Brad Keselowski’s Checkered Flag Foundation Announces Program for Wounded Vets

For more information:  Andrea Ross 419-905-1591 or andrea@checkeredflagfoundation.org

For more information about Waste Management: Jenny DeVaughn jdevaughn@wm.com

For Immediate Release

Brad Keselowski’s Checkered Flag Foundation Announces Program for Wounded Vets

 MOORESVILLE, NC (April 20, 2012) – Brad Keselowski's No. 19 Checkered Flag Foundation Dodge Ram will highlight a proactive veterans hiring program during this weekend's NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race at Kansas Speedway.

Driving for his own team, Brad Keselowski Racing, Keselowski's hood will carry the message of Waste Management's proactive veteran hiring program. In addition to being the nation’s largest environmental services provider, with approximately 44,300 employees, Waste Management is also a leader in recruiting and hiring veterans, which is what attracted Keselowski to the program.

"About 1 in 12 employees at Waste Management are veterans and the organization is consistently recognized to be military friendly," Keselowski said. "It made sense to me to highlight their hiring program through my foundation, which works to support those who have sacrificed for the rest of us. As more and more men and women leave their respective branch of service proudly after serving long tours away from their families and friends, it's good to know that there are organizations like Waste Management that proactively seek to hire them upon their return.

About 3,500 veterans currently work for Waste Management. The organization has been named top Military Friendly employer by "G.I. Jobs Magazine," "Military Times," and the Department of Defense.

A veteran himself, Wes Reel, staffing manager with Waste Management said, “I have always loved being part of a winning team, which is why I loved serving in the military before I joined Waste Management. When I wore the uniform of the United States Navy, I worried that nothing could ever replace the mission and purpose I felt by serving my country. I now take great pride in being a small part of a company that is helping to change the world by making our environment better.

"We are actively seeking veterans to fill roles at all levels of the organization, from the Operational Front Line to the Corporate Headquarters," Reel continued. "A partnership with The Checkered Flag Foundation brings us one step closer to its goal of remaining a best place to work for veterans."

For real Veterans’ testimony from real WM Employees, click here (http://youtu.be/jocWOQo1yjs) to view the video. Follow this link: http://wastemanagement.jobs to view a list of all of WM’s current openings.

Brad Keselowski's Checkered Flag Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization that supports those who have sacrificed for us, including military, veterans, first responders and their families, among others. For more information on CFF, you can visit http://checkeredflagfoundation.org or check out the Checkered Flag Foundation on Facebook at www.fbook.me/CFF and on Twitter at @BKCFF.

Introducing Jobgram: An Infographic for Recruiting

Paul Jacobs and I met at Google a few years ago. He made the trip from New Zealand and led a session called, "The Death of Job Boards". Needless to say, I've always been interested in his perspective. I walked away from his session believing that job boards would survive, however, that passive candidates need more than a job description before they apply.

Paul reached out to me regarding his newest venure, Jobgram. Jobgram is a visual infographic of a career opportunity. I found it to be engaging. Here is a Jobgram highlighting an Operational opening for a Technician (Mechanic) with my employer, Waste Management. What do you think?

 You may also view and share this Jobgram at http://getajobgram.com/post/17965716065/wastemanagement.

From Talent Acquisition To Corporate Communications

In June of 2009, I attended ERE's Social Recruiting Summit at Google in Mountain View, CA. The speakers, sessions, attendees, conversations and inspiring location reinforced my desire for a career in social media. It was the first time that I coordinated a tweetup. At the time, I was a recruiter for an agency with co-workers and a boss who were like family to me. There were many talented recruiters who were out of work. I debated if I was ungrateful for my current employment and if it was the right time to take a risk to follow my passions.

In the end, I had to follow my heart, face my fears and take calculated risks towards my professional goals. Through meetings with trusted colleagues, mentors and industry leaders, I left recruiting to focus full-time on delivering social media training and solutions. Since then, I've had many personal and professional successes and failures. Earlier this year, I joined Waste Management (WM), a Fortune 200 corporation with 1500 job openings in the U.S. and Canada.

Today, I'm grateful to announce another transition. I've accepted a new role within WM. My title is Manager, Social Media. I'm part of an extraordinary Corporate Communications team. It is bittersweet, since I truly enjoyed working on a daily basis with the first-class Talent Acquisition group at WM. Now I am responsible for all social media platforms, monitoring for our internal and external communication channels and engaging target audiences. It is an honor to represent Waste Management during the company's time of transformational change and growth. I am humbled and indebted for the innovative leadership driving positive change at WM.

Thank you to my friends, colleagues, mentors and family for their unconditional support. I wish you and your loved ones a prosperous and healthy 2012. Keep paying it forward!

New Career Announcement - Think Green

In January of last year, I was honored to join Bernard HODES Group as their Director, Social Strategy. During my tenure, I partnered with exceptional people and amazing clients. It was refreshing to collaborate with unmatched professionals who create the most efficient and innovative recruitment marketing solutions. We shared many successes together and I cherish our friendships. I'm in debt to leaders from HODES like Shannon Seery Gude, Lana Suiter, Kevin Hensley, Vince Vitti, Andy Katz and Julie Burgstahler.

Later this month, I will join Waste Management as their Manager, Social Media and Employment Branding. I look forward to making a significant contribution and working with proven talent acquisition, HR, marketing and communications teams. Of course, I'll keep blogging here and staying active in social platforms like LinkedIn, Twitter and Foursquare.

Thank you to my friends, family, mentors, co-workers and clients who have been so supportive of me online and offline. I appreciate your honesty and keep paying-it-forward.