Editor’s Note: MSJDN asked its members to help us spotlight employers that are going above and beyond for military spouse attorneys. Each employer in this series was nominated for MSJDN’s Members’ Choice Award for doing just that, by members who told us in their own words about the awesomeness of their employers. MSJDN is thrilled to tell these employer stories as a way of expressing our gratitude for supporting military spouses as they build careers in the legal profession.
The MSJDN Members’ Choice Award recipient will be announced at MSJDN’s Annual Reception in Washington, D.C. on May 17.
Hilton has a long legacy of supporting the military, dating back to Conrad Hilton, the company founder and a U.S. Army Veteran who served in the first World War. That legacy continues today. In August 2013, Hilton launched Operation: Opportunity, with a commitment to hire 10,000 veterans and military spouses over five years. Through partnerships with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Hiring Our Heroes program, the Joining Forces initiative led by Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden, and the National Association of State Workforce Agencies, they accomplished that goal two years ahead of schedule, and committed to hiring an additional 20,000 from the military community by the end of 2020. Part of this operation includes a dedicated military spouse program, offering work-from-home positions that can relocate with employees.
In light of this legacy, it’s no surprise that Hilton was nominated for recognition by MSJDN member Karl Gerner. Karl connected with Hilton through the Hiring Our Heroes Corporate Fellowship Program, which provides transitioning service members with management training and hands-on experience in the civilian workforce, expanding corporate America’s understanding of the veteran job market and preparing those individuals for smooth transitions into meaningful civilian careers. In the D.C. area, the program has been expanded to include military spouses. While on the job search in conjunction with a PCS last year, Karl enrolled in the program. In just two weeks after relocating to the National Capital Region, he started working in-house in the Hilton legal department.
In support of his nomination of Hilton for the Members’ Choice Award, Karl wrote, “The experience and network I built made the experience amazing, and now I’m in talks to go in house with them in a permanent position! Some of the most senior people in the company, all the way up to the general counsel, supported taking on a military spouse through an unusual and unknown channel and have made a huge impact on my practice and life.”
Hilton’s commitment to hiring and retaining military spouses is commendable. It requires vision and creativity to find solutions to the curveballs that military life throws when it comes to employment. Our community is grateful for employers like Hilton that provide meaningful opportunities for military spouses to maintain their careers. MSJDN is pleased to recognize the well-deserved nomination of Hilton for the 2018 Members’ Choice Award!
Celebrate the recipient of the MSJDN Members’ Choice Award at the 2018 Annual Reception in Washington, D.C. on May 17th. Tickets and information available here.