Seriously. Why wouldn’t a veteran-led organization be your ultimate employer? Especially if they earned the designation as a 2022 Military Friendly® Company and/or Military Friendly® Employer, as all of them did. Having a veteran at the helm means the organization is more likely to recognize the value of military talent and knows how to help them make a smooth transition.
Value in Veteran Employees
“When I began my transition from the Army into the civilian business world, I quickly learned that no one was looking for my specific skill set of jumping out of a perfectly good airplane while speaking Persian Farsi. I re-entered the civilian world without knowing whether a company would value the things I’d been doing successfully for eight years,” said Ted Helgesen, president and chief operating officer of TMX Finance Family of Companies.
“But I quickly realized my military experience wasn’t just jumping out of planes and speaking a different language. It had instilled in me an incredibly strong work ethic and a willingness to learn and improve every day. Those are the characteristics that are very often found in veterans and are highly valued in any organization, and especially at the TMX Finance Family of Companies.”
What Are Military Friendly Organizations?
Organizations that earned the 2022 Military Friendly® designation have a proven track record of recruiting, hiring, onboarding and retaining America’s veterans and their families.
On page 24 of the G.I. Jobs Magazine April Issue, you will find the entire list of 172 employers that earned the Military Friendly® Companies award this year.
Introducing The Veteran Leaders of Military Friendly Companies
We invited all Military Friendly® designated organizations that indicated their organization is led or owned by a military veteran to provide a few more details. These are the 20 that responded.
Lee Kirby
- Chairman & Co-Founder Salute Mission Critical
- Colonel (O-6)
- Army (1976–2012)
- President, Tokyo Electron US Holdings Inc.
- Captain (O-3)
- Army (1984–1989)
- Army Reserve (1989–1994)
Jeff Downen
- Owner, Black Start, LLC
- Corporal (E-4)
- Marine Corps (2009–2013)
John “Tom” Curtis
- Chief Executive Officer, Precise Systems, Inc.
- Captain (O-3)
- Navy (1986–2001)
Claire Cuccio
- President & CEO, SNVC, LC
- Colonel (O-6)
- Army (1989–2018)
Benjamin P. French
- Owner, French Consulting LLC
- Major (O-4)
- Army (1978–1997)
Wes D. Kremer
- President, Raytheon Missiles & Defense
- Captain (O-3)
- Air Force (1988–1999)
Tanya Haggins
- President & Founder, Lakewood University
- Staff Sergeant (E-5)
- Air Force (1983–1989)
Troy Beane
- COO/Owner, Greencastle Associates Consulting
- Major (O-4)
- Army (1998–2019)
Ted Helgesen
- President & Chief Operating Officer, TMX Finance Family of Companies
- Staff Sergeant (E-6)
- Army Reserve (1987–1990)
- Army (1991–1995)
Oscar Montes
- Chief Executive Officer, Magellan Federal
- Commander (O-5)
- Navy (1995–2007)
- Navy Reserve (2007–2019)
James Schenck
- President & CEO, PenFed Credit Union
- CEO, PenFed Foundation
- Major (O-4)
- Army (1984–2001)
John Paul Johnston
- Executive Director, Divers Institute of Technology
- Commander (O-5)
- Navy (1970–2000)
Kris Wisda
- CEO, MLM Home Improvement
- Petty Officer
Second Class (E-5) - Navy (2008–2013)
William Canady
- CEO, OTC Industrial Technologies
- Petty Officer
Third Class (E-4) - Navy (1985–1988)
Colby Barrett
- CEO, GeoStabilization International
- Captain (O-3)
- Marine Corps (2000–2004)
Nolan Guagenti
- Chief Executive Officer, VAE, Inc.
- Sergeant (E-5)
- Marine Corps (1998–2002)
Tom Shull
- Director/CEO, Army & Air Force Exchange Service
- Major (O-4)
- Army (1973–1985)
- Army Reserve (1985–1992)
Scott Greenblatt
- CEO & Founder, Veterans Guardian VA Claim Consulting
- Lieutenant Colonel (O-5)
- Army (1991–2017)
Kevin M. Phillips
- Chairman, CEO & President, ManTech
- Captain (O-3)
- Army (1984–1994)
