Veterans Speed Networking Event Brings Employment, Education, Healthcare, Counseling, Oral History & More Dec. 13, 10-2, to Convention Center in Philly

Between 10 am and 2 pm on Friday, December 13, the same weekend that the Army-Navy game comes to town, a SMART (Strengthening the Mid-Atlantic Region for Tomorrow) Veterans Speed Networking Event, will be held as a Community Service Project of the Sports & Education Expo, (www.SportsEducationExpo.com) at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Room 103, at the Arch and 12th Street entrance, free for veterans, military spouses and military service members.

The event is designed to help participants transition into the civilian workforce in a low-pressure manner, by repeatedly practicing their interviewing skills with a succession of potential employers, spending 4 minutes with each. Those potential employers will gain the opportunity to meet as many candidates as possible in the shortest time. In addition, veterans will have access to educational opportunities, health care information, counseling, and other veteran services and resources at the event. Interested veterans can also be interviewed for a Library of Congress audio-recording by Pennsylvania court reporters for 30 minutes about their military experience. A complimentary audio recording is also available to interested veterans. To advance schedule an oral history interview between 10 and 2 on December 13, call 856-546-1214 or contact kathymchhugh@verizon.net.

SMART works to enhance technology-based economic development, international trade, technology education and workforce development on behalf of academia, industry, government labs/agencies and professional associations in DE, MD, NJ and PA to increase national leadership and global competitiveness.

There is a range of exhibitor and sponsorship opportunities available for employers of various size companies, academia, not-for profits, and government/veteran service organizations. The latter group will be provided complimentary exhibit space with limited availability.

Interested veterans and employers can contact Bob Carullo at, 609-304-2904, bcarullo@smartstates.com, or register online at http://calendar.cal.basecampbusiness.com/node/575190 To learn more about the entire Expo weekend of December 13-15, also free to veterans, visit www.SportsEducationExpo.com.

“Many veterans are unemployed and struggle in interviews,” according to Veterans Speed Networking Event Co-Chair, 32-year US Air Force veteran Mike Ferraro, retired Command Chief Master Sergeant, and Strategic Accounts Director for Veterans Recruitment & Initiatives at The Judge Group, a consulting, staffing and training company, based in West Conshohocken. Ferraro added, “Most veterans find it challenging to explain how their leadership traits and technical abilities can translate to the civilian workforce, which is why an opportunity like this is so critical. A similar event held last June at the Wells Fargo Center resulted in 18 jobs out of 63 candidates participating. This contrasts sharply with the 5% of veterans who get hired at traditional job fairs.”

Bob Carullo, Executive Director of SMART, Sabre Systems Director of Strategic Partnerships and US Army veteran said, “This event will be the SMART Veterans Affairs (VA) Group’s third major event since 2011, supported by six active working sessions. Mike Ferraro, new Deputy Chair of the Group is doing a great job continuing our past successes.” Carullo and Ferraro are also supported by Anita Zalewski-Johnson, Managing Director of PSE Co., a professional services firm specializing in contract staffing, managed services and executive recruitment in Philadelphia, who is SMART’s Workforce Chair, and Gloria Sinclair Miller, President of the Philadelphia Regional Chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). Further SMART VA Group support comes from many Congressional offices with active VA staffers and collaboration from the US VA and State/County VA offices, including Congressman Jon Runyan, (NJ-3), SMART Caucus Leader and Chair of the House VA Subcommittee for Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.   

The Managing Partners of the Sports & Education Expo will host the event, additionally enabling veterans to participate free in all three days of the Sports & Education Expo, Dec. 13-15. The Expo merges youth sports, education and health & wellness resources via talks from sports celebrities, experts in sports health, coaching, parenting, psychology and education, with autographs, demonstrations, interactive activities, workshops and exhibits, including participation from all of the Pro Philadelphia sports teams and a college planning fair. 

According to Sports & Education Expo Managing Partner Perry Gold, “We expect this event to be well attended and become a regular part of our annual Expo in Philadelphia. The Veterans Career Speed Networking Event is taking place the same day as our Expo’s Professional Development Day. The rest of the weekend is geared to families, students, sports teams and organizations.” Gold added, “We’re proud to have the opportunity to honor our heroes and happy to also have several military personnel participating in the entire weekend Expo to gain required community service hours.”

Interested veterans and employers can contact Bob Carullo at, 609-304-2904 or bcarullo@smartstates.com or register online at  http://calendar.cal.basecampbusiness.com/node/575190  For more information about the entire Expo weekend of December 13-15, visit www.SportsEducationExpo.com.