MilitaryConnected.org Announces U.S. Army Veteran Kevin Emore as First Executive Director
Accomplished public and private sector leader to help corporate America become military-ready, not just military-friendly
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (Jan. 18, 2024) – Launched in October, the new nonprofit MilitaryConnected.org today announced Kevin Emore as Executive Director. A combat veteran, Emore will lead the organization’s growing team as it seeks to transform how corporate America attracts, supports, and engages military-connected employees.
“The good news is that corporate America already understands the benefits of attracting military-connected talent,” said Emore. “Veterans and their family members bring leadership skills and commitment to fulfilling a mission to whatever roles they are hired to perform. The job of MilitaryConnected.org is to enable these organizations with the tools to better engage and retain this talent.”
Emore is a retired Captain and Team Leader in the U.S. Army, where he earned a Bronze Star and Combat Action Badge for service in Iraq. After transitioning from the military, he held numerous leadership roles, including Director of Special Projects for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, where he established a pathway for private sector companies to reach veterans through direct contributions or partnerships with Veteran Service Organizations. Emore also served as the Global Partnership Manager for Food and Fitness at Nike, Inc., where he worked to improve employee engagement and retention by focusing on holistic employee health.
MilitaryConnected.com notes that while veterans entering the civilian workforce have little trouble finding jobs, they are challenged with finding employment they find meaningful, reflects their skills and abilities, and leads to lasting careers. Research shows that underemployment disproportionately affects veterans, with veterans 70 percent more likely to step back in seniority in their first civilian jobs when compared to the roles they held in the military, and are nearly 16 percent more likely to be underemployed than their civilian counterparts. Additionally, 80 percent of veteran talent leave their first civilian job in two years; a rate 10 percent higher than their civilian counterparts. The cost of replacing an employee can range from one-half to two times the employee’s salary. However, research also found that 70 percent of the reasons for employee turnover are preventable. These gaps open up an opportunity for new solutions.
While many nonprofits focus on talent acquisition to solve these challenges, MilitaryConnected.org is the first to offer data-driven organizational assessments and customized programs to help talent and hiring managers, and company leaders, better attract and keep their military-connected employees.
“I’ve known Kevin for over 20 years as a military leader, corporate executive, and nonprofit leader,” said Patrick Murphy, former U.S. Congressman and Undersecretary of the Army. “There is no one better positioned to support military-connected employees in their pursuit of meaningful employment. MilitaryConnected.org is changing public perception about our members in the workforce—Kevin is the right person to lead that charge.”
Emore joins MilitaryConnected.org’s team, which includes Jonathan Fermin-Robbins, who helped launch the organization as Interim Executive Director. A decorated U.S. military veteran (U.S. Army), Fermin-Robbins previously served as Chief of Staff at Aliro, Inc., a technology company that helps healthcare teams meet rising staffing demands. Fermin-Robbins will stay on to develop the organization’s Military Advisory Services program, which offers actionable intelligence on how talent and hiring managers can attract, support, and retain military-connected talent.
MilitaryConnected.org is also led by Dr. Chris Cate, Director of the Data and Research Center of Excellence. Dr. Cate most recently served as Vice President of Research of Student Veterans of America (SVA) for over a decade, where he pioneered new research into student veterans and federal education benefits.
Business leaders and prospective partners who wish to learn more about supporting the military-connected community may contact MilitaryConnected.org at info@militaryconnected.org.
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About MilitaryConnected.org:
MilitaryConnected.org is committed to improving the lives of America’s military-connected community through employer education, talent engagement, and data-driven research. It seeks to ensure every member of America’s military-connected community has equal access to the resources necessary to unlock their full potential. Be more than military-friendly, become military-ready at militaryconnected.org.
