U.S. Army Reserve and Three Austin Employers Launch Partnership

In the front (left to right)Maj. Gen. Mari K. Eder; Jim Sylvester, chief deputy Travis County Sheriff's Office; Lee Leffingwell member of the Austin City Council; Allen Bergeron; (rear) Bruce Cummings, president, Gila Corperation, James Rebholz; Maj. Gen. Keith Lee Thurgood, commanding general Army and Air Force Exchange Service; Olin Brewster; Maj. Mark Sawa, human resource manger Sheriff’s Office; and Sgt. Maj. Nelson Ildefonso, vice president of operations, Employer Partnership Initiative.


AUSTIN, Texas - The U.S. Army Reserve, Austin City and two local employers agreed to work collaboratively to develop long-term staffing solutions for America's Soldiers and veterans Friday.

"I am proud the City of Austin will participate in the Employer Partnership Initiative," said Lee Leffingwell, a member of the Austin City Council. "Through our new 'Veterans Preference' program, we are working to ensure that qualified veterans interview for positions available at the city. The initiative will help us locate some of the best and brightest applicants for these jobs based on the experiences and skills developed during military service."

Leffingwell said the city government knows the kind of skills service members bring to work – 1,400 of its 12,000 employees are veterans. It also understands the stress employers and families experience when those Citizen-Soldiers deploy - 23 of the areas 270 active Army Reserve and National Guard units are currently deployed.

Regardless the city, one of eight Texas employers presented with a Pro Patria Award by the Texas Employer Support for the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) in 2008, and its committed to the service members and families is not unwavering, Leffingwell said.

Maj. Gen. Mari K. Eder, deputy chief, U.S. Army Reserve, credited ESGR’s relationship with the city for Friday’s success.

"The Employer Parnters signed in Austin were the direct result of our friends in the Texas ESGR promoting the program," said Maj. Gen. Mari K. Eder, who attended the signing. "I'd especially like to thank all the Texas ESGR valunteers for their spirit."

The Travis County Sheriff's Office and Gila Corporation also signed agreements.

Chief Deputy Jim Sylvester said with 66 of its 1,600 employees either Army Reserve or National Guard the department already understands the unique sacrifice Guard and Reserve members make to serve their country. However, the department appreciates the benefit of employing men and women with Army values, experience and proven leadership skills.

Currently it has openings for both officers and nurses.

Founded in 1991 the Gila Corporation as hired 160 new employees in the last year. The company, which outsources collections, payment processing and call center services to governmental entities, financial and higher education institutions nationwide, is looking for IT personal, client service managers, and bilingual account managers.

The Army Reserve’s Employer Partnership Initiative (EPI), allows these companies and the Austin City to recruit, train and employ individuals interested in serving the nation while pursuing diverse careers in government and private enterprise. Since April 2008, more than 200 of our nation’s leading employers have partnered with the Army Reserve on this initiative, including corporations, industry associations, state agencies and local law enforcement.