Editor’s Note: Bonni Pomush is CEO of Santa Ana-based Working Wardrobes, the 58th-largest nonprofit in Orange County with $9.4 million in revenue for the year ended June 30, 2022. Jim Bourne, senior vice president in Global Supply Chain for Edwards Lifesciences, was a first lieutenant in the Army (1993-97) and is a board member of Working Wardrobes. They wrote this Leader Board in honor of Veterans Day on Nov. 11.
The discipline, tenacity and problem-solving that veterans often possess aligns perfectly with business dynamics, and this reservoir of training and skills honed from their time in the military, makes them invaluable assets to the corporate realm.
Combine their inherent leadership, discipline and problem-solving acumen with additional layers of expertise learned during their time in the service, such as teamwork, resilience and mentorship, and you’ll find hiring a veteran is exactly what your business needs to thrive.
However, a crucial moment occurs when a veteran leaves the military family to enter civilian life. This transition is where we as a society can contribute to making their lives successful.
As leaders, we have a tremendous opportunity to lift up veterans by supporting their transition to the civilian workforce.
Recognizing the unique challenges service members and their families often face, Working Wardrobes has tailored a veteran-focused workforce development program to meet their unique needs.
This program includes a dedicated team of Working Wardrobes Peer Navigators—also veterans—who provide peer-to-peer support services in partnership with Behavioral Health Clinicians, as well as access to full-day events produced on military bases for those actively serving.
On-base events such as “Power Up for Success” epitomizes the organization’s dedication to preparing military for the civilian workforce. Working Wardrobes, at minimum, provides spring and fall “Power Up for Success” events at Camp Pendleton.
These semiannual events reshape veterans from military experts to corporate professionals. Here, the evolution is evident. Often arriving in their military attire, service members embark on an immersive journey.
They are introduced to vital workforce competencies, have the chance to interact with potential employers and depart, not just with a renewed sense of purpose and confidence, but with a tangible symbol of their transformation—a Success Suit.
Having our corporate partners involved in this event has been life-changing for many veterans. Companies like U.S. Bank, Optum and Edwards Lifesciences send a contingency of employees who love volunteering their time and professional expertise to help attendees become civilian workforce ready.
A Compassionate Transition
Yet, beyond suits and seminars lie the profound stories veterans bring. A personal testimony of a female veteran who transitioned from military service to living in a car with her children was on display at a recent Working Wardrobes board retreat.
She bravely shared her personal experience of the services she received, including help with her résumé, finding an employer willing to meet with her, and ultimately, the suit she was given for her first interview.
She told us that what stood out most was the empathy she met during her first interaction with Working Wardrobes.
Unfortunately, such tales are alarmingly common. For veterans, seeking civilian employment can be overwhelming and isolating. Feelings of fear, anticipation and challenges can be too much to bear.
The 2023 Southern California Veterans Study showed that 68% of Orange County veterans face challenges finding civilian employment post-service. Their learned skills may not directly translate to civilian jobs. They often do not have civilian professional networks they can tap for assistance, and they may be suffering from PTSD, mental health issues or be physically disabled.
As Orange County braces for more veterans transitioning to civilian roles, the road is filled with obstacles, both tangible and subtle.
In Orange County, thousands of individuals transition out of the military and into civilian life each year, facing difficult barriers to obtaining meaningful employment that will fund housing, reliable transportation, healthcare and childcare. And, according to the recent census, 99,720 veterans reside throughout the area.
According to the 2021 Orange County Veterans Initiative – Evaluation Report, each year approximately 6,500 military veterans settle in Orange County as they transition out of the military.
Often, soldiers cannot begin to critically translate their skills, achieve their career goals and seize employment opportunities because they are additionally consumed with addressing these immediate needs like reliable transportation, housing and food security—without a system of support.
Enriched by our team of veteran employees, board members and affiliate organizations, Working Wardrobes is well-equipped to tackle these intricacies of this transition. By using their experience, knowledge, power and influence, veterans and transitioning active-duty service members can become productive, highly valued members of our business community.
Collaboration in Action
Collaboration is at the core of achieving this mission to prepare our military for the civilian workforce. Corporations like Boeing, Union Bank, U.S. Bank and Boot Barn have bolstered the endeavors of Working Wardrobes. Each business that partners with us has a unique perspective and commitment to our clients.
For example, volunteers from Edwards Lifesciences helped streamline Working Wardrobes processes and provided updated materials in our warehouse operations, all of which ensured an efficient and effective donation center operation.
Edwards also recently hosted nearly a dozen Working Wardrobes clients for a personalized workshop designed to train attendees to speak on their own values and how they can best build their “own brand.”
Every individual who attended the “Dream Big” workshop was paired with a senior leader from Edwards Lifesciences and mentored on how to build and successfully execute an elevator pitch.
Participants left with inspiring and valuable experience, expressing nothing but satisfaction for the team’s selfless efforts supporting not only Working Wardrobes clients, but transitioning service members.
When veterans equipped by Working Wardrobes secure roles in partnering organizations, the message is clear: The transferable skills veterans possess are not just commendable but are crucial to the corporate ecosystem.
The Future Looks Promising
The success stories generated by this intersection of corporate involvement, community awareness and individual perseverance paint a promising picture.
We love to hear stories of our corporate partners walking into their office to meet a new colleague and then learning that they were prepared by Working Wardrobes! Veterans and transitioning active-duty service members contributing transferable skills that enhance workplace productivity and profitability solidifies the impact of our work together.
This blend of corporate engagement, social responsibility and individual resilience holds the key to brighter futures for veterans eager to conquer their next challenge.
