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Vets Ready Employers and Veteran Employees Gain Benefits Far Beyond Recognition

Veterans have countless qualities that employers value and are great hires and valued team members. They're hardworking, dependable, and resilient. But it can be a challenge for some veterans to transition from a military career to the civilian workforce.

That’s why the Department of Workforce Development (DWD) Office of Veteran Employment Services (OVES) recognizes employers who go above and beyond to hire veterans each year with the Vets Ready Employer Initiative award. The initiative launched in 2020 and recognized six employers in its first year. Inn 2025, 25 employers were honored as Vets Ready Employers across the state. This growing initiative celebrates veterans as valuable workers and shows how employing veterans creates opportunity for both for the veteran worker and the employer.

"We know that when military members leave military service, one of the things they miss is the camaraderie and brotherhood and sisterhood that they had in the military. They seek to find a job, but, more so, a family -- a system where they can build a career and a team to support their employment," said Al Garcia, OVES director. “Veterans in the workplace are team-oriented, offer support to others, and are natural leaders.”

Evan Castonia, an employee at 4Imprint who served with the Army National Guard in Appleton, is a good example of how veterans benefit thanks to Vets Ready employers.

"I have felt overwhelmingly positive support as a veteran. I love the culture and the benefits and work-life balance. It feels like everyone's part of a family and team," said Castonia, a health and safety specialist who’s been working with 4Imprint for eight years.

Castonia credits his military training for preparing him for his everyday work and skillset, saying that he gained the ability to persevere and problem solve.

"I also have the ability to work with people from different backgrounds and with different personalities,” he said.

Vets Ready employers across Wisconsin have found that employing veterans brings value beyond measure to their organization. Here’s a look at what makes these organizations Vets Ready employers, and what they’ve gained from their veteran employment programs.

4Imprint

Headquartered in Oshkosh, 4Imprint has been a Vets Ready employer since 2023. Being honored as an awardee has increased the company’s visibility in the community and brings diverse perspectives into the workplace.

"This feels like the right thing to do, as we're making an effort to meet veterans where they're at," said Lia Cummings, talent acquisition director at the international printing company 4Imprint. “Being part of the Vets Ready Employer program has been successful for us – it has helped us get the word out into the community."

In the spring and summer of 2024, 4Imprint elevated military voices on its employee website by highlighting the Oshkosh Veteran Museum's "I Am Not Invisible" campaign, a series of traveling exhibits throughout the country that brought attention to the often-overlooked role of women veterans in the U.S. military.

In December 2024, 4Imprint continued to demonstrate its commitment to diversity and individuality by bringing the “Our Afghan Neighbors" exhibit to its distribution center in Oshkosh. The exhibit also helped to shed light on the population of Afghan refugees in the state.

Kimberly-Clark

The Vets Ready Employer Initiative encourages businesses to build support systems within the workplace. Kimberly-Clark, a Neenah-based producer of paper-based consumer products and surgical instruments, has a diverse array of programs through the Service Alliance Uniting Together, or SALUTE, employee resource group.

It includes the Buddy Program, a peer-to-peer mentorship that connects employees with shared military backgrounds or experiences. It's open to employees who have a military background and their family members, and offers a safe space for connection, guidance, and support. Mentors provide assistance navigating the VA system, a listening ear for personal or professional conversations, and shared experiences that foster understanding and camaraderie.

The company also offers veteran-focused onboarding resources to ease the transition from military to civilian careers. While participation is voluntary, veterans are invited to self-identify so they can be connected with SALUTE resources. From there, SALUTE leadership offers tailored support based on individual requests and preferences.

Moraine Park Technical College

While workplace support helps employees transition into civilian life, sometimes taking time off is necessary because of health appointments or deployment. Moraine Park Technical College’s (MPTC) campus in Fond du Lac, offers a generous leave policy. The college has been named one of America's Military Friendly Schools for 16 years and is committed to protecting the rights of employees absent on military leave.

MPTC offers holistic and preventive health supports like a well-being room for a mental reset, and heart rate monitors to help employees shift into a better emotional or physical state. These supports have helped the college also earn the State Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), the Pro Patria Award from the Secretary of Defense, the Seven Seals and Patriot Awards, among others.

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Wisconsin's Department of Workforce Development efficiently delivers effective and inclusive services to meet Wisconsin's diverse workforce needs now and for the future. The department advocates for and invests in the protection and economic advancement of all Wisconsin workers, employers, and job seekers through six divisions – Employment and Training, Vocational Rehabilitation, Unemployment Insurance, Equal Rights, Worker's Compensation, and Administrative Services. To keep up with DWD announcements and information, sign up for news releases and follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube.