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U.P. Michigan Work! supports veterans and is proud of Michigan-based companies that hire them. For the first time, the state employment agency awarded the first Veteran Company of the Year and Veteran of the Year award to GS Engineering. Stephen LaCourt a little more than a year ago finished his last tour with the Army National Guard. Afterward, he began searching for work through Michigan Works’ veteran assistance program, which helped him land a job as a designer with GS Engineering in Houghton.
“Through Michigan Works, they gave me the links, and resources to where employers would be open to my degree. And it led me done this path to where I am today.” Stephen LaCourt, Designer, GS Engineering
GS Engineering’s Vice President of Engineering Jim Vendlinkski adds that the company works with military contracts, and finds veterans can add a different perspective on projects the company is working on. That experience combined with innate leadership and hard work has helped GS Engineering innovate, as they contribute to the local economy.
“But we also design a lot of defense products. And our veteran employees have a unique experience. In that they have in some instances, personally used some of this equipment that we are designing. So they have insight into the way these products are maintained and serviced. The entire lifecycle of the product. Added with those leadership and discipline qualities we get a leg up on the engineering side of things.” Jim Vendlinkski, Vice President of Engineering, GS Engineering
Representative Greg Markkanen also awarded LaCourt and GS engineering with the Michigan House Veteran Affairs Committee; ‘s annual recognition of service. He says that there is always more the state and communities can do to support veterans.
“It’s great to recognize a veteran in Houghton County. And a business that supports veterans. We can’t do enough for veterans in our state, And veterans are highly regarded in the Upper Peninsula. Every county has a high saturation of veterans. And we need to honor them any chance we get.” – Greg Markkanen, 110th District Representative, Michigan House of Representatives
Michigan Works says they are very happy to work with veterans and help them find great paying and purposeful roles with Michigan businesses.
“It is a matter of working with the VES team. And, picking out a company that’s easy to work with, that has the passion to work with veterans. And so it was an easy decision to pick GS Engineering for this inaugural award.” – Debb Brunell, CEO, UP Michigan Works
GS Engineering works on a variety of engineering applications and primarily works with military design contracts. At the engineering firm, their employees help build and design robotics, application programs, and much more. The company happily employs Michigan military veterans. Find more information about the company and the First Annual Veteran Business of the Year and Veteran of the Year awards from Michigan Works here.
