SCRANTON — Roy Evans, a veterans outreach officer for CareerLink Lackawanna County, finds former service members in peril and seeks to improve their lives.
During a Hire a Hero program featuring about 20 area companies Thursday at the CareerLink office on Franklin Avenue, Evans outlined ways the job center gives veterans hope and employment opportunities.
“I go out and find them in the woods, in used car lots, underneath bridges, anywhere I can find veterans, and I get them free food, free shelter, free clothing and a decent job,” he said. “Some of them don’t want to come in, so I don’t bother them. The ones that do, I tell them what I can offer them, and a lot of them take advantage of it.”
Among the employers were Cintas, Geisinger, Gentex Corp., and Simona, offering jobs in a variety of positions including garment processors, patient care technicians, warehouse operators and machine operators. The hiring event also will open to members of the general public.
Evans, who served in the United States Army, noted that the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act program helps veterans learn the skills needed to land a quality job.
“If you’re on food stamps or unemployment compensation, you can get $8,500 worth of college money that is paid directly from CareerLink to the different colleges,” he said. “A lot of veterans go into truck driving courses, and that’s a $50,000 to $60,000 a year job. It helps them get a start on life.”
Bill Casamassima, a veterans employment representative for CareerLink, provided insight on how the job center helps vets find jobs during a Hire a Hero event in Scranton on Thursday. (ROBERT TOMKAVAGE/STAFF PHOTO)
A veterans representative can also help qualified veterans develop their resumes and cover letters, teach interviewing techniques, and provide advocacy and access to various community resources.
“(Veterans) speak a specific language, and I think there is that camaraderie where they would rather talk to somebody who was in the same situation,” said Cathy Gerard, site administrator for CareerLink Lackawanna County.
Bill Casamassima, a veterans employment representative for CareerLink, who previously worked as a state parole agent following a decorated military career in the United States Marines and Army National Guard, knew we wanted to make a difference in veterans’ lives after seeing them fall upon hard times.
“A lot of the offenders I worked with were veterans, and I wanted to do something more than just take them to drug treatment and write them up for infractions,” he said.
Now, Casamassima takes pride in connecting veterans with companies that are looking for specific skill sets.
“When you have somebody who is looking for a particular job, and you can match them in that field and also assist the company in getting a qualified candidate, both ends are extremely happy,” he said. “We can talk to them, make an assessment, and find them not only a good-paying job with a sustainable wage but something they enjoy doing with a company that is glad to have them.”
Casamassima added that when people enjoy their job, it’s spills over into other areas of their life.
“When you’re happy at work, you’re happy at home,” he said. :”If you’re miserable when you wake up in the morning, you’re going to be miserable going home at the end of the day. It really affects your whole well-being to have meaningful employment.”
Casamassima often hears that companies value the structure workers with military experience bring to the workplace.
“They like to hire veterans because a lot of times they say they have the self-discipline to show up on time and complete tasks in a timely manner,” he said.
Matthew Lopez, quality manager at Carbondale-based Hendrick Manufacturing, echoed Casamassima’s comment.
“They have a very unique experience, a very unique perspective on work ethic,” Lopez said.
Mike Major, 49, of Bear Creek Twp., who served in the United States Marine Corps from 1994 to 1998, appreciates CareerLink hosting events for veterans.
“I think it’s good for the community, it brings people together,” Major said. “You might meet the right person at the right time, and that’s what it’s all about.”