Illinois Diversity Council April Meeting

Lunch will be provided for 35 attendees, we hope you are able to join us, and make sure to bring your business cards!
 

 

 
 Diversity & Inclusion; The Business Case for Military Hiring 
Today less than 1% of American serve in the US Military, yet thousands of recruiters and hiring managers have to learn how a candidate’s military service fits their team. How do we bridge that divide? By helping your teams understand the business case for hiring military talent, de-bunking some of the myths about military service, and helping teams recruit and retain qualified veterans. Veterans Forward is a Chicago-based veteran employment program of National Able Network, a 40 year 501c3 that helps people get back to work. The team at Veterans Forward works with veterans to improve their job search skills, and with employers to connect them with qualified candidates. Over the last 10 years, we have learned how to bridge the divide and look forward to sharing that knowledge.
 

BRIDGET ALTENBURG
Chief Operating Officer
Bridget Altenburg joined National Able Network in September 2013 as Chief Operating Officer. Ms. Altenburg is responsible for leading efforts in key areas of strategic growth including National Able Network’s veterans programming, technology training, corporate relationships, and social enterprise.
Ms. Altenburg’s 18-year career includes experience in the non-profit and for-profit sectors as well as military service. Ms. Altenburg came to National Able Network from Chicago Cares, where she served as the Executive Director for almost three years. During her tenure at Chicago Cares, she helped revitalize the organization’s programs, finances, and staff. Prior to her work with Chicago Cares, Bridget directed the development, marketing, and communications for the Academy for Urban School Leadership, Chicago’s only teacher training and school turnaround organization, which was recognized by President Obama as a national model for education reform. Prior to her transition to the non-profit sector, Bridget worked on the executive staff at Bally Total Fitness to strengthen the company prior to its sale to Harbinger Capital.
Ms. Altenburg began her career as an engineer officer in the US Army. In her first assignment, she deployed from Hanau, Germany with 34 soldiers to Bosnia to conduct engineering operations pursuant to and consistent with the Dayton Peace Accords of 1995. She returned to Bosnia the following year and was deployed a third time to Albania to support the air war in Kosovo in 1999.
Ms. Altenburg earned a BS in Russian and French from the United States Military Academy at West Point and an MBA from Columbia Business School in New York.