The TECO Veterans Alliance (TVA) Employee Resource Group continues to find ways to support past and present military personnel across the Tampa Bay community. As participants in the Tampa Bay Chamber’s Transition Tampa Bay: Industry Connect Series, the TVA recently gave a few service members from MacDill Air Force Base who are transitioning to the civilian world an opportunity to learn about career opportunities within TECO.
“This event was intended to help the service members better understand corporate roles and opportunities as they explore and develop their civilian career path,” explained Air Force veteran and TECO’s Senior Administrator of Organizational Development Bruce Napier. "This was the TVA’s purpose all along — to give military members an understanding of the various roles at Tampa Electric and to learn from some of our own experiences transitioning from military service to the civilian world.”
TECO Veterans Alliance members proudly join forces with members from the Tampa Bay Chamber for Transition Tampa Bay: Industry Connect Series. (Left to right):Matt Ferguson, Bruce Napier, Jimmy Adcock, Ellen Rolfsen, Colonel William Taylor, Dashira Silvestre, Master Sergeant Jassira Cuevas, Scott Cannon, Terry Hogate, Debbie Mann, Chris Rill, and Chris Chambers.
Launched in 2022, Transition Tampa Bay: Industry Connect Series focuses on providing transitioning service members who are at least nine months from their end of service date with an opportunity to learn more about different companies in the Tampa Bay area prior to leaving active duty. Tampa Electric is one of only four companies this year to have hosted such an event.
On May 24, nine TVA members, along with Tampa Bay Chamber members, met with service members from MacDill Air Force Base at TECO Plaza in downtown Tampa. Vice President of Customer Experience Karen Sparkman addressed the group and provided insight into our organization and the TVA participated in a Q&A panel.
Vice President of Customer Experience Karen Sparkman provided insight into career opportunities at Tampa Electric.
This isn’t the first time our TVA has teamed up with the Tampa Bay Chamber to mentor transitioning service members. As participants in last year’s Operation Partnership: Civilian Career Day, the TVA provided a 14-year U.S. Navy veteran an opportunity to spend a half day at work with TECO team members. These initiatives highlight TVA's commitment to supporting the local military community as they navigate their transition to civilian life.
“Our TVA and company’s senior leadership is proud and honored to have partnered with the Tampa Bay Chamber in hosting such an event,” said Napier. “We can’t wait to see all the great things this partnership leads to for our transitioning service members.”
