--- title: "New Association Conference to Help Advance Veterans in the Workplace" id: "25767" type: "post" slug: "new-association-conference-to-help-advance-veterans-in-the-workplace" published_at: "2014-10-27T20:15:12+00:00" modified_at: "2026-03-16T12:57:44+00:00" url: "https://associationsnow.com/2014/10/27/new-association-conference-to-help-advance-veterans-in-the-workplace/" markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2014/10/27/new-association-conference-to-help-advance-veterans-in-the-workplace.md" excerpt: "The Association for Talent Development is the latest in a string of associations to implement a program dedicated to helping veterans in the workplace. The new ATD Values Vets Conference will feature best practices for companies looking to hire, retain,..." taxonomy_category: - "Career Development" taxonomy_post_tag: - "AssociationsNow" - "Business" - "careers" - "unemployment" - "veterans" taxonomy_content_format: - "Article" taxonomy_role: - "Director" - "Manager" - "VP" taxonomy_persona: - "Association Professionals" --- [Home](https://associationsnow.com/) » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/) » New Association Conference to Help Advance Veterans in the Workplace The Association for Talent Development wants to make it easier for companies to hire veterans. Last week, the organization [announced (opens in a new tab)](http://www.astd.org/Publications/Blogs/ASTD-Blog/2014/10/The-Association-for-Talent-Development-Launches-Effort-Focused-on-Veterans-Success-in-the-Workplace) the ATD Values Vets Conference, which will feature resources and content to help companies acquire, retain, and help advance veterans in the workplace. “[The ATD Values Vets program (opens in a new tab)](http://www.astd.org/valuesvets) has been designed to help enterprises with existing veteran initiatives to become more effective, and to encourage those enterprises with a desire to make veterans a part of their talent development strategies to get started,” Joe Barto, president of the Training Modernization Group, a co-organizer of the event, said in a statement. Geared toward employers, veteran resource groups, and vets themselves, the conference will take place in Washington, DC, November 6-7, just before Veterans Day. It will include speakers from several vet-friendly employers who will share their advice and best practices for hiring and retaining veteran employees in both the private and public sectors. Veterans [appear to be faring slightly better (opens in a new tab)](http://www.blogs.va.gov/VAntage/15584/september-2014-veteran-unemployment-veterans-doing-better-than-their-civilian-counterparts/) in finding employment than their civilian counterparts, according to September data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. But a [study conducted last fall](https://associationsnow.com/2013/11/study-finding-post-military-employment-no-easy-task-for-veterans/) by the Military Benefit Association found that two-thirds of currently employed vets reported it was at least somewhat difficult to find a job after leaving the military. “While there is substantial training available to military personnel months before they separate, service members still face many struggles as they make the transition to the civilian sector,” retired U.S. Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Roy Gibson, president of MBA, said. Several associations, such as the International Franchise Association and the United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry of the United States, [offer skills training programs](https://associationsnow.com/2013/11/study-finding-post-military-employment-no-easy-task-for-veterans/) specifically tailored to veterans. IFA’s Operation Enduring Opportunity, an expansion of the organization’s VetFran program launched after the first Gulf War, has brought [more than 151,000 veterans and their military spouses (opens in a new tab)](http://www.franchise.org/Franchise-News-Detail.aspx?id=61218) into the franchising industry, including about 5,000 as franchise owners, since 2011. Meanwhile, associations and other groups are also helping veterans [gain access to their disability benefits](https://associationsnow.com/2013/08/bar-association-helps-tackle-backlog-of-veterans-disability-claims/) and [better manage their finances](https://associationsnow.com/2014/06/new-coalition-will-help-veterans-finesse-financials/) . (videodet/ThinkStock) [Katie Bascuas](https://associationsnow.com/author/katie-bascuas/) Katie Bascuas is a former associate editor at Associations Now in Washington, DC. [More articles by this author](https://associationsnow.com/author/katie-bascuas/) Tags: [#Business](https://associationsnow.com/tag/business/) [#careers](https://associationsnow.com/tag/careers/) [#unemployment](https://associationsnow.com/tag/unemployment/) [#veterans](https://associationsnow.com/tag/veterans/) **Stay Informed** [Subscribe to our free newsletter](https://associationsnow.com/newsletter/) , *Associations Now Daily News*, to find out what’s happening in the association world every business day. ## You Might Like - [VideoLaurie Gussak Shares Her CAE JourneyOctober 26, 2023](https://associationsnow.com/2023/10/26/laurie-gussak-shares-her-cae-journey/) - [VideoLisa Rackstraw Shares Her CAE JourneyOctober 26, 2023](https://associationsnow.com/2023/10/26/lisa-rackstraw-shares-her-cae-journey/) - [VideoDeb Callahan Shares Her CAE JourneyOctober 26, 2023](https://associationsnow.com/2023/10/26/deb-callahan-shares-her-cae-journey/) - [VideoShelby Couch Shares Her CAE JourneyOctober 26, 2023](https://associationsnow.com/2023/10/26/shelby-couch-shares-her-cae-journey/) ## Comments **Comments are for ASAE members.** [Learn more about comments on this site.](https://associationsnow.com/comments/) [Log in](https://associationsnow.com/login?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fassociationsnow.com%2F2014%2F10%2F27%2Fnew-association-conference-to-help-advance-veterans-in-the-workplace%2F%23comments) to your member account or [join ASAE](https://my.asaecenter.org/select-a-membership-type/) !