'Hiring Our Heroes' Job Fair Draws Hundreds of Military Veterans to Dearborn

Like many young men and women about to graduate from college, Danard Winborn of Riverview spends his days looking for employment.

"It's tough finding work when the job market is so competitive," Winborn said.

Winborn, a student at ITT Technological Institute and a former member of the U.S. Navy, was one of hundreds of military veterans who attended the annual "Hiring Our Heroes" job fair in Dearborn on Thursday.

The 26-year-old said he attended the fair with hopes of landing a job with a local Michigan company based on his experience in computer networking.

"I'm finished with school in May, so it would be nice to have a job," he said.

The three-hour event at the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center was organized by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Dearborn Area Chamber of Commerce, and featured more than 100 employers from business across Michigan, along with state and federal government agencies.

"We do our best to work with as many employers as we can to provide multiple job leads for our veterans. It's our way of saying 'thank you for your service,'" Kathryn Poynton, director of hiring fairs for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce said.

"The businesses at the fair understand that our military members have highly sought after skills that can be applied to civilian life," Poynton added.

Cindy Walkush of Troy attended the event at the urging of her husband, a retired lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve.

Walkush, a graduate of Wayne State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Urban Studies, said she was hoping to land an interview with the FBI.

"I graduated magna cum laude, which shows the FBI that an older more mature student can keep pace with some of these 20-year-old students," Walkush said. "This is my first job fair. It's wonderful that it targets the resources of the military community."

Dearborn Mayor John O'Reilly said connecting veterans like Walkush to job opportunities speaks highly of the local community.

"We have a lot of veterans who need job assistance. Dearborn is happy to host this event. We feel that its important for local governments to help employers meet their needs," O'Reilly said. "Events like 'Hiring Our Heroes' help build our economy and strengthen Southeast Michigan."

Rep. George Darany, D-Dearborn, echoed O'Reilly's comments.

"It's very important that we show that we respect what the military has done and continues to do for us," Darany said. "The largest sector of unemployed workers in our economy is made up of returning veterans. We have to bring that number down. By hosting events like this, everyone benefits."

Poynton said as of Thursday afternoon, roughly 101 veterans were counted as "walk-ins" for the event, with dozens more registered.

"Depending on the employer, some of these veterans could walk out of here with a job today," she said. "Our military families are constantly thanking us for helping their moms, dads, brothers, sisters, and spouses find jobs."

For more information on the Hiring Our Heroes initiative, or for information on future job fairs in Michigan, visit http://www.uschamber.com/hiringourheroes.