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Veteran's Employment Committee
July 22, 2021: 10:00 AMMeeting ID: 992 1181 6697 Passcode: i1dVW8
STATE WORKFORCE BOARD (SWB) VETERANS EMPLOYMENT COMMITTEE (VEC) MEETING MINUTES JULY 22, 2021 (10:00AM - 12:30PM) (via ZOOM)
Attended: Joe Tatem, (Chair), Mark Cafiso, Mark Cater, Sarah Sherman, Andy Gibson, David Young, Kylie Higgins, Beth Mazzaro, Jennifer Giroux, Aaron Dombroski, Nicole Frydrych, Jen Fullmer, Scott Young, Debbie Kelly
SWB staff: Cheryl Davis
Welcome and Introductions Committee Chair Joe Tatem opened the meeting at 10:05am with welcome and around the monitor introductions.
Opening Remarks Joe Tatem Joe stated their committee meetings are standard where they can get the work done. These meetings have no time requirement just production and contribution are required. He suggested to invite Jen Bouche to join quorum in the future. He also asked members to keep Leo Deon in their thoughts.
Beth Mazzaro announced that the ESGR Meeting will be held from August 25, 2021 to September 2, 2021. Jen Giroux stated this will be the last meeting. Hope to stay in the loop. Jen Fullmer stated Bill Benson will not be here today.
Approval of Meeting Notes form May 20, 2021 Meeting Mark Cater motioned for approval of the May 20, 2021 meeting minutes. Sarah Sherman seconded. The May 20, 2021 meeting minutes were approved unanimously without correction.
7 Eagle Group: Mark Cater Mark provided a website with testimonial videos. Overview/Review Is a recruiting firm. Focus mainly on veterans, but they also work with everyone. Work with transitioning service members including military spouses and children who can work. They are a for profit company who really cares. Work with all branches of service. Jobs for veterans. Challenge: Bringing people to Maine (Housing). Building relationships is the key. Offer free self-paced cyber training for cyber security jobs. Working with Lockheed Martin right now. Q & A None.
Joe Tatem Mark has a great connection with BIW. Give Mark a call. Mark Cater Please reach out to other folks in-state as well if I cannot help. Maine Hire-A-Vet 2021 Campaign Update Mark Cafiso, LVER Portland Maine Hire-A-Vet opened registration for employers this past Monday. The Civic Center contract was signed this past Monday. As of Monday, over 30 employers signed up. Will provide a weekly virtual program this year. August 26, 2021 from Noon 4pm, the Campaign will kick off in person at the Augusta Civic Center. Andy Gibson will be the Master of Ceremonies. Every Tuesday, we will provide a program to benefit veterans and employers during the Campaign. The Campaign program will close out on December 9, 2021. We have great sponsorship this year. Veteran showcase videos will be conducted throughout the Campaign. Q & A Joe Tatem If you have something, bring to the table. Ask to get in touch with Mark to provide a service to this program (weekly seminars). How are you marketing the video production to potential veteran subjects? Mark Cafiso DOL has access to those people registered in the System. Will do email blasts to let our Partners know. Debbie Kelly, Beth Mazzaro, Sarah Sherman, and Dennis ? stated they are willing to do a briefing. Joe Tatem Would it be appropriate to highlight military members? The Guard is an employer as well. Mark Cafiso Programs are geared towards veterans and employers. Could possibly entertain. Can talk about that. Scott Young Idea certainly has merit. Scott stated he can take this to the National Guard. Mark Cafiso stated the National Guard always attends the Hire-A-Vet Campaign. Joe Tatem stated female veteran National Guard members want to have a voice. Support and boost numbers. This has been long past due.
EDUCATION Employers Updates USDOL started Hire-A-Vet. The Medallion Program has very strict standards. BIW and Dead River Company were awarded. Leo Deon designed a PowerPoint for that program that was voted for best practices. Mark Cafiso will conduct that next week.
EDUCATION Veterans Not been covered. Sarah Sherman stated Lisa Bouche is still acting as Business Manager. Joe Tatem Bring onto Committee? Sarah Sherman also stated Martha Bentley, Director of the DECD would like to join our Committee. Joe Tatem stated he will reach out to her.
VETERAN FRIENDLY EMPLOYER AWARDS Updates Beth Mazzaro Strategic plan, priorities? None. Freedom Award winner was posted yesterday. Maine did not win but was nominated 17 times. Would like to see Maine with the Freedom Award. Over 350 nominations are sent from 50 States and 4 Territories. 35 are actually nominated. It takes 6 months to process once submitted. Joe asked if the Patriot Awards are still going out? Beth Nominations are by service members but employer friendly.
SWB VEC Member Updates Sarah Sherman Holly Acher, Project Manager requested a meeting on Tuesday. Will meet with her. She may be an interesting guest speaker. Andy Gibson Have 4 vacancies largely from Augusta. 2-4 interviews per day. Have coverage plan right now. Hopefully in a few weeks we'll have some positions filled. Conducting internal education as well. Every Veteran that walks through the CareerCenter has Veterans preference under the Wagner-Peyser program. DVOP and LVER positions have closed. Employment Reps are open on the DOL website. Some will remain open due to so many openings. Scott Young Labor Laws, some have passed. Public Law, Chapter 106. Check it out. Deals with Veterans. Shows what has changed in Statute. Transition to Civilian Life bill did not pass due to the fiscal note. Licenses may not be valid from one state to another particularly medical. The Department of Professional & Financial Regulation (DPFR), contact this agency with specific issues relative to certifications. Looked at case per case. This particularly will make or break whether someone will come to this State. Mark Cafiso stated a truck driver with military experience will only need to take a road test. An example also, medic to nurse. Andy Gibson We have state control over who gets a license. Joe Tatem Where do we reach out for the final word? Mark Cafiso Veteran Reps can assist. Jennifer Giroux A lot of veterans do not know how to use the military CDL waiver program. Mark Cater Not every veteran can use this. They need to be discharged within 12 months. Will check this out.
Final Words Andy Gibson did not have any final words but stated hes looking forward to the Maine Hire A Vet Campaign. He likes how they will conduct weekly seminars and encourage all to participate. Joe Tatem stated we might potentially have an in-person event for our meeting in September. Our goal is to get back into a large room.
Jennifer Giroux motioned to adjourn. Mark Cater seconded. Meeting adjourned at 11:44am.
Next Meeting
Thursday, September 16, 2021 from 10am 12:30pm via ZOOM
Respectfully submitted by Cheryl Davis
Meeting of the State Workforce Board. The State Workforce Board is committed to providing access, equal opportunity and reasonable accommodation to its services, programs and employment. Please contact us should you required accommodation or alternative format materials. (207) 621-5087 or TTY Users Call Maine Relay 711 SWB.DOL@maine.gov
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