PCNA (PPAI 113079, Platinum) has undertaken a series of initiatives to spotlight and, more importantly, support the veterans working for the supplier and living in its larger community.

  • November is National Veterans and Military Families Month, and November 11 is Veterans Day.
  • PCNA is PPAI 100’s No. 3 supplier and earned high marks in Responsibility.

“I hope PCNA can employ and attract more veterans in the future, and I am grateful for the mentorship I have received in this company from veterans,” says Andrew Vaccaro, a warehouse supervisor at PCNA who spent four years as a tank officer in the U.S. Army. “Without this connection, I would not have been able to thrive and grow to the extent I have been allowed. I have enjoyed working at PCNA just as much as the military. Both present similar personal, leadership and operation challenges.”

Mission 22 Partnership

PCNA is donating proceeds from a collection of CamelBak products to the nonprofit Mission 22, which focuses on providing critical resources for veterans and their families.

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“I am proud of my service and that PCNA has partnerships with companies that I recognize from my time in service,” says Joe Davis, a shipping manager at PCNA who served eight years in the U.S. Army and deployed in Iraq before finishing his Army reserve time while working at PCNA as a warehouse administrator. “To this day, I carry a CamelBak desert camo backpack that I bought in Baghdad in 2004.”

Fostering A Supportive Community For Veteran Employees

Employing veterans is an important role that large companies owe to society, but that is only one step in a larger mission. It is also crucial that businesses try to be intentional in recognizing the unique challenges that many veterans face as civilians after having served in the military. It’s an undertaking that a large supplier like PCNA is equipped to make strides in.

  • The PCNA Veterans Employee Resource Group was conceptualized near the end of 2023 and is designed to actively support the supplier’s military veterans within the company and leverage those connections to broader support of veterans outside the PCNA community.

Formally organized in the beginning of 2024, the group currently consists of 14 members for whom it provides a dedicated space to share experiences and access/advocate for resources the company can provide for their personal and professional growth.

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“I am a husband and father of two in a family that appreciates its freedom,” says Rick French, a regional sales manager at PCNA. “My family members have served in the military and have even paid the ultimate price for our freedom. Though it has been difficult to engage during business hours, I wanted to join this group to be a resource for them if needed. It’s one small way that I can show my gratitude.”

  • The employee resource group holds monthly meetings with topics such as PTSD and other service-related challenges, allowing additional opportunities for veteran colleagues to connect.
  • Members will fulfill a “wish list” for VA hospital patients, providing gifts for veterans receiving ongoing medical treatment.