Employment Security Department/FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – June 27, 2012/#12-029
Spokane business honored with Hire-A-Vet Award
SPOKANE – Two state cabinet officials visited Spokane today to honor Haskins Steel for its track record of hiring military veterans.
Employment Security Commissioner Paul Trause and John Lee, director of the Washington Department of Veteran Affairs, presented a Hire-A-Vet Award to the company’s general manager, Craig Dias.
“It would be hard to find a business more deserving of this award than Haskins Steel,” Trause said.
In accepting the award, Dias acknowledged the contribution veterans have made to the company.
“Today, veterans are among the best-trained candidates in the job market, and I am lucky to work alongside so many great servicemen and –women,” Dias said. “We are a better company because of them.”
Veterans make up 16 percent of Haskins Steel’s total workforce, about twice what WorkSource business liaisons typically see from other regional employers in the metal industry. Four veterans are a part of the senior management team, and the company has committed to hiring more veterans in the future.
“Clearly, this company values veterans as employees and colleagues,” Lee said. “I hope by recognizing Haskins’ outstanding commitment to our veterans and guardsmen, more employers will take note of the great qualities veterans bring to any job.”
Employment Security created the Hire-A-Vet Award in 2006 as a way to call attention to the large number of unemployed veterans in Washington and to recognize companies with a good track record of hiring veterans.
The award was put on hiatus during the recession, and Haskins Steel is the first company to receive the award since December 2008.
Employers who are interested in hiring veterans and veterans who are looking for work should visit their local WorkSource center or call 800-562-2308 for information.
WorkSource is a statewide partnership of Employment Security, other state agencies, local governments, colleges and nonprofit organizations that work together to provide employment and training services to job seekers and employers.
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WorkSource employment website for job seekers: www.go2worksource.com
WorkSource employment website for employers: www.go2worksource.biz
Media contact: Ashley Wilson, WorkSource communications, 360-902-9454
Audio link: http://www.esd.wa.gov/newsandinformation/releases/audio/index.php
Broadcast version
Two state cabinet officials visited Spokane today to honor Haskins Steel for its track record of hiring military veterans.
Paul Trause from the Employment Security Department and John Lee from the state’s Veterans Affairs Department presented the company with a Hire-A-Vet Award.
The award was accepted by the company’s general manager, Craig Dias.
Sixteen percent of Haskins Steel’s total workforce are veterans, about twice what Employment Security staff typically see from other regional employers in the industry.
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