DNR earns MVAA Gold-level Veteran-Friendly Employer Status

Pictured left to right: Erik Schreur, MVAA employment analyst; Shannon Hanna, DNR deputy director; Jamie Jerome, DNR Forest Resources Division training and safety specialist

LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency (MVAA) presented the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) with the Gold-level Veteran-Friendly Employer (VFE) award on Tuesday, June 16. This honor recognizes their commitment to veteran recruitment, training and retention in their hiring practices.

"We are extremely proud of the more than 100 dedicated DNR staff members who not only serve the people of Michigan every day but have also bravely served our nation in the Armed Forces," said DNR director Scott Bowen. "We are committed to ensuring they receive every benefit they have earned and we remain steadfast in our support for past, present and future military service members, as well as their families and loved ones."

The DNR joined the MVAA's VFE program at the Bronze-level in 2019 before rising to Silver-level in 2022 and achieving Gold-level in May 2026, demonstrating their commitment to supporting veterans, service members and their families through meaningful initiatives that promote connection, recognition and career advancement.

The DNR has a very active employee resource group named the Veteran Engagement Team (VET) for veterans and military supporters. The group focuses on recognition and works to enhance recruitment and retention efforts for their veteran employees. With the VET group, all new hires that are military connected are forwarded to the veteran liaison for a special onboarding process to make sure they are signed up for their earned military benefits, showcasing the DNR's commitment and care for the veteran community.

Additionally, veterans have veteran preference in their hiring process and can receive up to five years of service credit towards their continuous hours for the purpose of longevity and leave accruals. Those serving in the National Guard or Reserves called to emergency active duty are eligible for supplemental pay and are eligible for continued healthcare coverage.

Over the past year, the DNR has maintained a 100% retention rate of their veteran employees and became a Michigan Veteran Connector.

"The Veteran-Friendly Employer program helps to build strong recruitment and retention programs within the nearly 200 participating Michigan employers," said MVAA employment analyst Erik Schreur. "We aim to grow veteran workforce opportunities and create employment successes that not only strengthen employers but our state as a whole."

Veteran-Friendly Employer program:

The MVAA recognizes employers that commit to military veteran recruitment, training and retention practices by awarding those employers Gold, Silver and Bronze-level status as Veteran-Friendly Employers. The MVAA's Veteran-Friendly Employer program helps qualified organizations recruit and retain top veteran talent while providing others a road map to improve their recruitment efforts.

The MVAA will assist employers as they develop and improve their efforts to recruit and retain high-quality veteran candidates. Employers who meet the criteria will be publicly recognized and allowed to use the Gold, Silver and Bronze Michigan Veteran-Friendly Employer logo to market themselves to potential veteran applicants.

If your organization would like to be recognized as a Veteran-Friendly Employer, please review the criteria and fill out the Veteran-Friendly Employer Application and submit it. For more information, email [email protected].

Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency - The MVAA is the central coordinating agency, providing support, care advocacy and service to veterans and their families. As a state agency, the MVAA works to identify and break down barriers veterans face in employment, education, health care and quality of life, to make Michigan a great place for veterans and their families to call home. More information about the MVAA is available at Michigan.gov/MVAA or by reading our FY25 Annual Report.

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