IRVING, TEXAS — Human resources executives from Exeter Finance Corp. attended Blackstone’s inaugural Veterans Hiring Summit Tuesday to support the hiring of American veterans across the asset management firm’s portfolio companies.

In April, Blackstone committed to hire 50,000 American veterans across its portfolio of 78 companies over the next five years in support of the White House’s “Joining Forces” initiative. This week’s summit was designed to help hiring executives within Blackstone’s portfolio companies learn how to attract and hire veterans. The event was also designed to help the U.S. military and veteran organizations learn how they can help facilitate this recruitment initiative.

“Exeter is proud to join forces with Blackstone to honor and support the hiring of military veterans who have served our country with distinction,” said Mark Floyd, Exeter’s CEO. “Veterans account for five percent of our Exeter workforce today and make significant contributions to every part of the organization. We are committed to doubling this representation over the next few years.”

In addition to human resources executives from Blackstone, the summit featured Curtis L. Coy, deputy under secretary for Economic Opportunity at the Department of Veterans Affairs; Terry Gerton, deputy assistant secretary for the Veterans Employment and Training Service (VETS) at the Department of Labor; Col. Rich Morales, executive director of Joining Forces at the Office of the First Lady; and Col. Robert Yost, director of the U.S. Army’s Transition Strategic Outreach Office.

The summit covered a wide range of topics related to the veteran hiring initiative, including the strengths of the veteran applicant pool, coordination with local VA offices and the role of mentorship in ensuring a positive transition to civilian life for those who have served our nation.