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The pandemic was the largest proof -of -concept that your fears about hiring military spouses were wrong. One of the most educated, entrepreneurial, resilient talent pools out there, military spouses still have over a 20% unemployment rate and are eager to be a resource. With new innovative models, corporate best practices, and public support for fellowships, if you are not tapping into this talent pool in the workplace of today, you are missing out on talent, innovation and hurting your bottom-line.
Learning Objectives:
Direct Link to Session Materials: If the speaker provides session materials, you can access them via the app, web format or at https://presentations.shrm.org/.
Live Streaming and Recording: Unless marked 'in person only,' all sessions are live-streamed on the app or web format and available for replay 30 days after the event.
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Accessibility & Accommodations Information: For detailed accessibility & accommodations information, visit INFO > FAQs in the app.
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Elizabeth Kohm
Manager, Foundation Programs
SHRM Foundation
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Elizabeth is currently the Manager, Foundation Programs overseeing SHRM Foundation’s strategic priority of Building Inclusive Workplaces. In that capacity, she oversees the Foundation’s initiatives around leveraging untapped talent including Veterans At Work, Employing Abilities and Getting Talent Back to Work. She joins the Foundation with extensive experience across the corporate, nonprofit, and government sectors. She most recently served as the Deputy Executive Director for PFLAG National working to advance equality and anti-discrimination efforts. In that role, she also partnered with corporate diversity and HR professionals on partnerships to impact the workplace culture for the LGBTQ community. She lives in Alexandria with her spouse, two sons, and an oversized rescue dog.
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Marcus Ohlenforst
HR Military Workforce Strategist
USAA
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Marcus Ohlenforst – better known as Ohley – currently serves as the Lead Military Workforce Strategist responsible for USAAs enterprise Military Workforce Strategy in addition to managing and championing various strategic military talent programs and initiatives to ensure the company attracts world-class veteran and military spouse talent. He served 25 years in the Marine Corps both Enlisted and as an Officer and retired in 2016. His transition led him to some great organizations that connected him with people who invested their time and energy to ensure that he was successful, and he is committed to continuing to pay it forward within the military community.
Ohley represents USAA as not only a brand ambassador, but also an expert in national level discussions that impact the military community and works closely with internal and external stakeholders to differentiate the company’s goal of being the employer of choice for the military community. In 2022, Ohley was selected as the GI Jobs Veteran Champion of the Year in Corporate America due to the extraordinary amount of effort that he exerts to inspire, educate, and advocate for the military community.
Ohley leads numerous strategic workforce programs and initiatives while also being an active participant in numerous Non-profit advisory boards and committees, such as the US Chamber Veteran and Military Spouse Employment Advisory Councils, JP Morgan Veteran Jobs Mission Advisory Board, and the SHRM Foundation Military Community Advisory Committee. He is sought out as an industry thought leader and influencer who has been featured by nationally recognized magazines and social channels due to his devotion and servant leadership with organizations and respective communities.
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Allison Chamberlayne
Director of Operations
Hiring Our Heroes
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Allison Chamberlayne is the Director of Operations for Hiring Our Heroes, an initiative of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation connecting transitioning service members, veteran, military spouses, and caregivers with American businesses to create economic opportunity and a strong and diversified workforce. In her role, Allison focuses on day-to-day program operations, staff development, process improvement, and strengthening partnerships.
Allison is a military spouse who served alongside her husband, a retired Army Engineer, for over 25 years. She joined Hiring Our Heroes in January of 2018, as a part of the Corporate Fellowship Program. Over the past four and a half years, Allison has held several roles to include Operations Manager, Program Manager of Corporate Fellowship program in the National Capital Region and Deputy Director of the Military Spouse Fellowship Program.
Before her career at Hiring Our Heroes, Allison faced the same employment challenges as those she currently serves. She has held full time, part time and temporary positions in multiple fields to include Accounting, Logistics, Marketing, Finance and Education. This has made her a passionate advocate for military spouses in their pursuit of meaningful employment opportunities.
Allison has a bachelor’s degree in Urban Affairs from Virginia Tech and being a diehard Hokie consumes much of her and her family’s free time. She resides in McLean, VA with her husband, Ed (VT ’93, ‘02, ‘11 ) and son Eddie (VT ’24). Her daughter, Emma (UVA ’20) lives nearby and tolerates the VT fanaticism.
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C. Eddy Mentzer
Associate Director Military Family Readiness Policy
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C. Eddy Mentzer brings more than three decades of personal and professional experience in supporting military families through a variety of roles across the DoD and Federal Government. Mr. Mentzer currently serves as the Department’s Program Manager for the Spouse Education and Career Opportunities program; leading a team that focuses on enhancing employment and educational opportunities for military spouses around the world. Mr. Mentzer is married to an Active-Duty Air Force Colonel and the parent of a military child. This combination of both professional and personal experience allows him to bring a unique perspective to the programs that he oversees.
