Want to make a real impact in the lives of veterans? Join VA’s Veteran Readiness & Employment team and help veterans with service-connected disabilities build sustainable careers.

The VA is hiring more than 300 counselor and specialist positions nationwide. Apply by March 17 here.

You didn’t serve to spend the rest of your life asking permission. You’ve got the skills. The grit. The leadership. Now it’s time to own what’s next—literally. Join Vetrepreneur on Friday, Feb. 27 at 12 p.m. EST for a no-fluff, all-value Franchise Information Session on how veterans are owning franchises, building freedom and calling the shots—without going it alone.

We’ll walk you through how the Vetrepreneur Coaching Program helps you:

• Match with the right franchise based on how you lead and live
• Avoid time-wasters, scams, and pressure-filled sales pitches
• Use our free coaching and veteran-friendly funding options
• Navigate a proven 10-step system built by Veterans, for Veterans

Own your future. Don’t wait for orders. Reserve your seat at vetrepreneur.com/franchise-coaching-info-session.

Sarah Sampas, Veterans Career Advisor, Southeast Michigan

How has your military experience helped you in your position as a Veterans' Career Advisor (VCA)?

My military background helps me understand the challenges veterans face, whether recently separated veterans who are transitioning to civilian careers or veterans who have been out for a longer period. As a chaplain, I often walked with people through life challenges and connected them with resources. As a VCA, I get the chance to do that in a new way.

What should veterans expect when they meet with a VCA?

Veterans can expect a judgement-free conversation focused on their goals and needs. We’ll discuss their background, current challenges, identify skills and create a practical plan for their job search or career transition.

What resource do you recommend to veterans seeking employment?

It’s hard to choose just one resource because there is such variety in veterans’ experiences, but I do consistently recommend that veterans build a profile on Pure Michigan Talent Connect and Indeed. As a former recruiter I know that recruiters use those sites to search for resumes that match open positions, so it’s a way to both actively search for a job and passively be found by someone else without so much effort.

Maria, a proud U.S. Air Force veteran and single mother of a teenage daughter, faced a difficult transition. Maria was at risk of being homeless and wanted to find a job that would give her financial stability. Determined to start over, she relocated to Lapeer County to pursue that goal.

With the support of Veterans’ Career Advisor Richard Huff, Maria was referred to the local Veteran Service Officer to begin her claim for service-connected benefits and healthcare services. Richard guided Maria through the application process and helped her receive Priority of Service on Pure Michigan Talent Connect to begin her job search. Richard also connected her with Michael Spayde, the Michigan representative for Operation: Job Ready Veterans for help with her cover letter and resume.

Within 30 days, Maria successfully scheduled an appointment with VA Healthcare services, marking an important step toward rebuilding her life. While Maria actively pursued job opportunities, Richard provided consistent support by sending her job leads and coaching her through interviews. After several weeks, Maria received an offer to return to work with her former employer, Lyon Gear & Machine Company.

To ensure a smooth transition, she was placed and maintained 60-day employment retention designed to address any potential barriers after her employment began. During this period, Richard connected Maria and her daughter with the "Strength in Numbers" program, ensuring they received holiday support through Thanksgiving, Christmas care packages and $100 gift cards for each family member, bringing comfort and joy during a challenging time.

Today, Maria is thriving in her full-time position at Lyon Gear & Machine Company. She continues to work closely with her Veteran Service Officer on her Service-Connected Disability Benefits claim. Her resilience, combined with the dedicated support of VES and community partners, has allowed her to overcome housing and employment barriers and create a stable environment for her family. Maria's story is a powerful example of how collaboration and determination can transform challenges into opportunities for growth and success.

Registration is now open for the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency Women Veterans Conference! The conference, originally scheduled for October 2025, has been rescheduled to April 9-11, 2026, and will still be held at the Sheraton Grand Rapids Airport (5700 28th Street SE, Grand Rapids).

Veteran-friendly organizations and partners are invited to consider sponsorship opportunities that support the conference and the women veterans it serves. Sponsorships help ensure high-quality programming, meaningful resources and valuable networking opportunities focused on women veterans’ health, employment, leadership and overall well-being.

Employers are also encouraged to cover the cost of attendance for their women veteran employees, providing them with professional development and networking opportunities aligned with their service and career growth.

A scholarship sponsorship covers conference registration and hotel accommodations for the duration of the event. This option is intended to remove financial barriers and directly support a woman veteran who may not otherwise be able to attend. 

Details on costs for all options are available on the Registration Page.

Our mission is to assist you and your family secure meaningful careers in Michigan.

The concept of veterans helping veterans is a trademark of the VES team and one of the keys to its success. Veterans face many challenges when transitioning out of the military – finding meaningful employment should not be one of them.

• Veterans in need of employment assistance should contact the nearest Michigan Works! One-Stop Service Center by calling 800-285-WORKS (9675) or visiting MichiganWorks.org.
• More information about Veterans’ Employment Services is available at Michigan.gov/VES.
• Register today and start your job search at Pure Michigan Talent Connect at MiTalent.org.