Tactical Transition Cyndi Po & Michele Lewis

We are honored to have as our guest on today’s show, Lt. Col (Retired) Mark Paolicelli. We will discuss his military-to-civilian transition and words of wisdom for those who are currently making this journey. His keen ability to find just the right analogy will not only entertain but put into perspective what is truly important to focus on during your transition.

A native of Pittsburgh, PA, Mark Paolicelli retired from the U.S. Marine Corps as a Lieutenant Colonel in 2022 after serving over 29 years. Mark began his Marine Corps career by enlisting in the reserves in 1993 and served as a Machine Gunner until 1996. He received his commission upon graduating from Norwich University in 1996 with a BA in Criminal Justice. Mark became a field artillery officer and later a Joint Terminal Attack Controller and deployed seven times during his career with multiple combat deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. He served in various roles and assignments during his Marine Corps career, most notably as a Congressional Fellow for Senator Jack Reed and his final assignment as the Deputy Commander for Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall.

Mark is an avid hockey player and started playing ice hockey at the ripe age of 38. He continues to serve veterans as the Vice Chairman of the Arlington County Military and Veterans Affairs committee.

He currently serves as a defense contractor with Booz Allen Hamilton and resides in Alexandria, Virginia, with his wife, Courtney, their daughter Molly (age 6), and their Goldendoodle, Winston.

You can connect with Mark on LinkedIn.

Be sure to follow us and subscribe to our website at eselseminars.com for more information on how our team can help you navigate the transition.

Kimberly Lindsay Williams, MA, SPHR, SHRM – SCP Chief Human Resources Officer, City of Jacksonville, North Carolina Founder & Chief Executive Officer, NC4ME, North Carolina for Military Employment

Kimberly Williams has over thirty years of experience leading private, public, and nonprofit human resource professionals. Her experience in the private sector includes several large organizations, including Burger King Corporation, where she directed the Human Resource function for the United States. Kimberly’s experience in the public sector and non-profit includes directing the Human Resources function for local government, school division, health care, and workforce housing.

Kimberly is currently the Chief Human Resource Officer for the City of Jacksonville, North Carolina. Her passion for assisting military service members began with serving as a volunteer with Virginia Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (VaESGR) as Regional Chair and later as State Director for their Employment Initiative Program (EIP). She also initiated the Virginia Values Veterans (V-3) program, a statewide initiative to ensure employment of our service men and women. Kimberly has twice been presented the Seven Seals Award for meritorious leadership and initiative supporting the Department of Defense. Additionally, Kimberly received national recognition as a Defense Community Champion 2022 by the Association of Defense Communities. Kimberly founded and is currently leading the North Carolina statewide employment initiative under the Veterans Foundation NC4ME, North Carolina for Military Employment, a comprehensive public-private partnership. Under Kimberly’s leadership, NC4ME was launched by the Governor of North Carolina in March 2015 with a mission to make North Carolina the number one state for military employment. NC4ME is unique in that it is ONE team, including the State Government (The Governor’s Office, the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, and the Department of Commerce), the NC National Guard, and companies throughout North Carolina, working together to change the military employment climate throughout the State. Kimberly serves as a member of the Governors Working Group for Veterans and their Families and as a member of the Fayetteville State University Board of Visitors. Kimberly received a bachelor's degree from Florida State University and a Master's degree from Regent University. She and her husband, Keith, are the proud parents of two children, Richard, a Physician’s Assistant (PA) in Virginia, and Lindsay, a Staff Sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps.

You can follow Kimberly on LinkedIn or on the website for NC4ME.

This week on Tactical Transition, Executive Career Coaches Cyndi Po & Michele Lewis will discuss the "Informational Interview." What is it? Is it important to do them? Who do I have an informational interview with? What should I ask?

If you are a transitioning service member and are looking for ways to find that perfect next career, this podcast is for you.

Be sure to check out our website at www.eselseminars.com

Bill Gray, Managing Director at SteerBridge, joins us again to bring insights and inspiration to the transitioning military leaders. In today's episode, Bill will discuss the importance of finding the right fit in your next career. He will share valuable information about the company he is currently working with and inspiring words of encouragement for those struggling with the transition process.

We encourage you to connect with Bill on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/williamcgray/

This week on Tactical Transition, Executive Career Coaches Cyndi Po & Michele Lewis will tackle the important subject of "resumes."

If you are a transitioning service member and are concerned about writing the perfect resume, this podcast is for you.

Be sure to check out our website at www.eselseminars.com

Transitioning Service Members: From the perspective of a corporate recruiter, you might be wondering:

• What does it mean when offers contain language like "contingent," "funded," or "unfunded"?

• Is there a way for a veteran to find a company that matches their skills and cultural values?

• Do all companies have their unique culture, and is it important to interview the company as much as they are interviewing you?

This week, we're excited to welcome Jessica Hermanstorfer, the Senior Talent Acquisition Operations Manager for Eqlipse Technologies, who has been recruiting since 1997.

Jessica is an avid supporter of veteran and military spouse hiring and has worked with large and small businesses across the Intelligence Community, DOD, Not-for-Profit Research Organizations, and Healthcare. Throughout her career as a recruiter, Jessica has honed in on understanding compensation as the foundation of hiring. This vital skill set expanded her ability to advance into more complex organizational roles.

By 2011, Jessica was the lead HR and TA for a startup organization that supported the US Army and the NSA. There, she learned to focus on building the company's culture, running Human Resources, and growing the corporate team. Towards the end of her tenure with that organization, she led the Veterans and Military Spouse hiring initiatives.

Jessica then accepted a position managing the recruiting team at Leidos for their NSA programs. In addition, she built their new business recruiting function supporting all proposals and new awards across all Intelligence Agency proposals.

Currently, Jessica is serving with Eqlipse Technologies, helping to lead and build the Talent Acquisition functions of a new company, specifically Eqlipse’s hiring processes, applicant tracking system, candidate experience, and metrics.

This week, Jessica shares her perspective regarding what senior recruiters look for and how you can become more attractive to organizations. Connect with Jessica on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicahermanstorfer/