DWD: Southeast Indiana Veterans' Outreach Program Specialists Named Outstanding Performers

Both honorees managed local veterans with significant barriers to employment.

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INDIANAPOLIS - The Indiana Department of Workforce Development recently named Jordan Griffin and Hector Moreno, Disabled Veterans' Outreach Program specialists in southeast Indiana, as outstanding performers during 2023.

"Serving my neighboring veterans is an honor and I love my work because of it," Griffin said. "I work with a lot of veterans who have hit a low point in their employment and I take pride in working with them to discover their career goals and get them back on track to a fulfilling job."

Over the last year, Griffin managed 45 veterans with significant barriers to employment and provided them with more than 900 services. Through this work, 29 veterans have gained employment. He works with veterans in Dearborn, Jefferson, Ohio, Ripley and Switzerland counties.

"It’s an honor to provide resources to those who have served our country and seeing them thrive in life," Moreno said. “A number of veterans will come into our office not knowing what services I can provide, but they end up leaving our first meeting knowing that I care and that I am on their side. Our services can help in a variety of ways to get veterans the feeling of stability again."

Over the last year, Moreno managed 97 veterans with significant barriers to employment and provided them with more than 700 services. Through this work, 29 veterans have gained employment. He works with veterans in Bartholomew, Decatur, Franklin, Jackson and Jennings counties.

"We owe a debt to the brave men and women who have courageously defended our freedoms and our country," said DWD Commissioner Richard Paulk. "While we can never fully repay them for their sacrifices, the services our veterans' outreach specialists provide is one way to show our gratitude. I encourage all veterans struggling to find work to connect with a veterans specialist to learn more about the different possibilities available for gainful employment that can support them and their loving families."

Both specialists received the recognition during the annual Jobs for Veterans State Grants Conference held by DWD. The JVSG program provides federal funding to hire dedicated staff that offer individualized career- and training-related services to eligible persons with significant barriers to employment, as well as other authorized populations, and help employers fill their workforce needs with job-seeking veterans.

November is National Veterans and Military Families Month. To learn more about veterans services available through DWD, visit in.gov/dwd/veterans-services.

Griffin and Moreno are both veterans of the U.S. Army.