A member of the U.S. Navy, Natalie Tiano Oliverio first set out to sea Sept. 10, 2001.

 

“I woke up to the day that changed our country dramatically and drastically changed the military,” said Oliverio about the historic 9-11 terrorist attacks on the U.S. “I had gone into something I wasn’t prepared for and I came out a totally different person.”

 

After serving as a military journalist for four years, including a stint with Operation Iraqi Freedom – Oliverio entered the civilian world in 2005, as a student at West Virginia University.

 

One would think it would be a welcome change of pace. But it couldn’t have been further from the truth.

 

“There I sat in English 101 with a bunch of 18-year-olds. No one knew what I had been through and no one knew how to talk about it,” she said. “I felt behind, like I had been held back. I didn’t know where I was supposed to be or what my mission – my purpose – was. I had always been positive and extraverted, so it hit me hard. Even though I seemed happy, I felt very, very dark.”

 

Oliverio never forgot how alone she felt; not just during her four years of college, but as she entered the workforce. The transition had been more difficult than she would have ever imagined. In addition to her work with Mylan Pharmaceuticals, Oliverio has worked with DHA Group, Inc. as a corporate recruiter. Three  years ago, she began mentoring veterans on her own. She has met hundreds of other veterans and military spouses who have experienced similar feelings and hardships.

 

She had found a niche and desired to fill it so on July 1, Oliverio launched her own company, Military Talent Partners, offering free mentorship and coaching services to veterans, not only transitioning them but also providing full-service talent solutions to businesses across the U.S., including here in West Virginia.

In working with three of the country’s leading veteran service organizations, Oliverio equips veterans with important tools and resources, connecting them with companies which can benefit from their talents.

 

“It’s easy for a company to say they want to hire a bunch of veterans, but it’s not so easy to follow through and implement veterans and military spouses into the careers they want,” she said. “They don’t want to be a failure, so they take any job. They don’t feel like they belong and the employer doesn’t know how to acclimate and retain them.”

 

Regardless of branch of service or rank, Oliverio has found these feelings universal and she believes she knows why.

 

“One thing that makes a member of the military know they belong is knowing what their next mission is and feeling like what they do is meaningful – bigger than themselves,” she said. “The military isn’t a job. It’s a lifestyle. You go into boot camp or candidate school and the military breaks you down and builds you back up for a purpose. That carrot that is constantly in front of you is your mission and how to achieve it. When you reenter the civilian world, it’s just a big question mark.”

 

Though the problem is universal, the solutions are not.

 

“Whether you’re a green beret or navy seal – no matter where or how you have served, there is a mentorship option for you. Our company will work with you doing one-on-one consultation, finding out what is best for you and the resources that are right for you. It’s not black and white and there’s no silver bullet solution. Everyone is different and has different talent solutions to sell to companies. From full life cycle recruitment, succession planning, talent strategies and network influence – you name it, we provide it to companies at no cost," Oliverio said.

 

Providers with which Oliverio works include American Corporate Partners, Veterati and Elite Meet. Though not an official corporate partnership, she is also affiliated with Hire Heroes USA.

 

Oliverio has seen the fruits of the process, the results of the mentoring, the sharpening of skills, the resume work, mock interviews. She has heard the words come out of veterans’ mouths that they have achieved their dream jobs.

 

Military Talent Partners is about making the perfect match by connecting business to talent. The veteran finds employment, the right employment and the company benefits by gaining quality personnel and accommodating their growing needs.

 

In addition to services previously mentioned, Oliverio’s company provides talent pipelining, brand strategy, network influence, social media presence and more. Oliverio is a graduate of Robert C. Byrd High School and WVU. 

 

Learn more by contacting Oliverio at 304-627-4299 or natalie@militarytalentpartners.com. Visit the company Website, militarytalentpartners.com HERE.