RICHLAND, Wash. - EM Richland Operations Office (RL) contractors CH2M HILL Plateau Remediation Company (CHPRC) and Mission Support Alliance (MSA) at the Hanford Site recently received state recognition for hiring veterans through the YesVets program.
The program is a collaboration among Washington state’s employment security, veterans affairs, and commerce departments; Washington State Military Transition Council; and local chambers of commerce across the state. With more than 700 employers enrolled throughout Washington, YesVets was responsible for more than 2,800 veterans receiving employment in 2017.
“At Hanford, we’re proud of the commitment our contractors make to hire veterans," said Greg Jones, RL assistant manager for business and financial operations. “These men and women not only bravely served our country, but many developed the impressive set of skills that make them uniquely qualified for the work we do at Hanford."
CHPRC received the 2017 Hire-A-Vet Award from the Washington State Employment Security Department for increasing employment opportunities for veterans. CHPRC employs more than 200 veterans, approximately 13.7 percent of the CHPRC workforce.
YesVets honored MSA with its Business Award Salute for continued dedication to the program and hiring of veterans. Julie Lindstrom, MSA’s manager of staffing, diversity and development, gave a testimonial at the recognition event and was joined by new veteran hire Gabe Galbraith. MSA employs 240 veterans - 14.2 percent of its workforce - and hired 18 of those veterans within the last year, through YesVets.
Alfie Alvarado-Ramos, director of the Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs, spoke at the recognition ceremony about the importance of hiring veterans.
“Meaningful work brings financial stability to veterans and their families. When employers make that commitment to hiring veterans, it’s contributing to something bigger than themselves," Alvarado-Ramos said.
Source: U.S. Dept. of Energy, Office of Environmental Management
