Nestlé in the U.S. Announces Veteran Career Support Partnerships with Hiring Our Heroes and The Mission Continues

CLEVELAND, Jan. 19, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Nestlé is expanding its commitment to U.S. veterans under its Project Opportunity initiative with two new partnerships aimed at offering career support and workforce transition services to current and former members of the U.S. military.

Nestlé's partnership with Hiring Our Heroes, an initiative of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation aimed at helping veterans and their families find employment, kicked off today at a veterans-only job fair at the Quicken Loans arena in Cleveland, Ohio. "We could not be happier to have Nestlé join our team at Hiring Our Heroes, and we appreciate their generous sponsorship of their first event in Cleveland," said Eric Eversole, President of Hiring Our Heroes and Vice President at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.  "Nestlé continues to show a commitment to finding meaningful employment for veterans and military families, and we're looking forward to partnering with them in a number of different ways as we move ahead.  They are setting an admirable example for other companies in the private sector to follow in this very important military employment space."

Barbara Sanchez, legal counsel at Nestlé USA, shared her own experience, saying "We're thrilled to be working with Hiring Our Heroes to bring our employment opportunities and training resources to our country's veterans. As a military spouse, I know firsthand the challenges of transitioning from military to civilian life. That's one reason I'm proud to work at a company like Nestlé that understands and is committed to helping U.S. veterans overcome these challenges and find new careers."

This partnership combines Nestlé's employment and skills training resources with Hiring Our Heroes' comprehensive understanding of the veteran employment landscape to provide diverse opportunities to transitioning servicemen and women. 

"We recognize that hiring veterans is more than an act of patriotism—it's a strategic business decision," Paul Bakus, President of Corporate Affairs for Nestlé in the U.S., added. "We believe in helping veterans find a role where their qualities, training, and leadership will not only be welcomed, but rewarded."

Nestlé is also kicking off a partnership with The Mission Continues, a nonprofit dedicated to bringing together veterans and innovative community organizations to create transformational change for communities across the country. Beginning next week, Nestlé will work with The Mission Continues in their efforts to empower veterans who are adjusting to life at home to find purpose through community impact while collaborating on veteran-led community service projects across the U.S. Meredith Knopp, Senior Vice President of Programs and Operations at The Mission Continues added, "We are thrilled to expand our partnership with Nestlé in 2017 to empower veterans across the country to continue to serve and strengthen their communities through programs and opportunities with The Mission Continues."

These new partnerships build on Nestlé's ongoing commitment to U.S. veterans. Currently, Nestlé in the U.S. employs more than 2,400 veterans across its various operating companies and is benchmarking veteran hires at seven percent of all external hires, with a focus on matching veterans to jobs that utilize their specialized training and skill sets. Kirk Butler, an Army veteran who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, who now works for Poland Springs at Nestlé Waters North America, has applied the skills he obtained in the military to his new job.

"I sustained a major knee injury while deployed in Iraq, an injury that forced me to leave a military career that I had prepared my whole life for," Butler said. "Nestlé offered me an opportunity to transition my military skills and leadership, and learn a new career field, all while enabling me to develop highly trained employees."

Nestlé is proud to continue to provide a successful job transition to civilian employment for veterans like Kirk Butler, while cultivating a culture that embraces them in the workplace.

About Nestlé in the U.S.
Nestlé in the United States is committed to enhancing quality of life and contributing to a healthier future--for individuals and families, for our thriving and resilient communities, and for the planet. Our diverse portfolio of foods and beverages provides nutritious options for every member of the family, and supports both the first 1000 days of life and healthy aging for people and pets.

Nestlé in the U.S. consists of eight main businesses: Nestlé USA, Nestlé Waters North America, Nestlé Nutrition, Nestlé Professional, Nespresso, Nestlé Health Science, Nestlé Skin Health and Nestlé Purina PetCare Company. Together, these companies operate in more than 120 locations in 47 states and employ over 51,000 people. In the U.S., Nestle product sales topped $26 billion in 2015, making it the largest Nestle market in the world.

Nestlé has been recognized as a member of the MIT Technology Review's "Smartest Companies," the top food company on Fortune's "Change the World" List, and the top food company on the Dow Jones Sustainability Index.

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SOURCE Nestle in the U.S.