By: Fran McGovern

McGovern Legal Services

Veteran's - An Untapped Source of New Managers

Management companies are constantly looking for talented men and women to fill management positions. In fact, in recent years, it seemed that management companies had a more difficult time finding new managers than they did finding new business.

When I speak of 'new' managers, I mean those who have not worked in the Association industry before. Although filling management positions with lateral hires is, at times, effective, lateral hiring comes with its own problems. For example: lateral hires have internalized the previous firm's culture, lateral hiring is often accompanied by poaching accusations and restrictive covenants may prevent the lateral hire from working at certain Associations or in certain areas.

Seeing military men and women shipping out and returning home on the TV news made me think that veterans would be a great source of new managers. I called former-manager and current management company administrator, Darlene Rasmussen and manager Sharon Stano to get their input. Darlene is an Air Force veteran and Sharon is an Army veteran.

Both Darlene and Sharon agreed that veterans would be a great source of new managers. They both noted that their military training complimented their management careers. They spoke of a 'team work' mentality, organization skills, communication skills and professionalism. Darlene said that she had recently attended an on-base career fair for those transitioning to civilian life and was impressed with the attendees.

Although Darlene has reached out to those leaving the military, Sharon indicated that she did not know that the property management field existed when she was leaving the military or how well her skills gained in the military would transfer to property management. She came upon the field by accident. Sharon felt that most of those leaving the military were ignorant of the property management field. She also agreed that employers may not think of pursuing veterans as job candidates because veterans are often thought of as older and retired when, in fact, veterans are often young, well-trained and eager to begin a new career. For example, a person who enlisted as an eighteen year-old might be 'retired' from the military at thirty-eight but he or she still has many good working years ahead of them.

After talking to Darlene and Sharon, I was convinced that management companies should look to veterans as a source of new managers. The following information that would be helpful in doing this:

Fort Monmouth 'ACAP' career transition may be contacted at (732) 532-6190 and job postings may be sent to angela.okpue@us.army.milor may be faxed to (732)532-6124.

Fort Dix career transition may be contacted at: Attention: Geneva Sturdivant (609) 562-3373 and job postings may be faxed to Geneva at (609) 562-5050.

McGuire Air Force Base transition may be contacted at: Attention: 'EJ' Garland (609) 754-3154 and job postings may be sent to elmo.garland@mcguire.af.milor may be faxed to (609) 754-3827. A job description, location and pay range is requested.

Lakehurst and Earle Naval Stations transition may be contacted at: Attention Susan Enres (732)323-1248.

Also, a nation-wide internet site, focused mainly on the building trades, but also available for candidates not in the building trades may be a resource: www.helmetstohardhats.org