CalTAP & CSUF VRC - Veteran Employment Expo

800 North State College Boulevard,Fullerton CA 92831

30 November, 2022

Description

The California Department of Veterans Affairs, California Transition Assistance Program (CalTAP), in partnership with the California State University, Fullerton, would like to invite student veterans and their families to attend our upcoming event as we provide information and resources that can assist in finding employment. Representatives from local organizations will be on-site to discuss their services and answer any questions you may have for them. In partnership with CalTAP, various speakers will provide a wealth of information to help navigate your transition to civilian life. Agenda TBD Below you will find more information about our guest speakers Michael Cisneros, Training Coordinator CalVet, CalTAP Born in Sacramento, CA, Michael Cisneros joined the United States Air Force out of high school in 2004, and served as a Security Forces leader until the summer of 2007. After he separated from service he went back to school and received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, with a minor in Human Development, from the University of California, Davis. During that time Michael also worked as a student aide within his community college’s financial aid office and eventually became a permanent full-time employee in the admissions and records office. His time in student services over a span of eight years fueled an enthusiasm around assisting individuals and helping them achieve their goals. Michael went back to school and received his Masters of Science in Counseling (Career) from California State University, Sacramento. During that time, he focused most of his research on the veteran community and their unique experiences transitioning into civilian life. He is thrilled to be a part of something that has the ability to alleviate barriers for those individuals, and looks forward to a fulfilling career assisting them in achieving their personal success. Ben Gales, Orange County LINC CalVet Ben Gales’ work involves coordinating with government and nonprofit agencies to improve services for veterans, educating veterans on benefits and services. Ben is a member of the Orange County Veterans and Military Families Collaborative Steering Committee, and is actively involved with many other groups focused on assisting veterans in Orange County. Prior to joining CalVet, Ben worked as an attorney for at the Public Counsel Law Center in Los Angeles where he helped veterans with legal needs at the West Los Angeles Veteran Affairs office. Ben specialized in criminal justice issues and worked to facilitate the creation of Veterans Treatment Courts and other alternative sentencing systems for veterans. His work on veteran related criminal justice issues included serving on multiple local and statewide committees, publishing relevant articles, and testifying before local and state bodies. Ben has also served as a board member and an executive committee member for New Directions for Veterans in Los Angeles. Ben has graduated from Bowdoin College in Maine and University of California, Los Angeles School of Law. Vetforward is a professional and development training initiative to assist and prepare Cal State Fullerton Veteran students for the workforce. A program created through the CSUF Veterans Resource Center, VetForward hosts workshops that cover topics such as resume development, cover letter design, salary negotiations and networking. The VetForward program establishes employment fundamentals as a means to assist CSUF Veterans through their transition from student to working professional. VetForward also creates a space where students can participate in presentations held by industry leaders such as Activision Blizzard King, Indeed, LinkedIn, Department of State and many others. To learn more about VetForward and its career development initiatives, please follow the link here.