Our Team
Our Team
OJRV was founded in 2007 as the Crane Learning and Employment Center for Veterans with Disabilities, with a focus on helping veterans find employment at Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Division, located in Southwest Indiana. As the organization grew to serve veterans in Central Indiana, the group changed its name to the Career Learning and Employment Center for Veterans (CLEC). CLEC is a 501(c)(3) organization. In 2012, the organization opened the program to all veterans and moved its headquarters to Indianapolis. In 2013, CLEC adopted the d/b/a, Operation: Job Ready Veterans, to more clearly communicate its mission.
In 2017, OJRV began a deliberate expansion into Midwestern states and opened its first office outside of Indiana in Chicago, Illinois. Headquartered in Indiana, OJRV has branch offices in ten states, include Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi, Iowa, Missouri, Ohio, Tennessee, and Wisconsin. Additionally, through virtual one-on-one services, we are able to serve and help place clients into improved employment nationwide.
Gene
Anderson
Executive
Director
(317) 677-5273
GAnderson@jobreadyvets.org
Heather
Christianson
Office
Manager
(317) 586-3579
HChristianson@jobreadyvets.org
Mike
Espinda
Training
Director
(317) 760-6154
MEspinda@jobreadyvets.org
To Be
Announced
Employment Transition
Manager – Michigan
(947) 500-2424
admin@jobreadyvets.org
Kim
Dart
Employment
Transition
Manager – Indiana
(317) 927-5329
KDart@jobreadyvets.org
To Be
Announced
Employment
Transition
Manager – Missouri
(314) 696-9202
admin@jobreadyvets.org
Jordan
Hopkins
Employment
Transition
Manager – Ohio
(614) 400-8996
JHopkins@jobreadyvets.org
Anna
Kennelly
Employment
Transition
Manager – Indiana
(317) 910-7722
AKennelly@jobreadyvets.org
Alex
Klosterman
Employment
Transition
Manager – Illinois
(630) 470-3293
AKlosterman@jobreadyvets.org
Kristal Norwood-
Watts, MPA
Employment
Transition
Manager – Illinois
(312) 300-2477
KWatts@jobreadyvets.org
Arnym
Pedraza
Employment
Transition
Manager – Indiana
(260) 408-9565
APedraza@jobreadyvets.org
James
Rogers
Employment
Transition
Manager – Kentucky
(502) 595-8143
JRogers@jobreadyvets.org
Aaron
Shaw
Indianapolis
Veteran Court
Mentor Coordinator
(317) 737-6927
aaron.shaw@indy.gov
Deborah
Walker
Women Veterans
Outreach
Director – Indiana
(317) 450-1796
DWalker@jobreadyvets.org
Jocasta
Weber
Executive
Assistant
(317) 954-6608
JWeber@jobreadyvets.org
John
Zeigler
Communications
Director
(317) 517-0385
JZeigler@jobreadyvets.org
Our Board of Directors
Shawna
Lake
Founder
Deep End Talent
Strategies
Board Chairman
Danny Portee,
MBA, HCS
CEO/President
Professional Management
Enterprises Inc.
Board Vice Chair
Dorothy Simpson-
Taylor, PhD
Compassion
Consulting &
Coaching
Board Secretary
Roger
Peterman
Colonel
U.S. Army
(Ret.)
Board Treasurer
Judge
David Certo
Indianapolis
Veterans
Court
Board Member
Dr. Christie Lodics,
MSN, APRN, FNP-C
Richard L. Roudebush
VA Medical
Center
Board Member
Phillip
Burton
Commander,
Metropolitan Police
Department