OUR PEOPLE: Veterans Day – Honoring Hagerty’s Heroes
Each year on November 11, the Nation pauses to honor those who serve and have served in the United States (US) Armed Forces. Veterans Day is a time to thank them for the sacrifices they have made on our country’s behalf. Here at Hagerty, we are proud to work alongside veterans who lend their talent and energy to the ever-important task of helping our clients prepare for, respond to, recover from, and mitigate against disasters.
This year, a few of our veteran service team members paused to reflect on their personal experience in the military and how it prepared them for a career in emergency management.
Meet Hagerty’s Heroes
Rich Carney | Army
What did you learn about yourself by serving in the military?
Teamwork, compassion, humility, and innovation. The military provided the opportunity to have and honor brilliant mentors, who demonstrated the importance of taking care of others. Additionally, the importance of passing along these attributes has been inspiring and instrumental in my career.
How did your military career prepare you for a career in emergency management?
The US Army has taught me the significance of planning, the value of innovation, and the importance of flexibility. These essential tenets translate well into emergency management. The ability to “plan your work and work your plan” and swiftly respond with the changing environment are critical to the safety and security our nation’s citizens and infrastructure.
Travis Biggar | Air Force
What did you learn about yourself by serving in the military?
Integrity and sacrifice. I like structure and order of things. I would do anything for my comrades – you make lifelong friendships, no matter where you came from.
How did your military career prepare you for a career in emergency management?
In the military, I learned to be flexible. Throughout my career, I’ve been put in positions from being a manager/ supervisor to working in broad areas of financial management; I’ve processed the vouchers, forecasted multi-million dollar programs, managed execution of those programs, and briefed at the highest levels of the Pentagon. Be it strategic or tactical, in emergency management, you must be willing to adapt and work in any post needed to fulfill the mission – my military career certainly prepared me for that.
Dustin Zabokrtsky | Marine Corps
What did you learn about yourself by serving in the military?
Discipline, confidence, and the ability to achieve goals and overcome adversity.
How did your military career prepare you for a career in emergency management?
Working long hours in stressful environments, flexibility in uncertainty, achieving the mission, learning, and adapting to incorporating best practices.
Patrick Van Horne | Marine Corps
What did you learn about yourself by serving in the military?
During my time in the military, I learned that I am drawn to helping people prepare for the challenges that lie ahead. The future may be dynamic and constantly changing, but if you are surrounded by people who have committed themselves to being ready for anything that may happen, people are capable of doing some really remarkable things. Helping groups prepare and develop their abilities is something I really enjoy.
How did your military career prepare you for a career in emergency management?
My time in the Marines taught me about the need to make decisions even when perfect information is not available. Disasters, much like war, rarely provide a perfect and complete picture about the situation being faced, but if the lack of information prevents a decision from being made, it is hard to make any forward progress against your goals or objectives.
Walter Flores | Marine Corps
What did you learn about yourself by serving in the military?
I learned I valued an environment with control and structure. It showed me to have discipline in what I do and always strive to be the best at everything I do. My military experience enabled me to take those same values and skills and apply them throughout my career.
How did your military career prepare you for a career in emergency management?
Response mode is something we get used to in the Marine Corps, having to quickly mobilize and respond for deployments or missions; which has helped me prepare for EM/DR mobilizations. Also, in the military, we learn that having discipline and dedication is the key to success, and the same goes for recruiting for some of the positions we mobilize. It is essential to stay focused on the mission, by applying discipline and dedication to mission-critical functions such as sourcing and identifying the right candidates for our organization.
Today, we thank our colleagues, all those who have served, and their families for their bravery, courage, and service to our Nation.