Afterburner, Inc. was named a finalist for the 4th Annual U.S. Chamber's Hiring Our Heroes Award for Small Business Veteran and Military Spouse Employment for demonstrating excellence in hiring and retaining veterans, transitioning service members, and military spouses. The awards recognize businesses in six categories for their efforts to enhance employment opportunities for veterans and military families. The winners will be announced at the awards dinner on November 12, 2014. Hiring Our Heroes was launched in 2011 by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation to help veterans and military spouses find jobs through hiring fairs across the country and partnerships with businesses.

1. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE–November 10, 2014 Contact: Kim Morton (202) 463-5725
Afterburner, Inc. Named Finalist for 4th
Annual
U.S. Chamber’s Hiring Our Heroes Award
Distinction for Small Business Who Demonstrates Overall Excellence in Hiring and
Retaining Veterans, Transitioning Service Members, and Military Spouses
WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation today announced that
Afterburner, Inc. is one of three finalists for the 4th
Annual Hiring Our Heroes Capital One Award for
Small Business Veteran and Military Spouse Employment. Afterburner is among the 22 businesses
and individuals nominated for six awards because of demonstrated overall excellence as a small
business hiring and retaining veterans, transitioning service members, and military spouses.
“Afterburner has been a true small business leader in the movement to hire and support our nation’s
veterans and military spouses,” said Eric Eversole, vice president at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce
and executive director of Hiring Our Heroes. “Afterburner understands the value in hiring the men and
women who have served our country and has dedicated extraordinary efforts toward improving the
lives of America’s veterans and military spouses.”
The Hiring Our Heroes awards are given in six categories: Veteran and Military Spouse Employment;
Post-9/11 Veteran Employment; Recovering Warrior and Military Caregiver Employment; Military
Spouse Employment and Mentoring; Small Business Veteran and Military Spouse Employment; and
Individual Leadership. This year’s finalists are:
Lee Anderson Veteran and Military Spouse Employment Award, for overall excellence in hiring
and retaining veterans, transitioning service members, and military spouses: Capital One; Hospital
Corporation of America (HCA); Ryder; Union Pacific Railroad
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: The Home
Depot; Lockheed Martin; USAA; Verizon Communications

2. Don Weber Recovering Warrior 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: Deloitte; Anthony Odierno –
JPMorgan Chase & Co.; Southwest Airlines; Volt Workforce Solutions
Military Spouse Employment and Mentoring Award, for demonstrated hiring, mentorship, and
support of military spouses in their search for meaningful employment: Military Officers Association
of America (MOAA); Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A.; USAA
Capital One Award for Small Business Veteran and Military Spouse Employment, for
demonstrated leadership by a small business or organization (less than 500 employees) in hiring
veterans, transitioning service members, and military spouses: Afterburner, Inc.; Lock-n-Load Java;
FASTPORT
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: Frank Bisignano, Chairman and CEO, First
Data Corporation; Derek Blake, Vice President of Marketing and Military Programs, La Quinta Inns
& Suites; Chris Phillips, Military Recruiter, PNC Bank; CSM(R) Robert Van Pelt, Program
Coordinator of Family Programs, New York National Guard
The winners in each category will be announced at the 4th
Annual Lee Anderson Hiring Our Heroes
Awards Dinner at the U.S. Chamber on November 12, 2014. The Hiring Our Heroes Awards
Committee will select the winners.
Hiring Our Heroes launched in March 2011 as a nationwide initiative to help veterans and military
spouses find meaningful employment. Working with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s vast network
of state and local chambers and other strategic partners from the public, private, and non-profit
sectors, the goal is to create a movement across America in hundreds of communities where veterans
and military families return every day. To date, Hiring Our Heroes has hosted more than 820 hiring
fairs in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia, and Germany, helping 25,000 veterans and
military spouses find jobs.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation (USCCF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit affiliate of the U.S.
Chamber of Commerce dedicated to strengthening America’s long-term competitiveness by
addressing developments that affect our nation, our economy, and the global business environment.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation (USCCF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit affiliate of the U.S.
Chamber of Commerce dedicated to strengthening America’s long-term competitiveness by
addressing developments that affect our nation, our economy, and the global business environment.

3. HiringOurHeroes.org @HiringOurHeroes FreeEnterprise.com
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Hiring Our Heroes (HOH)
1615 H Street, NW
Washington, DC 20062-2000
hiringourheroes.org