For the 10th consecutive year, the the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Hiring Our Heroes program recognized its award recipients with custom recognition awards from Bennett Awards. Each year, the Hiring Our Heroes program honors the tremendous contributions of those who have gone above and beyond to help our nation’s heroes by honoring companies, organizations, and individuals with awards that recognize their contributions. These awards spotlight companies and individuals that have developed and applied best practices for addressing the employment challenges faced by America’s veterans, transitioning service members, and military spouses.
Award recipients were recognized at a virtual awards gala held November 18, 2020. The 2020 recipients of these Hiring Our Heroes Awards were:
Lee Anderson Veteran and Military Spouse Employment Award, for overall excellence in hiring and retaining veterans, transitioning service members, and military spouses in the private sector: Amazon
Steve Robinson Post-9/11 Veteran Employment Award, for effective and sustained efforts to enhance the ability of post-9/11 veterans and transitioning service members to find meaningful employment: Salesforce
Wounded Veteran and Military Caregiver Employment Award, for demonstrated leadership in addressing the unique challenges and demands for wounded, ill, and injured veterans as well as military caregivers in their search for meaningful employment: United States Postal Service
Colonel Michael Endres Leadership Award for Individual Excellence in Veteran Employment, for an individual who has gone above and beyond to make a difference in employment opportunities for veterans, transitioning service members, and spouses: Jim Beamesderfer
Military Spouse Employment and Mentoring Award, for demonstrated hiring, mentorship, and support of military spouses in their search for meaningful employment: First Command Financial Services, Inc.
Capital One Small Business Award, for demonstrated leadership by veteran-owned small business in grassroots community and social impact: JDog Junk Removal
Military Community Nonprofit Leadership Award, for demonstrated commitment to supporting veteran and military spouse employment and economic opportunity: Operation Gratitude
President’s Award for Lifetime Achievement, for a lifetime of commitment and service to veterans and military families: Schultz Family Foundation
In 2011, the inaugural year of this program, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce commissioned Bennett Awards to create a set of custom sculpture awards for its award recipients. The unique award design created by Bennett Awards was based on a figurative sculpture of a combat serviceman on patrol. These unique sculpture awards are cast in bronze and feature a golden brown patina finish. The sculptures are mounted on hardwood bases with plates engraved with the U.S. Chamber logo, award name, recipient name, and a brief explanation of the meaning behind the award.