"I believe having a contact like myself on the outside business world, even considering his profession within the military, has been invaluable to him. We have met and talked several times this summer, and just the opportunity to express all his concerns to someone independent of his family or the military I believe has been helpful. In turn, I have learned a lot, and found the experience very rewarding so far."
-Rick W., Cincinnati, Alcoa, Fall 2011
"In addition to the exciting things we have been doing together, I most appreciate getting to know Jon, and hopefully letting him know that he has earned the respect and gratitude of his country. I am grateful for the opportunity that ACP has given me and believe that Jon is gaining from our work together."
-Dick W., Washington DC, Deloitte, Fall 2011
"I would really like to take a moment to thank the team and organization that put this program together. The men and women of the military have done more than I would ever expect and imagine, and I love the gift of being able to meet with one of them to exchange information, knowledge, and expertise, in a hope that in a very small way that I can help make it a little easier as they are transitioning into civilian life."
-Sherish H., Atlanta, AT&T, Summer 2011
"Charlie and I are having a very successful relationship. We communicate several times a month via e-mail and have met several times in person. Charlie has met his goal and received three job offers last week. He accepted the job he was hoping for all along. I am looking forward to attending his retirement next month and meeting his family. I look forward to our talks going from how to write a résumé and interview skills to now his experiences within a corporation. This has been an amazing experience for me."
-Diane R., San Antonio/Austin, AT&T, Summer 2011
"Rob is a fine young man and I’m hoping that our continued mentor-protégé get togethers will provide some value to him. I know that they provide value to me."
-Stuart Y., Washington, URS, Summer 2011
"I think any mentoring is always a worthwhile activity. It takes so little time to share and give back. After all, most of us have achieved success through our own mentors, and it is up to all of us to give back."
-Sandy O., Dallas, Verizon, Summer 2011
"I think things are going very well, and I hope Paige does too. We have been meeting every Thursday for at least one hour. We have a goal to evaluate her career options. To do this we created a customized form to weight and rank about 7 different careers. I have been aligning industry experts (people who do the jobs now) to our calls. Paige and I created a set of questions and criterion to rate each job. She gives it a score and the formulas I created give an overall score to the job (for example: teacher, meeting planner, police officer/detective). After we complete this process and decide which area she would like to pursue, we will come up with a plan and next steps to work through to help her get to where she wants to go. It has been a lot of fun. I have really enjoyed working with Paige."
-Rhonda W., Raleigh/Durham, IBM, Summer 2011
"Nicole and I have met several times since she graduated and she just started her new job. We are now planning dinner with our spouses. Nicole is a great person and I have enjoyed this relationship immensely! Thank you again for the opportunity."
-Kathy P., Los Angeles, Travelers, Summer 2011
"Valerie has proven to be a wonderful person, caring mom, and has definite potential to make a great career for herself. She has great courage, drive and is determined to succeed – all admirable qualities. What we have decided to focus our time together on is narrowing down on career paths that align well with her previous work, military and academic experiences."
-Samira S., E-Mentoring, Travelers, Spring 2011
"I'm quite enjoying the program. Dustin is an excellent young man whom I never would have met if it weren't for ACP. Meeting people like this builds one's hope for the future."
-Dwight S., E-Mentoring, IBM, Spring 2011
"Kristin and I have met and continue to exchange emails on a regular basis to share ideas. I am meeting with her again tomorrow evening to discuss some of her business ideas and review her business plan. I have really enjoyed the interaction and think that it is going well!"
-Gretchen U., San Francisco Bay Area, IBM, Spring 2011
"Sal and I communicate primarily through monthly e-mail. We have made significant progress as Sal has gone back to get college credits and he is now applying to banking organizations for employment. I am confident that Sal will do well in any endeavor. You clearly provided an excellent candidate to me. I am pleased with ACP."
-John W., San Antonio/Austin, JPMorgan Chase & Co., Spring 2011
"Nicholas and I have discussed staying in touch after the formal mentorship program is completed. Since he is still in school, I am aware that he may want to seek guidance from time to time. At our last conversation, Nicholas told me that he felt he achieved his goals with this program.
I have really enjoyed being part of the program. Although Nicholas is extremely bright and I know he will enjoy great success in the corporate world, it was rewarding for me to know that I could offer him a lot of corporate world insights which he found helpful and provide networking connections that were meaningful to him."
-Margo F., New York City, MacAndrews & Forbes (Revlon), Spring 2011
"Rich and I had a great meeting over lunch and really dove into the specific direction he is looking for in his career. He is a very concise and composed individual. We spoke not only about business objectives but were also able to discuss some personal items he has experienced that provided me some perspective on an issue I am currently navigating with my family. We are similar in age and interests and I thought there was a fairly solid compatibility and effortless communication."
-Erich G., Hartford, Travelers, Winter 2011
"Thank you so much for connecting me with my Protégé, Kiersten. I think I have the best candidate in Southern California because there is no way there are two people this qualified out there. I understand that the military brings discipline and encourages initiative and accountability, but Kiersten has incredible smarts, strategic big picture thinking, and detailed execution. Small guidance and a few connections are what I can offer to this energetic young person who already has a great deal of business savvy. She is already doing an amazing number of things right.
They say that the quality of any institution is founded on the caliber of the people who represent it. ACP is by that rule a first-class program indeed. Thank you again for this opportunity."
-Leslie P., Los Angeles, Goldman Sachs Alum, Winter 2011
"In many respects my relationship with my Protege is just beginning. He has been faced with many life challenges over the past year and has placed large portions of his professional life on hold. The good news, it has afforded us the chance to become friends from a different vantage point. I would expect our relationship to grow and when my advice and counsel is required I shall offer it not in some official capacity but simply from one friend to another.
As ACP matures as an organization, I assume that this will become the norm and not the exception. After all, in a perfect protégé and mentoring relationship the foundation must be trust, honesty and straightforwardness. The very same characteristics found in friendship. For that I shall remain grateful to ACP in connecting me with a wonderful new friend.
I often share my ACP experience with others and suggest the good merits found in the phrase the love you find is equal to the love you give.
With kind regards. I remain committed to the values of your fine organization."
-David J., Washington DC, Deloitte, Winter 2011
"Jim and I just had a very long lunch together and this match between us is what this program is all about. You helped Jim and I form a perfect match. Not only did we spend about two hours at lunch, but we both had a great time getting to know each other. I am looking forward to working with Jim and I see the start of a great friendship between the two of us."
-Don S., Atlanta, Home Depot, Winter 2011
"Tom completed his MBA in December. During this time, and for a month preceding his graduation, we completely re-worked his resume and performed a few mock interviews for several job interviews he had planned. In the end, he actually received multiple job offers and he accepted on in Chicago!
I believe this is a wonderful program if you make a good mentor-mentee match. Tom mentioned the program certainly helped him and, in fact, I was shocked that in this economic climate that he received so many offers. He is a very, very sharp guy; we just had to work a bit on ‘de-militarizing’ him. And I certainly don’t mean that in a negative way, but more so with translating what he had done in the military into terms and experiences that civilians could understand. And I think it worked…for a former Army Captain with no civilian experience to get such lucrative job offers right off the bat is a true testament to Tom and hopefully your great ACP program!"
-Jeff D., Los Angeles, News Corporation, Winter 2011
"Michael and I connected before the holiday and have a call scheduled for this weekend. The first call we discussed history and I requested him to share the Career Assessment Questionnaire so I can review it then ask him questions. I also have a resume and cover letter that I have reviewed. We do plan on monthly meetings, it works out well for me working on Sundays while he is off. We are planning on following the Recommended Program with Q1, Q2, Q3, and Q4. I will modify it as he is expecting to remain in the military for another year. We're off to a great start."
-Ike M., E-Mentoring, General Electric, Winter 2011
“I have thoroughly enjoyed the mentoring experience and feel a great sense of personal satisfaction from serving as a mentor to Chris. We have recently discussed how to handle certain interview questions as well as how to make the most out of current employment that may not be directly associated with what he ultimately wants to do. I’m also working on expanding his network a bit by introducing him to some co-workers who are former military. Our next conversation will likely focus on the value of networking and building relationships. We have talked about goals and benchmarks but I agree that now is a good time to reaffirm those and make sure his expectations are being met."
-John S., E-Mentoring, Deloitte, Winter 2011
"This is a great resource. I wish this was available when I was preparing for retirement and transitioning to the civilian world some 13 years ago."
-Jimmie M., Denver, IBM, Fall 2010
"My protégé and I have been in contact every few days since first being introduced. We now touch base almost daily in some form or fashion. He's had dinner with my wife, son, and me on a couple of occasions and has been introduced to several of our closest friends as well. He's a great guy, and I'm glad to have the opportunity to try to help him. We have discussed and identified goals and objectives - this has been geared primarily toward his résumé and toward narrowing down what sort of organizations he's most interested in pursuing. I'm really enjoying the opportunity to work with him."
-Lee T., Atlanta, General Electric, Fall 2010
"The ACP Mentorship was a very rewarding experience the fact that I had the opportunity to meet Aaron. What a great person. Based upon Aaron’s experience and work ethic I am convinced great things will be in store for him. The ACP Mentorship is a terrific program made up of dedicated folks like yourself. We owe our gratitude and time to all our brave veterans such as Aaron."
-Stephen S., Chicago, News Corporation (Fox), Fall 2010
"Mentoring of anyone is particularly rewarding. But mentoring someone who has given part of his life to helping defend our country is even more satisfying and can be life-giving to that someone leaving the armed forces. Sharing my life experiences, both good and bad, has provided my Protégé with immediate insights that took me years to acquire. I have also learned much about the sacrifices of those serving our county, from interacting with my Protégé. This makes my decision to mentor easy because of all the time they have given me, I should be able to share a bit of my time for them! Life is one big process of self-development and all of us need someone to be our guide, ally, and advocate. If you can spare your time, if you can listen, and if you can share your life with someone else, you will make a wonderful mentor."
-Bill S., E-Mentoring, URS Corporation, Fall 2010
"As a mentor with American Corporate Partners, I gain not only the fulfillment of helping guide and learning from a mentee, but a new understanding of those who serve in the American military. Mentoring for me in this program has involved the challenge of monthly in-person exchanges with a individual highly-trained and accomplished for missions far removed from what I will ever experience. I enjoy getting to know him as a human being while I aid his reconnaissance of the corporate battlefield."
-Jim Z., New York City, Goldman Sachs Alum, Fall 2010
"I can not imagine a better Protégé, an outstanding individual. I would him hire if I were in a position to, and may some day seek him out when I am."
-Michael S., Raleigh-Durham, IBM, Fall 2010
"E-mentoring my protégé has been such an incredibly rewarding experience. With Skype and e-mail, it is very easy and convenient for us to communicate. ACP did a great job of matching me with the soldier who could benefit the most from my skills and experience. Their program is formatted so I knew what her needs were right away — it was easy to see how I could make a difference. My protégé seems so grateful for my help — I am the one who is grateful for the opportunity to serve a hero who has served our country."
-Wendy L., E-Mentoring, Omnicom Group (The Integer Group), Fall 2010
"It’s awkward to refer to Dennis as ‘my protégé’ in the ACP program. I hope he has learned as much from me as I have from him. I am proud to be involved in this great program whose mission is to help armed services personnel transition to private enterprise. I am also proud to be working for a company that recognizes the importance of this endeavor and supports such outreach. With many troops returning from deployment over the next several years, this type of program will be in even greater need and we would encourage more companies to actively contribute to the cause. The time commitment mentors must make is such a small sacrifice compared to what armed services personnel do for our country on a daily basis. The program is a great way to show appreciation and ultimately can be a rewarding experience for all."
-John K., Los Angeles, News Corporation (Fox), Fall 2010
"In my first conversation with my Protégé it was clear to me we had to hit the ground running. He needed help and fast, to find a job. We devised a plan for the next two weeks starting with changing his resumé to highlight his skills. That was only step one and he got an interview. Step two - "how to land the job". My Protégé faced language challenges so we role played. It was the night before his interview, so everything was fresh in his mind for the next day. Great news - he got the job offer. Where else can you volunteer and get such instant gratification? I spent maybe four hours over a few weeks time to help my Protégé and now I'm so excited to go to the next level with him on starting a new job and growing a career. In the meantime, we are establishing a very nice relationship and we are sharing stories about our families. We are remote from each other so we've done all of this over the phone; but this seems to really work for us. What a fantastic three weeks it's been."
-Marcia S., E-Mentoring, IBM, Fall 2010
"I became a mentor earlier this year and I was immediately impressed by how well the ACP program is organized and by the care and professionalism ACP incorporates in their matching system. I volunteered to be a mentor because I remember how challenging it was for me when I returned from active duty in the Navy. ACP makes it easier for both mentor and protégé to enter into the system, but, it doesn’t stop there. ACP provides excellent guidance and resources, a helpful staff that are available for support and consultation at any time and excellent handbooks that provide sound guidance.
I have personally benefited from the relationship that began several months ago with my Protégé, Al. We like to get together, usually for lunch, and talk about lots of things such as: business, his career plans, his work with veteran’s groups, hobbies, stories and, we laugh a lot. In addition, we are currently exploring various ways my company can support him in several areas, depending on which direction he chooses to go.
Our journey is a work in progress which, we are confident, will lead to good things. We know this is true because it has already given my company and me the means to give a little back to those heroes to whom we owe so much but who ask for so little."
-Buz P., Dallas, Omnicom (Javelin Marketing Group), Fall 2010
"My mentorship with Leon has been a rewarding process. In our initial meeting it became clear to me that Leon had the initiative and drive to be successful. Where he needed assistance was developing a comprehensive job search strategy. During the process we worked together to: 1. Identify areas of interest 2. Develop a job search strategy 3. Create and customize his resume 4. Begin developing a network in his fields of interest. Our work together gave Leon a comprehensive job search strategy that will help him with his civilian transition. I hope this program was rewarding for Leon, but it was definitely rewarding for me. It allowed me to give back to those who give so much of their lives for us and helped me develop as mentor as well."
-Bill L., Atlanta, Home Depot, Fall 2010
"The ACP mentoring program has been a valuable experience to both my Protégé and me. I've provided guidance on resumé preparation and job searches, and Jaime has given me a fresh perspective on the issues facing our nation's newest veterans. It has also been a way for me to pay back for all the assistance I received when I got out of the Navy. Plus, I found a new marathon training buddy. We have already run one race together and we'll be running the White Rock Marathon in December."
-Greg N., Dallas, Energy Future Holdings (Luminant), Fall 2010
"I really love working with Sara, and feel that we have been making a lot of progress together. We have been having regular phone call meetings about twice a month with emails in-between, and I've left the door open for her to call me any other time she feels a need to talk. I think one of the reasons this has been working so well is because Sara is very enthusiastic about this program and is really motivated to make this work--and that is so important! She's nice, interesting, and really smart and motivated; it is a pleasure to work with her. Plus I'm also learning a lot from her... This is turning out to be an excellent program."
-Hilary F., E-Mentoring, Harvard University, Fall 2010
"I think we've made good progress on Desiree's goals. She is evaluating job opportunities and we've discussed her career options and how they fit into her career goals. Since that time we've focused more on her school work and social activities. I am enjoying the mentorship and friendship Desiree and I are building. I've really enjoyed the program to date."
-Julie B., Boston, Harvard University, Fall 2010
"I feel I have a great match, and I also benefit a lot by working with my Protégé."
-Ming C., E-Mentoring, IBM, Fall 2010
"This has been a great opportunity for me to offer support to our country and better understand our military. Participating in ACP is a great way to support others and, on the selfish side, it's rewarding. I've enjoyed watching my Protégé grow and develop toward civilian life."
-Amy D. Oklahoma City, University of Oklahoma, Fall 2010
"In the upcoming months I plan on being available as someone to consult, if Jonathan wants or needs to reach out. I kind of see Jonathan as a younger brother who is very talented but sometimes wants to hear what someone else thinks."
-Dan S., San Antonio, MacAndrews & Forbes Holdings, Inc. (Harland Clarke), Fall 2010
"Having met Evan recently, it is apparent that our time in the Army has given us an instant foundation of trust to begin our relationship on. I sat exactly where Evan is 12 years ago, and I wish I had a program like this to participate in. I see the power of finding a match for a person, rather than arbitrarily assigning Mentors, as it enabled us to get right down to business as though we had known each other for years."
-Robie M., Boston, Verizon Communications Inc., Fall 2010
"ACP has allowed me the opportunity to reach out to a someone I might otherwise have never crossed paths with, challenge myself in my ability to relate with him and provide meaningful assistance, and aid him in successfully achieving his short term goals. I am grateful for the service our military veterans have provided, and it has been very rewarding to have the opportunity to give something back. I look forward to Joel’s continued success as he strives to maximize his potential!"
-Eric M., New York City, MacAndrews & Forbes Holdings, Inc. (Revlon), Fall 2010
"My 9-year-old in school wrote that her dad was one of her 'heroes' in a class assignment, and when she had to give a reason, she wrote, 'He helps ex-soldiers find jobs.'"
-John Z., New York City, News Corporation (HarperCollins), Summer 2010
"Mentoring by definition is when an experienced individual advises and guides a less experienced person. In my case my motivation over the last several years was to give back to young Marines what was given to me as a young Marine when I came back to the private world. My past experience has always been you teach, advise and move on. However, when I chose to cross over into the ACP Program as a PepsiCo retiree, to serve their candidates, it was I that gained a measure of knowledge. The structured program gave me the opportunity to learn how special these young men and woman are that unselfishly served our country and how genuinely thankful they are for our time. It should be us that thank them with the passion in our time."
-Louis I., New York City, PepsiCo, Inc., Summer 2010
"I think my Protégé's decision to sign up for the program may very well result in significant impacts with respect to his transition and future career choices/opportunities. The combination of his openness to constructive feedback, Tom’s great work ethic and diligence, and the ‘brotherhood’ of two ex-military officers wanting to help him resulted in some valuable advice and exposure for Tom - which, he certainly would not have received without this program. A colleague and I have discussed how nice it would have been to have a program like this when we separated 15 or so years ago."
-Jeff D., Los Angeles, News Corporation (Fox), Summer 2010
"Meeting Tom has been a terrific experience. We have many similar interests that have made it very easy for us to connect. We share stories and experiences about our family, faith, friends, sports and the business world. Tom has also shared some wonderful stories about his life in the military and the experiences that have made him the type of individual he is today. I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Tom. He is a man of tremendous character that has been a real pleasure to get to know."
-Tim T., Philadelphia, Campbell Soup Company, Summer 2010
"I think all of us at Deluxe who sat down and spent time with my Protégé also learned a little about life and the kinds of demands military staff members have to go through overseas. Jacob is a young man, but because of some of the tough decisions he has been faced with, he is incredibly mature."
-David E., Los Angeles, MacAndrews & Forbes Holdings, Inc. (Deluxe), Summer 2010
"My experience as a mentor for ACP has been a good one. It is always a good thing to be able to share one’s experience and knowledge. Overall, I feel we owe a great debt to America’s military and this is one way I can personally give back."
-Jen D., Atlanta, Home Depot, Summer 2010
"I've enjoyed meeting with Josh and found him enthusiastic and engaged in our conversations. It's been a good experience for me and provided a great opportunity to help someone transition from a military to a civilian career, as I did over 10 years ago."
-Rich E., Raleigh-Durham, Summer 2010
"It is truly a pleasure to be acquainted with Grady. I have tremendous respect for his skill set, his patriotism and his contribution to our nation. I am grateful to lend any assistance I can towards aligning him with a commercial security contractor. Grady at heart is a true soldier."
-Assaf N., Atlanta, URS Corporation, Summer 2010
"It was interesting to learn and discuss many of the parallels between the military and the corporate world. We had the opportunity to discuss several situations where experiences in the military provided great training for leadership positions within America’s top companies."
-Chris P., Dallas, Energy Future Holdings (TXU Energy), Summer 2010
"My E-Mentoring match with Walter is really great. I work in a high stress environment, and it helps lower my stress when I can help someone else and focus on that. It also helps our match that we're both IT people, so it works well for both of us that we can use a variety of technologies to keep in open communication - including texting, facebook, phone and email."
-Heidi H., E-Mentoring, IBM, Spring 2010
"I've been most impressed with how detailed a plan Frankie has for himself, and I have zero doubt that he will successfully transition from Military to Civilian life. He seems to be a very sharp guy who knows what he wants to do and has a plan to get there. I feel privileged to be able to help him out in any way that I can. So far it seems as though he just needs a little guidance as far as what tools are at his disposal."
-John R., Philadelphia, Campbell Soup Company, Summer 2010
"I really feel a connection with my Protégé and have enjoyed our meeting and the process of guiding her through her transition to civilian life and her future."
-Elizabeth S., San Antonio, The University of Texas System, Spring 2010
"I am enjoying being a Mentor in the ACP Mentoring Program and my Protégé has proven to be a good match. We spent time on the Career Assessment & Objectives and the Job Preparation & Job Enhancement Skills from the ACP Action Plan early on and I am happy to say that Best has secured employment after graduating with his Bachelors degree last December."
-Mary G., Dallas, Energy Future Holdings (TXU Energy), Spring 2010
"Being Brian's Mentor has been meaningful for me because I am profoundly grateful for all he has done to serve this country. I am so happy that with my knowledge and contacts, I have been able to be of service to him and help him realize some of his goals."
-Derval W., New York City, News Corporation (Fox), Spring 2010
"My Protégé and I really hit it off since we are both Army veterans and I told him some war stories from Vietnam and explained that life goes on and that it gets better. Hard work and patience is the key. He is a very energetic person and he will do well. I will do everything that I can to help him…Count on it."
-Joe R., San Antonio, The University of Texas System, Spring 2010
"We owe a lot to our military veterans and this program is a great way to show veterans that our company really cares and supports our many veterans."
-Darrell J., Dallas, Energy Future Holdings (Luminant), Spring 2010
"It is as much a program for the Mentor...as it is for the Protégé."
-Bert L., Los Angeles, News Corporation (Fox), Spring 2010
"Mentoring in the ACP program has been a valuable experience and it presented a welcome opportunity to show my appreciation for all that the U.S. military does for America. I was delighted when my company joined the ACP program and hope that the relationship long continues."
-Mark L., New York City, News Corporation (Wall Street Journal), Spring 2010
"No matter how long you served or how long ago, the military is an experience that never leaves you. It becomes woven into the fabric of your very identity. Working with veterans and helping active servicemembers transition into civilian life is a great way to stay in touch with that chapter of your life."
-Alex S., E-Mentoring, JP Morgan Chase & Co., Spring 2010
