A Trying Transition
Finding work at this moment in history is as hard as has ever been, and our veterans often face the toughest climb to get back to work after their service. Many service members transition out of the military without so much as a resume. Hire Heroes USA is an organization that works every day to help bridge that gap. They recently celebrated a serious milestone—100,000 veterans placed.
“Every veteran I’ve worked with embodies integrity, adaptability, and determination, traits that not only enrich the companies they join but also drive meaningful, positive change within those organizations.”
In her tenure as the Serving Spouses Program Manager for Hire Heroes, Kelly Grivner-Kelly has personally guided over 1,000 military spouses through their career transitions. As a Transition Specialist, she works military spouses from the beginning of the job search to the end, tirelessly coaching, listening, encouraging and assisting them with anything they need to get back to work. From building resumes to preparing for interviews to perfecting civilian dress, Kelly’s guidance is only a phone call away.
A Passion to Persevere
A military spouse herself, Kelly is proudly married to her own personal hero, Staff Sergeant Jonathan Kelly, who began his service in the United States Air Force in 2012. Staff Sergeant Kelly comes from a long line of servicemen and women. Both of his parents served in the Navy and his great-grandfather was the Navy’s very first Frogman, John P. Spence. Kelly and Jon met cute through mutual friends. One of the first things she said to him was “Hey, my first name is Kelly and your last name is Kelly. We should get married.”
“Working with veterans has deeply shaped my own understanding of resilience. It’s not just about enduring challenges; it’s about adapting, growing, and thriving in the face of adversity. Veterans often face numerous hurdles, from learning how to navigate the civilian job market to overcoming personal and professional obstacles.”
In 2023, Jon and Kelly encountered a serious hurdle of their own—the birth of their daughter. Faced with the realities of raising a child, her husband Jon made the difficult decision to separate from the Air Force after 11 years of service, and Kelly experienced firsthand the stress and disappointment of job seeking as a veteran. Knowing from experience that “it only takes one company to see the value of his military leadership experience” kept her going. After hundreds of tedious applications and difficult rejections, Jon finally secured him a leadership role at a company that understood his value.
This International Women’s Day, we’ll be raising a glass to Kelly for her kindness, resilience, and service.
