Annual Veterans Day Event
Since 2015, Thayer Leadership has partnered with Nasdaq Marketsite to co-host an annual Veteran’s Day Symposium in New York City. Thayer hosted the 10th Annual Veterans Day in person again in 2022, bringing together a robust group of military and corporate leaders to discuss lessons in leadership and how to capitalize on veteran talent within organizations. This year's event began with welcome and opening remarks by Robert F. Phillips, Managing Director, Global Corporate Client Group at Nasdaq, followed by Thayer Leadership President, Dan Rice, who spoke about the importance of Veterans Day. Marshall Cooper, CEO of Chief Executive Group, presented the 2022 Patriots in Business Award to Johnson & Johnson and GuidePoint Security as the Large Enterprise and Medium-Sized Business winners for 2022, respectively. This annual award is given to businesses recognized for their best-in-practice veteran, military spouse, and military support initiatives. Following the awards ceremony, Robert F. Phillips moderated a fireside chat between Dan Rice and Colonel (Ret.) Lee Van Arsdale discussing Leadership Lessons from Ukraine. The conversation touched upon powerful and engaging takeaways of leadership from the front lines of the War in Ukraine, since Dan Rice is Special Advisor to the Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The day ended with the Nasdaq Closing Bell Ceremony where Thayer Leadership rung the bell in partnership with AmeriVet Securities.
In 2021, Thayer President, Dan Rice, spoke about the importance of Veterans Day and alongside Children of Fallen Patriots Founder, David Kim, shared how organizations can better support Gold Star Children, children whose parent made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation. Lieutenant General Darryl A. Williams, 60th Superintendent of the United States Military Academy (USMA) at West Point, followed with an inspiring message about how West Point and the Army identifies, builds, and tests leaders who excel and the next generation of leaders. His message set the tone for a robust panel discussion with Ben Biles, CEO, American Veterans Group, PBC, Chris Cortez, Vice President of Military Affairs, Microsoft, and Dan Goldenberg, VP Corporate Social Responsibility, Activision Blizzard, who shared tangible ways organizations can capitalize on military talent. Prior to the panel, USAA, Bristol Myers Squibb, Greencastle, and Principle Services, were recognized for their veteran and military initiatives as the 2021 Patriots in Business Award Honorees, presented in partnership with Chief Executive Group. 33rd Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army and Thayer Faculty, GEN (Ret.) Dennis Reimer, concluded the event with an impactful keynote speech, sharing how leaders can find their purpose and leave a legacy.
In 2020, the 60th Superintendent of the United States Military Academy (USMA) at West Point, Lieutenant General Darryl A. Williams set the tone of the day by welcoming everyone and touching on the importance of Veterans Day. A conversation with Mike Krzyzewski (aka: Coach K), Men's Basketball Head Coach for Duke University, followed, where he shared how to lead and motivate teams through challenges using his military training at USMA and time as Head Coach of USA Men's Basketball Team and at Duke University. Major General (Ret.) Linda Singh, Ph.D., CEO Kaleidoscope Affect LLC and Leader-in-Residence, Towson University, Ken Lamneck, President and CEO, Insight, and Dan Streetman, CEO, TIBCO Software, Inc., joined us for a panel discussion centered around Veteran Support Initiatives. The event concluded with a fireside chat between Thayer President, Dan Rice, and Thayer faculty, Brigadier General (Ret.) Bernie Banks, Ph.D., focused on diversity from the military to the boardroom.
In 2019, Thayer founder Bill Murdy moderated a panel with United States Military Academy Superintendent, LTG Darryl Williams and United States Naval Academy Superintendent VADM Sean Buck. The trio discussed the challenges and opportunities at our military academies, their personal leadership advice, and how corporations can develop future leaders by bridging the gap between the military and civilian sectors. The panel concluded with a fun fast-round of questions about the upcoming Army-Navy football game. The event continued with the U.S. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper ringing the closing bell and remarking on the significance of Veterans Day. The Superintendents joined Esper at the podium and presented him with a signed Army-Navy football.
In 2018, the Nasdaq Opening Bell was rung by LTG Darryl Williams, US Military Academy at West Point Superintendent. Following the opening bell, Chief Executive Group Editor in Chief, Dan Bigman, led a leadership rountable discussion centered around how today's executives can develop the next generation of America's business leaders. View the video recap here.
“It is so important to honor our veterans, but it is also imperative to hire, support, and train veterans," stated Dan Rice, President of Thayer Leadership. “There are so many issues related to veterans' employment, and companies that have embraced veterans' hiring have found that they are better companies overall.”
In 2017, the roundtable discussion on veterans hiring was led by Hiring Our Heroes President, Eric Eversole, with robust discussion about the state of the veterans hiring environment and unique challenges facing veterans’ families. The Nasdaq Closing Bell was subsequently rung with 50 Chairmen, CEOs, and Presidents who raised their hands pledging to hire more veterans for their companies during the next year.
In 2016, Thayer identified categories of support that companies can provide to veterans and their families, encouraging all companies to adopt or enhance their Veteran’s Initiatives and to share them using #vetsdayceochallenge. In partnership with the Association for Talent Development, Thayer also published a special supplement of TD Magazine, sharing best practices from organizations that are trailblazers in recruiting, developing, and supporting veterans and active duty military.
Stay tuned for information about the 10th annual Veterans Day Event at Nasdaq Marketsite in November 2022.
