Manny Gonzalez struggled to find his footing in civilian life after completing his first tour with the Marines in 2005.
Like many veterans, he searched for a job for months but reenrolled in the Marines as a Communications Chief. In 2007, he finished his second tour in Iraq and landed a job as an employee recruiter at a staffing company with a renewed purpose.
Gonzalez brought that passion to Health Care Service Corporation in 2021 when he joined the company as a senior talent acquisition consultant. He works to ensure veterans understand their various career options and identifies qualified candidates who are interested in a job at HCSC.
Throughout the year, Gonzalez and other HCSC talent recruiters travel to career fairs and hiring events to meet veterans and present them with opportunities at the company that match their skillset.
For example, Gonzalez speaks about opportunities at the company with veterans enrolled in the Department of Defense Transition Assistance Program at the Great Lakes Naval Station in North Chicago, Illinois. For many veterans it’s the first time they’re hearing about their options outside of the military, Gonzalez says.
HCSC employs hundreds of veterans in Illinois, Montana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas and other states. The company has also been recognized on Viqtory’s Military Friendly Employers list.
During onboarding, veterans are paired with a mentor — often a veteran themselves — who helps them navigate their first few months. And new hires are encouraged to join the company’s Supporters of Military Veterans Business Resource Group.
SMVH has more than 800 members, and chapters across multiple states with events and programs dedicated to veterans and their families.
For Army veteran Steve Evans, joining the group has led to networking opportunities with coworkers across the company and long-lasting relationships with like-minded individuals.
“I knew HCSC had a commitment to veterans but being part of the business resource group and seeing the various initiatives underscored how strong that commitment is,” says Evans, a lead project delivery specialist at HCSC. “I’ve made great friends and met people in other areas of the company I probably wouldn’t have otherwise.”
Over the past year, more than 230 SMVH members have volunteered 1,454 hours to veteran-serving organizations such as Flags for Fallen Vets, Blue Star Mothers of America and other groups.
SMVH Enterprise Chairperson Kelly Butler says the group remains foundational to HCSC’s welcoming veteran culture and continues to expand to include more military veterans, supporters and their families.
“The HCSC culture of respect and core values of supporting our communities aligns with the values that our military veterans embrace,” says Butler, a customer service vice president who has chaired the group for eight years. “SMVH’s growth and participation reflect that.”
