Helping veterans: the power of partnerships in public service

Until yesterday, Tom Burciaga and Kelly Moore were strangers, each dedicating endless hours making sure our veterans were connected with whatever help they needed. Their paths first crossed at the San Bernardino County Workforce Development Board (WDB) hiring and resource fair on Nov. 30, made possible through a partnership with the City of Upland.

Burciaga wears many hats – he is an active community volunteer, sits on various nonprofit boards and public committees, and is the client relations director for Talent Sourcing Direct. But he is most passionate about assisting veterans and advocating for them through his various roles.

Moore has spent over 30 years in management and is now CFO of Moore United Construction, which she co-owns with her brother, Ron, who is also a veteran. In addition to her brother, many of her family members either have served or are serving in the military, including her husband and son, so her appreciation for military service members runs very deep and she has long been supporting local veteran service organizations. Two years ago, she felt compelled to do more, so she founded Valued Veterans Program to better serve those who served us.

When City of Upland Mayor Pro Tem Carlos Garcia learned about various city businesses partnering with the Valued Veterans Program to provide veterans discounts beyond just Veterans Day, he led the effort to be the first city to issue a proclamation declaring November Veterans’ Month, which naturally led them to ask, “What can other partners do to better assist our veterans?”

WDB and the City of Upland brought together various businesses along with partners in public community services and resource providers, including Kelly and Tom, to connect the community to available opportunities and resources. The event hosted 33 employers and resource partners, which did both on-the-spot and scheduled a total of 64 interviews, and we are thrilled to report that 12 job offers were made onsite.

“After making sacrifices to be able to serve our country, veterans deserve our full support. That is why San Bernardino County prioritizes making resources available to all our veterans, in particular those facing challenges as they come back home. These resources are a critical part of improving the quality of life for veterans and their families throughout San Bernardino County, and we are grateful and proud to be able to offer these programs and services,” said Dawn Rowe, chair of the County Board of Supervisors.

“Tom and Kelly are only one example of the importance of the partnerships and collaborations that the San Bernardino County Workforce Development has with various service providers in the region,” said William Sterling, WDB Chairman. “We value all the hard work of our partners and service providing organizations, which makes this type of community impact possible.”

Tom and Kelly are now connected and are discussing how their organizations can join forces for greater impact in serving our region’s veterans. San Bernardino County Workforce Development is proud to make these powerful partnerships and collaborations possible.

To get connected to workforce resources, please visit workforce.sbcounty.gov or call (800) 451-JOBS (5627) or follow us on social media @SBCWorkforce.

Additional County Update News – December 8, 2023