On September 1, the American Armed Forces Mutual Aid Association (AAFMAA) and HireMilitary hosted a Professional Networking Mixer in Reston, VA for business leaders and professionals across the DMV area. Approximately 60 attendees gained insights on successful networking strategies and had the opportunity to connect with local employers, military support organizations, military spouses, advocates and more.

“This was an excellent opportunity for the community to come together,” said Charlene Wilde, Senior Vice President and Assistant Secretary of AAFMAA. “We were thrilled to see business professionals, employers, servicemembers and military spouses gathered in one place, all with the common goal of forming connections and expanding their networks.”

Organizations that were in attendance include: Association of the United States Navy, Air Force Aid Society, VETS2INDUSTRY, The Washington Tattoo, High-End Headshots for Veterans, Ohana Homefront Foundation, Virginia Department of Veterans Services V3, Fairfax County Economic Development Authority & Veterans Center, and MetroStar.

“We were honored to sponsor this event for AAFMAA and provide a space for like-minded professionals to network with each other,” said Michael Quinn, CEO of HireMilitary. “Overall, the event was a great success!”

According to a U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation study, 53% of veterans are unemployed for four months or longer after leaving the military.

“We believe in the importance of providing an encouraging space and this event did just that,” said Justin Pearson, Vice President, Business Development of AAFMAA. “It’s critical for veterans to have the proper resources needed to take the next step in their career and know that they have support throughout it all.”