ACP congratulates:

Aaron Fontinel — Florida
Julie Patterson — California

I would like to enthusiastically nominate Aaron Fontinel for ACP’s Mentor of the Month! Aaron has been an amazing Mentor to me, has gone above and beyond, and is richly deserving of being recognized.

In the last six months, Aaron and I have been in regular contact, and he has been extremely helpful, influential, and a wonderful sounding board for all of my questions and ideas. I have found the transition from military to civilian to be a very challenging one, and Aaron came into my life at the exact moment I needed him. Before meeting Aaron, I was constantly thinking, “If only I could just pick up the phone, and ask someone this question!” He is always very quick to respond and also provides follow-up information and resources after our phone calls. His input with resumes, interview preparation, budgeting, and small business questions has been especially beneficial.

Aaron’s positive spirit and encouragement has also been of tremendous help to me. Whenever I feel stuck, he adds much-needed perspective and positive energy to the equation. Aaron could be doing many things both personally and professionally in his retirement, but the fact that he devotes so much time and energy to volunteering as a Mentor speaks volumes about his character. He is very generous with his time, and I can tell he truly cares about my success. I look forward to the next six months with Aaron, as well as the day I can meet him in person. Lastly, I would also like to thank ACP for making this mentorship with Aaron possible and for taking time to regularly check on my progress.

- John L., U.S. Marine Corps, Texas

I would like to nominate Julie Patterson for ACP’s Mentor of the Month. I reached out to ACP after I had already transitioned out of the Army, in desperation really. I was feeling out of place in the civilian workforce, and I did not know where I fit into my new identity outside of the Army.

When I initially contacted Julie, we immediately hit it off, and we now joke about feeling as if we have known each other for years. From our first email interactions and phone calls, Julie reassured me of my worth in the civilian workplace and made me feel confident that I could achieve career goals outside of the Army. The guidance that Julie has given me over the past six months is truly invaluable.

Julie has helped me re-focus my resume and has encouraged me to take a good, hard look at what I want to do with my career. She has also given me great advice in terms of my work/life balance — I truly look to her for advice in so many areas! She has become a huge part of my life, and whenever I think about my transition out of the Army, I have such fond memories of Julie stepping up to help me, reassure me, and guide me.

I am so thankful and forever grateful to Julie, this program, and other volunteer Mentors who step up to help veterans like myself! I wish all service members and veterans knew about this program!

- Jeanette L., U.S. Army, Tennessee

ACP congratulates:

Eric Fussenegger – Pennsylvania

Kathy Paterno - Iowa

I would like to nominate Eric Fussenegger for ACP’s Mentor of the Month. Eric has been my Mentor for about eleven months now. I relied heavily on Eric during my transition from the Army after 21 years of active service. He was there every step of the way as I prepared for the transition, began pursuing employment opportunities, and after the transition as I went through the hiring and onboarding process with a new employer.

I entered the mentorship very nervous and anxious about the changes that come with an exit from the military to civilian employment. From the very first time that we spoke, Eric offered sound advice on the job search techniques and helped me map out a strategy for an approach to seeking opportunities. I also struggled with deciding the career path that I wanted to pursue when I left the military and Eric was able to help me focus my efforts and determine the path to take.

The guidance and mentorship that Eric gave me during my transition were invaluable. He enthusiastically shared his personal experiences in the corporate world and helped me navigate the daunting task of seeking employment for the first time in twenty-plus years. Eric also introduced me to Veteran advocates at his company which added an even greater perspective. More than anything, Eric really helped to boost my confidence as I went through the transition and I know that it would have been much more difficult without him. As I began my first job post-military, I could still lean on Eric for advice for any questions that I had related to the civilian sector. Eric truly has a passion for helping fellow Veterans and I couldn’t have asked for a better Mentor. 

- Stephen R., U.S. Army, Virginia

I would like to nominate Kathy Paterno for ACP’s Mentor of the Month. We began working together 10 months ago when I was roughly two years from separating from the Marine Corps. Looking to explore the opportunities in and demands posed by the corporate sphere, I had an idea about the type of work I wanted to do after 10 years of active duty service, but was anxious about how to best market my skills and experience for those positions.

Kathy has graciously opened her network within her company and through her interactions over the years to find the people best positioned to answer questions about the work they do and companies they work for. In addition, she has provided me a rare level of mentorship in my personal journey to determine what is most important to me as I begin my transition into the civilian workforce. Whether it is discussing potential interview questions, going through my resume with an HR lens, or looking at what positions best connect my skills and experience with my personal interests, she has helped me to develop a realistic idea of what my options may be outside of the Marine Corps. Kathy has been a blessing in assuaging my fears as I head towards the next chapter in my career.

I’m thankful there are professionals who are willing to devote their time to helping veterans and organizations like ACP that serve as the broker to connect and provide useful resources for them.

- Andrew I., U.S. Marine Corps, Maryland

ACP congratulates:

Darcy Gurganous – Virginia
Kristina Miller – Colorado
Tim Ryan – Texas

I would like to nominate Darcy Gurganous for ACP’s Mentor of the Month. We began working together about ten months ago when I was preparing to separate from the Marine Corps after twenty years of active duty service. I was unsure of the direction I would take and was looking for someone to discuss the challenges of my upcoming transition. Despite not ever being in the military herself, Darcy had taken the time to speak with other Veterans and knew some of the challenges I would be facing before I knew to ask about them. She provided a great view of the current job market, what employers are looking for, and how to craft cover letters and résumés as I began my search.

Her experience in recruiting and interviewing was very helpful as I started interviewing for my next career. I jumped from one career area to another a couple times during the process, but Darcy helped me to think about why I was going a certain way and what I really enjoyed doing. Most importantly, Darcy was my sounding board and offered her ear and experience to assist me in narrowing down a direction, which I sorely needed. I hope to meet Darcy in-person in the near future and thank her for the time and attention she took away from her personal and professional life to help my transition go more smoothly. I know that there is a whole network of fantastic Mentors helping other veterans in their transition, but I think Darcy was truly a great fit for me and would be for many others in the future. 

- Doug T., U.S. Marine Corps, North Carolina

I would like to nominate Kristina Miller for ACP’s Mentor of the Month. I first started working with Kristina about five months ago when I began the transition process from active duty service. One of my colleagues recommended ACP, and it has proven to be one of the best and most valuable resources to this day. The level of detail in which the program uses for selecting mentors made all of the difference for me.

Throughout my transition process, I ran into many obstacles, many of which were unexpected. Consequently, I experienced the whole gamut of emotions in dealing with said challenges. However, once I started working with Kristina as my Mentor, many of those challenges dissipated. Kristina has helped me with everything from interviewing tips to networking advice. Above all, she helped me translate my military skills into a language that resonated with the civilian workplace.

Kristina was always available with sound advice no matter how menial the topic. This, coupled with her unique perspective, allowed me to truly gain an understanding of the corporate world. Kristina has been instrumental in the progress I’ve made. Without her, I wouldn’t have secured the fellowship I sought out. Having her as my Mentor has opened a lot of doors as well as provided me with opportunities that I never thought possible. Every time we talk, I make sure I let her know how grateful I am. Kristina is hands down a phenomenal human being and a rock star of a Mentor. I’m truly appreciative to ACP for making this whole experience possible.

- Jounita M, U.S. Army, Virginia

I would like to nominate Tim Ryan for ACP’s Mentor of the Month. I connected with Tim through ACP following my retirement from the US Army. Exploring a new career beyond military service brought both excitement and anxiety, and I was uncertain how to navigate all the challenges that come with the transition. Fortunately, ACP’s mentorship program has allowed me to connect with a subject matter expert like Tim, who has provided excellent guidance and support while I continue my education in media production at Boise State University.

Tim has shared personal experiences, professional advice, and given feedback on projects I have completed for coursework. His perspectives on the inner workings of the broadcast news industry allowed me to develop a better appreciation of the material covered in class. Tim is an endless source of encouragement and knowledge, a professional role model, and a valued friend. I am always eager to begin our discussions and excited to continue my academic pursuits when our calls end. Tim’s mentorship has produced more for me than academic or professional gains; it has challenged me to grow personally, beyond what I had thought achievable after military service. I am grateful to ACP for the opportunity to work with such a professional as Tim Ryan, and I cannot overstate the value of this program to transitioning veterans.

- Patrick K., U.S. Army, Idaho

ACP congratulates:

Kathleen Delao - Michigan
Kevin Kwapis - Michigan

I would like to nominate Kathy Delao as ACP’s Mentor of the Month. Kathy and I began our mentoring relationship back in February of 2018 as I was beginning my final six months in the Air Force. During that time, I was extremely uncertain as to what route to pursue in my post-Air Force career. Kathy was a wonderful sounding board and Mentor during this time. She helped me think through my priorities, interests, and long-term goals and develop a cohesive strategy for exploring and gathering information on potential areas where I could be happy and successful after the Air Force. 

Kathy’s personal experience in both the academic world and industry as an engineer helped me greatly in gauging which profession would be most suited for me, and when I had questions about professional paths that she did not have experience in, she found individuals within her network who could speak to me in depth about them so that I could develop a better understanding if they were good fits for me. Through our discussions, I was able to develop more clarity in my job-search, and when I began the interview process for jobs, Kathy was extremely useful in helping me develop an interview strategy and prepare for potential questions that I may get asked. Her coaching during the interview process aided me greatly in the job that I ultimately got.

Overall, Kathy has been an invaluable Mentor. While her networking and interview coaching were valuable, what I most gained from our discussions was someone who was easy to talk to and could provide perspective on my transition that I could not find while immersed in a period of dramatic change in my life, and she continues to provide that perspective as I continue to work through difficulties in my transition even having started a new career. 

- John M., U.S. Air Force, Virginia

I would like to nominate Kevin Kwapis for ACP’s Mentor of the Month. While I was admittedly hesitant and skeptical of what kind of value this program would have when we began, I can unequivocally say that Kevin has proven to be an absolutely invaluable asset as I transitioned back into the civilian workforce after 22 years of service in the U.S. Navy.

From the first time we spoke, Kevin made himself readily available, approachable, and easy to talk to. While Kevin has decades of experience in the corporate finance and senior management realm, he also possesses a refreshing amount of sincerity, kindness and humility that is too often absent in today’s corporate landscape.

From helping me tweak and perfect resumes, to setting realistic employment goals, to setting milestones and roadmaps for how to achieve them, Kevin has been there every step of the way. He has not only helped me decipher today’s corporate lingo and navigate the treacherous waters of transition, but he has also shown me that corporate success is not synonymous with “cutthroat”. I can hold onto my military-learned values of kindness, respect, empathy, etc. and still be highly successful.

Thank you, Kevin, for a wonderful mentor/protégé relationship. I would most certainly not be enjoying the early transitional success I have without someone like you in my corner.

- Christopher C., U.S. Navy, Georgia

ACP congratulates:

Susan Dorgan - New York
Evan Hoffman - New York     
Elizabeth Salogub - New York                                                                                      

I would like to nominate Susan Dorgan of AIG for ACP’s Mentor of the Month.  She helped me create my future and she deserves recognition.

I started working with Susan in December 2017 about nine months before I retired from the Air Force.  At the time, I had more questions than answers.  I knew where I was going to live, but I did not know what I was going to do when I got there.  I have a varied background and had trouble narrowing my options to focus my job search.  I was willing to do almost any job, as long as I felt I could contribute to the company’s mission.  Susan helped me think harder and be more discriminating.  She introduced me to people who do the jobs I was contemplating and that was truly enlightening.  I was able to walk in these people’s shoes for an hour or a day or more.  This was the singularly most valuable experience for me.  I could actually feel which jobs fit and which didn’t.  I couldn’t have done that on my own.  I didn’t have the connections.

Susan also pushed me to find my preferences and passions.  Unlike my experience in the military, I actually had a choice about the direction my professional life would take.  The more we talked, the more Susan and I discovered I have a very strong entrepreneurial bent.  I didn’t really want to work for someone else anymore.  This made all the difference in my job searching.  Because I had relocated to a new city, with no network, I couldn’t realistically just open my own business.  Susan and I worked on a business plan, refined my perspective, and set to work finding a partner to help me bring that vision to a reality.

And now, I couldn’t be happier.  I am a member of a very small law firm, with a strong reputation, significant connections, and a 40-year practice history.  The firm is helping me build my brand, introducing me to their clients and referral network, and providing the stability I need to build a practice of my own. 

In addition to her professional guidance, Susan has been a true friend.  We talk about our experiences in life, important milestones in our family, and she even flew to my retirement ceremony to meet me and celebrate that important day.  I am and forever will be indebted to my friend and mentor, Susan Dorgan.

- Maren C., U.S. Air Force Reserve, Washington

I would like to nominate Evan Hoffman for ACP’s Mentor of the Month. I was matched with Evan back in December of 2017. Right away he was very helpful and guided me through a time of a lot stress. Getting out of the Army was not an easy decision for me, but I felt that it was the right moment.

The first thing Evan did for me was edit my résumé. From there we spent the next couple of months perfecting it. On occasion we spoke more often than we anticipated in our first conversations. Evan is a busy person, but I never got a “no” when I asked for help. We continued communicating through emails and phone calls until my return from Germany. When we met in person, he took me to his company building in Nashville where he introduced me to several of his colleagues in the corporate world, which helped me a lot to get me ready for the civilian world.

It has been almost a year since I first talked to Evan and I can say without a doubt that even after our mentorship comes to an end I know that we will keep in touch. His passion and desire to help others goes beyond a mentorship. He is a great human being and I consider him my friend. Thanks to him I was able to survive the first couple of months once I left the Army. His constant feedback and advice gave me the strength to not give up. It took me several months but I have a job today thanks to all the help he gave me throughout these past months. 

- Amehd P., U.S. Army, Tennessee

I would like to nominate Liz Salogub for ACP’s Mentor of the Month. However, given that our relationship started in December of 2017, ‘Mentor of the Year’ would be much more appropriate. Reflecting back to our first conversation, I can’t help but laugh at how utterly lost I was in determining the next chapter of my life. Lacking guidance and direction, I looked to Liz to tell me what to do. To which she candidly replied, “I don’t know. What do you want to do? You need to figure that out for yourself.” Difficult, but honest feedback, for which I am incredibly grateful.

It is difficult for me to articulate how valuable Liz’s mentorship has been in navigating my transition over the past year. To do so, I referred back to our original “Mentorship Goals” document, which outlined specific goals/milestones and my mentorship vision which reads, “My focus for this mentorship is simply to listen/learn from you in order to gain a better understanding of ‘corporate America’ and ultimately form a solid foundation of goals and career aspirations to build from.” Fast-forward 11 months later, as I prepare to start a career in medical sales, Liz has not only satisfied that vision statement, but far surpassed any expectations I had for this relationship.

After multiple rounds of having my résumé eviscerated by the brutally honest feedback of her red pen, we crafted my résumé into what it is today. When I had questions that she couldn’t answer, Liz went out of her way to find someone who could. Through Liz, I have conducted dozens of mock interviews that prepared me to be among the top candidates at my hiring conference. We’ve definitely checked all of the boxes necessary to make a successful transition into the private sector, but above all, Liz’s counsel has easily been the part of our relationship I value the most. Liz has been with me from the beginning, every step of the way; guiding me to what I believe is the perfect fit in medical sales. Somehow she has struck the perfect balance of mentorship - building my confidence when I was discouraged, but always humbling me when I became a little too self-assured. Liz is a phenomenal mentor and I cannot thank her enough for everything she has done for me over the past 11 months.  

- Daniel M., U.S. Army, Colorado

ACP congratulates:

Dave Heflin - Texas
Daniel Knight - Alabama

I would like to nominate Dave Heflin for ACP's Mentor of the Month. I have been working with Dave for 7 months now, and the knowledge and advice he's given me has been an amazing help as I transition out of the Air Force. 

Dave brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the table, and has been more than willing to help with anything I've asked. He has helped me develop my resume, arranged meetings with other business professionals to help refine my goals, and has even helped me secure an internship through the DoD SkillBridge program. Because of his efforts, I am gaining real world business experience that helps reinforce the concepts I was exposed to while earning my MBA. 

I'm grateful to ACP for giving me the opportunity to be mentored by Dave. It's been a great experience and this recognition is well-deserved.

- Greg A., U.S. Air National Guard, Texas

I would like to nominate Dan Knight for ACP’s Mentor of the Month. His insight, follow up, and professionalism has made him an invaluable asset to me as I prepare to transition from the Marine Corps after 24 years of service.  

From the outset, Dan has been an incredible resource by providing me with guidance on the transition from military service to the civilian sector. Although I am approximately a year away from my transition, he has been incredibly proactive in providing information and feedback. He developed a quarterly plan to prepare me for my transition. He reviewed my résumé and provided suggestions on how to better communicate my accomplishments in order to specifically target the industries that would best suit my skills. Additionally, he has provided me with resources to increase my understanding of the job market and executive level leadership. Lastly, he has helped me focus on the interview process. He has provided me with information from his organization's HR department, suggested readings, and videos, and he will be sending letters of introduction to members within his network to give me opportunities to speak to the some of the very same people I will encounter in my quest for a job in the near future.  

During our conversations, he has taken the time to get to know me and my experiences. This has been tremendously impactful. Dan’s mentorship and commitment to me has been exceptional.  What has impressed me the most is the personal connection we have made. I have been in the Marine Corps for all of my adult life and naturally, I have many questions and concerns.

His demonstrated dedication and genuine interest in me, his professionalism, enthusiasm, and initiative exemplify why he should be considered for the Mentor of the Month.

— Rigoberto C., U.S. Marine Corps, Virginia