Reflecting on 20 Years of Service

With Veterans Day just around the corner, our founder and longtime board member John Bardis and our Chairman of the Board, Brian Stann, took time to reflect on Hire Heroes USA's 20 years of service.

Click the videos below to hear their thoughts on how the organization has grown and adapted to meet the evolving needs of veterans and military spouses across the nation.

For two decades, Hire Heroes USA has redefined what career transition support looks like. From our early days helping veterans translate military experience into civilian resumes to today’s data-informed, skills-based coaching model, our approach has continually evolved to meet the changing needs of veterans and military spouses nationwide.

Johnathan Severs, the Director of Hire Heroes USA's Client Programs, shares how that evolution unfolded—and how personalized, one-on-one guidance has become the foundation of every client’s success story.

To read the full blog detailing how our programs have transformed, and for career tips based on Severs’ own journey as a veteran, click here!

Some paths to service begin with duty—others with family. Before joining the military, Romaine planned to attend Florida Memorial College in Miami, to study Political Science, with hopes of one day serving in public office or federal law enforcement. When tragedy struck and family circumstances changed, he made the decision to enlist in the United States Army to care for his three younger sisters.

After separating from the military, Romaine faced the unfamiliar challenge of finding his place in the civilian workforce. With limited work experience and little knowledge of how to navigate the civilian job market, he connected with Hire Heroes USA. His Transition Specialist equipped him with the tools, confidence, and resources necessary to secure meaningful employment. With that support, he landed his first civilian position as an Assistant Director of College Admissions for a nonprofit university.

The impact of Hire Heroes USA inspired him to give back and help others the way they helped him. Driven by that purpose, he joined the Hire Heroes USA team and was later promoted to Georgia Program Manager—a role that allows him to meet veterans and military spouses across the state, connecting them to one-on-one personalized support, community partners, and local resources.

One of his proudest moments came when he helped a homeless veteran rebuild his life—connecting him to housing resources, securing free transportation, and supporting his job search until he found stable employment.

His advice for transitioning service members and military spouses is simple but powerful: There’s no such thing as too much planning when it comes to preparing for civilian life. Reach out early and connect with organizations like Hire Heroes USA—they can truly change your life.

Romaine’s story is a testament to resilience and service beyond the uniform—a reminder that true leadership continues long after military service ends.

Since 2017, Tito's Handmade Vodka has been dedicated to supporting veterans and military spouses, contributing more than $500,000 to further Hire Heroes USA’s mission. What began as a single sponsorship has grown into a multi-faceted collaboration that spans fundraising, awareness, and community engagement.

Through the Love, Tito's online merch and retail store in Austin, Texas, Tito’s features Hire Heroes USA as one of the benefitting nonprofits, helping to fund personalized career services for the military community. In October 2024, we had the honor of sharing our mission with the entire Tito’s team, highlighting how supporters can make an impact. And this November, Tito’s will once again champion our Veterans Day Campaign as the Matching Sponsor, generously doubling donations up to $30,000—their third year in a row leading this important initiative.

“At Tito’s Handmade Vodka, we've had the honor of supporting Hire Heroes USA’s work for nearly a decade. Inspired by their mission and the positive impact they’re making for veterans and their spouses, what started as a single sponsorship of a fundraising event has grown to be so much more. From supporting their events, to running matching campaigns in honor of Veterans Day, to being one of the featured nonprofits at our Love, Tito’s merch store, we’re grateful to have the chance to be a small part of the incredible work Hire Heroes USA has done and continues to do for the veteran community.” — Lindsey Bates, Sr. Director of Philanthropy, Tito’s Handmade Vodka

We’re grateful for Tito’s continued generosity and for their ongoing belief in our mission to empower the military community—one career at a time.

Looking to create meaningful, measurable impact? Let’s work together. Visit our website.

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Stand with veterans and military spouses—every single month.

Your monthly support powers consistent, reliable services for veterans and military spouses nationwide. Just $19 a month helps ensure every client has access to one-on-one personalized career guidance—when and where they need it most.

Be a part of the mission and give today.

Explore more ways Hire Heroes USA empowers clients on their path to civilian career success.