Domtar is proud to offer veteran support through employment opportunities, recognition and more. Over the past year, we have focused on engaging veterans inside and outside of our organization.
Our commitment to our veterans is a year-round effort, and we strive to show our veterans that they are valued and appreciated by honoring their service, providing employment opportunities and assisting veteran organizations.
“Military veterans can bring so many unique skills and life experiences to a team,” says Eric Haggard, Domtar’s director of diversity, equity and inclusion. “I’m so pleased about the progress we’ve made in 2024 to recognize and support our veterans.”
Domtar Partners with U.S. Army PaYS
Earlier this year, we announced our partnership with the U.S. Army Partnership for Your Success (PaYS) program. As a PaYS partner, we are committed to guaranteeing job interviews for veterans enrolled in the program whose skillsets match our job openings. If a veteran’s skillset matches a job opening at one of our U.S. locations, they’ll be guaranteed an interview. If they are chosen to advance, they would then progress through our normal hiring process.
The PaYS partnership was formalized during an event held at our Fort Mill, S.C. office. At the event, Domtar presented Veterans Bridge Home with a $5,000 donation to connect veterans with tools and resources for transitioning to civilian life.
Since then, we have continued to partner with Veterans Bridge Home on veteran support activities throughout the year.
Domtar Forms Veterans Business Resource Group
We also recently launched our first business resource group (BRG) offering veteran support to employees who have served in the military.
Marlboro Mill Manager Allan Bohn is the executive sponsor of the new Veterans BRG.
“I’m excited that our first BRG is intended to support our military veterans,” says Bohn. “This is a great opportunity to provide even more veteran support, both in our workforce and in our communities.”
Veterans Walls Honor Employee Veterans
In another display of veteran support, Domtar’s Marlboro Mill unveiled a “veterans wall” in June 2024 that recognizes more than 20 mill employees who have served in the U.S. armed forces by displaying their service photos. The event, which included a ceremony at the flagpole in front of the mill’s administrative building and a luncheon for guests, was attended by employees and several state and local dignitaries.
“The salute wall is our legacy,” says Phillip Lascano, a Marine Corps veteran and employee of the mill. “It honors the veterans before us while creating a pathway to honor them in the future.”
Most recently, our Kingsport Mill in Tennessee unveiled its veterans wall with a special ceremony. District Congressional Representative Cody Woods presented each employee veteran with a congressional certificate commemorating their military service, signed by U.S. Representative Diana Harshbarger.
The ceremony included a “Missing Man Table Ceremony” to remember fallen servicemen and servicewomen, prisoners of war and those who are missing in action (POW/MIA). The mill also presented a donation to Honor Flight of the Appalachian Highlands, an organization that transports veterans to Washington, D.C. for the purpose of visiting national memorials.
David Collea, field services supervisor at the Kingsport Mill, is one of the employees whose military service photo now appears on the new patriotic display.
“Being included on this wall with my fellow veterans is truly an honor,” Collea says. “It means a lot to see our military service recognized in such a meaningful way. I’m grateful to work for an organization that values and respects the sacrifices we have made. Thank you, Domtar, for making us feel seen and appreciated.”
Donations Help Fund Veteran Support
In other communities, our mills provide meaningful veteran support through monetary donations.
- The Addison Converting Center supported the Midwest Shelter for Homeless Veterans with supplies and financial support that were raised through a trivia event. The shelter was founded by veterans in 2007 and provides housing, supportive services and community outreach for homeless and at-risk veterans.
- Domtar’s Johnsonburg Mill donated $2,000 to Wreaths Across America during the 2023 holiday season. The donation went towards placing wreaths on the graves of fallen U.S. soldiers in the Johnsonburg cemetery.
