Register at a Satellite Location
- Get to personally know fellow members in your geographical area either close to home or work.
- A more immersive and focused session compared to a virtual session. Share and discuss items with the other members.
- They are free for Members only.
Abstract:
This panel discussion introduces three nonprofit organizations that deliver programs helping military talent flourish in civilian career. Participants will learn how their organizations can leverage these programs to bring military talent project managers into their organizations. The session will include perspectives from veterans currently employed in project management roles and their insights into best practices for attracting, onboarding, and retaining military talent. Participants will also be exposed to opportunities for their organizations or them personally to get involved and support these programs, whether as an employer partner, or as a volunteer.
Session Outcomes:
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
- Aware of programs supporting military talent interested in careers in project management
- Aware of opportunities for companies to engage hiring military talent into project management roles
- Aware of best practices for onboarding military talent into their organizations
- Aware of volunteer opportunities related to military talent interested in project management careers
Panelists:
President & Founder, JB Strategic Solutions
Executive Leader, Board Member, Military Family
Advocate, Army Veteran, Public Speaker
Jim Beamesderfer the President & Founder of JB Strategic Solutions, a certified veteran-owned small business, helps organizations turn their toughest challenges and problems into opportunities, helping organizations achieve their full potential through various leadership development offerings.
Previously Jim worked at Prudential for more than 27 years, where he held leadership roles in Information Technology in multiple business units and led the company’s Office of Veterans Initiatives for 8 of those years.
Jim has been on and led various national advisory councils, including having spent multiple years as the co-chair of the US Chamber of Commerce Hiring Our Heroes Military Spouse Employment Advisory Council. Currently Mr. Beamesderfer is a member of SHRM Foundation’s Military Community Advisory Committee and is a SHRM Foundation Military Community Ambassador.
Jim is a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, NY with a Bachelors of Science in Mechanical Engineering and holds an MBA from Phoenix University. He served six years as an active-duty Army Infantry Officer.
Jim was a 2021 George W. Bush Presidential Center Stand To Veteran Leadership Program Scholar. He earned his PMP designation in 2005 and has been a member of PMI New Jersey since 2001, taking over leadership of the Veterans Local Community of Interest in late 2024.
Jim and his family reside in northern New Jersey.
Leslie Coffey serves as the Vice President of Military Engagement for American Corporate Partners (ACP). In this role, she has more than doubled the number of Veterans reached during her tenure and leads a team responsible for developing and executing strategies to strengthen ACP’s global brand among policymakers, business leaders, academics, nonprofits, and advocacy groups. She works to deepen ACP’s relationships with stakeholders, expand the organization’s reach, and build impactful partnerships that increase visibility and engagement within the military community.
With over 15 years of experience in workforce development and military transition support, and as a military spouse for 30 years, Leslie brings both professional expertise and personal insight to her work. She holds a Master of Business Administration from Texas A&M University–Commerce and has been recognized with numerous awards for her leadership and volunteerism.
Ben Dufay is the Director of Career Preparation and Training at the D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families at Syracuse University.
A veteran of both the U.S. Army and Navy, Ben retired as a Chief Warrant Officer Three in the Army. His military career began as a Fleet Marine Force Corpsman in the Navy, followed by a commission as an Aviation Warrant Officer in the Army. He completed deployments to Iraq, Afghanistan, and Egypt, and has received multiple awards including the Senior Aviator Badge, two Meritorious Service Medals, and two Air Medals.
Ben holds a Master’s degree in Organizational Leadership from Brandman University and maintains certifications in Project Management (PMP) and Agile Project Management (PMI-ACP).
In his current role, Ben is heavily focused on project management across a range of initiatives, including small to medium Salesforce-based projects and larger, more traditional efforts that drive strategic shifts within the program.
Tim Farris serves as a Drug Development Project Manager for Merck. He joined the Merck team in August 2025 as a DoD Skillbridge fellow and secured his current position. He is responsible for the end to end drug development within the Oncology space.
Tim is a retired Chief Master Sergeant from the United States Air Force with over 25 years of dedicated service. During his tenure, he was the Senior Enlisted Leader for the 621st Contingency Response Group, where led a team of 600 Airmen in the Air Base Opening mission set. His team was comprised of 39 functional disciplines responsible for opening airbases, anytime, anywhere, with any teammate. He joined the Air Force in 1999 as a Crew Chief. He served in multiple locations to include New Jersey, Japan, Alabama, Qatar, Afghanistan, Florida and Georgia.
Originally from Anderson, Missouri, Tim now resides in Columbus, New Jersey with his wife, Christina, and their children, Ava and Abram.
Tim earned his Master's of Science in Operations Management from the University of Arkansas, as well as his certification as a Project Management Professional.
He enjoys spending time with family, college football and playing golf.
Karen Hrach the Hiring Our Heroes Fellows Program Manager at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in NJ, is responsible for helping transitioning service members, in the Northeast, find jobs. She is passionate about helping both service members and host companies find opportunities that lead to successful outcomes for all.
As a career transitioner herself, Karen experienced a career change from IT to Human Resources, focusing on Talent Aquisition/Talent Management. She is vested in helping others, via her knowledge of Career Development and her extensive consulting experience in various industries. She has shared that knowledge with her community, doing extensive pro bono career counseling and resume writing for those in need of those services.
Karen has a Masters degree in Labor Relations & Human Resources and a Masters in Education - Adult Learning & Development from Cleveland State University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration from Baldwin Wallace University.
VETNET Business Readiness Group - Business Impact
Chris Latella is a seasoned Manager of Project Management within Prudential's Corporate Technology division, a critical component of the Global Technology and Operations organization. In this role, Chris is instrumental in aligning project outcomes with Prudential’s overarching Vision and Strategy. Leveraging servant leadership and a diverse array of project management methodologies, Chris consistently delivers customer-centric business and software solutions.
Since joining Prudential in 2020, Chris has successfully led both Agile and traditional project teams across various business units, including Non-financial Risk Management, Marketing, US Businesses, and Corporate Finance. Currently, Chris oversees six agile teams dedicated to Expense Management within Prudential Financial Management Transformation Portfolio.
A 23-year Air Force veteran, Chris served as a Bomber and Tanker Aircraft Crew Chief, as well as a construction project manager. During his military career, he played a pivotal role in the development of Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst’s newest airframe, the KC-46 tanker. Chris's military experience also includes managing large-scale construction projects, leading diverse teams, and ensuring the operational readiness of critical aircraft systems. His leadership and project management skills were honed through various challenging assignments, including deployments and high-stakes missions.
Chris actively contributes to Prudential’s VETNET Business Resource Group as the Business Impact Co-Lead and co-leads the organization's Kanban community of practice. He holds a bachelor’s degree in human resources management/Personnel Administration from Ashford University and has earned Eight Agile Delivery Certifications from Scrum Alliance and Scaled Agile certifying bodies.
Outside of work, Chris is dedicated to family and community. Married to Carmen and a proud father of three daughters, Chris enjoys spending time with family and rebuilding older vehicles. He also volunteers in support of the veteran community through the American Corporate Partnership and the Travis Manion Foundation.
Senior Manager, CS Talent Strategy | Johnson & Johnson
Tanya Luddy brings over two decades of diverse leadership experience spanning military service, hospitality, and global talent strategy. A proud U.S. Marine Corps veteran, Tanya transitioned into the civilian workforce through Marriott’s Management Rotation Program, later building a distinguished career in Human Resources and Talent Acquisition across leading organizations including Merck, E*TRADE, Broadridge, and Johnson & Johnson.
Her expertise lies in strategic planning, operational excellence, and inclusive talent management, with a strong focus on early career development and veteran support. Tanya is a certified ScrumMaster, Change Practitioner, and Flawless Project Execution (FPX) leader, combining technical credibility with a passion for continuous improvement and employee experience.
Tanya holds a Master of Science in Human Resources, a Bachelor of Science in Hospitality & Tourism Management, and an Associate of Arts Culinary Arts, reflecting her multifaceted approach to leadership and learning.
Steve Weston
- Retired from US Air Force (22yrs)
- Former Air Transportation 2T2X1 (9yrs) & Recruiter 8R000 (13 yrs)
- Facilitates Programs & Processes, supporting the executive leadership and the Marketing Communications team, functioning as the Chief of Staff.
- Has operated in HR, Marketing, Logistics, and Service Industries over the last 25 years.
- Celebrated 3 years at Verizon.
- Enjoys Wine Making, Cooking, Travelling & Motorcycle riding in addition to gaming and Sci-Fi flicks.
- Loves spending time with 4 kids, spouse, and volunteering in the veteran community.
