IowaWORKS Davenport Center Earns NASWA Award for Exceptional Veteran Service

WASHINGTON – The IowaWORKS Davenport office (American Job Center) was presented with the prestigious Mark Sanders Award at the National Association of State Workforce Agencies’ (NASWA) 11th Annual Veterans Conference in Washington, D.C.

Nominated by Iowa Workforce Development, the IowaWORKS Davenport office is home to several efforts that boost Veterans services, including hosting Transition Assistance Program (TAP) classes for service members planning life after the military. These classes connect service members with available resources during their transition to civilian careers. Veteran guest speakers share their stories and local employers present information on available employment. In 2023, the Davenport AJC successfully provided 93 transitioning Veterans and their families with services and referrals.

“The numerous Veteran-centered programs and events put on each year by the IowaWORKS Davenport Office is a testament to their hard work and dedication in assisting local Veterans and military spouses,” Scott B. Sanders, NASWA President and CEO said. “I want to congratulate them on being a recipient of the 2024 Mark Sanders Award for the exemplary service they provide to local Veterans and their families.”

The IowaWORKS Davenport office routinely goes above and beyond providing exceptional customer service to Veterans through personalized plans and fostering local connections to meet the needs of each family. One example is through Veteran networking events (Vet Nets) which have enabled transitioning service members, Veterans and their spouses to access essential resources, secure employment, connect with educational opportunities and engage with local government representatives.

In addition, the Davenport AJC has hosted the Quad Cities Success Fair for the last seven years, the largest Veteran-centered job fair in the area. The most recent event saw 100 employers in attendance and was covered by eight local media outlets.

“I’m incredibility proud of the efforts at the Davenport IowaWORKS Office that not only support Veterans and their families, but do so in a way that helps them thrive in a new career after service,” said Beth Townsend, Executive Director of Iowa Workforce Development. “As a state, we’ve made hiring Veterans a priority and will continue to champion these leading examples that support the continued success of our country’s brave men and women.”

Awarded annually at the NASWA Veterans Conference, the Mark Sanders Award recognizes a one-stop career center whose efforts to serve Veterans go above and beyond the scope of mandatory service provision and have a special emphasis on Veterans with significant barriers to employment.

The prestigious award is named in honor of Mark Sanders who, during his career with the California Employment Development Department and in leadership positions with NASWA, was untiring in his efforts to promote excellence in services to disabled Veterans.

For more information, visit the 2024 Veterans Conference website.

To learn more, watch the IowaWORKS Davenport Center video.