Untapped Potential: Resources Available for Hiring Veterans
Presenters: Gary Gregerson and Brad Friez, State of Iowa; and Kevin Rich from the VA
Special Bonus Session
10:30 a.m.
Bonus Session: (HRCI credits have been applied for)
The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) of 1994 is found in Title 38 United States Code Chapter 43 and 20 Code of Federal Regulations Part 1002. This federal statute protects civilian job rights and benefits for veterans and members of the Reserve components.
During this presentation you will learn about the rights and responsibilities for both the employer and service member/veteran under USERRA, as well as resources for technical assistance, mediation, and enforcement.
The presenters for the bonus session will be:
Capt. Lona Christensen is the Executive Director for the South Dakota Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Committee (ESGR) and has served in this capacity since 2004. She has a BA in Criminal Justice and Psychology from Dakota Wesleyan University. She became a certified Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) Ombudsman in 2005 and has been mediating USERRA cases since. Capt. Christensen joined the Army National Guard in 1998 and has served as an Ordnance officer, Public Affairs officer and currently serves as a Logistics officer. In her civilian career she has been a Victim Advocate, Juvenile Court Tracker, Family Based Counselor and a Child Protective Services Investigator and Case Manager. She is married and has one daughter.
Sarah Bierman is the Director with the Veterans' Employment and Training Service, U.S. Department of Labor, located in Aberdeen, South Dakota. Sarah has been with VETS since July 2006. She provides technical assistance to the state for the Jobs for Veterans State Grant process and is an investigator for Veterans' Preference and USERRA complaints.
Sarah has been a member of the South Dakota National Guard for ten years and is an Operation Iraqi War veteran.
Sarah received her Bachelor's in Psychology from Northern State University and received her Master's in Social Work from the University of North Dakota. Sarah and her husband, Jarod Bierman, reside in Northville, South Dakota.
