Department of Defense's Bruce Townshend to Deliver Keynote at Employing U.S. Vets Conference

NEW YORK, Feb. 20, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Bruce Townshend, chief of employer engagement at the Defense Department's Employer Support of the Guard & Reserve (ESGR) Office, will deliver the keynote address at the nation's premier veteran employment event, the Spring 2025 Employing U.S. Vets Conference, VETS Indexes is pleased to announce. Townshend will headline a dynamic group of speakers and panelists on April 10, 2025, in New York City for the conference, now in its 12th season. Tickets are available now, with virtual tickets also available for those who cannot attend in person.

To learn more and reserve tickets (in-person or virtual), visit: https://employingusvets.com/

"We are grateful to Mr. Townshend for sharing his unparalleled expertise at our conference," said VETS Indexes President George Altman. "Organizations focused on improving their outreach to Guard/Reserve members, veterans, and the military-connected community will learn a lot from Bruce. He is  a phenomenal addition to an already jam-packed agenda!"

More than 1,500 people, representing some 900 different organizations, signed up for the last Employing U.S. Vets Conference in October. The event brings together the most knowledgeable voices in veteran employment to discuss best practices for recruiting, hiring, retaining, developing, and supporting veterans and the military-connected community. VETS Indexes will also announce the 2025 VETS Indexes Employer Awards honorees during the April 10 conference.

In addition to Townshend's keynote speech, the conference will feature a day full of expert panels, addressing topics expected to include:

• 5 Star Employer Best Practices to Create a Veteran-Inclusive Culture
• VERG Roundtable: Veteran Employee Resource Group Leaders Share Advice, Success Stories and Lessons Learned
• Building Mentorship and Peer Programs to Maximize Veteran Employee Retention and Success
• Metrics and Data-Driven Approaches to Optimizing Veteran Employment Policies, Practices, and Outcomes
• How to Find Top Veteran-Owned Vendors and Suppliers

Townshend is responsible for the planning, design and execution of proactive ESGR employer engagement initiatives to customers (Employers) and stakeholders (Guardsmen, Reservists and the Department of Defense). In this capacity he establishes and maintains frequent contact with corporate executives in a broad spectrum of industries, state government executives, mayors of major cities, and high-ranking military and Department of Defense officials to positively influence, motivate and persuade leaders - many of whom are skeptical - on the merits of ESGR programs and services. 

The Spring 2025 Employing U.S. Vets Conference will be held at the historic New York Athletic Club, located across the street from Central Park in New York City on April 10, 2025. Tickets are available for purchase now for the event, and those who cannot attend in person can reserve virtual tickets. In-person and virtual tickets can be reserved at this link: https://employingusvets.com/

"With a robust agenda featuring an exceptional lineup of speakers, we are proud to serve thousands of HR and employment professionals, helping to shape the future of veteran inclusion in the workforce," said VETS Indexes Chief Marketing Officer Nicholas Antaki.  

Thank you to all of our sponsors, who make this event possible: Silver Sponsors Fiserv and Spectrum; Bronze Sponsors United Rentals, USAA, and ETF Global; Event Friends Benelynk,

TD Bank, and Werner Enterprises; and Education Partner: NYC SHRM.

Sponsorship opportunities are still available, but they are limited and going fast. By sponsoring, organizations demonstrate their support and leadership in the veteran employment space, and they are recognized throughout VETS Indexes' targeted outreach, which regularly reaches more than 100,000 HR, recruiting, and veterans program professionals. For more information on how your organization can become a sponsor, please download our brochure here (https://employingusvets.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Spring-2025-Employing-U.S.-Vets-Conference-min-1.pdf) or email [email protected].

About VETS Indexes: VETS Indexes is a leading voice on veteran employment issues, overseeing the VETS Indexes Employer Awards, hosting the twice-yearly Employing U.S. Vets Conference, unearthing unique and unprecedented data on veteran employment through the Veteran Employment Benchmarking Service, and developing custom indexes, linked to financial products, that track the performance of the publicly traded companies that have established themselves as the best employers for veterans.

The VETSX and VTRNIX indexes were created on the premise that the companies that make the best use of the highly talented, yet often under-valued, talent pool that veterans represent will ultimately see a benefit to their bottom lines. The performance of the indexes has emphatically confirmed that thesis, outpacing the S&P 500.   

As the world's first resource for U.S. veteran themed indexes, our mission is to provide innovative solutions that recognize the value created by the mission-critical mindset, unique skills, and specialized training that veterans bring to the workplace. Our mission also includes a commitment to always donate a significant portion (target of 20% and no less than 5%) of our net profits to charitable organizations that support veterans and their families. 

"SERVING THOSE WHO SERVED" - VETS Indexes provides a social and governance impact via those public companies that support the hiring and professional development of our military veterans.  

Learn more about us at VETSIndexes.com and follow us on social media channels via LinkedIn, Facebook, X, and Instagram.

Contact: Nicholas Antaki
(516) 418-3821
[email protected] 

SOURCE VETS Indexes