Recently, my office was contacted by a family member of a decorated soldier who had retired after serving 20 years in the Army at Fort Drum. In addition to serving the Army with distinction, he found the time to take college courses, earn a bachelor’s degree in business management, and raise a family. Armed with the leadership experience from the military and his college degree, it seemed that transitioning into civilian life and finding his next career would be easy.

Unfortunately, this soldier’s experience proved otherwise. He submitted hundreds of résumés to businesses throughout Central and Northern New York and received few interviews. When he did secure an interview, this veteran was told by a number of employers that they were unsure how his military experience could translate into “civilian employment.” Months went by and he still didn’t have a job. As you can imagine, facing these barriers to employment was frustrating, financially straining, and disappointing for him and his family. He proudly served our country and took pride with what he accomplished, yet his service was acting as a barrier to his next steps in life. It took more than four months for this veteran to finally land a job. Unfortunately, his experience is not an isolated instance and many veterans find it difficult to find a job after serving.

According to a report by the Institute for Veterans and Military Families at Syracuse University, the Bureau of Labor Statistics found that veterans who served post-9-11 face higher unemployment rates when compared to non-veterans and veterans who served during different time periods. These findings are concerning because employment plays an important role to transitioning into post-military life and has a positive impact on veterans’ lives. When employers hire veterans, they are getting a proven set of talented employees who are able to adapt, exhibit strong leadership and organizational skills, and have experience working in a team setting.

Some of the barriers to employment appear to be the lack of knowledge by employers about skills acquired in the military, how they can translate to their workforce and a lack of knowledge of existing programs that have been designed to help veterans with education, training, and employment.

New York State has some programs designed to help veterans to transition to civilian life and find employment. The New York State Division of Veterans’ Affairs has veterans’ benefit advisers who work with veterans on a case-by-case basis to connect them with services and benefits that may be available to them and their family. Contact them at (888) 838-7697 or online at http://www.veterans.ny.gov/. If a veteran is only looking for employment assistance, the Department of Labor has local veterans’ employment representatives at most career centers throughout the state. They specialize in advocating on behalf of veterans with business, industry, and community organizations to promote employment and training opportunities for veterans. They also provide services including job matching and job placement for veterans, conduct employer outreach, inform federal contractors of the process to hire qualified veterans, and promote credentialing and licensing opportunities for veterans. To find one nearby, visit www.labor.ny.gov/vets/employspec/veteransemployspec.shtm or call (888) 469-7365.

In addition to state programs, there are a number of locally established organizations whose mission is to help veterans transition. Clear Path for Veterans is a resource center that partners with local businesses and organizations to connect veterans and their families to resources they need. The Clear Path Employment Program aims to empower veterans and provides career-services support customized to the individual. Any veteran who seeks to start a career or desires to continue in his or her current workplace can benefit from a call or visit to Clear Path for Veterans. In addition to employment services, it offers programs for children of military families and spouses, recreational programs, and a “wingman” program that pairs new veterans with other veterans who can provide support and guidance. To find out more, visit http://www.clearpath4vets.com/ or call (315) 687-3300.

The Institute for Veterans and Military Families at Syracuse University is another organization that is dedicated to this issue. In addition to acting as a bridge between veterans, government, and employers, it also provides resources to veterans for employment opportunities and entrepreneurship. The institute’s focus is dual in nature — helping veterans transition into civilian life and to provide training and tools for employers so they can adopt strategies to make hiring military veterans a priority. To learn more about this program, visit http://vets.syr.edu/

As more men and women leave military service and enter civilian life, it is important for the state and the federal government to be responsive to their needs. We have a moral obligation to the men and women who sacrificed so much to protect and serve our great country. Their service to our country should not go unrecognized and certainly should not act as barrier to employment.

William (Will) A. Barclay is the Republican representative of the 120th New York Assembly District, which encompasses most of Oswego County, including the cities of Oswego and Fulton, as well as the town of Lysander in Onondaga County and town of Ellisburg in Jefferson County. Contact him at barclaw@assembly.state.ny.us, or (315) 598-5185.

Many people are talking about Minority and Women Owned Business Enterprise (MWBE) certification. What does it mean for your business?

It can be a great way to open up many new business opportunities within your industry. No, you will not automatically win grants by having this certification and no, it does not ensure you will get a bid on a job you are seeking. However, certification will give you an edge over a business that is not certified in winning contracts from the government.

The benefit of becoming a certified MWBE business is that it puts you on a New York State (NYS) directory of certified minority and women-owned business enterprises list. This enables the state agencies and authorities, prime contractors, vendors, municipalities, subcontractors, and the private sector to look at companies that are certified to help to meet the NYS requirement of 30 percent of the project being performed by minority or women-owned businesses. As a certified MWBE, your company will have access to a variety of loan and bonding programs as well as programs that provide technical assistance.

Who qualifies as an MWBE company? To be certified as a minority or women-owned business, you must be an independently owned and operated business authorized to do business in NYS that is at least 51 percent owned and controlled by a minority member or a woman. That means the principal owner, whether minority or woman, must have knowledge of the day-to-day practices of the business and have a vested interest. The days of the wife taking over ownership on paper, but not really knowing the day-to-day business are over.

Now, let’s get down to business. What do you need to do in order to obtain the certification? You will need to fill out an online application by visiting the Empire State Development website at www. esd.ny.gov.

When you apply for the certification, you will need certain documentation. That includes the following, according to the MWBE Certification Planning Guide produced by the New York Small Business Development Center:

1.Résumés of all principals, partners, officers, and/or key employees of the firm

2. Bank signature card, bank resolution, or letter from the bank identifying persons authorized to conduct transactions on behalf of firm and level of authority and limitations, if any

3. Notarized personal financial statement for each minority or woman upon whom certification is based along with appropriate supporting documentation

4. Year-end balance sheets and income statements for the past three years (or life of firm, if less than three years); a new business must provide a current balance sheet

5. Firm’s tax returns for the past three years and all related statements, schedules, and amendments 

6. Personal tax returns for the past two years for each minority or woman upon whom certification is based, including all schedules, W2s, statements, and amendments

7. Descriptions of all real estate owned/leased (including office/storage spaces, etc.) and documented proof of ownership/signed leases

8. Documented proof of contributions used to acquire ownership for each owner (i.e., both sides of cancelled checks)

9. Schedule of salaries paid to all officers, managers, owners, and/or directors (or other compensation or remuneration)

10. Proof of U.S. citizenship or permanent resident alien status and ethnicity (if applicable)

11. Appropriate proof of company formation, registration, publication, and/or assumed name (depends on type of company formed; please see actual application for details)

If applicable: 

12. Operating agreement and any amendments

13. Proof of gender

14. Proof of minority status

15. Copy of the New York State Vendor Tax Registration

16. Proof of business activity in the form of a signed contracted or purchase order

17. Copies of all licenses, permits, certifications, and/or accreditations utilized by this firm to conduct business, including those held by individuals

18. Any certification, decertification, or denial-of-certification documentation

Note: This is only a sample listing. A more complete checklist can be found online at www.ny.gov/services/apply-mwbe-certification-new-york-state

Out-of-state businesses also might want to apply for the NYS MWBE certification. They must be certified in their home state first before applying to NYS. 

Of course there are some online application tips to keep in mind.

1. You must answer all the questions and complete each section. If a section is not applicable, you must say that — do not leave it blank

2. Click “save & return” constantly

3. After uploading a document, be sure to select “Lock In” to ensure that it is saved

4. Print a hard copy of entries

5. Complete the electronic signature required to submit the application

6. Each section offers a self-help option — take advantage of that.

This certification is a great way to help you gain an edge in doing contract work with the government. However, don’t forget just because you are placed on a list, it doesn’t mean you will automatically have job opportunities flooding your gates. You still have to market yourself, network in the right circles, and have a good reputation in your field as well. The hard work will pay off in the end and you will be glad you became certified as an MWBE.

Melissa Zomro, a former small-business owner in the equine industry, is a New York State-certified business advisor at the Small Business Development Center at Onondaga Community College. Contact her at m.l.zomro@sunyocc.edu or call (315) 498-6066.