What scholarship recipients are saying about the Veterans Outreach Scholarship Program

Thank you for the recognition of my Certified Business Continuity Professional (CBCP) award. It is truly an honor to be acknowledged for this achievement, which has already impacted my career and professional development.

As a medically retired Special Agent with the United States Coast Guard, Coast Guard Investigative Service (CGIS), I encountered the challenge of translating my extensive experience in state and federal law enforcement into a corporate context during my transition out of service. This period was marked by uncertainty about how my skills would fit into the business world, mixed with medical challenges that ripped me away from my beloved career devoted to our Nation. Interestingly, this challenge also opened the door to new opportunities, including DRI’s certification program.

My journey towards earning the CBCP certification began with a LinkedIn post by Duane Stamm, which highlighted the value and importance of this credential. Intrigued, I pursued the certification and found that it was a pivotal moment in my career. The CBCP certification was a factor in my immediate promotion to lead a global investigations program at Brambles, a world-leading logistics company. It provided me with credibility and a comprehensive understanding of organizational dynamics, which are crucial when engaging with executives and managing complex global investigations followed by recommendations for improvements.

I served 7 years in the United States Air Force as an Emergency Management Specialist. During my time I trained with many military and civilian professionals. While transitioning, I encountered some difficultiesbefore leaving the military. All military personnel must go through the transition assistance program (TAP) and the challenge of synchronizing civilian employment with the date of separation. Throughout my military career, I’ve had the privilege of crossing paths with some of the most influential, well-respected, experts (Emergency Management) across my career field who poured into my growth and development as an airman and ultimately mentored me. One of those mentors was Darren Pemberton, who served as the Installation Emergency Manager, who had recently retired from the Air Force, and later became a Director in the Business Continuity industry. He told me about the opportunity and encouraged me to leverage the DRI Foundation as an opportunity to gain a competitive edge, coupled with my Emergency Management experience. Along with Darren Pemberton, there were many business continuity professionals with whom I connected and networked on LinkedIn. They made it their duty to guide me along the way.

Before landing my first Business Continuity role at CPS Energy, the certification opened doors for me. For example, I was awarded the Veterans Outreach Program scholarship and registered to take a course. Before taking the class, I interviewed CPS Energy, and expressed my registering for the course in order to be certified, which would allow me to be a more valuable employee. I firmly believe that expressing this during the interview gave me the advantage, in addition to my experience and business continuity knowledge. I took the course, passed the exam, and gained my certification to which I felt more validated and credible in this space. The certification made me feel complete, as I knew I was equipped with the necessary skills to catapult my career in a promising direction.

I moved back to Dallas-Ft. Worth metroplex in Texas, where I call home, to search for employment. My DRI certification most certainly landed me in my current employment working at GM Financial as a Senior Enterprise Resilience Analyst. I am currently the only person on the team with the credible background, experience, and certification to do this job. Although I have experience doing both, I believe that I would still be in the Emergency Management field or Finance/Banking. Thanks, DRI for this opportunity to be a part of something great!

I served in the United States Air Force as an Airfield Manager, responsible for ensuring the safe and efficient operation of airfield activities. During my deployment, I learned about the Disaster Recovery International (DRI) Foundation’s Veterans Outreach Program from Education Office advisors. They connected me with Alan Lake, Col., USAF (Ret.), and Chris Bygum, MSgt, USAF, (Ret) who guided me through the application process. After being accepted for the scholarship, I joined the first-ever military overseas global continuity course, with many students separated by 14 time zones. This outstanding opportunity allowed me to make VOP history as one of the first veterans to take the course, pass the Qualifying Examination, and receive the CBCP certification, all while stationed in a combat zone.

Transitioning out of the military, I faced the overwhelming task of finding a civilian career that would utilize my skills and experiences. The uncertainty of the job market was challenging, and I knew I needed something to stand out to potential employers. Receiving the Certified Business Continuity Professional (CBCP) certification through the DRI Foundation had a significant impact on my career prospects. It validated my military skills and demonstrated my commitment to professional development in disaster recovery and business continuity. With mentorship and support from the DRI Veterans Outreach Program, I secured a position with Marriott International as a Project Manager specializing in Disaster Recovery. This certification has been instrumental in advancing my career, and I am certain that without it, I would have faced greater challenges in securing a role that aligns with my expertise. I am deeply grateful to the DRI Foundation and to my mentors and colleagues who supported me throughout this journey. Donnie Hamilton, CBCP I served 7 years in the United States Air Force as an Emergency Management Specialist. During my time I trained with many military and civilian professionals. While transitioning, I encountered some difficulties before leaving the military. All military personnel must go through the transition assistance program (TAP) and the challenge of synchronizing civilian employment with the date of separation. Throughout my military career, I’ve had the privilege of crossing paths with some of the most influential, well-respected, experts (Emergency Management) across my career field who poured into my growth and development as an airman and ultimately mentored me. One of those mentors was Darren Pemberton, who served as the Installation Emergency Manager, who had recently retired from the Air Force, and later became a Director in the Business Continuity industry. He told me about the opportunity and encouraged me to leverage the DRI Foundation as an opportunity to gain a competitive edge, coupled with my Emergency Management experience. Along with Darren Pemberton, there were many business continuity professionals with whom I connected and networked on LinkedIn. They made it their duty to guide me along the way.

“Probably one of the best courses I have ever attended that has so much information and an awesome instructor to be able to translate most information so military folks can understand. For someone who has not really thought about Corporate America jobs after retirement, I honestly feel this course and the instructor has given me the knowledge to see where my experience can fit in and how valuable I can be to a business looking for experienced BC professionals. Great course and thank you!”

“The instructor is a passionate, knowledgeable professional that is well versed in business continuity concepts, strategies, and procedures.  He effectively utilized instructional methods familiar to current and former military members (talk-through and by-the-numbers).  I would highly recommend the expansion of this program which greatly assists the Military and Veteran community.”

“Outstanding course.  I am truly grateful for the opportunity.”

“The instructor was extremely helpful …his field experience gave him the street credit needed for teaching seasoned Veteran professionals. All questions asked were promptly / effectively answered. The instructor didn’t rush through any the of materials and his experience as a Veteran were EXTREMELY helpful in translating corporate terminology and practices to those not versed in said corporate entities. I entered this course knowing next to nothing about business continuity in a corporate/private setting a week ago. I’m still not an expert, but the instructor and DRI’s model for this course has put me on the path to using my experience with this certification to make a difference with some great companies. Awesome course/instruction.”

“Great course – very well run.  Thank you for the scholarship and education opportunity.”

“Thank you for the opportunity and scholarship for this course.  This is another way to take years of experience and knowledge and bring value to the corporate and business world, while supporting a worthwhile mission and taking care of business employees and customers.”

“Thank you for providing this opportunity to military service members. This is an outstanding business continuity course that not only prepares veterans for the civilian workforce environment but also gives us the certification that opens recruiter’s eyes and gives vets a valid reason for an interview. Thank you to all the staff, volunteers and instructors. We cannot thank you enough, we truly appreciate each of you and this program.”