FourBlock

Happy Thanksgiving from FourBlock! This season, we are especially grateful for the incredible veterans, military spouses, employers, and partners in our FourBlock community. Together, we’ve built more than just careers—we’ve fostered purpose, meaningful connections, and a continued mission to serve in impactful ways. As we reflect on this year’s accomplishments, we are reminded that the journey to transition better and achieve more is powered by collaboration and shared commitment. Thank you for being part of our mission and helping create opportunities that truly matter. #TransitionBetter #AchieveMore #FindYourPurpose #FourBlock The FourBlock team: Mike Abrams Queta Rodriguez Karin Childress-Wiley Gary Guzman Bernard Beaullieu Tony Kalams Olivia Martinez-Stewart Vic Lance Eric Stetson Ashley Owens Andrea Smith Angenetta Lambert Carla Coons David H. Marinelarena

Last Thursday, the FourBlock #SanDiego cohort had the pleasure of being welcomed by Vertex Pharmaceuticals, where they gained valuable insights into career paths within the #pharma industry—especially for those with military backgrounds. The Vertex team was incredibly welcoming, informative, and inspiring, reminding the #FourBlock students of the many opportunities in this field that go beyond the lab! Key takeaway: From HR and finance to engineering and facilities management, there are numerous roles in pharma that align with diverse skills and experiences. Don’t overlook the pharma industry—there are so many avenues to explore beyond science roles. There are still slots open for the SPRING 2025 COHORT in SAN DEIGO. Click here to learn more about the program and then apply: https://lnkd.in/gAFrUUH3 A huge thank you to the Vertex team for their hospitality and support Stern Chamblain, Alisia Engle, MBA, M.S.Ed., Jordan Harrison, Raisa Diaz, MSHRM, SHRM-CP, PHR, Tim Alcacio, Tamara Fox, Simone Stevens. Olivia Martinez-Stewart| Queta Rodriguez| Mike Abrams| William L.| Dan Caine| Sam Hanaki Karin Childress-Wiley Gary Guzman #FourBlockFirst #TransitionBetter #AchieveMore #Veterans #MilitaryTransition #PharmaCareers #Networking #VeteranSupport #CareerReadiness

FourBlock is pleased to share that our website has been added to the?U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs?Employment Services and Programs webpage. To learn more about in-person and online programs that can help you build lasting professional relationships and prepare to transition to a civilian career, follow the link below. ?? ? #Military #Servicemembers #Veterans #Transition #Employment https://lnkd.in/gabzNtn4 #FourBlockFirst #TransitionBetter #AchieveMore #veteranresources Tag a #VSO who can benefit by sharing this resource page Mike Abrams Queta Rodriguez Gary Guzman Karin Childress-Wiley

FourBlock was honored to have Veterans Bridge Home host the Charlotte Fall 2024 Cohort Graduation this past Tuesday evening. A heartfelt thank you to Jacqueline Donahue for warmly welcoming the group and sharing insights about VBH’s work in the employment space, supporting employers, veteran service organizations, and veterans (military members, veterans, and their families). Special thanks to Tony Kalams, Kelley Fluharty, George Custodio, Michael Davis, and the other incredible coaches who made this event possible. It was a joy to have you all at our HQ, watching you mark your place on the map and launch into the next exciting chapters of your lives. Last shout out to team Novant Health and Sebastien Girard, MBA for hosting FourBlock's coaching session last week! Congratulations to everyone in the cohort—wishing you continued success! #FourBlock #FourBlockFirst #TransitionBetter #AchieveMore #workforceoftheFuture #FutureForce #bethebridge #stongertogether Gary Guzman Mike Abrams Karin Childress-Wiley Queta Rodriguez

Applications are filling fast! Don’t wait! In collaboration with more than 1,300 employers, we have served thousands of veterans through career-readiness programs across the U.S., achieving a 92% job placement rate, an 84% retention rate (>1 year), and an average starting salary of more than $100K. These numbers speak to the effectiveness of our approach. Our partners and participating veterans are already changing the narrative and have become a catalyst for change. Whether in-person or virtual, FourBlock is here to help veterans and military spouses transition into meaningful civilian careers. Don’t miss your chance to join a cohort that will support and guide you toward your next career move. Some of our Spring 2025 FourBlock Career Readiness Program cohorts have already moved to a waitlist—but it’s not too late to apply for the location of your choice! TAG A #VSO, Partner, Mentor, Alumni, Instructor, or Veteran: APPLY HERE: https://lnkd.in/gJE3uPWN IN-PERSON EVENTS: Atlanta, GA Boston, MA Charlotte, NC Chicago, IL Colorado Cities Houston, TX National Capital Region New York City, NY Philadelphia, PA San Antonio, TX San Diego, CA Seattle, WA Tampa, FL VIRTUAL PROGRAMS: Central Mid-Atlantic Southeast Northwest Dallas Fort Worth Texas Midwest West Global FourBlock #FourBlock #FourBlockFirst #TransitionBetter #AchiveMore #CareerReadiness #Veterans #VeteranEmployment U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Department of Labor Veterans’ Employment and Training Service Student Veterans of America Hiring Our Heroes Hire Heroes USA Military.com Military Spouse Employment Partnership--MSEP Mike Abrams Queta Rodriguez Karin Childress-Wiley Gary Guzman Bernard Beaullieu

FourBlock's next in-person and virtual Career Readiness Program cohorts start in Spring 2025. This is your chance to join a powerful network that will help #veterans transition successfully into meaningful civilian careers. Know someone who can benefit? Tag a Veteran Service Organization, a Career Readiness Instructor, a Mentor, an Alumni, or a transitioning or Student Veteran who should hear this message. Click here to sign up for an information session and start your application: https://lnkd.in/efxtgnZM Together, we can empower the military community to thrive in their next chapter. Let's not leave anyone behind. #FourBlock #FourBlockFirst #TransitionBetter #CareerReadiness #VeteranEmployment #VSO Hiring Our Heroes Hire Heroes USA VETS2INDUSTRY NextOp Veterans U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Student Veterans of America USO U.S. Army Soldier For Life Department of Labor Veterans’ Employment and Training Service Mike Abrams Queta Rodriguez Gary Guzman Karin Childress-WileyBernard Beaullieu Eric Stetson Tony Kalams Olivia Martinez-Stewart Ashley Owens Angenetta Lambert Vic Lance

Congratulation to the Fall 2024 DC Cohort. The FourBlock NCR Fall 2024 cohort held its final session last night at General Dynamics Information Technology (General Dynamics Information Technology). Each of the students got to convey their elevator pitch for the last time and we learned how GDIT makes the “art of the possible” through their focus on a whole host of disciplines including artificial intelligence, cloud computing, cyber, and data and analytics. Following the overview, Garrett Yee, GDIT’s Vice President and General Manger, shared his perspectives on transitioning and how working at GDIT is another way to continue to serve. The highlight of the night was a panel discussion where Gregory Starace, PMP, USMC LtCol Retired, Ronald Wilkes, and Wanda Mena recounted their experiences as they began their new jobs. They emphasized networking, asking lots of questions, understanding expectations and getting feedback, and figuring out how you will add value. A few stories and quotes that resonated with me: ?? “I felt like a 2nd Lieutenant again” in describing the excitement and possibilities of this new beginning ?? “No oar is too small; get in and row with the team” – be humble and willing to contribute in any way, even if it’s opening soda cans to avoid noise distractions before a presentation ???“Never say no” – the benefits of jumping into a new project can be incredible, even if it is daunting and means taking on more work ?? Because we take on so many roles in our careers, often with no previous experience, veterans excel at hitting the ground running ?? You have 20 years of a new career ahead of you – continue to grow, think ahead, and move forward The session concluded with each student sharing what they learned and FourBlock coin presentations. For me, this has been an eye-opening experience on many levels. The curriculum itself provided concrete methods to help us think through what we wanted to do. Additionally, the “reps and sets” of honing our elevator pitches, resumes, and interview skills effectively prepared us for the next chapter. But what really makes this a premier program is the opportunity to connect with other veterans, recruiters, and companies that not only want to hire us, but genuinely want us to succeed. We got a glimpse of a whole different world outside the government, and more importantly, I know I’m not alone and have a growing network I can lean into as I consider my future (and use to help other transitioning members). Good luck to all - I can't wait to see where you land!???? ?? Charles Chalfont | Gregg Clark ? Program Director, PMP Ellis C.| Brian P. | Gary Guzman | Mike Abrams | Queta Rodriguez | Vic Lance Karin Childress-Wiley #FourBlock #careerreadiness #transitionbetter #fourblockfirst FourBlock

Registration is now Open for the Spring 2025 FourBlock Military Spouse Career Readiness Program! This comprehensive program offers live video coaching, flexible online learning modules, and all the guidance and tools military spouses need to launch - or Relaunch - meaningful careers. Graduates will join an expanded network of FourBlock alumni, employers, and instructors, creating additional pathways for mentorship and career connections. Program Details SPRING 1 Duration: Monday, 1/27 – Friday, 4/4 Onboarding: 1/22 (Cohorts 3 & 4) | Noon ET Onboarding: 1/23 (Cohorts 1 & 2) | 6pm ET SPRING 2 Duration: Monday, 4/21 – Friday, 6/27 Onboarding: 4/16 (Cohorts 3 & 4) | Noon ET Onboarding: 4/17 (Cohorts 1 & 2) | 6pm ET Register for an Information Session: Mondays: 1:30 – 2:30 ET Register here: https://lnkd.in/gbJhuXxa Thursdays: 8:30 – 9:30 ET Register here: https://lnkd.in/gFVv4qAQ This program is offered at no cost thanks to our incredible corporate and philanthropic sponsors. Take the next step toward your career goals—register today! FourBlock Prepare to Launch U Andrea Smith #militaryspouses #careerrelaunch #careerreadiness Mike Abrams Queta Rodriguez Gary Guzman Karin Childress-Wiley

On Veterans Day, we celebrate those who have served and continue to serve? - abroad, at home, and in their local communities. When you have served your country admirably, with a deep sense of purpose and meaning, we know service doesn't end when you leave the military.? You're united around shared missions.? Veterans remain ready to answer the call organically, to step up to lead in their communities—whether mentoring, volunteering, or supporting fellow veterans and give back to their communities. At FourBlock, we honor those who have served and continue to serve. THANK YOU. #veteransday #service #thankyou #stillserving Mike Abrams Queta Rodriguez Karin Childress-Wiley Gary Guzman #fourblock #findyourcalling

“FourBlock is our competitive advantage.” FourBlock Partner Employer FourBlock's proven approach to career-readiness has become the benchmark in preparing veterans and military spouses for meaningful civilian employment and helping employers meet their workforce needs with exceptional talent. Key to the FourBlock experience are relationships. We’ve built a nationwide community of employers, alumni, veterans, and supports who are dedicated to ensuring veterans transition better and are positioned to achieve more—personally and professionally. Learn how you can join our mission and the veteran employment community at FourBlock. www.fourblock.org #veteranemployment #careerreadiness #transitionbetter #fourblock Michael Abrams Queta Rodriguez Karin Childress-Wiley Gary Guzman Bernard Beaullieu U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs FourBlock