Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Business and economy news and issues in the Ozarks.

The Value of Veterans: Hiring Them Locally, Statewide

Steve Fines
/
KSMU

There are over 13,000 veterans living in the Springfield area. And several are looking for work.

The event, conducted last week by the Show-Me Heroes program in conjunction with the Springfield Career Center, was the first veteran career fair in the city this year.

Department of Economic Development Representative Al Smith says veterans are mission motivated and team players.

“A lot of the younger veterans have been deployed and they’ve handled these challenges very successfully; if they can do all that stuff they can be good employees,” Smith said.

Amy Temple is a project coordinator for Gold Mountain Communications, LLC; one of the companies participating in the Show-Me Heroes program.

“There’s not really a specific formula that makes a successful sales person,” Temple said. “But veterans are someone that know how to be disciplined, and are willing to come in and do the work.”

94 veterans participated in the employment fair.

First Lieutenant Jon Barry is the director of Show-Me Heroes and a traditional Missouri National Guardsman.

“Employers tell me that it’s hard to find people that will just turn up for work and that shocks me,” Barry said. “Veterans showing up for work on time are just second nature, it’s not something they have to think about or try to do or get better at.”

jon_barry_explains_the_creation_of_show_me_heroes.mp3
Listen to First Lieutenant Jon Barry explain the creation of Show-Me Heroes.

Show-Me Heroes was created by Governor Jay Nixon in 2010 as a joint effort between Missouri Department of Economic Development, Workforce Development and National Guard to connect veteran service members with employers in Missouri.

“Almost 4,300 Show-Me Heroes employers have reported back to us that they’ve hired over 7,500 veterans and service members,” Barry said.

Barry explained that one of the constraints for Show-Me Heroes is connecting veterans with employers in rural areas. Officials hope to mitigate that issue through what it calls the chamber challenge.

“We are encouraging chambers of commerce all over the State of Missouri to not only take the Show-Me Heroes pledge, but to promote the program to their membership to encourage members to take the Show-Me Heroes pledge.”

Employers that take the pledge via the Show-Me Heroes website receive incentives for hiring veterans.

If you or your family member is a veteran looking for employment, you can learn more through the Show-Me Heroes website, VA, and your local chamber of commerce or career center.

Related Content