California Employer Advisory Council

CEAC Veterans Committee Report

August 25, 2007

September 29, 2006, Radisson Hotel, Fresno, CA

The California Employer Advisory Council Veterans’ Committee was formed in 1985 to act as an advocate for the employment of veterans in conjunction with the CEAC and the California Employment Development Department.

Goals & Objectives

• To develop a strong recognition program for California employers who provide an outstanding support for employment of veterans.
• To develop a strong working partnership with other associations and agencies who are supportive of veterans.
• To provide enthusiastic support for veterans programs that include operation Stand Down and the Veterans Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development Act of 1999.
• To provide direct support for programs honoring veterans including veterans memorials and other activities.
• To develop media support and other activities to gain enhanced support for hiring veterans.

On Friday, May 5, 2006 the CEAC Veterans Employer of the Year Awards took place in conjunction with the CEAC annual conference at the DoubleTree Hotel, Rohnert Park, CA. The following employers were recognized:

Private Small Business	Nominated By
Landmark Protection Inc. Veterans Village of San Diego VTF Services, Inc.	Cameron Linzey, EDD Campbell Manuel Sanchez, EDD San Diego Eugene Holloman, EDD Sunnyvale
Private Large Business	Nominated By
Cintas Corporation Science Applications International Corp. USProtect Corporation	Robert Rambeau, EDD Campbell Terry Jensen, EDD El Cajon David Stone, EDD Lancaster
Government/Public Service	Nominated By
Amtrak Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care System National Archives & Records Admin.	William Givens, EDD Los Angeles Gus Castillo, EDD Long Beach LeVert Traveler, EDD Sunnyvale

CEAC Veterans Committee team members participated in CA Stand Downs during the months of June, July, August, & September. These were held at San Diego, Ventura, Pleasanton, Marrysville, Sacramento, Alameda County, and Fresno. In October we will also be participating in Stand Downs in Inglewood, Eureka, Shasta, Ferndale, Dixon, Redding, Humboldt County, Nevada County and Bakersfield.

Members of the CEAC Veterans Committee team served on the steering committee and participated in the first annual Southern California VetFund Golf Tournament that was held in Ventura on June 16, 2006. VetFund of CDVA is the fundraising arm of the CA Department of Veterans Affairs and generates funds for projects to support California veterans. Funds are used to fulfill the unmet needs of the veterans’ homes of California, upkeep of veterans’ memorials, and to provide funding for special programs of the department and the veteran community. The following veterans homes exist in California:

• The Veterans Home of California, Yountville in Napa Valley
• The Veterans Home of California, Barstow
• Veterans Home of California, Chula Vista
• Veterans Home of California, Los Angeles
• Veterans Home of California, Ventura
• Have been approved and will be constructed in 2007 and 2008.

Additional 2006/2007 activities include:

• CEAC Veterans Committee meetings
• Homeless Veterans Stand Down Foundation
• California Veterans Board meetings
• California Veterans Employment Committee
• National Coalition for Homeless Veterans
• The CEAC “How You Can Assist Veterans Project"
• Employer Support of Guard and Reserve (ESGR)
• USA Freedom Corps
• Patriot Day, September 11, 2006
• MIA/POW Day, September 15, 2006
• The annual Long Beach Veterans Parade November, 2006
• California Veterans Week activities November, 2006
• CEAC Annual Conference, May, 2007
• California Veteran’s Month Activities, May, 2007
• 2007 CEAC Veterans Employer of the Year Awards

California employers have supported our veterans through the National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve. This Committee provides answers to employers’ most frequent questions as well as copies of the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act. It supports reservists who need help dealing with an employer (800) 336-4590, or http://www.esgr.org. Employers have an opportunity to support veterans through the Disabled Veterans Business Enterprise (DVBE) Program, and the Veterans Entrepreneurship and Small Business Act, Public Law 106-50. Visit the U.S. Department of Veterans’ Affairs website at http://www.va.gov, and the U.S. Small Business Administration website at http://www.sba.gov.

Year 2006-2007 promises to be a banner year of opportunity for California employers to support our veterans. For information, please contact Dr. Cal Farmer at (310) 713-3276, or Claire Hope at (805) 987-3118, email .