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2023 Veterans Conference

The 2023 Veterans Conference will be held at the Grand Hyatt Washington, D.C. on August 2 - 4, 2023. 

2022 Veterans Conference Recap  

The National Association of State Workforce Agencies held its ninth annual Veterans Conference on June 28-30, 2022. It was great to gather in person again for the first time in three years! In addition to four keynote speakers, the event included an employer panel, five other plenary speakers, 18 different workshops and presentation of the Mark Sanders Award for excellence. 

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2023 Veterans Conference Schedule

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The times listed below are in Eastern Time.

Hospitality Desk

Pick up your name badge for the USDOL VETS Sessions and the Veterans Conference
Independence Foyer

Exhibitor Check-in & Set-Up

Independence Foyer

USDOL VETS Session: Listening Session with USDOL VETS Leadership

These sessions are for state workforce agency staff only – SPACE is LIMITED. Registration and Name Badge are required to attend.
Lafayette Park

USDOL VETS Session: Customer Experience (CX) Human-Centered Design Project Briefing Session

These sessions are for state workforce agency staff only – SPACE is LIMITED. Registration and Name Badge are required to attend.
Lafayette Park

Exhibit Showcase

Visit our sponsors and exhibitors in the exhibit hall!
Independence Foyer

Conference Opening Ceremonies

Welcome to the 10th Annual NASWA Veterans Conference, Presentation of Colors, National Anthem, Pledge of Allegiance, Welcome to DC, and Introduction of the NASWA Veterans Affairs Committee and Recognition of Women Veterans in the Audience
Independence Ballroom

Opening Plenary Session

Conference Welcome, A Word from our Gold Sponsor, Living the American Dream
Independence Ballroom

Networking Break

Independence Foyer

Plenary Session

Finding Purpose and Mission, A Word from our Silver Sponsors, WATCHDOGS: Embrace Your Role in Building Stronger, Safer, More Connected Communities, and Mark Sanders Award Presentation
Independence Ballroom

Welcome Reception

Independence Foyer

Hospitality Desk

Independence Foyer

Exhibit Showcase

Visit our sponsors and exhibitors in the exhibit hall! 
Independence Foyer

Conference Breakfast

Independence Ballroom

Plenary Session

NASWA Update and Preventing Veteran Suicide
Independence Ballroom

Networking Break & Coffee Break

Independence Foyer

Plenary Session

Panels | Operation Open Road/Task Force Movement: The Task Force Movement (TFM) was launched at the White House on April 4, 2022, with President Biden, Secretary Buttigieg and the 32nd Under Secretary of the Army, Honorable Patrick J. Murphy, in response to Biden-Harris Trucking Plan...Read more
Independence Ballroom

Conference Luncheon

Independence Ballroom

Concurrent Workshop Session: Entrepreneurship: How to Get Started

Through this discussion, participants will have the opportunity to hear from leaders in this space who will provide tips and resources to help them on their entrepreneurship journey. Panelists will discuss the pathways to entrepreneurship with an emphasis on lessons learned...Read more
Independence D-E

Concurrent Workshop Session: Utilizing Return-to-Work Strategies to Build Career Onramps for Military Spouses and Meet Today’s Workforce Needs

The ongoing worker shortage in the U.S. necessitates businesses digging deeper into underrepresented populations. This creates an opportunity for military spouses, who have an unemployment rate of over 20% due to their military lifestyle. This session will provide innovative career intensives...Read more
Independence F

Concurrent Workshop Session: Bringing Telemedicine to the Veteran Community

This discussion will begin with an overview of the benefits of telehealth for the Veteran community, diving into specific examples that demonstrate how a single telemedicine visit could change the trajectory of a Veteran's health. Then, Dr. Purdy will break down the key barriers...Read more
Independence G

Concurrent Workshop Session: Promising Practice – Texas: Coordinated Mental Health Resources for Service Members, Veterans, and their Families

Come listen as three different Texas state agencies describe how they are coordinating on mental health services, Veteran services, and workforce employment services to Service Members, Veterans, and their Families, through state agencies, local providers, and front-line staff...Read more
Independence H

Concurrent Workshop Session: Promising Practice – North Carolina: Veterans Treatment Court – Striving to Serve

The Veterans Treatment Court (VTC) enhances public safety by connecting justice-involved Veterans to community resources for substance use disorders, mental health conditions and social support promoting lifelong stability. This presentation seeks to provide an overview of the Veterans Treatment Court system...Read more
Independence I

Concurrent Workshop Session: Value of Apprenticeships for Veterans

This workshop presentation describes apprenticeships as a valuable pathway to meaningful careers for Veterans, benefiting both the employer and the community. It also demonstrates how military training makes Veterans strong candidates for apprenticeship programs and provides an example of a successful program with lessons learned...Read more
Lafayette Park

Concurrent Workshop Session: Leveraging the Value of Cross-Sector Partnerships to Create DEI Resources of Value

This presentation will focus on the partnership between IVMF, SHRM, and Comcast. This will be discussed in the context of public-private partnership more generally and identifying the value each partner brings to the table, establishing mutual goals, and establishing key objectives that benefit each partner.
Franklin Square

Concurrent Workshop Session: The Veterans Consortium: Legal Services for Veterans

The Veterans Consortium Pro Bono Program has offered free legal representation to Veterans, their families, and survivors at the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC) since 1992. In 2017, they began a Discharge Upgrade Program, which offers legal representation for Veterans who received an other than honorable discharge...Read more
Farragut Square

Networking Break

Independence Foyer

Concurrent Workshop Session: Veteran Business Owners – Our Journey

After learning about entrepreneur resources available from the Fiserv presentation earlier today, hear from Veteran business owners that have used those resources to start and grow their businesses. Hear how they pivoted during the pandemic and what they learned, what they would do differently and what kind of employees they are looking for.
Independence D-E

Concurrent Workshop Session: Beyond the Basics: Creating a Military-Effective DoD SkillBridge Program

Are you interested in learning how to unlock the true potential of DoD SkillBridge? Join Merideth Cohrs and Star Brown of BufferSprings, for "Beyond the Basics: Creating a Military-Effective DoD SkillBridge Program." At this must-attend event, they will dive deep into the critical ingredients of a high-touch, high-impact program and outline the ineffectiveness...Read more
Independence F

Concurrent Workshop Session: The Effects of PTSD Service Dogs on Service-Related Trauma

Increasingly, greater attention has been given to the roles that animals can play in supporting the health and well-being of Veterans with PTSD, specifically through the use of psychiatric service dogs. Learning objectives include describing PTSD service dogs’ definition, role, and efficacy as well as identifying steps involved in obtaining and implementing a PTSD service dog as a complementary treatment modality.
Independence G

Concurrent Workshop Session: Promising Practice – Florida: Empowering Veterans Through Coordinated Jobs for Veterans State Grant (JVSG) and Workforce Innovation and Opportunity (WIOA) Service Integration

Coordination of WIOA Title I and partner programs is the foundation of the American Job Center and WIOA legislation. Empowering Veterans through the coordination of WIOA, which makes Veterans a priority population, and JVSG, a program dedicated to serving eligible Veterans is the goal of Florida’s Veteran Get There Faster Initiative and CareerSource Palm Beach County’s Careers for Veterans Grant...Read more
Independence H

Concurrent Workshop Session: What’s New at the National Veterans Training Institute, 2023

This session includes representatives of Management Concepts who head the National Veteran’s Training Institute (NVTI). The session will provide a comprehensive overview of NVTI’s expanding Learning Ecosystem, including new and in-development learning opportunities.
Independence I

Concurrent Workshop Session: Trends and Opportunities for Disabled Veteran Employment

This session will cover emerging employment trends with an emphasis on older Veterans, military spouses, caregivers and disabled Veterans who do not participate in the labor force but continue to turn to self-employment as a viable alternative.
Lafayette Park

Concurrent Workshop Session: Brandable: Helping Those You Serve Create A Personal Brand They Can Own (and Love)

In this workshop, Nikki James Zellner, Founder, Where Content Connects, will Introduce you to the idea of intentional content and how to use its "Four C's" to guide those you serve to create personal brands they can step into naturally – because it's who they've always been, and who they were meant to be.
Franklin Square

Concurrent Workshop Session: Workforce Agencies and Legal Aid: Removing Barriers to Employment through Criminal Record Clearing

Understanding that the combined effects of justice involvement, mental health challenges, and the maze of resources can lead justice-involved Veterans away from the services that can provide stability. LAFLA’s Veterans Justice Center and Veterans of Color Advocacy Project will discuss the ways in which strategic partnerships between workforce agencies and Legal Aid service providers...Read more
Farragut Square

Concurrent Workshop Session: What’s Happening In the VETS/JVSG/VA VR&E Space?

As VR&E staff share caseloads across the nation, this has had an impact on how VR&E participants are referred to DVOPs for employment services. Hear about the initiatives taking place to ensure common practices are used among the VR&E and DVOP staff for effective communication.
Independence D-E

Concurrent Workshop Session: Housing our Veterans. A Replicable Model Forged through Public-Private Partnerships

Each year, hundreds of millions of dollars are committed to combatting homelessness, yet Veterans and other vulnerable populations continue to live on the streets. The VBC Giving Foundation's replicable and scalable modular construction model can provide housing for Veterans across the country. We will explain why this model works and how private-public partnerships can create the funding necessary to house our Veterans while providing them with the resources to make their living situation sustainable.
Independence F

Concurrent Workshop Session: Compassion Fatigue Awareness

To keep providing the very best service to our customers, it’s important for our team members to understand compassion fatigue and take steps to build their own support systems. Please join us for an introduction to compassion fatigue provided by one of our own service delivery professionals who has experienced compassion fatigue firsthand during military deployments to the Middle East as well as after his return home.
Independence G

Concurrent Workshop Session: Promising Practice – Oregon - Serving Veterans and Businesses in Rural and Frontier Communities

When we use the term “frontier”, we are referencing those remote areas of Oregon that are outside of smaller, rural cities and towns. It is our feeling that rural and frontier Veterans and businesses deserve the same level and high quality of service as those located in areas where an America’s Job Center is present. The WorkSource Bend office has been proactive in developing various products and forms of communication to engage and support these customers.
Independence H

Concurrent Workshop Session: Off-Base Transition Training – What is it, Where is it, and Who is it for?

This workshop will discuss the Off-Base Transition Training program required in legislation and provided by VETS to improve employment-related outcomes of Veterans and military spouses in areas with high Veteran unemployment.
Independence I

Concurrent Workshop Session: Military to Manufacturing – An Essential Workforce Pipeline

The manufacturing industry has over 604,000 open jobs and is predicted to have 2.1 million unfulfilled jobs by 2030. Veterans are uniquely positioned to step into manufacturing careers, often having technical training, leadership skills, and mission focus. This session will feature an overview of the current state of the manufacturing industry and the Manufacturing Institute’s Heroes MAKE America initiative....Read more
Lafayette Park

Concurrent Workshop Session: Navigating Military Transition and the President’s Management Agenda (PMA) Lifecycle Journey Collaboration

This presentation showcases a multi-year, human-centered design (HCD) research initiative that aims to improve the transition lifecycle journey and experience navigating from military to civilian life.
Franklin Square

Concurrent Workshop Session: Justice Involved Veterans and Veterans in Crisis

Come to this session and learn about the Middlesex County Veterans Diversion program (VDP). This program provides extensive monitoring of a qualified Veteran’s treatment by a mental health provider, the Veterans’ Administration, the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office VDP staff, as well as a volunteer mentor...Read more
Farragut Square

Day 2 Adjourned

Hospitality Desk

Independence Foyer

Exhibit Showcase

Independence Foyer

Conference Breakfast

Independence Ballroom

Plenary Session: Welcome to Day Three

Focus on Military Families: Thirty years as a military spouse has given Patricia Barron a unique insight into the challenges and opportunities facing today’s military family. She is now in an even more unique position as the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Military Community and Family Policy – giving her the opportunity to develop, guide and oversee a broad portfolio of...Read more
Independence Ballroom

Networking Break

Independence Foyer

Closing Plenary Session

The Military Women’s Memorial, From Combat to Comedy, and Closing Remarks
Independence Ballroom

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Conference FAQs

How do I cancel my registration?

In the Registration Confirmation email you received from NASWA Meetings after registering for the conference, follow the instructions to modify your registration. You'll need your confirmation number and the email address used to complete the registration to modify your registration. Click, "Cancel Registration" and follow the instructions to complete your cancellation.

Attendees who cancel and do not transfer their registration will be charged a $50.00 processing fee for cancellations/refunds requested on or before 14 days prior to the start of the event. No refunds will be made for cancellation/refund requests received within 14 days of the event.

If you do not have your confirmation email, please contact NASWA-Meetings@naswa.org to request a duplicate.

How do I transfer my registration to someone else?

In the Registration Confirmation email you received from NASWA Meetings after registering for the conference, follow the instructions to modify your registration. You'll need your confirmation number and the email address used to complete the registration to modify your registration. Click, "Transfer Registration" and follow the instructions to substitute an attendee. 

If you do not have your Registration Confirmation email, please contact NASWA-Meetings@naswa.org to request a duplicate.

How can I download a copy of my registration invoice/receipt?

In the Registration Confirmation email you received from NASWA Meetings after registering for the conference, click the link to view/print your invoice/receipt.

If you do not have your confirmation email, please contact NASWA-Meetings@naswa.org to request a duplicate.

I have a question about a NASWA event. How do I contact NASWA?

If you have a question about a specific NASWA meeting or event, please contact NASWA-Meetings@naswa.org.

What are the cancellation and refund policies?

Attendees who cancel and do not transfer their registration will be charged a $50.00 processing fee for cancellations/refunds requested on or before 14 days prior to the start of the event.

No refunds will be made for cancellation/refund requests received within 14 days of the event.

Contact Us

For more information, please contact: naswa-meetings@naswa.org

2023 Veterans Conference Presentations

Wednesday, August 2, 2023

Listening Session with USDOL VETS Leadership

Session: USDOL VETS Session: Listening Session with USDOL VETS Leadership | Wednesday August 2, 2023 | 12:30 PM
Presenter(s):
  • Bierman, Sarah - USDOL Veterans' Employment and Training Service
  • Toney, Hannah - Management Concepts

USDOL VETS Social Media

Session: Opening Plenary Session | Wednesday August 2, 2023 | 5:30 PM
Presenter(s):
  • Rodriguez, James - USDOL Veterans' Employment and Training Service

Thursday, August 3, 2023

NASWA Update - August 2023

Session: Plenary Session | Thursday August 3, 2023 | 12:30 PM
Presenter(s):
  • Sanders, Scott - National Association of State Workforce Agencies

Preventing Veteran Suicide

Session: Plenary Session | Thursday August 3, 2023 | 12:30 PM
Presenter(s):
  • Burnett, Todd - U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
  • Patton, Theresa - U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

Empowering Veterans Through Program Coordination

Session: Concurrent Workshop Session: Promising Practice – Florida: Empowering Veterans Through Coordinated Jobs for Veterans State Grant (JVSG) and Workforce Innovation and Opportunity (WIOA) Service Integration | Thursday August 3, 2023 | 6:45 PM
Presenter(s):

Navigating Military Transition

Session: Concurrent Workshop Session: Navigating Military Transition and the President’s Management Agenda (PMA) Lifecycle Journey Collaboration | Thursday August 3, 2023 | 8:00 PM
Presenter(s):

Friday, August 4, 2023

From Combat to Comedy

Session: Closing Plenary Session | Friday August 4, 2023 | 1:35 PM
Presenter(s):
  • Johnson, Robin - Therapeutic Humor Facilitator, Comedian, Veteran and Military Spouse

Thanks to Our Sponsors

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  • Bronze