Rowan County Community Hiring Event at VA Medical Center Features NCWorks Career Center Services

Military Talent Attraction Weekend Showcases Opportunities in Rowan County Veterans and Transitioning Service Members

The W.G. (Bill) Hefner Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Salisbury, NC hosted a Community Job Fair for veterans, transitioning service members, and the public on November 4, 2023, from 10 am – 2 pm. The hiring event was part of a weekend-long opportunity for transitioning military service members and their families to get a glimpse of the great neighborly feel of Salisbury NC and Rowan County.

Staff from the Centralina NCWorks Career Center-Rowan were very much involved in the planning and staffing of the job fair. The NCWorks Mobile Unit was on site and supported all job fair attendees who needed resume assistance or access to complete an online application. The VA Medical Center's Assistant Director Ms. Andrea Baumer, Chief of Volunteer Services, Mr. Leslie Eason, and many others opened their doors on a sunny Saturday to over 30 employers and 202 individuals, primarily veterans and transitioning military. The event featured career matching and on-the-spot interviews Leslie Eason stated, "What an outstanding event connecting Veteran Affairs with the Rowan County community." NCWorks-Rowan staff member Miranda Boyd said, "The job fair was impressive and exceeded my expectations! This was my first event with the VA in collaboration with NCWorks and the other partners and I can only hope that these types of collaborations will continue to be a staple for the Salisbury community."

The Military Talent Attraction Weekend, an event initially slated for March 2020 but postponed due to the global challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, was finally rescheduled for the first weekend in November 2023. The Rowan Chamber of Commerce, Rowan Economic Development Council (EDC), NCWorks Career Center-Rowan, Salisbury VA Health Care System, City of Salisbury, Rowan Tourism Development Authority, NC4ME, and other community partners have been working on bringing back this initiative to match the needs of employers with highly skilled talent.

"We believe Rowan County is uniquely situated to attract military personnel with the VA Hospital and our four higher education institutions," said Rosalind Hines, Chair of the Rowan Chamber's Workforce Development Alliance (Waggoner Realty). She continued, "We are planning a welcoming weekend with a community job fair and encourage all local job seekers to join us." With a focus on showcasing the county's outstanding attributes, the Military Talent Attraction Weekend aims to connect military personnel with employers who recognize and value the unique skills, discipline, and leadership qualities that veterans bring to the workforce.

"We are thrilled to bring this event back, shining a spotlight on the remarkable opportunities awaiting Veterans and transitioning service members in Rowan County," said Kendall Henderson, Director of Business Services with the Rowan EDC.

Rowan County is home to the Salisbury VA Health Care System, providing Veterans and their families with easy access to comprehensive medical care, mental health support, and various vital services, all conveniently close to home. This weekend provided significant information for veterans and their families about the great VA Medical Center along with other important resources in the area to help with their transition. Employers were equally excited and motivated to assist those interested in pursuing careers within their companies.

The Centralina Workforce Development Board is proud of the hard work by the staff of all our NCWorks Career Centers and for this event, the NCWorks Career Center-Rowan under the direction of Center Leader Joseph Dismuke, also a military veteran. The Centralina WDB salutes and honors all veterans who have served and continue to serve and protect the freedoms that we have living in this great country. We believe strongly in our veterans' skills, abilities, and leadership as they transition to civilian life. We appreciate all the partners in Rowan County who worked diligently to make this Military Talent Attraction weekend a great success!

For more information on resources, opportunities, and successes with the Centralina WDB and our NCWorks Career Centers, visit https://centralinaworkforce.com/. And be sure to download the FREE Centralina WDB Mobile App – available on the Google Play Store and the App Store for iPhone to keep up with all the local workforce services and events happening around the region.

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