The Economic Investment Initiative Virtual Event is today in San Antonio, TX. Ask Questions here!

2020-09-17T09:29:48-04:00

The EII Town Hall will be on September 24th from 9AM-11:30AM.
You may ask questions to the following people in advance;

Brian Schroepfer
U.S. Department of Labor
Veterans Employment and Training Service (VETS)
State Director for Texas

Serves VETS as the Texas State Director (DVET), Program SME for National Veterans’ Training Institute (NVTI), and past member of the JVSG Triennial Audit Team. As Texas State Director he provides oversight, evaluation, and administration reporting for Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program (HVRP) grants, the Jobs for Veterans State Grant (JVSG), DOL Employment Fundamentals of Career Transition (EFCT) and Vocational Training (VT) workshops of TAP, the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA), and Veterans Preference for Federal employment.

Brian Schroepfer served for twenty-four years of active Naval service as a Sonar Technician (Surface) and Navy Counselor (Fleet). Civilian work experience includes Disabled Veterans Outreach Program (DVOP) Specialist and Local Veterans Employment Representative (LVER), Department of Labor Transition Assistance Program (TAP) facilitator, the South Texas JVSG Regional Manager, and JVSG State Veterans Coordinator and Director of Veterans Employment Services for the Texas Veterans Commission. Earned a Bachelor’s of General Studies and Master’s in Business Management (MBA) from Columbia College of Missouri. Attended Veteran-related courses with the National Veterans Training Institute (NVTI), including USERRA/VETS Investigator, Veterans Employment & Opportunities Act, Facilitating Veteran Employment for State Veteran Coordinators, Employer Outreach, Promoting Partnerships for Employment, DOL Employment Workshop (DOLEW) Train-the-Trainer, Transition Assistance Program (TAP) Facilitator, Labor Employment Specialist, and Case Management.

Laura Korner, Commission Chair
Town Hall Panelist

Laura Koerner of Fair Oaks Ranch is a project manager, engineer, and a Councilwoman for the City of Fair Oaks Ranch. She served in the United States Navy as a Surface Warfare (Nuclear) Officer onboard USS MAHAN (DDG 72) and USS ENTERPRISE (CVN 65), earning 2 Navy Commendation Medals and a Navy Achievement Medal. She is a Blue & Gold Officer with the Admissions Department of the United States Naval Academy and a member of Project Management Institute, United States Naval Academy Alumni Association, and the Navy Officer Spouses Club of Greater San Antonio. Koerner received a Bachelor of Science in systems engineering from the United States Naval Academy and a Master of Science in nuclear engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and was qualified as a Nuclear Propulsion Plant Operator at the Naval Nuclear Power School.

Charlie Catoe, Division Director of Program Operations
Transitioning Veterans & Benefits Roundtable

Charles Catoe is the Division Director of Program Operations at the Texas Veterans Commission. He has been with TVC since October 2014 and held various positions in Veterans Education and the Fund for Veterans’ Assistance. Mr. Catoe assumed his current role in June of 2019 and he is responsible for the agency’s departments that serve Texas veterans by filing disability claims, assisting with employment or transitioning from the military, approving education and training programs for GI Bill® use, and providing healthcare advocacy at the Department of Veterans Affairs’ medical facilities.

Mr. Catoe is 27-year Air Force veteran and holds a bachelor’s degree in Engineering from the United States Air Force Academy, two master’s degrees from Air University, and one master’s degree from Embry-Riddle University. He also holds a graduate certification in Grants Management. While serving in the Air Force, Colonel Catoe was a Command Pilot with more than 4,200 total flying hours (300 in combat) and held command positions at the squadron and group levels. He has been married to his wife, Georgia, for 34 years and together they raised 3 wonderful children who have in-turn blessed them with 2 grandchildren.

Dr. Krystle Matthews, Women Veterans Program Manager
Women Veterans Roundtable

Dr. Krystle Matthews, U.S. Army veteran, is the Women Veterans Program Manager at the Texas Veterans Commission. Krystle educates women veterans on the benefits and services they earned through their military service; assist women veterans with accessing those benefits and services; and collaborates with federal, state, and local partners to provide existing services and create new services to meet unmet needs. Previously, Krystle worked in Veterans Employment Services where she served as a Veterans Career Advisor, District Outreach Coordinator, and State Women Veterans Employment Coordinator.

As a Veterans Career Advisor, Dr. Matthews worked one-on-one with veterans to help them overcome barriers to obtaining suitable and long-term employment. As the Gulf Coast District Outreach Coordinator, Dr. Matthews provided support services to internal staff and external partners. She created and cultivated relationships that essentially provided wraparound services for veterans seeking employment as well as other assistance (i.e., clothing, financial, housing, etc.). As the State Women Veterans Employment Coordinator, Dr. Matthews advocated on behalf of women veterans in employment and training opportunities. She worked to educate employers on the benefits of hiring women veterans to fill open positions as well as the benefits available to employers for hiring Texas veterans. She also educated women veterans on the benefits and services available to them through employer programs.

Dr. Matthews holds a bachelor’s degree in Technical Management, a master’s degree in Human Resource Development, and a doctorate in Education. She is active in several veteran service organizations and empowers college students to lead and succeed by serving as an advisor for a nationally recognized leadership honor society. When Dr. Matthews has free time, she spends it with her family and volunteering in local communities. She is very passionate about helping others and advocating on behalf of veterans.

Jim Martin, Veteran Employment Services Director
Employment Roundtable

Jim Martin is the Director of the Texas Veterans Commission Veterans Employment Services Department. In this position, he is responsible for directing the overall employment services efforts of over 160 Local Veterans Employment Representatives (LVERS) and Disabled Veterans Outreach Program Specialists (DVOPS) statewide. He has served Texas Veterans for the past 22 years beginning as a frontline LVER in a local workforce center. He later became a Program Manager and Integrated Service Area Manager for the Texas Workforce Commission where he was responsible for the Veterans employment program in the North Texas Region. In 2006, when the employment services program was awarded to the Texas Veterans Commission, Jim accepted a position as the North Texas District Manager. He served in that capacity until his promotion to Director in June of 2020.

Jim retired from the U.S. Air Force in 1988 completing a 20-year career working for the Comptroller of the Air Force as the Senior Enlisted Manager for Cost & Management Analysis. He is an honor graduate of both the NCO and Senior NCO Academies. While serving in the Air Force, he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Business from Wayland Baptist University and a Master’s Degree with honors in Human Resources Management from Golden Gate University. A native of Detroit, Michigan Jim resides in Grapevine Texas with his wife Gaylene where they are avid University of Oklahoma sports fans.

Response by SGT Robert Pryor made Sep 17 at 2020 4:23 PM

2020-09-17T16:23:37-04:00

What is the current status of VA Caregiver program for veterans with service prior to May 7. 1975?