith, Philips
Jacinta N. Dorsey, Newport Healthcare
Jeffrey L Swanson, Truist Securities
Matthew Thompson, Socure
Rick Hoggard, ZS Associates
NEW SERVICE LEAVER OF THE YEAR
Brandon Gillett, Barclays
Gabbe Kearney, GE Aerospace
Jonathan Joyner, Duke University
Kelly Harrison, Mindfully Crafted Solutions
Matthew Phillips, JPMorgan Chase
OUTSTANDING ACHIEVER OF THE YEAR
Andrew Cote, BRINC Drones
Jennifer Baker, Johns Hopkins University
Michael E Harrington, Lockheed Martin
Dr. Monique M. Chouraeshkenazi, The Chouraeshkenazi Group
Morgan Bennett, GE Aerospace
Rick Pina, Inspired Solutions
RESERVIST OF THE YEAR
John Ellis, Jacobs
Jonathan Noftsier, Fountainhead Workforce Strategy Consulting
Latoya Gatewood-Young, Barclays
Sean Chao, The Chao Group
Sean Ellison, Barclays
Steven Jaworski, Avature
ROLE MODEL OF THE YEAR
Boyd Melson, MYND Drinks / Consultants for America’s Veterans (CAV)
Daniel Baldi, BAE Systems
Kemal Piskin, LinQuest Corp.
Kenneth T Davis, BIED Society
Nathaniel Lowrey, Barclays
Norman Pugh-Newby, Deloitte
SERVICE LEAVER OF THE YEAR
Alyssa Sutton, Hampton University Rocks / BMNT
Chad T. Manske, Chad Manske
Jeremy Gilliland, Southern Glazers Wine & Spirits
Jimmy White IV, Vanguard
Michael Griffin, FDM Group
Vivian Eng Bendewald, American Chamber of Commerce Taiwan
TEAM LEADER OF THE YEAR
Charlie Waltrip, Deloitte
Eli Rosado, Warner Bros. Discovery
Matthew Wise, Barclays
Michael Bouchard, Advanced Management Strategies Group
Victor Foulk, CGI Federal
The Forces in Business Awards is the world’s largest celebration of military veterans in second careers. Our mission is to showcase, highlight and promote the huge value that ex-servicemen and women bring to employers in all sectors and the wider economy, often enabled by the skills and values they gained during their time in the military. Click here for more information.
