Kennametal Launches Initiative to Hire Veterans; Addresses Skills Gap

LATROBE, Pa., Nov. 12, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Kennametal Inc. (NYSE: KMT) announced today a hiring initiative to actively recruit former military personnel into manufacturing careers. This fiscal year, the company plans to hire 50 military veterans to join its talented workforce. To guide its efforts, Kennametal is actively participating in Hiring Our Heroes Job Fairs and Junior Military Hiring Conferences throughout the country. So far this fiscal year, four veterans have joined Kennametal, including the new Vice President of Integrated Supply Chain and Logistics, Pete Dragich, who was a Sergeant in the United States Marine Corps.

"At Kennametal, we want to be there for our nation's heroes, just as they have been there for us," commented Judith Bacchus, Kennametal Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer. "Military veterans create a pipeline of talent for now and in the future. Their advanced technological skills and proven leadership abilities are highly transferrable for careers in manufacturing. By stepping up our efforts to give veterans promising new careers in manufacturing, we are not only addressing the skills gap, but also filling our workforce with outstanding individuals."  

Kennametal's hiring initiative recently gained national media attention from the Wall Street Journal as well as Fox Business News TV, when Kennametal Vice President of WIDIA Products Group, and former Navy veteran, Bernie McConnell, was featured on The Willis Report to discuss the company's drive to hire veterans. Watch Bernie McConnell's interview with Gerri Willis at:
http://www.foxbusiness.com/on-air/willis-report/videos#p/157870/v/1910826780001

Kennametal's military-hiring program is just one of many initiatives to ensure the sustainability of manufacturing and provide employment for future generations. In 2011, Kennametal launched The Young Engineers Programs to promote technical education opportunities to students interested in engineering and manufacturing careers. Through these programs, Kennametal continues to deliver on the promise of manufacturing and to help make a difference in workforce development. Taking these steps not only ensures the future of manufacturing, but that of veterans and students as well.

Kennametal Inc. (NYSE: KMT) delivers productivity to customers seeking peak performance in demanding environments by providing innovative custom and standard wear-resistant solutions. This proven productivity is enabled through our advanced material sciences and application knowledge. Our commitment to a sustainable environment provides additional value to our customers. Companies operating in everything from airframes to coal mining, from engines to oil wells and from turbochargers to construction recognize Kennametal for extraordinary contributions to their value chains. With annual sales of nearly $3 billion and approximately 13,000 employees, Kennametal serves customers in more than 60 countries worldwide – with more than 50 percent of these revenues coming from outside North America. Visit us at www.kennametal.com.

SOURCE Kennametal Inc.