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Health & Fitness

Chamber Introduces Veterans Networking Mentoring Program

Working in partnership with the University of Connecticut, the program will pair a Chamber member with a veteran who is nearing graduation from UConn at the Avery Point or Storrs campus and is looking to network in eastern Connecticut.

The Military Affairs Council of the Chamber of Commerce of Eastern Connecticut is launching a program aimed at helping local college students who are military veterans connect with potential employers.

Many veterans use the G.I. Bill to attend college after they leave the service.  They are able to apply their military discipline, excellent leadership, and strong work ethic to their studies.  But as they near graduation, many lack a professional network in the community.  This is where the Chamber’s Veteran Networking Mentorship Program will help.

Working in partnership with the University of Connecticut, the program will pair a Chamber member with a veteran who is nearing graduation from UConn at the Avery Point or Storrs campus and is looking to network in eastern Connecticut.  The Chamber will provide the participating students with free access to its Business After Hours events and a member mentor will be the vital link to networking resources.  There will be no cost to the participating veterans.

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The program is the brainchild of Military Affairs Council member Robert T. Ross, who is the executive director of Connecticut's Office of Military Affairs.

"The goal of this program is to simply put out a welcome mat and open the door to these veterans who are nearing college graduation," Ross said. "This local networking opportunity is a major element missing from their job-searching toolbox.  We want them to connect with our diverse business community and stay here in Connecticut."

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Chamber members who wish to volunteer to be a networking mentor should email Ashlee Donovan at adonovan@chamberect.com or call her at (860) 701-9113.  In addition, UConn students who are veterans and wish to participate in the program should email Jeanne Martin at jeanne.martin@uconn.edu.

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