CARROLLTON, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--In November 2011, FASTSIGNS International and the FASTSIGNS® franchise system of almost 500 U.S. locations committed to hire 200 veterans by the end of 2014 as part of a national hiring initiative called Operation Enduring Opportunity, an industry-wide effort to hire 75,000 veterans and 5,000 Wounded Warriors. More than 6,200 veterans and their spouses have started careers in franchising in the last six months through this initiative.
On June 28, FASTSIGNS International, the worldwide franchisor of FASTSIGNS visual communications, signage and graphics centers, alongside the International Franchise Association (IFA), will announce an expanded initiative for assisting veterans who are transitioning into civilian careers after military service.
This press event will be held at 10:00 am CT, at a Dallas FASTSIGNS center, located at 7017 John W Carpenter Freeway. FASTSIGNS CEO Catherine Monson will introduce a new free online Veterans Franchise Toolkit and a new Mentor Network to help veterans connect with business leaders and employment opportunities.
“As we make strides in helping our nation’s heroes transition into successful careers post military service, we must continue to introduce tools to make it easier for them to seek out opportunities that will lead towards stable employment,” Monson said. “With unemployment rates among veterans hovering around nearly 18 percent, continuous education is critical in helping our veterans transition into a civilian lifestyle.”
Several veterans who now own their own franchises, including FASTSIGNS owner Joe Johnston, will also be speaking at the event. An Air Force Veteran who served in the Vietnam War, Johnston has owned and operated FASTSIGNS in Denton, Texas, with his son Joseph, since 2006.
The Veterans Franchise (VetFran) Toolkit is designed to foster access to franchise employment and ownership opportunities for U.S. veterans and military spouses. The toolkit includes a Franchising 101 online course, a skills and attributes assessment, a finance assessment and partner links. U.S. military veterans and spouses will also be able to access the VetFran Mentor Network and be connected to franchise business leaders through the Toolkit. The franchise leaders comprising the Mentor Network will serve as an additional resource, sharing their knowledge of and experience in franchising with veterans.
“As we continue to work hard each and every day to extend career opportunities to our nation’s veterans, we commend our members who are participating in the VetFran Toolkit launch events and volunteering in the VetFran Mentor Network. They are setting the right example for our industry and our entire nation,” said Steve Caldeira, CFE, IFA’s President and CEO. “As we celebrate Independence Day, let us remember that our freedom comes at a price. Now we need to enable our nation’s veterans to fulfill their dreams and find career opportunities here at home.”
About FASTSIGNS®
FASTSIGNS® is a sign, graphics and visual communications company that provides comprehensive visual marketing solutions to customers of all sizes—across all industries—to help them meet their business objectives and increase their business visibility through the use of all types of signs and graphics including vehicle, floor and window graphics, point of purchase and digital signs, labels and decals, architectural and interior décor signs, printing, promotional products and wearables, mobile marketing and other related marketing services. To learn more, visit fastsigns.com or call 800-FASTSIGNS for a location near you.