Gridiron Capital Sets the Standard for Veteran Hiring in Private Equity

In an industry often driven solely by financial returns, Gridiron Capital is demonstrating that private equity can—and should—be a force for social impact. The firm's commitment to veteran employment represents a paradigm shift in how private equity firms can leverage their influence to create meaningful change while delivering strong returns to investors. 

The veteran employment challenge in America is significant. Each year, approximately 200,000 service members transition to civilian careers, often facing barriers including skills translation difficulties, unfamiliar corporate cultures, and gaps in professional networks. Despite possessing highly sought-after skills in leadership, problem-solving, and adaptability, veterans face an unemployment rate that has historically exceeded national averages during economic downturns. 

A Strategic Partnership Built for Impact

Through a strategic partnership with the Bob Woodruff Foundation and JobPaths, Gridiron has committed to ensuring that every company in its portfolio actively supports veteran hiring and career advancement. This partnership gives Gridiron-backed companies access to a custom-built hiring and workforce development platform designed specifically for veterans. 

The Bob Woodruff Foundation, established in 2006, has invested over $80 million in veteran and military family programs across the United States. Their partnership with Gridiron represents a new model for corporate engagement, moving beyond traditional charitable giving to embedded operational support that creates sustainable employment pathways. 

JobPaths, a national leader in veteran employment solutions, provides comprehensive tools including military-to-civilian skills translation, job matching algorithms, mentorship opportunities, and career navigation resources. The platform's sophisticated matching system translates military occupational specialties into civilian job requirements, helping employers understand how a former logistics coordinator might excel in supply chain management or how a military police officer could transition into corporate security leadership. 

With over 350,000 users and more than 36,000 new users joining each month, the platform is helping employers tap into one of the most skilled and mission-driven segments of the American workforce. The platform's growth trajectory reflects the increasing recognition among employers that veterans bring unique value propositions to civilian organizations. 

Portfolio-Wide Success Stories

The impact of this initiative is already visible across the Gridiron portfolio, with companies reporting not just increased veteran hiring numbers but improved retention rates and accelerated career advancement for veteran employees. 

At FEI Group, Senior Vice President Brian Penabad has led efforts to integrate the platform and strengthen veteran recruitment across the company's network. Under his leadership, the company has developed targeted outreach programs for transitioning service members and created veteran-specific onboarding processes that acknowledge the unique strengths military personnel bring to civilian roles. He was recently honored with the JobPaths Bronze Award for his role in placing veterans into roles that align with their leadership experience and skillsets. 

At Leaf Home, the results have been similarly impressive. Since 2020, the company has seen a 240% increase in veteran hires, with veterans now representing a significant portion of the company's leadership development pipeline. This growth has been accompanied by measurable improvements in team performance metrics, with veteran-led teams showing higher rates of goal achievement and customer satisfaction scores. 

Nick Busse, a U.S. Army veteran and Leaf Home's Military Engagement Manager, has played a critical role in driving that growth. His position itself represents an innovative approach to veteran integration, creating dedicated roles focused on supporting military talent throughout their career journey. "I'm highly impressed with JobPath, a powerful platform that creates seamless career pathways for transitioning service members," Busse said when reflecting on the value of the platform. "My own experience, along with many others, is proof of its impact. What truly sets JobPath apart is the dedicated team behind it, personally invested in safeguarding opportunities for our heroes. I highly recommend it to anyone supporting veteran career transitions." 

The commitment extends beyond veterans to include military spouses, a population that faces unique employment challenges due to frequent relocations and deployment cycles. At Jacent, another Gridiron portfolio company, the focus has expanded to actively recruiting military spouses, recognizing their resilience, adaptability, and strong work ethic. Military spouses bring valuable skills developed through managing households independently during deployments and adapting to new environments with each military assignment. 

At Legacy Services Partners, Sean Laboda has championed veteran hiring initiatives that have transformed the company's approach to talent acquisition. His leadership has resulted in the development of specialized programs that not only recruit veterans but also provide ongoing support systems to ensure long-term success and career advancement within the organization. 

Similarly, TNAA has implemented a comprehensive hiring programs for both veterans and military spouses, understanding that supporting military families requires addressing the employment needs of the entire household. Their approach recognizes that military spouses often possess advanced degrees and professional experience that can be leveraged across various roles within the organization. 

Systematic Integration: Beyond Good Intentions

What makes Gridiron's approach stand out is not just the quality of its partnerships; it is the integration of veteran hiring into its core operational strategy. Rather than issuing general guidance or encouraging optional best practices, Gridiron has systematized veteran recruitment across its portfolio, setting a new precedent for how private equity firms can lead with purpose. 

This systematic approach includes mandatory veteran recruitment training for HR teams across portfolio companies, standardized reporting on veteran hiring metrics, and the incorporation of veteran employment goals into executive compensation structures. Portfolio companies are expected to participate in military job fairs, partner with veteran service organizations, and create mentorship programs that pair veterans with senior leaders. 

The firm has also developed proprietary tools to help portfolio companies identify roles that align particularly well with military experience, from operations management positions that leverage logistical expertise to customer service roles that benefit from the military's emphasis on service excellence. 

The Business Case for Veteran Hiring

Beyond the moral imperative, the data supporting veteran hiring as a business strategy is compelling. Research consistently shows that veteran employees demonstrate higher retention rates, stronger leadership capabilities, and exceptional performance in high-pressure situations. Veterans bring unique perspectives shaped by diverse experiences, global exposure, and training in complex problem-solving under resource constraints. 

Studies indicate that companies with strong veteran hiring programs report 18% higher customer retention rates and 12% higher employee engagement scores. These outcomes reflect veterans' training in customer service, teamwork, and continuous improvement methodologies, which directly translate to business value. 

Veterans also contribute to organizational resilience, bringing experience in crisis management, rapid adaptation to changing circumstances, and the ability to maintain performance under pressure. These skills have proven particularly valuable in the post-pandemic business
environment, where agility and leadership have become critical competitive advantages. 

Industry Impact and Future Implications

Gridiron's initiative is already influencing peer firms and creating momentum for broader industry change. Other private equity firms are beginning to explore similar partnerships, recognizing both the social impact potential and the business advantages of systematic veteran hiring programs. 

The model also demonstrates how private equity firms can use their portfolio influence to address broader societal challenges. By implementing consistent practices across multiple companies, private equity firms can create change at scale that individual companies might struggle to achieve independently. 

Looking forward, Gridiron's approach suggests a new framework for ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) integration in private equity, where social impact initiatives are embedded in operational strategies rather than treated as separate corporate responsibility programs. 

A New Standard for Purpose-Driven Capital

Veterans offer companies unmatched dedication, leadership, and adaptability. Gridiron Capital's investment in their futures is not just a moral decision; it is a strategic one that demonstrates how private equity can create value for investors while addressing critical social needs. 

As the private equity industry continues to evolve, Gridiron's veteran hiring initiative provides a blueprint for how firms can integrate purpose into their core operations, creating a sustainable impact that extends far beyond financial returns. This approach represents the future of private equity: strategic, systematic, and socially conscious. 

To learn more about Gridiron's veteran hiring initiative, visit gridiron.yourjobpath.com.