The 20th Annual Veterans Career Fair takes place May 20 in Brooklyn Center.



DEED Developments










Veterans Career Fair: 20 years of connecting those who served to careers

Sarah is a member of the Minnesota Army National Guard, serving as a Black Hawk helicopter pilot. She had recently been laid off from a civilian job and was unemployed when she attended the 2025 Veterans Career Fair.

“I remember walking into the event feeling both excited and nervous. I knew it was a large event, but I don’t think I was fully prepared for just how many employers were present,” said Sarah. “It was incredible to have so many positive interactions with employers who were genuinely interested in learning about me, my background and my experiences – both in the military and in my civilian career.”

One of those positive interactions led to new employment at TMI Coatings in Eagan. TMI is an industrial painting and restoration contractor that sandblasts and paints tanks, smokestacks, water towers and other structures in Minnesota and throughout the central U.S.

TMI reached out to Sarah a couple of weeks after the 2025 Veterans Career Fair to follow up with her. Sarah was excited to move forward in the hiring process “Based on my interaction with them at the career fair, I saw it as a great opportunity to shift my career and try something new. After two interviews and an offer, I joined TMI.”

Sarah says TMI is invested in her professional development and consistently demonstrates that the company’s success is directly tied to the growth and success of its employees. Sarah also stressed the importance of working in a veteran-friendly environment – a value TMI understands.

“At TMI Coatings, we view employing veterans and active-duty service members as an honor, and our experience has been overwhelmingly positive,” said Lis Beise from TMI Coatings. “We have also found that accommodating time off for military training has been very manageable, making it a practical and rewarding investment for our organization.”

“I would highly recommend this event to any veteran considering attendance, whether they are actively seeking a new position or not,” said Sarah. “For those who are unemployed and seeking a new role, it is rare to have the opportunity to speak with so many hiring managers and HR professionals in one place. It’s the perfect setting to market yourself and showcase your skills to people who are genuinely interested in what you bring to the table.”

Veterans, current service members, members of the National Guard and Reserves, military spouses and Gold Star families are invited to attend the *20th Annual Veterans Career Fair* [ [link removed] ]. *View the listing of 100 participating employers* [ [link removed] ].

*20th Annual Veterans Career Fair*

*Wednesday, May 20*

*2 - 6 p.m.*

*Heritage Center of Brooklyn Center*

*6155 Earle Brown Drive, Brooklyn Center, MN   * 

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