“The well went dry; I was sleeping in my car for a while,” Tabb recalled. “Then it clicked, ‘you need to go get help.’”
Tabb, after first approaching a friend for help with the not-for-profit American Veteran Services Corp., ultimately was referring to a Disabled Veterans’ Outreach Program (DVOP) specialist at a WorkOne Center.
Through a slew of programs aimed at helping veterans find housing and employment, Tabb in October landed a job at the Franklin WorkOne Center— as a DVOP himself.
DVOPs are based in WorkOne Centers throughout the state, employed by the Indiana Department of Workforce Development (DWD) and are dedicated to helping veterans and eligible spouses receive services.
“When I first walked in I thought that they would just connect me with employment,” Tabb said of the WorkOne. “I did not know they were going to put me in classes teaching me how to do a résumé, how to do an interview and how to be knowledgeable about social media.”
A local security firm immediately contacted Tabb about a job opportunity as a supervisor. In the meantime, though, he learned of the DVOP specialist opening at the Franklin WorkOne. He was offered the job shortly after interviewing for a second time.
Mari Phillips, coordinator of the WorkOne in Johnson County, said Tabb’s military background has proven to be a big plus for the center and for the veterans seeking assistance.
“I don’t think that they feel intimidated when they come in, because they’re actually talking to someone that’s been through what they are going through,” she said. “He’s friendly, and he’s been doing well with outreach and hopefully will get more vets to come in.”
Tabb was born in Chicago and grew up in the small town of White Cloud, Michigan, north of Grand Rapids in the western part of the state. Tabb knew in high school that he wanted to be a Marine upon admiring the “dress blues” worn by the father of a friend.
He left for boot camp in 1990, served two stints and was discharged in 2004.
Though his first attempt at helping veterans might have failed, through his podcast and boxing enterprise, Tabb finally seems to have found his calling as a DVOP.
“Every person I’ve met so far in this business has welcomed me with open arms,” he said. “It’s probably the first time, where I wake up every morning, and I’m happy to go to work.”
Watch a short video on Jeffrey Tabb: https://youtu.be/rvVqrp8fuss
Click here to view more episodes in the 20 in 2020 series.
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