CareerSource Tampa Bay Reports Strong Outcomes from Annual Paychecks for Patriots Hiring Events 

~Annual events connect veterans, military spouses, and transitioning service members with immediate job opportunities and essential career resources. ~ 

TAMPA, Fla. – CareerSource Tampa Bay (CSTB) proudly hosted three Paychecks for Patriots events this fall, bringing together employers, veteran-serving organizations, and community partners to support more than 400 job seekers across Hillsborough and Pinellas counties. The 2025 series connected more than 200 veterans, transitioning service members, military spouses, and veteran family members with employment opportunities and essential career resources.

We are pleased to hold this annual event that just gets bigger and better each year,” said Keidrian Kunkel, President & CEO of CareerSource Tampa Bay. “Our CSTB staff takes great pride in giving our veterans priority service, and with the support we receive from the business community, this has become one of our marquee events.”

Paychecks for Patriots is part of a statewide initiative honoring Florida’s commitment to veterans by helping them translate their military experience into meaningful civilian careers. CSTB’s events also offered supportive services designed to remove barriers and build confidence for job seekers.

The annual event was spread across the Tampa Bay region with events held in Hillsborough & Pinellas Counties as served by Region 28, the area’s Workforce Board served by CareerSource Tampa Bay.

Overall Impact Across All Events 

·        408 total individuals served

·        204 veterans supported

·        9 transitioning service members

·        13 military spouses

·        5 veteran family members

·        3 HOPE Florida participants

·        More than 60 employers and community partners engaged

·        Confirmed onsite hires and multiple follow-up interviews initiated

The Veteran Resource Fair, held October 29, 2025, at the CSTB Tampa Center, provided individualized support to 57 attendees through one-on-one career preparation services. Twenty-seven community partners offered comprehensive assistance, including 23 resume reviews, 11 mock interviews, 22 professional photography portraits, 16 haircuts, and 17 printed resumes. The event was further elevated by the attendance of General Scott “Hammer” Hartsell, Executive Director of the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs, Adrienne Johnston, President and CEO of CareerSource Florida, and Kate Doyle, Deputy Secretary of Workforce Services of FloridaCommerce, who visited to show their support for the initiative.

The Hillsborough County Paychecks for Patriots Job Fair, held November 5, 2025, at the CSTB Tampa Center, served 273 job seekers, including 114 veterans, transitioning service members, and military spouses. Thirty-seven employers from major industry sectors participated, including Moffitt Cancer Center, Disney, Coca-Cola, Bank of America, GEICO, FDOT, the Tampa Police Department, Tampa General Hospital, USPS, the U.S. Border Patrol, Veterans Florida, and many others. A key highlight was the seven onsite hires made by Moffitt Cancer Center, demonstrating the immediate employment impact of the event. Job seekers also received complimentary haircuts and refreshments, creating a warm and supportive atmosphere.

The Paychecks for Patriots Veterans Job Fair in Pinellas County, held on November 19, 2025, at St. Petersburg College’s EpiCenter in Clearwater, welcomed 78 job seekers, including 45 veterans and one military spouse. Employers represented a broad range of industries, including public service, education, healthcare, financial services, and manufacturing. Participating organizations included CareerSource Tampa Bay, the City of Clearwater, the City of Pinellas Park, the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs, St. Petersburg College, Pinellas County Schools, the St. Pete Police Department, PNC Bank, Kane’s Furniture, Walgreens, Titan America, the U.S. Border Patrol, and others.

“From start to finish, the event ran smoothly,” said Maria Suarez, Business Development Manager for CareerSource Tampa Bay. “Registration was seamless, and both job seekers and employers expressed their appreciation.  The raffles added excitement, and the complimentary haircuts brought an extra touch of care and confidence for our veteran attendees.”

“Our Veterans have already served our country — now it’s our turn to serve them,” said Anacelis Collazo, Veteran Program Manager for CareerSource Tampa Bay. “Paychecks for Patriots brings employers and veterans together in one place with a shared goal– meaningful employment. Events like this open doors, create opportunity, and change lives.”

FloridaCommerce and CareerSource Florida, in partnership with CareerSource Tampa Bay, also held a press conference with state leaders during the Paychecks for Patriots events. Click the links below for additional support materials from this year’s events:

Video Handouts:

·        Press Conference: HERE

·        B-Roll of Job Fair: HERE

·        Post Press Conference Interviews: HERE

·        All video handouts are also available on this Dropbox LINK.

Event Photos: HERE

ABOUT CAREERSOURCE TAMPA BAY: Effective July 1, 2024, CareerSource Tampa Bay is the designated local workforce development board serving Hillsborough County and Pinellas County. CareerSource Tampa Bay is governed by a board of directors whose members are appointed by a consortium of Chief Local Elected Officials (CLEOs) from each county commission.

CareerSource Tampa Bay is an equal opportunity employer/program. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities. All voice telephone numbers listed may be reached by persons using TTY/TDD equipment via the Florida Relay Service at 711.

CareerSource Tampa Bay is the direct service provider for various workforce programs which are supported by the U.S. Department of Labor, Health and Human Services, Agriculture, and other agencies as part of awards totaling $38,665,000 with 93% federally funded (Updated annually, as of September 2025).

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