MilitaryStars Blog

Independence Day

For all of you serving across the world this holiday weekend, from my co-worker Robert Barclay, US Navy and veteran of Desert Shield and Desert Storm: "Just a short note to thank you all for what you do.  Our thoughts and prayers are with you."  For everyone who has served, all of us thank you for defending our freedom!  Wherever you are, be safe.

Patriot Day

MilitaryStars Account Exec Curtis Hagens, US Army, ran our show in New York City last week - I asked him to share his thoughts today and he graciously accepted.

I just returned from the MilitaryStars NE Regional event in New York City and wanted to thank everyone that made it out to the event.  From the feedback I received from some of the hiring companies, it looks like a good number of the 300-plus veteran job seekers are going to get some good offers. Thanks again to all of our veterans for your service to our country.

While I was in New York City I had an opportunity to visit Ground Zero and the World Trade Center Gallery. Man, that was an emotional trip. If you have never been to the WTC site or to the Tribute WTC Visitor Center it is something you should do at some point. I have included some pictures for all to see. One this day I would like to remember all those who lost their lives this day six years ago and all our brave men and women serving overseas.

          

                    

                      

                  

Friend Request From MilitaryStars!

Even Presidential candidates have MySpace pages now, so I thought all of you needed to know that one of our stellar new Account Execs, Chris Nothdurft, took it upon himself to put together an amazing one for us at http://www.myspace.com/militarystars !  From links to our main site to songs you know and love to inspiring video clips, Chris did an above-and-beyond job giving us a place to meet people in just about the best-known place online to do so.  Stop by, be our friend, and have a great week! 

Memorial Day

Wherever you are, wherever you're going, know you are in all of our thoughts on Memorial Day.  You are the reason everyone here in the States can wish one another a "great Memorial Day weekend".  For you, for your job description right now, that might mean something else entirely.  It's because of you that so many others can enjoy themselves with their friends and loved ones.  It's because of you that we can come to work every day - this is our motivation to work our hardest at all times.  On this day above all others, thank you, your brothers and your sisters.  Stay safe.  You will, as always, be in our thoughts. 

Traveling Pride

It was our usual commute to an event, where we stand in line to get off the plane and hike over to the baggage claim to wait for our luggage.  Throughout many of the airports where we have traveled, there have always been military personnel peppered throughout, waiting to catch their flight to their next mission or anxiously waiting to fly home into the arms of their loved ones.   Although, while in our travels we nod in respect, stop and talk to them, and occasionally shake their hand and thank them, on this one day we got to witness a spontaneous act of pride and acknowledgement.

After getting our luggage, we were trekking through the baggage area toward our ground transportation area.  I happen to notice a large number of military personnel gathered near one baggage carousel.   It was like a sea of camouflage.  Once the last green duffle bag was hurled over the soldier’s shoulder, they began to walk in a loose formation toward the exit doors.  In that moment, I heard a single applaud and then many more chiming in. People around the baggage area dropped their luggage and stood up in recognition and began to clap.  The sound of loud whistles blaring through the crowds as if they were at a football game.  I saw a parent put his child on his shoulder pointing at the troops to explain to their child who then began to clap with the others.  The crowd stood strong until the last solder left the doors and they were on their way… home perhaps or to the next mission for our country.

The next time you travel, start clapping and look our troops in the eye with deep respect and gratitude.

Withdrawals

     So as you all can probably assume, Ben is on vacation, doing the family thing. Not only do you all miss him on this blog, but we miss him here as well at MilitaryStars.

     Ben is ultimately responsible for every candidate that walks through the doors at any given event thorough the country. All of you that have garnered a candidate at an event: thank Ben. All of you that have found employment and changed your lived for the better after serving: thank Ben.

    I truly believe that not enough "Ben thanking" happens but that's neither here nor there.

     Ben, we've missed you more than you can imagine. [The gypsy to Service Member ratio is out of wack] We'll be glad to see you again on Monday. We're all happy when someone on our team is able to recharge their batteries & visit family but Ben is a perfect example of how close we are. We've missed him like family.

     All I know is that I have a fever and the only cure for it is COWBELL. So Ben; come on home. We need you to "explore the work space" and play a little louder. You'd be doing us a disservice if you didn't perform the hell out of that cowbell.

Welcome back.

MilitaryStars, Orion International Hailed as American Business Awards Finalists

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MilitaryStars, Orion International Hailed as 2006 American Business AwardsSM Finalists; Best New Company, Best Executive Nominations Highlight Missions to Help Nation’s Military Veterans

Fourth Annual Stevie® Awards will be presented on June 12 in New York City

May 16, 2006 – MilitaryStars and Orion International, the nation’s largest military career expo company and the nation’s largest military placement and consulting company respectively, have been recognized as American Business Awards Finalists in two key categories.

Sarasota, FL-based MilitaryStars is a finalist in the Best New Company category.  “We’ve always believed our mission and goal of helping military veterans find quality civilian jobs is a noble one,” said MilitaryStars CEO Hal Fischer, adding, “Being selected a finalist for best new company only furthers our overall message that military veterans make great employees – our company is comprised almost solely of military veterans, and without their work, we wouldn’t have received this honor.”

Orion International, the Raleigh, NC-based parent company of MilitaryStars, secured another key nomination: Bill Laughlin, CEO, was selected a finalist for the Best Executive category.  “In a word, I’m humbled,” he said.  “This is a great honor, and my only hope is that my nomination only goes to propel the cause of helping our military veterans find good civilian jobs.  They’ve served; they’ve earned the chance at a top-notch civilian career.  We love being able to provide veterans with civilian employment, and any notoriety we receive through the ABA will only continue to highlight the culture of service to military veterans that our companies embody on a daily basis.”

Hailed as “the business world’s own Oscars” by the New York Post (April 27, 2005), The American Business Awards are the only national, all-encompassing business awards program honoring great performances in the workplace.

Nicknamed the Stevies for the Greek word “crowned,” winners will be announced during the annual gala on Monday, June 12 at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City.  More than 800 executives from across the U.S.A. are expected to attend.  The ceremonies will be videocast on the Internet and broadcast on radio.

More than 1,500 entries from companies of all sizes and in virtually every industry were submitted for consideration in more than 40 categories, including Best Overall Company, Best Executive, Best New Product or Service, and Best Corporate Social Responsibility Program.

Finalists were chosen by business professionals nationwide during preliminary judging in March through early May.

R. S. Owens, the same company that makes the Oscar and the Emmy, designed the elegant Stevie trophy.

“Being named a Finalist in The American Business Awards is an important achievement,” said Michael Gallagher, founder and president of The Stevie Awards.  “It means that independent business executives have agreed that the nominee is worthy of national recognition.  We congratulate all of the Finalists on their achievement and wish them well in the competition.”

About MilitaryStars: The nation’s largest military career expo company, veteran-owned MilitaryStars furthers its mission to assist transitioning military and veterans in finding civilian jobs via regional career expos throughout the United States.  Please visit the newly revamped www.militarystars.com, where candidates and employers alike will find post-military employment resources and services, or call (800) 775-1415 for further assistance and information.

About Orion International: The nation’s largest military placement firm, Orion International, through its over 100 employees and seven offices nationwide, is operated and run by former military that fully understand the uniqueness and intricacies of military members transitioning into the civilian sector of industry. With that appreciation, Orion works hard to understand its candidates and clients by putting their goals first.  To learn more, please visit www.orioninternational.com, or call (800) 872-5002. 

Media Contact:
Ethan Grefe, Corporate Communications
MilitaryStars | Orion International
941.684.0133 x186
800.775.1415 x186
egrefe@militarystars.com
egrefe@orioninternational.com

About the Stevie Awards: Hailed as “the business world’s own Oscars” by the New York Post (April 27, 2005), Stevie Awards are conferred in three programs: The American Business Awards, The International Business Awards, and The Stevie Awards for Women Entrepreneurs.  Honoring companies of all types and sizes and the people behind them, the Stevies recognize outstanding performances in the workplace worldwide.  Learn more about The Stevie Awards at http://www.stevieawards.com/aba.

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What Makes Us Stars

Hopefully some employers will read this and see what makes us different. Maybe some Veterans will see this and realize that they may not be in the right career (not job) just yet . . .

My wife, Kelly, has been sick for three days. Sunday up to, and including, today. After a visit to the Doc we found out she'll be fine but has to take another day or so off & pound the meds. This entire time, my team at Military Stars has backed us up and given us whatever support we've needed. Numbers to medical facilities, help with pending clients and overall moral support.

She's not dying. She just has a nasty bug. She is not related to anyone else in the office but by the support and help we've gotten you'd think she was every ones spouse.

Thank you. Semper Fidelis.

I'm out.

Whooo!

"I'm back! And better than ever!"       -Eric Bishoff

Mike C has returned to the Military Stars Blog. I apologize for my absence and vow to keep my comments current if those of you reading at least post a comment. "dummy", "your an idiot", "wrestling is fake", "I eat cookies & cream"; whatever. Just let me know that my vast knowledge of useless stuff and generally mind numbing posts are entertaining.

Like I have mentioned before, as a Client Services Rep for our East Coast team I locate & enlist companies to attend our events to hire veterans. I take great pride in what I do but am always looking for an outlet to relax, share information and have a good time. That's what this blog does for me. On the other hand if I can help you all out, I'd jump at the chance. Feel free to comment, ask, yell or demand.

Kinna like a Dear Abby for a vet from a Jarhead. Damn, this is going to be good . . . .

I'm out!

Email me

An Environment of Opportunities, and a New Website, Too . . .

Creating an Environment of Opportunities for Military Veterans, MilitaryStars Deploys New Corporate Website at Original Address

Expanded Military Job Seeker Tools to Provide Needed Resources: Resume Builder, Career Assessment, Salary Wizard and Blog Comprise Reliable Source for Veterans

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 27, 2006 – The nation’s largest military career expo company proudly announced today the launch of the new MilitaryStars corporate website that will further assist transitioning military personnel and veterans in finding civilian jobs. 

The new site, located at www.militarystars.com, was designed specifically around complete ease of use for candidates and employers alike.

“From ease of use to our career tools section to our client side offerings, our new site ensures that military veterans will find the post-military employment search information and resources they need, that employers will find the career expo and candidate information that they need, and that through navigating our site, all will become more educated as to the inherent value that military veterans bring to an organization or business,” said MilitaryStars CEO Hal Fischer.

Through the overhaul of its existing site, all event-specific information is now housed on one event page, and MilitaryStars added thorough job seeker resources in its career tools section:

· Military Resume Builder is a FREE online resume-building tool specifically designed for military veterans to utilize in creating, designing, completing, storing and distributing resumes;
· Military Career Assessment offers a FREE online career and professional assessment that analyzes and identifies how military veterans best fit into the civilian employment market given their military experience.
· Salary Wizard offers military veterans a FREE breakdown of what professionals make in a specific position in a specific region of the country, and allows military job seekers to have a better idea of what they can expect to make in a civilian career given their military experience.
· MilitaryStars Blog is a FREE and relaxed job seeker online forum that offers military personnel and veterans unique career advice, daily information on life after the military and the civilian career search, and encourages job seeker feedback.

“We’re proud to offer our military job seekers expanded resources through our new website.  What we hear from our veterans more and more every day is that they need more readily available information to help them start out in the civilian employment market, and equally, that they need the opportunity to get a good civilian job.  With this website, we can now do more to offer our veterans both resources and the chance at a top-notch civilian career,” said Fischer, adding, “MilitaryStars is the place for military veterans looking for a civilian career.  We’re here to serve them and to deploy their military talent to corporate America.”

Next up on the MilitaryStars schedule is the Northeast Regional Career Expo in New York, NY on April 4th, to be followed directly by a joint MilitaryStars/ClearedStars Midwest Regional Career Expo in Denver, CO on April 13th.

About MilitaryStars: The nation’s largest military career expo company, veteran-owned MilitaryStars furthers its mission to assist transitioning military and veterans in finding civilian jobs via regional career expos throughout the United States.  Please visit www.militarystars.com, or call (800) 775-1415.

Media Contact:
Ethan Grefe, Corporate Communications
(800) 775-1415 x186
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