WASHINGTON, D.C. – Feb. 27, 2026 – STEP has achieved recognition as a 2026-2027 Vetted Employer, a prestigious designation earned because of the organization's commitment to hiring, retaining, promoting, and supporting Veterans and the Military-Connected Community, Vetted Employers LLC is proud to announce.
To earn Vetted Employer status – and the rights to use the Vetted Employer Badge logo – organizations must meet or exceed key benchmarks in the Vetted Checkup Survey, which measures the most important factors related to employing the Military-Connected Community in a 10-question evaluation. Learn more and register to participate here: https://www.vettedemployers.com/awards-surveys/
"We are pleased and proud to honor STEP for earning recognition as a top Veteran employer because they have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to our nation's Veterans, Service members, and their families,” said Bruce Townshend, Co-Founder of Vetted Employers. “The track record of STEP recruiting and supporting Military Spouses, as well as recruiting and hiring Veterans, was particularly strong and impressive. We congratulate STEP for bringing crucial and professional military skills and leadership to its workplace.”
METHODOLOGY:For this recognition, Vetted Employers LLC evaluates employers’ policies, practices, and outcomes in the following 5 areas:
- Veteran Recruiting and Hiring
- Veteran Retention and Promotions
- Military-Civilian Culture and Engagement
- Guard & Reserve Recruiting and Support
- Military Spouse Recruiting and Support
The Vetted Employer Badge is the trusted seal of approval helping Military-Connected job seekers to find workplaces that value their skills, honor their service, and develop programs and policies that nurture their career growth. Vetted Employers recognition can only be earned – through standout efforts to employ and support Veterans, Guard & Reserve Members, and Military Spouses – it is not for sale and can never be bought. There is absolutely no cost for any part of our survey & recognition programs, from start to finish.
VETERAN PROGRAM MANAGEMENT & CONSULTING: In addition to recognizing the best employers for Veterans, Vetted Employers LLC empowers organizations to make meaningful improvements for their Military-Connected employees, by providing customized, in-depth analysis of organizations’ Veteran programs, as well as directly helping organizations establish initiatives proven to make a difference: employee resource groups, staff training, targeted recruiting, and more. Learn more about our services here: https://www.vettedemployers.com/veteran-program-management-consulting/
The Vetted Checkup Survey is open to employers of all sizes, industries, and types, whether publicly traded corporations, privately held companies, nonprofit organizations, or government agencies. The evaluation has been meticulously balanced to measure this wide variety of organizations on a level playing field, so all employers that prioritize Veterans get the recognition they deserve.
This survey is much shorter than comparable evaluations: Only 10 questions, plus a few sub-questions and profile information about the organization, it can easily be completed in one sitting. Once a survey is submitted, Vetted Employers LLC will evaluate the responses and circle back with the results – as well as Vetted Employer Badge logo and custom news release, if recognition is achieved – within 2 weeks or fewer. For more information, see our FAQ: https://www.vettedemployers.com/awards-surveys/faq/
In Spring 2026, organizations that have earned Vetted Employer recognition will be invited to participate in our competitive, higher-level evaluation, the Vetted Awards Survey. This will further honor standout organizations as Distinguished, Advanced, Superior, or Elite Vetted Employers.
ABOUT VETTED EMPLOYERS LLC
Vetted Employers LLC provides comprehensive support to organizations dedicated to employing Veterans, members of the Guard and Reserve, and Military Spouses. Through its survey and recognition initiatives (https://www.vettedemployers.com/awards-surveys/), Vetted Employers LLC provides in-depth analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of organizations’ Veteran employment efforts and also presents standout employers with awards and recognition badges, as well as public accolades, based on how well their programs compare. In addition, Vetted Employers LLC directly helps organizations build and improve their Veteran and Military-Connected employment programs through its Veteran Program Management & Consulting services (https://www.vettedemployers.com/veteran-program-management-consulting/), which employers can use to establish particular services or operations – including recruiting efforts, specialized on-boarding sessions, staff training, employee resource groups, and more – or to build an entire new program from the ground up. All of Vetted Employers LLC’s initiatives are open to organizations of all types, regardless of size, industry, and profit status.
The Co-Founders of Vetted Employers LLC have decades of experience advising organizations on employing Veterans and the Military-Connected community. Bruce Townshend has nearly 45 years of combined military and government service, including 28 years in the Army and Army Reserve. He recently retired from the Dept. of Defense/Dept. of War, where he last served as Chief of Engagement for the department’s Employer Support of the Guard & Reserve program. George Altman has led prominent Veteran employment initiatives at three different organizations, developing and overseeing Veteran employment evaluations that were published in national and international news publications and that also formed the basis for financial investment funds and products. Through this work, George refined and ultimately revolutionized methods for measuring and evaluating employers’ Veterans programs.
To learn more, visit our website (https://www.vettedemployers.com/) and follow us on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/vetted-employers/).
About STEP:
STEP is an award-winning nationwide technology engineering firm supporting Fortune 500 companies, large healthcare organizations, state and local governments, and educational institutions. STEP delivers innovative solutions in the areas of 5G, secure networking, private cellular, managed services, and cloud. By focusing on business outcomes, STEP helps customers thrive in today’s connected world. Learn more at STEPs website or follow on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook.
Contact:
Katie Johnson
513-795-6000 ext.3117
kjohnson@stepcg.com
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