Bradenton Herald (Florida) (06/11/12) Mary Helen Kress

Mary Helen Kress, president and chief executive of Suncoast Workforce, a Florida-based organization that helps employers hire military veterans, says employers can benefit from the training, work ethic, and skills possessed by veterans. Moreover, they can qualify for the Work Opportunity Tax Credit under the Vow to Hire Veterans Act of 2011, with for-profit employers receiving credits up to $9,600 and tax-exempt organizations receiving up to $6,240 for each qualified veteran they hire. They also have access to a Special Incentive program through the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs’ Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment program if they offer training and hands-on experience to veterans, with reimbursement totaling as much as half of the veteran’s salary during the training period for as long as six months.