Blackstone Achieves Its Goal of 100,000 Veterans, Veteran Spouses and Caregivers Hired Across Portfolio Companies - Seite 2

We thank Michael McDermott for his dedication to making this program a success as the Veterans Hiring Initiative is brought into the framework of Career Pathways, which aims to provide economic opportunities and career mobility for diverse and historically underrepresented talent pools across Blackstone portfolio companies. Blackstone has also partnered with FourBlock and the Commit Foundation – two nonprofits supporting transitioning veterans – to hold events providing veterans with career advisory services and facilitating introductions to hiring managers.

“Thanks to Michael and the Blackstone team for your unique and enduring leadership,” said Matthew Amidon, Director of the Military Service Initiative at the George W. Bush Institute. “You have been and continue to be instrumental in ensuring we leverage the immense talent in our veterans and military families. Your example is the one to follow as we look to match their leadership with their next career.”

“Blackstone portfolio company CEOs have regularly remarked on how veterans bring outstanding dedication and leadership ability to their work,” said Marcus Felder, Vice President in Blackstone’s Portfolio Operations group and leader of the Career Pathways program. “Working with our portfolio companies to recruit, train and retain these exceptional employees enables us to better fulfill our core mandate: to deliver for our investors by building better businesses. It’s a win-win-win – for veterans and their spouses, for portfolio companies and for the country.”

In addition to connecting veterans with opportunities at portfolio companies, Blackstone has also prioritized recruiting and developing veteran talent within the firm and supporting veterans through charitable giving. The Blackstone Veterans Network supports the hiring and career development of veterans, veteran spouses and caregivers at Blackstone, while the Blackstone Military Internship Program (MINT) – an initiative of the Veterans Network – helps military personnel transition to careers in the financial services industry. In the coming months, Blackstone will work with Hiring Our Heroes, a program run by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, to place more veterans at roles within the firm. Since 2012, the Blackstone Charitable Foundation has partnered with and made grants to nonprofit organizations supporting veterans.