Helping veterans find jobs that fit their interests, strengths and skills gained from the military is an important part of Military Veterans Resource Center’s (MVRC) mission. If you’re a military-friendly employer with positions to fill, we want to partner with you to help veterans find jobs. Over the years, we’ve experienced firsthand that creating opportunities for vets to connect with military-friendly employers is critical to their job search success. One of the ways we bring veterans and employers together is through our private hiring events. Our private hiring events work like a small-scale career fair. For each event, we invite one or two companies to come together and recruit for their open positions. In the weeks leading up to the event, employers provide us the job descriptions of the positions they want to fill, and we’ll identify qualified candidates. Our Veterans Services Specialists will then work with the veterans one-on-one to polish their resumes and help them prepare to interview on the spot. MVRC takes care of the outreach and promotion for each hiring event, and depending on how many positions you’re recruiting for, the hiring events can range in size. If you’re hiring for positions with multiple openings or continuously open positions, we will identify a greater number of veteran candidates to attend. For example, we helped Senator Sherrod Brown host a private hiring event for the shale oil industry. Over 500 veterans had a first interview the same day and over 100 were eventually hired. Interested in partnering with us to hire veterans? Contact your […]

On the morning of August 5th, MVRC Veterans Services Specialist Dan Dunaway pulled up to Edward Johnson’s* Hamilton home with six volunteers, a Home Depot plumber and a hot water tank in tow. It had been several weeks since the home had water, and for the Johnsons, the large crew was a welcome sight. “They were elated,” said Dunaway. When his hot water tank failed in July, Edward started calling around to get a quote. He was anticipating a high cost, but when every retailer quoted a price of $1000 or more for a new water heater plus the labor of installing it, he knew he needed help. As a senior citizen and disabled Air Force veteran living on a fixed income, that price was more than he could afford. Edward visited several places for assistance before being referred to Military Veterans Resource Center. “When Edward came in and shared his story, I knew we needed to act quickly because he had his wife and two small granddaughters also in the household,” said Dunaway. “MVRC had just been approved for a Home Depot grant to help veterans in Butler County with home repairs, and everything just fell into place. Because we had Home Depot’s help, we were able to move quickly.” As soon as the funds were taken care of, Dunaway wasted no time contacting volunteers. “I called Danny Mayo, one of the veterans I’ve been working with who is also a master plumber,” said Dunaway. Mayo came into MVRC […]

Military Veterans Resource Center (MVRC) is pleased to announce the appointment of Mike Downey of Columbus to its Board of Directors. Downey accepted his nomination in July and joins a nine-member board that makes policy decisions and oversees MVRC operations. “Mike is dedicated to our goal of helping Ohio’s veterans build strong, healthy lives. We are fortunate to have his guidance, especially as we continue to expand the services we provide veterans,” said MVRC Executive Director Len Proper. Downey joined the U.S. Army at the age of 18 and served from 1985 to 1996, including a deployment to Operation Desert Shield / Desert Storm with the 3/5 Cavalry Regiment as an Infantry Squad Leader. He is currently the Regional Facilities Director of Access Ohio Operations, an outpatient mental health recovery center and diagnostic and treatment center for substance abuse patients. Since his time in the armed forces, Downey has remained active in the military and veterans community. He is the Vice President of the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association Chapter 12-1, which supports the Fisher House Foundation and other military support foundations. Before serving as Vice President, he served as the Public Relations Officer for five years. Downey is also active in the Homeless Veterans Initiative, a program designed to aide homeless veterans throughout Ohio.  

Are you a military family that’s headed back to school this month? We can help! Military Veterans Resource Center (MVRC) is partnering with CRM Ministries to host a series of Back-to-School Days at our Ohio resource centers throughout August. During these days, veterans, service members, or their spouses can visit our locations to receive school clothes and school supplies for their school-bound children. The first Back-to-School Day is scheduled for Friday, August 19 at our Columbus Resource Center from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m., and the next event will take place on Saturday, Aug. 20 at our Chillicothe Resource Center from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Veterans do not need to RSVP to these events, they (or their spouses) just need to present proof of service when they arrive. Clothing options will be available for children entering kindergarten through middle school. The Back-to-School Days are part of Military Veterans Resource Center’s Operation: Tools for School program, which provides school supply assistance to veterans and their families during August and September. 2016 marks the third year we’ve run the program. “Operation: Tools for School helps vets and families make a positive start to the school year,” said MVRC Executive Director Len Proper. “We want children to feel excited about school. It’s a joy to see them begin the school year with bright eyes and happy smiles.” If families cannot attend the Back-to-School Day event, they can still receive school supply help through Thursday, Sept. 15. Donations to Operation: Tools for School are always welcome and […]

The 2nd annual Forrest Everhart Memorial Open is just around the corner! This Saturday, August 20, Military Veterans Resource Center (MVRC) is hosting the event at the Forrest Everhart Memorial Golf Course, located at 17273 State Route 104 (on the Chillicothe VA campus). The tournament is a single player scramble and costs $50 per person to enter, with lunch included and cash prizes awarded. The first place winner will also win the 2016 Forrest Everhart Memorial Open trophy. It will kick off bright and early at 8:30 a.m., with the awards ceremony to follow after all games are finished at 1 p.m. “The Forrest Everhart Memorial Golf Course is named for World War II Medal of Honor recipient and Bainbridge native Forrest E. Everhart,” said MVRC Executive Director Len Proper. “We started this tournament as a way to honor his legacy and share his story with the community.” Businesses and individuals can sponsor a tee box sign for $100, with proceeds to help support Ohio veterans at risk for homelessness and hunger. For more information about becoming a Forrest Everhart Memorial Open sponsor, contact Abby Reynolds at 614-504-4357. To register for the tournament, contact Randy Post at 740-774-8387.

Military Veterans Resource Center (MVRC) is pleased to announce the appointment of Kelan Craig of Columbus to its Board of Directors. Craig accepted his nomination in July and joins a nine-member board that makes policy decisions and oversees MVRC operations. Craig is the Director of Planning, Preservation and Development at the Ohio Housing Finance Agency (OHFA). Prior to joining OHFA, he was a Community Development Analyst at the Ohio Development Services Agency and served as Housing Preservation Coordinator at the Coalition on Homelessness and Housing in Ohio, undertaking housing preservation program planning, implementation and evaluation as part of the Ohio Preservation Compact. Before moving to Columbus, Craig worked as a housing specialist at Freedom House, a shelter for homeless veterans in Portage County. Craig has a dual degree in Political Science and Economics from Kent State University and holds Masters degrees from the Ohio State University in City and Regional Planning and Public Policy and Management. He currently serves on the Board of the Columbus Landmarks Foundation and is a Disaster Services volunteer with the American Red Cross of Central Ohio.