We want to take the opportunity during Military Appreciation Month to thank ALL our veteran servicemen and women across the Pilot organization. To those in our travel centers, support centers, and the behind-the-wheel in our fleet, we are grateful for all you have done for our country and continue to do for our company.
This week is also our inaugural Team Member Appreciation Week, and we had a chance to catch up with a few of our military Pilot Team Members and say thanks.
Thank You, Kera
Kera Porter served six and a half years as a Black Hawk helicopter mechanic in the US Army. After graduating from Fountainhead College of Technology, she joined Pilot on our Help Desk team. Since then, Kera has been a member of the network operations center and IT security team and currently serves as an Observability Engineer. In July of this year, she will celebrate ten years at Pilot Company!
What advice would you give to fellow service members transitioning from the military into the civilian world?
“Find something you are passionate about. There are many different programs out there that will help you get into needed fields, especially IT. Go after those and look for companies that are veteran-friendly.” – Kera Porter.
Thank You, Shaddy
Shaddy Bowling served in the US Army for 11 years and was a platoon sergeant. When he was exiting the military, he attended an event where Pilot had a table to recruit people in our travel centers. He was interested in the Transportation side and had previous driving experience. Shaddy has been with Pilot for almost three years and currently serves as a field supervisor for region four and lives and operates out of the Dallas Fort Worth area.
What does he love about working at Pilot?
“Pilot is great at taking care of their people and providing a work and family balance that you don’t (and can’t) get with many companies, especially in the transportation world.” – Shaddy Bowling.
Thank You, Greg
Greg White served 23 years in the US Army, first as an infantry officer, then as a military strategist. Greg joined the team in January 2022 and currently serves as the General Manager for store Travel Center #6996 in Warsaw, North Carolina. After six months with Pilot, Greg says that he loves the engagement of his team and the support he receives from leadership.
His advice to transitioning service members?
“Understand it is going to be different. In the military, everyone is focused on one goal, which is to serve the country. When you get out of the military, you have to recognize that everyone has different goals and different motivations, but we can all still work together.” – Greg White.
Thank You, Lisa
For three years, Lisa Umali served as a counterintelligence special agent in the US Army. After serving, she was recruited by a Pilot to come aboard as a Human Resources Business Partner (HRBP) and has been with Pilot for two years. One of the things that she loves about Pilot is the history and culture of the company.
What advice does she have for fellow servicemen and women trying to find a job?
“Research the companies that you are interested in or interviewing with and make sure that you ask questions about what is important to you (culture, responsibilities, career growth, work-life balance, etc.).” – Lisa Umali
Thank you all for sharing your military background with us. We are honored to have you and all of our veteran servicemen and women across our company as part of the team. We are grateful for all you have done and continue to do.
Click here to learn more about Pilot’s commitment to giving back to veterans throughout the year.
