Erin has been a spectacular protégé through the ACP mentorship program. I am frequently astounded by how she “does it all” as a military spouse, mother, full-time student, and employee. Erin came into the program with a clear goal to successfully transition her successful education experience into a career in technology. She was already partway through her degree that would give her the formal qualifications. In our first conversation, we dove into all the different facets of what a job in “technology” might mean, talking about areas like cybersecurity, software development, project management, and more. The first few months, we focused on helping her distinguish herself from an intensely competitive application pool. She used a mixture of in-person and virtual meetings to iterate on her resume and cover letters, and we did mock interviews where she could practice telling her story. The Hiring Our Heroes program was key in also helping her connect with unique opportunities that helped filter down to companies already looking for the sort of drive and work ethic that distinguishes Erin.

It was a joy to introduce Erin to a new career. It helped me realize how much “corporate translation” is needed when reading through job descriptions and titles. There were so many opportunities initially that Erin skipped over because she assumed it would need years of experience to be considered or that it wasn’t a role that was a good fit for her. Talking through exactly what the day-to-day responsibilities would be and how greatly titles vary across companies helped her browse through and spend her job searching time more efficiently.

Erin landed a local internship opportunity, finished her degree with honors, and is now actively exploring what’s next. She has a return offer from her internship – a testament to how she continually impresses those who give her a chance on their team. Erin also has several active ongoing processes with other companies for full-time positions. Our most recent mock interview to prepare was a testament to how far she’d come. She is confident in the skills that transferred from her previous work experience, and so hungry to learn more about the new field she is in. She will be continuing to feed this curiosity by doing a master's, partially funded through a scholarship she earned with her academic honors.

And what has been the greatest gift is Erin’s friendship. Over the course of the year, our meetings were more than working sessions, we opened up to each other and shared how life was going. We learned about each other as people, she celebrated my life milestones and I listened to how her days and weeks were going. I am so excited to continue being part of “Team Erin” as she continues to find success!

Mentor: Liz Liang, Arlington, VA, Mastercard

I want to recognize Amy Hutchison for her remarkable clarity of self and purpose. She possesses a deep understanding of who she is and what she stands for, which is reflected in every decision she makes. With unwavering focus, she consistently aligns actions with values, inspiring those around her to live with intention and integrity. Her sense of direction is not just admirable but a true guiding force for others.

In addition to clarity of purpose, Amy has an extraordinary ability to connect with people from all walks of life, across professions and differences. Her open and caring interest in others and empathetic nature make her someone people are naturally drawn to. Whether in moments of success or challenge, she offers a listening ear and thoughtful insight, becoming a trusted confidant and source of support. Her capacity to relate to others, regardless of background, creates a sense of belonging and trust, and many rely on her for guidance, understanding, and encouragement.  For these and so many other reasons, Amy is a pure joy to work with and be inspired by!  

Mentor: Amy Parker, Haw River, NC, UNC Kenan-Flagler Executive Development

I would like to nominate Sarah as an inspiration to other protégés working within the ACP mentorship program.  Sarah is an excellent example of what can be accomplished with dedication and diligence.  I have had the pleasure of working with Sarah over the last several months.  In this time, Sarah has shown her drive and determination to make the most out of the program.  Her commitment to the program and perseverance is proof of what can be achieved. 

Sarah worked with me, meeting monthly, with the goal of changing occupations.  Sarah was in search of a role within a larger company where there would be more room for advancement in her career, with the caveat of working remotely.  As a military spouse, she has relocated eight previous times with another move scheduled for the near future.  The ability to work remotely was pertinent for Sarah so she could meet the needs of her family while also committing to a full-time career.  While finding a role that met this requirement proved to be a challenge, she did not give up on her goals. Throughout our meetings we discussed many topics such as: resumes, interviews, follow ups, networking, resigning from a current role, negotiating salary and benefits, and accepting an offer for employment.  She has always shown gratitude for any information or suggestions I could provide and has been a pleasure to work with.

Sarah’s perseverance and efforts landed her a new role rather quickly.  As proof of her integrity, she provided her current employer advanced notice of her resignation and is currently training her successor.  As she works towards her transition into her new role, I have all the confidence that she will be thoroughly successful.  Sarah has a great work ethic, the desire to learn, the commitment to follow through, and the intelligence to foster success.  I am so proud of what she has accomplished in such a short amount of time. 

Mentor: Julia C. Ewart, Pittsburgh, PA, Citizens Bank

The moment I spoke to Tricia it was obvious that she is intelligent, passionate, and driven.  Tricia has been married for 17 years to an active-duty Navy officer and has moved across the country and been overseas.  (She is resilient and adaptable too!) 

She spent 20 years in the healthcare industry before deciding to spend focused time on the hardest job there is, taking care of her family. Tricia knows that regardless of her next role, she wants to help people in healthcare.  She is very engaged during our mentorship and we enjoy talking, emailing, or texting several times a month.  During our time together, she has fine-tuned her "tell me about yourself" story, continued to build her network, and developed great questions for potential employers. 

She is currently in negotiations for a job offer and is taking the summer to enjoy time with her family. I am excited and fortunate to be part of her journey and look forward to a continued friendship with her! 

Mentor: See-wan Georgiev, San Diego, CA, Align Technology.

Nick and I began our mentorship in late November 2023. At that time, Nick was starting his transition journey and preparing to retire from the U.S. Air Force. Since our initial introduction call, Nick has been proactive in maintaining bi-weekly communication via calls, texts, and LinkedIn messages. Our conversations have expanded to cover pre-retirement requirements, post-military expectations, personal growth, and family interests.

Nick recently retired on May 3rd and relocated his family to Castle Rock, CO, where they plan to stay for the next few years. While he is still looking for a new opportunity in a Learning & Development (L&D) role, Nick has prioritized his family and is focused on ensuring a good work/life balance before returning to the workforce.

Nick’s dedication and commitment to ACP’s mentorship program have made this professional connection one that will exceed the one-year commitment. Thank you, Nick.

Mentor: Jay Villazon, Stafford, VA, Peraton

Stephen Billeter has approached the ACP mentorship with drive and enthusiasm as he transitions into the cybersecurity industry. Cybersecurity is an area Stephen has long been passionate about and is currently completing his degree in.

As part of the ACP mentorship, Stephen has had the opportunity to speak with panels of both defensive and offensive cybersecurity practitioners. These have been a mix of both veterans and non-veterans to enhance perspectives on transition and civilian work.

Another project Stephen has worked on to showcase his technical abilities is a writeup for a “capture-the-flag” style cybersecurity challenge based on packet analysis, an important skill for Security Operations Centers. Stephen’s first in-person meeting with his mentor was at a local Cybersecurity conference, where he attended talks and met future colleagues.

Through this mentorship, Stephen has shown his enormous potential within the cybersecurity industry, and it has been an absolute pleasure advising him.

Mentor: Chris Wheeler, Baltimore, MD, Morgan Stanley