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January 13, 2010
Mark Stenman is a prime example of a veteran who made the successful transition from military to civilian life. After 20 years honorable service in the U.S. Air Force doing aircraft maintenance, flight operations management, and safety, Stenman signed up for the Port of Seattle’s Veterans Fellowship Program.
He was hired for 6-month job, and at the end of it his skills matched a need in the organization. Now he’s a health and safety management specialist handling environmental health assessments, office ergonomics and air noise evaluations, among other tasks.
“It’s a great feeling knowing an employer and business leaders genuinely care about and appreciate veteran service and skills with a real opportunity like the Veterans Fellowship Program,” Stenman says. “I’m inspired to even greater organizational and community service.”
Manette Moses, Manager, Employee Health & Safety, said, “Mark is incredibly dedicated and grateful to have the opportunity to become a part of the Port—and this is demonstrated in his eagerness to learn new skills. In addition, he has provided us all with a better understanding of veteran life.”
In October 2009, the Port began its fourth season of the highly successful Veterans Fellowship Program, providing a bridge for military veterans leaving active duty and transitioning into the civilian workforce.
Many women and men have been exposed to challenging conditions while in military service, or may have limited civilian work experience. It may be difficult for them to recognize how their active duty skills can translate into civilian jobs, and to build the professional networks that can help them find and compete successfully for those jobs.
The Port’s fellowship program hires up to three veterans per six-month period into paid positions with benefits. Here they gain experience in a civilian work environment, and much more. While working on challenging projects, veterans also receive training on resume writing, networking and interviewing techniques, and identifying transferable skills.
The positions offered by the Port are as varied as the people applying for the fellowships. The three current Veterans Fellows work in Central Procurement, Accounting and Public Affairs. Others have worked in Aviation Maintenance, Human Resources, Engineering, Cruise Operations, Information Technology and Marine Maintenance.
As of October 2009, the Port has employed 12 Fellows. Three have been offered full-time positions with the Port, and others have found positions with other agencies or organizations.
Jessica Damas, recently assigned to the Port’s Central Procurement Office, said, “I feel more comfortable with my transition to civilian life knowing that I have a good program and great people backing me up.”
Nathan Woodside, who completed his commitment to the U.S. Marine Corps and spent six months working on employee communications in the Port’s Human Resources and Development Department, said, “Veterans are not looking for a hand out. What they want is an opportunity, however brief, to demonstrate that the skills they cultivated in the military are valuable to civilian employers. The Port of Seattle understands this. I hope other organizations look to the Port's example.”
A veteran himself, the Port’s CEO Tay Yoshitani has charged the organization with being a “beacon of social responsibility for Seattle and the region” and leads the Port in this initiative. Gary Buchanan, Director of Human Resources and Development and also a veteran, designed the Port’s program which in May 2009 received the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) Pro Patria Award. The Port also has been a featured employer at the “Hire America’s Heroes” Conference.
For more information on the Fellowship Program, download the fact sheet, and bookmark this page for other Port employment opportunities.
