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C
ampus Director of Student Affairs
Gloria Hicks was watching the news.
She kept seeing stories about veterans
returning home only to find no jobs
available. “All those veterans not knowing
what they were going to do, it just
bothered me so much,” says Hicks.
She began talking to members of the
campus chapter of the Student Veterans
of America. Then, she met Connie
Inggs, Director of the USO of Raleigh-
Durham, who suggested a job fair. As
discussions progressed, it became clear
that a comprehensive
approach was needed.
The campus team
designed an event
filled with resources,
including workshops
for resume writing,
interviewing skills,
networking, education,
stress meditation, and
tips for transitioning to
civilian life.
Staff reached out
to the local Veterans
Administration,
National Guard, and nearby military
installations to notify local veterans.
More than 130 of them showed up,
along with 30 employers. Laurence
Serrone was among those in attendance.
A network security graduate, he was
offered a position with Verizon that very
day. “It was a terrific experience,” says
Laurence. “It really feels good when
someone appreciates your service and
they are willing to help.”
“The USO’s mission is to lift the spirit of
our troops and their families, so events
like these are essential to fulfilling that
commitment,” says Inggs. “It’s clear that
ECPI University shares our passion and
is, therefore, an ideal partner.”
“It was a real privilege to partner with
the USO of North Carolina,” says Hicks.
“Our brave service members sacrifice so
much for all of us; we were honored to be
of service to them.”
Military Job Fair Draws More than 130 Attendees and 30 Employers
Partnering with USO, ECPI University Delivers Comprehensive Support for Veterans
ECPI Network Security Program Director Mike Taylor
facilitating a panel of hiring managers.
T
he U.S. Small Business
Administration has named ECPI
University employment partner Noah
Leask the 2013 South Carolina Small
Business Person of the Year. Leask is
president and chief executive officer of
ISHPI Information Technologies, Inc., a
cyber-defense business that provides
counterterrorism and cyber warfare
services to the U.S. intelligence, security
and military communities.
Leask, a service-disabled U.S. Navy
veteran, and his wife and fellow Navy
veteran, Lisa, started the company out
of their home in September 2006. A
member of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe
of Chippewa Indians, Leask called the
business ISHPI, a Chippewa word that
means “move forward,” which is exactly
what he did. By 2008, the company
had landed several multi-year
defense contracts and closed
the year with just under
$2 million in revenue.
By the end of 2012, ISHPI had
doubled its revenues over the
prior year and garnered multiple
business honors. The company
currently has 109 employees
with facilities in Suffolk and
Alexandria, Virginia, and San
Antonio, Texas in addition to
its Mount Pleasant, South Carolina
headquarters.
The company is also dedicated
to community service. It has four
major community service programs:
the Exceptional People Program,
supporting programs for the
developmentally disabled; Warrior
Program, providing mentorship
services to veterans and active duty
service members; Native American
Pride Program, offering undergraduate
scholarships to members of the Sault
Ste. Marie tribe; and the Save Second
Base Program, supporting the National
Breast Cancer Foundation.
Employment Partner Named South Carolina
Small Business Person of the Year
Attendee Laurence Serrone was offered a position
as a network engineer with Verizon.