MVAA Presents 2025 Employment and Education Innovator Awards

EATON RAPIDS, Mich.  –  Last week, the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency (MVAA) hosted the 2025 Employment and Education Innovator Awards for Michigan employers and academic institutions at a luncheon at the VFW National Home in Eaton Rapids. The Innovator Awards recognize academic institutions and employers enrolled in MVAA's Veteran-Friendly Employer (VFE) and Veteran-Friendly School (VFS) programs for developing new processes, methods, technologies or innovative services that will radically improve or transform experiences for veterans within their organization.

MVAA recognizes employers that commit to military veteran recruitment, training and retention practices by awarding those employers Gold, Silver and Bronze level status as VFE. This program helps qualified organizations recruit and retain top veteran talent while providing others a road map to improve their recruitment efforts.

MVAA also recognizes academic institutions that commit to support the needs of veterans and military-connected students by awarding Gold, Silver and Bronze level status as a VFS based on their veteran-centric services.

2025 MVAA Employment Innovator Awardees include:

Consumers Energy — Gold-level Veteran-Friendly Employer

Pictured left to right: MVAA Director Brian L. Love, Trevor Bissett, Andrew Martinez, Sarah Czarnowski, Steven Belknap and MVAA Employment Analyst Erik Schreur

Award Citation: Consumers Energy is recognized with the 2025 Employment Innovator Award for its outstanding commitment to supporting veterans in the workforce. The company strengthened its partnerships with military transition programs, including testifying before Congress to advocate for increased funding for Transition Assistance Program offices and the SkillBridge program. Consumers Energy continues to create strong career pathways—placing nearly 300 veterans in gas construction roles to date. The company has expanded its U.S. Department of Labor-registered apprenticeship offerings, enabling 107 veterans to use GI Bill benefits for hands-on training. Additionally, through over $10,000 in donations and volunteer efforts at more than ten veteran-focused events, Consumers Energy shows its deep dedication to the veteran community. 

Perrin Sportswear — Bronze-level Veteran-Friendly Employer

Pictured left to right: Christa Makoski, Karie Droge and MVAA Employment Analyst Erik Schreur

Award Citation: Perrin Sportswear is recognized with the 2025 Employment Innovator Award for going above and beyond in support of the veteran community. Driven by a genuine desire to give back, Perrin Sportswear voluntarily stepped forward to make a difference—donating ten large boxes of clothing to Hero/Shero’s Corner, an organization dedicated to supporting underserved and homeless veterans. This act of generosity has had a meaningful impact on veterans across West Michigan, especially during the harsh winter months. By choosing to act without prompting and extending compassion where it’s needed most, Perrin Sportswear exemplifies the spirit of service that this award celebrates.

Founders Brewing Company — Bronze-level Veteran-Friendly Employer

Pictured left to right: MVAA Director Brian L. Love, Lindsey Rodarmer, Marklyn Behling, Devin O’Rourke and MVAA Employment Analyst Erik Schreur

Award Citation: Founders Brewing Company is recognized with the 2025 Employment Innovator Award for its heartfelt and impactful efforts in supporting Michigan veterans. Demonstrating initiative and compassion, Founders Brewing Companies' staff launched an in-house coat drive, collecting and donating 50 winter coats to Volunteers of America. This thoughtful contribution provided warmth and dignity to veterans experiencing homelessness during Michigan’s brutal winter season. Beyond this generous act, Founders Brewing Company maintains a strong partnership with the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency’s Mental Health and Suicide Prevention team. Together, they are advancing critical initiatives, including planning a landlord education session and expanding resource-sharing efforts to better connect veterans with the support they deserve. Through grassroots action and strategic collaboration, Founders Brewing Company exemplifies what it means to serve those who have served.

2025 MVAA Education Innovator Awardees include:

St. Clair County Community College — Gold-level Veteran-Friendly School

Pictured left to right: MVAA Director Brian L. Love, Niall Farley and MVAA Education Analyst Joe Saur

Award Citation: St. Clair County Community College is recognized for its innovative support of student veterans through the creation and hosting of open houses in the Veterans Lounge. These well-attended events have provided a welcoming space for veterans to connect, collaborate, and engage in academic and social support. By fostering a strong sense of community and belonging, the college has helped strengthen peer networks and promote educational success among its veteran population. This initiative demonstrates a thoughtful and inclusive approach to veteran engagement, emphasizing the importance of connection beyond the classroom. St. Clair County Community College has set a commendable example for how institutions can create impactful spaces that empower veterans to thrive.

Macomb Community College — Gold-level Veteran-Friendly School

Pictured left to right: MVAA Director Brian L. Love, Kara Fields, Nicole McKee, Donald Hutchison and MVAA Education Analyst Joe Saur

Award Citation: Macomb Community College is recognized for its innovative Michigan Maritime Manufacturing Training Program (M3), a veteran-first initiative that offers tuition-free training for high-demand careers in defense manufacturing. With guaranteed program access for veterans and starting wages of $23–$25 per hour, M3 creates a direct path to building submarines and military vehicles critical to national security. In partnership with the U.S. Navy and industry leaders, the program aims to train over 384 skilled workers by 2027 while strengthening the maritime industrial base. This forward-thinking approach not only supports veterans’ career transitions but also reinforces a critical national workforce pipeline. Macomb Community College’s leadership in veteran workforce development sets a strong example of how education, industry and defense can collaborate for meaningful, lasting impact.

Washtenaw Community College — Gold-level Veteran-Friendly School

Pictured left to right: MVAA Director Brian L. Love, Carol Osborne, Kayla Lugo and MVAA Education Analyst Joe Saur

Award Citation: Washtenaw Community College is recognized for hosting the innovative Veterans Adventure League, a unique initiative that uses tabletop gaming to foster connection, promote mental wellness and deliver vital resources to veterans, service members and their families. By transforming a familiar activity into a platform for peer support and emotional resilience, the college has created a trusted, inclusive space where participants can build relationships and access life-saving support. With a courageous focus on suicide prevention, this program exemplifies how creative, community-centered strategies can address some of the most urgent challenges facing the veteran population. Washtenaw Community College's commitment to veteran wellness and imaginative outreach serves as a powerful model for campuses across the country.

Grand Valley State University — Gold-level Veteran-Friendly School

Pictured left to right: MVAA Director Brian L. Love, Shane Scherer, Caitlin David and MVAA Education Analyst Joe Saur

Award Citation: Grand Valley State University is recognized for its innovative Virtual Hug Program, launched in honor of National Hug a G.I. Day. This creative initiative displayed veteran portraits on digital campus monitors, inviting students, faculty, and staff to send virtual hugs and messages of gratitude. The result was 54 virtual hugs and 63 heartfelt messages, creating a powerful sense of connection and appreciation. By using technology to foster empathy and inclusion, the university has set a new standard for celebrating and supporting veterans. Grand Valley State Universities' commitment to honoring those who have served through thoughtful, community-driven efforts exemplifies a deep dedication to building a culture of belonging. 

Oakland University — Gold-level Veteran-Friendly School

Pictured left to right: Photo 1: MVAA Director Brian L. Love, Omar Brown-El, Lisa Rhoades, Hans Brueggeman, Shayna Doshi and MVAA Education Analyst Joe Saur

Pictured left to right: Photo 2: MVAA Director Brian L. Love, Omar Brown-El, Lisa Rhoades, Bobbi Hayden, Cathy Weber and MVAA Education Analyst Joe Saur

Pictured left to right: Photo 3: MVAA Director Brian L. Love, Omar Brown-El, Lisa Rhoades, Gary Easterling and MVAA Education Analyst Joe Saur

Award Citation: Oakland University is recognized for its groundbreaking collaboration with Lear Corporation to launch an internship and mentorship program specifically designed for student veterans. This innovative initiative aims to ease the transition from military service to academic life and civilian careers by providing personalized guidance, hands-on experience, and professional mentorship. The first cohort, launching in June 2025 with three student participants, marks a significant step toward establishing sustainable, veteran-focused career pipelines. Through this partnership, Oakland University is setting a new standard for how higher education and industry can work together to champion veteran success. By investing in mentorship and skill development, the university is fostering long-term growth and impact for veterans across various sectors.

In addition, Oakland University is recognized for its innovative implementation of a streamlined technology solution that has transformed how veteran students apply for education benefits. By reducing the application time from eight minutes to just four and integrating a secure, university-authenticated sign-in process, this initiative has enhanced both security and ease of use. The result is a more efficient, user-friendly system that minimizes administrative follow-ups and provides a faster, smoother benefits experience for student veterans. This forward-thinking approach not only improves workflows for certifying officials but also reflects Oakland University's strong commitment to supporting those who have served. By leveraging technology to eliminate barriers and enhance outcomes, Oakland University is setting a new standard for veteran support services.

 

Oakland University Veteran Support Services is recognized for its groundbreaking partnership with the American Legion to bring a veteran service officer (VSO) directly to campus—a pioneering initiative that redefines how student veterans access critical benefits. In just five months, this collaboration successfully connected 32 student veterans with the resources they earned, removing barriers and streamlining support. By proactively embedding VSO services on campus, Oakland University has not only improved benefit delivery but also fostered a more connected and empowered veteran community. This innovative model showcases how institutions can lead with creativity and care to support those who have served.