RICHMOND, VA. -- Governor Terry McAuliffe announced the recipients of the 2017 Governor’s Public Service Awards during a ceremony last week in conjunction with Virginia Public Service Week. The awards honor state employees who have demonstrated exemplary service to the Commonwealth of Virginia, and this year’s awards recognize a transitioning veterans workfroce program launched late last year.
They represent the dedicated time and effort our excellent state workforce spends providing the services that are the backbone of state government. These awards demonstrate the commitment of our workforce and their excellence in customer service, innovation, teamwork and volunteerism,” said Governor McAuliffe.
The awards recognize state employee achievements in several categories and honored a Department of Veterans team for their efforts in creating the the Military Medics & Corpsmen (MMAC) transitioning veterans program, which requires partnering with healthcare systems to retrain and hire skilled veterans.
Teamwork Award Announcement:
“Launched last July, this three-person team of Mark Whiting, Beverly Van Tull and Philip Trezza embodies the spirit of teamwork, collaboration, leadership and engagement by changing the way healthcare systems hire veterans in Virginia. The MMAC program is the first and only state program of its kind in the nation to partner with major healthcare systems in Virginia, working closely with six partner healthcare systems and multiple state agencies. In 2015, the Governor and general assembly recognized the need for a pathway to employment and education for recently discharged veterans and transitioning service members who served as medics or corpsmen and wanted to stay in the healthcare field.
The MMAC team has made a significant contribution toward the Governor’s goals of creating long-term, high-paying jobs for veterans, reducing staff shortages in healthcare and keeping veterans and transitioning service members in Virginia. Since December 2016, eight MMAC applicants have already been hired. The program has received 45 applications, with 36 in the screening and hiring process and dozens of veterans who did not qualify for MMAC have received assistance to find employment in Virginia. In addition, MMAC staff built the infrastructure for the program, including the screening and referral systems, online application and the marketing plan.”
Read the full announcement on the Governor’s website.
Learn more about Virginia’s MMAC transitioning veterans program on the state’s website.
