Nov 2, 2017   SOURCE: BusinessWire

United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs Dr. David J. Shulkin to Keynote Veterans on Wall Street™ Seventh Annual Conference November 7 in New York

Dr. David J. Shulkin, United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs, will keynote the Seventh Annual Veterans on Wall Street (VOWS) Symposium on Tuesday, November 7 in New York. Additional speakers and moderators at the conference, being held at New York University’s Kimmel Center, include former professional NFL wide receiver, US military veteran and president of Academy Securities investment bank, Phil McConkey; and top executives from Facebook, Amazon, and Apple, in addition to the those from conference sponsors Citi, Deutsche Bank, Goldman Sachs, HSBC, and JPMorgan Chase & Co.

The 2017 conference will begin at 9:00 AM/ET with a presentation of the colors by 6th Communication Battalion and the singing of the National Anthem by Marine-turned-actor, JW Cortes, followed by a number of panel discussions and keynote addresses. The all-day program will bring together veterans and leaders from the financial services industry, veteran nonprofits, Fortune 500 companies, education, and others to address an array of important veterans-related topics, including employment, recruitment, retention, leadership and skills, and industry investment in veterans.

Speakers include:

  • David J. Shulkin, United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs
  • Daryl Brewster, CEO, CECP (Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy)
  • Felipe Buzaid, Veterans Program Manager, Facebook
  • Don Callahan, Head of Operations & Technology, Citi
  • Kathleen Caroll, Director of Global Talent Acquisition, Amazon
  • Bonnie DeMilia, Vice President, Recruitment for veterans, HSBC USA
  • Anne Marie Dougherty, Executive Director, Bob Woodruff Foundation
  • Heidi Gerhard, Head of Talent Acquisition and University Relations, BASF
  • Bonnie DeMilia, Vice President, Recruiting, HSBC USA
  • Tim Greene, United States Department of Labor
  • Suni Harford, Head of Investments, UBS Asset Management
  • Peter Henry, Dean, New York University Leonard N. Stern School of Business
  • Linda S. Huber, Chief Financial Officer, Moody’s
  • Phil McConkey, President, Academy Securities
  • Christopher Perkins, Global Head of OTC Clearing, Citi
  • Elizabeth Reyes, Director of Employment Opportunities, Hire Heroes USA
  • Adam Rocke, Vice President of Military Engagement, FASTPORT, Inc.
  • Loree Sutton, Commissioner for New York City’s Department of Veterans’ Services
  • Kayla Williams, Director, Center for Women Veterans, Department of Veteran Affairs
  • Dr. Heather Wilson, Secretary of the Air Force
  • Gordon S. Wilson, Managing Director, Asset and Wealth Management, JPMorgan Chase
  • Jake Wood, Co-Founder CEO, Team Rubicon

“Veterans are important members of our communities and our firms, and it is our responsibility to provide them with the support they deserve to transfer from active military service to the private sector,” said Don Callahan, Head of Operations and Technology at Citi. “Citi is proud to co-host the seventh annual Veterans on Wall Street Symposium and bring together leaders from various industries, including financial services, technology and education, to discuss how we can further strengthen our support of our nation’s veterans.”

“Nearly a quarter million service members transition out of the military every year,” said Anne Marie Dougherty, Executive Director of the Bob Woodruff Foundation. “The Bob Woodruff Foundation is proud to continue its partnership with VOWS, and the financial institutions that are a part of it, to help these deserving men and women identify and transition into fulfilling careers after service.”

"Deutsche Bank has a long history of hiring veterans, and we know the incredible value they bring to any organization,” said John Eydenberg, Vice Chairman, CIB Americas, Deutsche Bank. “The leadership and technical skills they mastered during their time in service are in high demand on Wall Street, and I think it is our duty to help them match their unique capabilities with the right opportunities. I am eagerly anticipating this year’s annual conference.”

“As a founding member of VOWS, we are pleased to see the continued support and participation from our partners across both the public and private sectors in bringing the important topic of veteran employment to the forefront of the discussion,” said Jeff Schroeder, Chief Administrative Officer at Goldman Sachs. “We remain committed to our mission of strengthening veterans’ presence in our industry, innovating the way we develop and tap into the skills and experience of the veteran talent pool, and to being an ‘employer of choice’ for our returning service men and women.”

“The financial services industry places a high value on the credentials and character of the men and women serving in our armed forces,” said Wyatt Crowell, Senior Executive Vice President, US Head of Commercial Banking at HSBC. “HSBC continues to have a leadership role in VOWS out of a sense of duty to offer a welcoming transition to the corporate world for people who have done so much for our country. We also clearly recognize that we will simply become a better bank by successfully placing more veterans into HSBC jobs.”

“We’re honored to be a part of this stellar lineup of thought leaders across the business spectrum and the opportunity to share best practices on how we can empower our veterans,” said JPMorgan Chase’s Head of Military and Veteran Affairs Ross A. Brown. “VOWS is such an important entity that aligns us across the financial services industry as we innovate how we’re supporting service member and veteran employees, and we’re so proud to be an ongoing partner.”

“After bravely serving our country in the military, many veterans struggle to transition to civilian life,” said Suni Harford, Head of Investments at UBS Asset Management. “The seventh annual VOWS Symposium will be an opportunity for us to develop solutions to advance and retain veterans working in financial services. Veterans bring a unique set of skills that can be applied to various roles in the industry, and we are committed to providing the necessary resources to translate these skills to careers.”

VOWS is a consortium of approximately 100 financial services firms led by Citi, Deutsche Bank, Goldman Sachs, HSBC, and JPMorgan Chase that is dedicated to facilitating career and business opportunities in the financial services industry. Since its establishment, VOWS has worked with veterans ranging from the Vietnam War to Operation Enduring Freedom, and more than 100 participating organizations count veterans among their ranks.

VOWS promotes career development, support, and retention of veterans in the financial services industry through a combination of educational initiatives, mentoring, outreach to the military, employee affinity groups, and its annual conference.

Central to its mission, the consortium recognizes that many of the skills veterans develop in the military–leadership, fast and accurate decision–making, operational focus, and the drive to accomplish a mission–have a direct application to the financial services industry which make military veterans outstanding employees. The Bob Woodruff Foundation is proud to serve as the consortium’s charitable partner, helping to ensure funds raised through VOWS are invested in high-impact programs benefiting veterans.

VOWS is also the presenting sponsor of the Stand Up for Heroes concert benefiting the Bob Woodruff Foundation, which will take place on Tuesday, November 7, at the Theater at Madison Square Garden. For more information about Stand Up for Heroes, visit http://bobwoodrufffoundation.org/sufh.

About Veterans on Wall Street (VOWS)

Veterans on Wall Street (VOWS) is a consortium of approximately 100 financial services firms dedicated to honoring former and current military personnel by facilitating career and business opportunities in the financial services industry. For more information, please visit www.veteransonwallstreet.com or follow @VeteransonWS on Twitter.

About the Bob Woodruff Foundation

The Bob Woodruff Foundation (BWF) was founded in 2006 after reporter Bob Woodruff was hit by a roadside bomb while covering the war in Iraq. Since then, the Bob Woodruff Foundation has led an enduring call to action for people to stand up for heroes and meet the emerging and long-term needs of today’s veterans. To date, BWF has invested more than $42 million to Find, Fund and Shape™ programs that have empowered impacted veterans, service members and their family members, across the nation. For more information, please visit bobwoodrufffoundation.org or follow us on Twitter at @Stand4Heroes.