Military Veterans

The nonprofit social enterprise is awarded Best of the Best by U.S. Veterans Magazine.

Roseville, Calif. – For a fourth consecutive year, PRIDE Industries has been named one of the nation’s Best of the Best Top Veteran-Friendly Companies by U.S. Veterans Magazine (USVM). The distinction publicly recognizes those entities that go above and beyond in their support of our nation’s former military personnel in terms of outreach to veterans, military families, and transitioning service members.

“We strive to encourage other companies to follow PRIDE Industries’ lead and ultimately create a workforce that is supportive of our veteran community,” said Mona Lisa Faris, President & Publisher at U.S. Veterans Magazine.

Each year, with an eye on veteran employment, U.S. Veterans Magazine conducts select evaluations of the nation’s employers, law enforcement agencies, veteran outreach programs, and schools. These non-biased studies are a valuable resource for the publication’s readers, job seekers, business owners, students, transitioning veterans, and consumers.

“PRIDE Industries is honored to be recognized as a Best of the Best Top Veteran-Friendly Company by U.S. Veterans Magazine,” said Tim Young, Vice President of Talent Management at PRIDE Industries. “We recognize that the experience veterans gain serving our country makes them valuable employees, and we are dedicated to helping our military veterans of all abilities find sustainable employment.”

PRIDE Industries offers several employment resources for veterans, including its one-of-a-kind I AM ABLE employment helpline [(844) 426-2253], a veterans employee resource group (ERG), and a Military Skills Translator tool that helps veterans match their skills and talent to a civilian career. In addition, PRIDE Industries can help veterans access paid internships as well as mentoring and training programs. And to help other companies increase their hiring of diverse candidates, including military veterans, the company provides recruiting services. Last month, on National Hire a Veteran Day, PRIDE Industries held veteran hiring events at four locations across the country.

About PRIDE Industries

PRIDE Industries delivers business excellence with a positive social impact. A social enterprise, we provide facilities operations and maintenance services, custodial services, contract manufacturing, supply chain management, packaging and fulfillment services, and placement services to private and public organizations nationwide. Founded in 1966, PRIDE Industries’ mission is to create employment for people with disabilities. Through personalized employment services, we help individuals realize their true potential and lead more independent lives. PRIDE Industries proves the value of its inclusive workforce model through operational success across multiple industries every day.

About U.S. Veterans Magazine

U.S. Veterans Magazine is dedicated to providing veterans and their families with valuable resources to support both their active military lifestyle and their transition to civilian life. Our goal is to offer comprehensive content that covers a wide range of topics, including career opportunities, education, finance, health, and wellness. Through our magazine, we aim to empower our readers with the knowledge and tools they need to navigate the unique challenges they face and to celebrate their achievements and contributions to society. Learn more at https://usveteransmagazine.com.

Media Contact

Kat Maudru

(916) 753-4339

media@prideindustries.com

PRIDE Industries is a social enterprise delivering business excellence to public and private organizations nationwide.

Civilian jobs for veterans can be hard to find. Here’s one military veteran’s story.

When Raina Stevens, at 18, found herself on a bus headed for Fort McClellan, Alabama, she knew one thing for sure: She needed stability in her life.

“My upbringing included a lot of chaos,” she said. “And I needed the opposite.”

Shortly after graduating high school in 1998, Raina had enlisted in the United States Army and was now on her way to basic training.

Jobs for Veterans: Finding a Mentor

Once trained, Raina was sent to Fort Johnson (formerly Fort Polk) in Louisiana. It was there that she met someone who would be pivotal in her journey to stability.

“First Sergeant Michael Collins was the first father figure I ever had,” Raina said. “He told me just how much fortitude I had and what I was capable of. He bridged the gap from where I’d come from to where I was going.”

Collins also challenged Raina to ask herself: “Could I, someday, help bridge gaps for others? Could my history be useful in that way?”

While stationed at Fort Johnson, Raina also got married and gave birth to a son. She became a reservist, allowing time for her to care for her child while working full time. In 2005, she completed her military service.

Collins also challenged Raina to ask herself: “Could I, someday, help bridge gaps for others? Could my history be useful in that way?”

Jobs for Veterans: College Brings an Opportunity

“A woman who’d recently lost her sight was registering for the same program that I was. She was looking for a professional reader.”

Raina took on that role, a Texas state-funded position, until the two-year program’s completion. Inspired by the experience, she enrolled in Oklahoma State’s Interpreter Training Program and then in Oklahoma’s Sight Hearing Encouragement Program (SHEP).

“I became a certified Support Service Professional (SSP)—a Deafblind Interpreter.”

Raina was trained in “tactile sign language,” a modality used to communicate with individuals who are both deaf and blind. She was on her way to using her history to help others.

But life as a now-single mom mandated a move back to Texas. Fortunately, once there, Raina found PRIDE Industries where she began work as an employment coach, specializing in American Sign Language (ASL).

Help Other Military Veterans find Jobs

Raina was hired in 2018 to work at Western Currency Facility (WCF), a PRIDE Industries customer. In her role as an ASL job coach, she wore two hats: She interpreted for the facility’s eight Deaf employees while covering human resources responsibilities—both roles at which she excelled. Then, in 2023, she saw that the PRIDE Industries Veterans Liaison position had become available.

“When I read the job description, I thought it would be a great opportunity to serve others while contributing to PRIDE Industries’ success.” This is also when another mentor factored into Raina’s life. “PRIDE Industries General Manager Jim Gaston empowered me to take the lead on several initiatives, regardless of my title,” said Raina. “Like my first sergeant, he saw something in me that I’m not sure I saw in myself.”

As PRIDE Industries Veterans Liaison, Raina oversees multiple aspects of veteran recruitment and employment. She assists in the development of relationships with the Veterans Administration and other veterans’ organizations, working closely with recruiters and hiring managers throughout the process of finding jobs for veterans.

Raina recommends activities and events to connect with the veteran community, provides educational materials to veterans and referral agencies, assists with developing professional advancement opportunities to benefit our veteran employees, represents PRIDE Industries at a public-relations level, works with PRIDE Industries’ Veterans Employee Resource Group (ERG), and reports on these efforts.

“I am really proud of the hands-on work that I did with the team at WCF,” said Raina. “Now, in my new position, I feel like I can contribute to our mission on a new level.”

From Chaos to Stability to Giving Back

A new homeowner, a parent, and now a PRIDE Industries Veterans Liaison, Raina has the stability she once longed for, as well as a career that allows her to be of service on a larger scale. “Through all the hardships, I’ve also been given opportunities that many with my history haven’t,” said Raina. “That’s why giving back, whether through ASL or as PRIDE Industries’ Veterans Liaison, is so important to me.”

Jobs for bipolar people can be hard to find. That was the case for US Air Force veteran Ameer Habeeb when he left the military.

Ameer joined the United States Air Force in 1996, rose to Senior Airman Below the Zone, and became a Crew Chief on C-5 aircraft in his four years of service at Travis Air Force Base.

Difficult Transition from Military

“I enjoyed my time in the military,” Ameer said. “In basic training, they give you challenges that you don’t think you can do, but by the time you get out, you think you can do anything.”

That feeling didn’t last when, in 2000, the New York native decided to stay in sunny California for his postmilitary career.

“It was a difficult transition for me,” Ameer said. “I did every undesirable job in California before I found PRIDE Industries. I sold door to door, worked in collections, worked in restaurants, but I could never get very far.”

Having disabilities made it hard for Ameer to get ahead because employers didn’t know how to help him succeed.

“I have bipolar disorder and anxiety disorder that can be very severe, and there was a time I couldn’t get out of bed for three months. Employers don’t see you as a whole person, and some gave me a hard time for taking time off for medical appointments, for example.”

“I always wondered why I could have so much success in the military and not outside it,” Ameer said. “I was Senior Airman Below the Zone and a multi-million-dollar aircraft had my name on the side of it, but no one would trust me to do anything.”

PRIDE Industries Offers Jobs for Bipolar People

Then came PRIDE Industries, a company with a mission to provide employment for people with disabilities, including jobs for people with bipolar disorder and anxiety.

“When I found PRIDE Industries, it was a blessing,” Ameer said. “I was managing restaurants and hit the ceiling where I couldn’t earn more. Then I found out about a job in a correctional facility working with other people with disabilities, and I applied immediately.”

Ameer started as an Environmental Service Technician and loved the support he received. “I could go to my doctors’ appointments without fear,” he said. “If I experienced bipolar symptoms, I could take a break. They wanted me to be successful, and I dove right in.”

From a Job to a Career

His hard work paid off. In four months, Ameer became an Environmental Services Supervisor. Next came Assistant Operations Manager. A year later, Ameer was made Systems Operations Manager and is now Environmental Services Director.

“PRIDE Industries is a company where you can use what you learned in the military,” Ameer said. “Traits like hard work, dedication, teamwork, organizational skills, and looking out for each other are rewarded. We go by our core values in the Air Force: Integrity First, Service Before Self, and Excellence in All We Do. Those words are on my wall.”

Those values drive Ameer to help others succeed.

“What I love most about my job is my people,” he said. “I love seeing potential in people whether they see it in themselves or not, training them, and giving them opportunities. We’ve done 20 promotions in the last 18 months, which keeps me going.”

“At PRIDE Industries, everyone has the opportunity to succeed,” Ameer said. “We will accommodate you with whatever you need. Accommodation is not expensive or hard. Seeing some succeed because you gave them a chance—that’s why I love my job.”

Advice for Employers and Fellow Veterans

Ameer has a message for employers.

“Veterans with disabilities are whole people. They do a great job. They are on task, know how to work in a team, are motivated, can structure work and get it done, and their production is excellent. If you have a chance to hire a veteran, you should do it!”

He also has a message for vets struggling to find work.

“Remember your feelings when you were doing what you were doing in the service. Those feelings of confidence, feelings of teamwork—those opportunities are still out there. You can do it.”

And he has special advice for any vets with the opportunity to work at PRIDE Industries.

“If you have the opportunity to work at PRIDE Industries, do it. The company cares about veterans, and it cares about me. When I met the president of the company, he knew my name. You are a whole person here.”

The social enterprise was recognized as a Top Impact Company globally.

Roseville, Calif — For the second year in a row, PRIDE Industries has been named a Top Impact Company by Real Leaders^®, a Global Media and Certified B Corp dedicated to inspiring the future of business. Real Leaders^® awards the Top Impact Company honor to privately owned companies based on their leadership performance within six categories of I.M.P.A.C.T (Intention, Model, People, Accountability, Collaboration and Transformation).

PRIDE Industries ranked 40^th among 185 companies in the Top Impact category, chosen from a field of 500 applicants from more than 15 countries.

With its five-decade track record of creating employment for people with disabilities, PRIDE Industries is a natural Top Impact Company. A pioneer in the inclusivity movement, the company’s influence stretches from small businesses to governmental and Fortune 500 organizations. Its impact also reaches military veterans and former foster youth, through its services for veterans services and it’s Youth Employment Services (YES!) program.

“We are thrilled to be recognized, for a second consecutive year, as a Top Impact Company by Real Leaders^®,” said Jeff Dern, President and CEO at PRIDE Industries. “Our long-term focus on creating employment for people with disabilities has been a key factor in achieving this award. Organizations which employ people with disabilities have stronger cultures, employee retention, and bottom lines. Together, in partnership with our customers, our success proves the value of an inclusive workforce.”

The 2024 list features a mix of respected impact brands of all sizes and from a variety of industries with companies such as: Brandless, Generate Capital, Cotopaxi, and Every Man Jack (see full list).

In addition to the new I.M.P.A.C.T categories, the awards debuted five new awards such as: Most Valuable Mission, Most Innovative Model, Most Impactful People, Best Collaboration, and Most Transparent. “After five successful years of producing the go-to list of the ‘Top Impact Companies’ it was time for Real Leaders to expand its mission by growing an impact awards community that preserves its integrity while scaling its impact,” said Kevin Edwards, Real Leaders’ General Manager.

A special “Real Leaders UNITE” awards celebration will be held in San Diego on February 6, 2024, to honor the winners.

About PRIDE Industries

About Real Leaders

Real Leaders is the fastest-growing community for impact leaders backed by a global media platform dedicated to driving positive change. Founded in 2010, Real Leaders recognized and advocated that businesses take more responsibility to be as cognizant of their impact on employees, society, and the planet as they are on their bottom line. Real Leaders is an independently owned certified B Corporation and member of the UN Global Compact. Our mission is to unite farsighted leaders to transform our shortsighted world.

LinkedIn: Real Leaders
Instagram: @Real_Leaders
Twitter: @Real_Leaders
Facebook: @RealLeadersMagazine
Hashtag: #RealLeadersImpactAwards

Media Contact

Kat Maudru

(916) 753-4339

media@prideindustries.com

PRIDE Industries is a social enterprise delivering business excellence to public and private organizations nationwide.

PRIDE Industries held a job fair on National Hire a Veteran Day. KCRA TV was there to show dozens of veterans applying for jobs. We’re still hiring!

The nonprofit social enterprise is awarded Best of the Best by U.S. Veterans Magazine.

Roseville, Calif. — For a second consecutive year, PRIDE Industries has been named one of the nation’s Best of the Best Top Veteran-Friendly Companies by U.S. Veterans Magazine (USVM). The distinction publicly recognizes those entities that go above and beyond in their support of our nation’s former military personnel.

“Veterans are entrepreneurial. They’re resilient. And they’ve earned high levels of trust,” said Mona Lisa Faris, President and Publisher at U.S. Veterans Magazine. “This magazine was created to support our troops, and we at USVM are proud to recognize other businesses that are also making veterans a priority.”

As part of its “Best of the Best” evaluation process, USVM polled hundreds of Fortune 1000 companies on their veteran hiring and career support practices. Using this data as a guide, the magazine selected an elite group of companies that exemplify the magazine’s goal of increasing veteran employment.

“U.S. Veterans Magazine’s recognition of PRIDE Industries once again demonstrates our commitment to seeking and supporting veterans’ employment opportunities,” said Major General (Retired) Casey Blake, Chief Operating Officer at PRIDE Industries. “This is yet another strong validation of our steadfast commitment to gainfully employ veterans who have so faithfully served our nation with distinction and honor.”

PRIDE Industries recognizes that the experience veterans gain serving our country makes them valuable employees. The nonprofit social enterprise, founded in 1966, currently employs hundreds of veterans in all areas of the company and has provided support and services to thousands more in the form of job readiness instruction, career coaching, and job placement assistance.

Resources for veterans include PRIDE Industries’ one-of-a-kind I AM ABLE employment helpline [(844) 426-2253], a dedicated Veterans Liaison, and a Military Skills Translator tool that helps veterans match their skills and talent to a civilian career. PRIDE Industries can also help veterans access paid internships, as well as mentoring and training programs.

“We appreciate all the men and women who have bravely served our country,” said Frank Goehringer, Veterans Liaison at PRIDE Industries. “It is our honor to provide our veteran heroes, military spouses, guard and reserve soldiers, and their families with employment opportunities. Thank you to U.S. Veterans Magazine and to all of our veteran referral partners.”

Founded in 2011, USVM fosters employment and business opportunities within the federal government and corporate America for veterans, transitioning service members, disabled veterans, spouses, and veteran business owners. Every year, the magazine carefully evaluates the nation’s employers, initiatives, government agencies, and educational institutions. The information USVM gathers serves as a valuable resource for job seekers, business owners, students, consumers, senior management, business associations, employment agencies, and consumer groups.

About PRIDE Industries

PRIDE Industries delivers business excellence with a positive social impact. A social enterprise, we provide facilities operations and maintenance services, custodial services, contract manufacturing, supply chain management, packaging and fulfillment services, and staffing and recruitment services to private and public organizations nationwide. Founded in 1966, PRIDE Industries’ mission is to create employment for people with disabilities. Through personalized employment services, we help individuals realize their true potential and lead more independent lives. PRIDE Industries proves the value of its inclusive workforce model through operational success across multiple industries every day.

About U.S. Veterans Magazine (USVM)

The mission of the U.S. Veterans Magazine (USVM) is simple: open up immediate, lucrative employment, business and supplier opportunities for veterans, transitioning service members, disabled veterans, and veteran business owners within the federal government, as well as corporate America. In turn, we link companies and government entities to qualified career and business candidates from the ranks of the nation’s veterans. We provide the latest, most important veteran news, covering virtually every industry, business and profession. This includes up-to-date statistics on workforce diversity, as well as business-to-business trends. We offer both recruitment and business opportunities, along with accurate, timely conferences and event calendars. And, just as importantly, we spotlight inspiring role models and notable mentors. USVM is a WBENC and DOBE-certified company. Learn more at https://usveteransmagazine.com

Are you a veteran?

At PRIDE Industries, U.S. veterans will find a team that welcomes and supports them as they develop their future careers.

Learn More

Media Contact

Kat Maudru

(916) 753-4339

media@prideindustries.com

PRIDE Industries is a social enterprise delivering business excellence to public and private organizations nationwide.