FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
[Bethany, Oklahoma] – The VETS Center at Southern Nazarene University (SNU) is proud to present a series of Career Transition Workshops designed to support Oklahoma’s veterans, service members, and military families as they prepare to transition into civilian careers. Offered in collaboration with the Oklahoma Department of Veteran Affairs (ODVA) Career Transition Division and OK Vet Works, this three-part series will begin with Career Transition Workshop I on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, and continue into spring 2026, culminating in a Career Fair on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, at SNU’s Sawyer Center.
“Our hope is that these career transition events will be of help for our veterans and their families. We want to provide our veteran community with a clear path forward on how to navigate through a career transition with confidence,” explained VETS Center Director Mark Nadig. “If we can provide them with opportunities where they can get connected on a career path and provide them with a new sense of purpose, we believe these services can help bring growth in their lives. We are grateful and excited to partner with ODVA and its Oklahoma Specific Transition Education Program (OKSTEP) Team to help us host this event. ODVA is providing these events with outstanding resources and connections in the corporate world, allowing us to have some great speakers available for our guests to engage with. We’re looking forward to this event next week.”
SNU’s award-winning VETS Center has served as a trusted resource for veterans since 2015, providing personalized support to students and community members pursuing their educational and professional goals during and after military service. The Career Transition Workshop series extends that mission by offering practical guidance from industry leaders, Human Resources (HR) professionals, and veteran career specialists.
5:00-8:00 p.m. | Heritage Room, Webster Commons | SNU Campus, Bethany, OK
The first workshop will focus on resume development, employer expectations, and navigating the hiring process; key components of a successful military-to-civilian transition. Attendees will participate in three interactive sessions led by experts in military-friendly hiring and workforce development.
Ken Cates, U.S. Army (Ret.)
Director for Strategic Growth & Operations, Major Talent
Cates brings a results-driven, no-nonsense approach to veteran career development and workforce innovation. Following a distinguished military career and a decade of transforming non-profit and veteran-focused organizations, he now specializes in helping veterans translate their military experience into competitive, skills-based resumes and interview-ready profiles.
Antalon Flemons, Jr., U.S. Army Veteran
Founder & Owner, InteGRITy Career Assistance Services, LLC
Flemons founded InteGRITy CAS in 2024 after years of helping service members and veterans avoid common errors that derail civilian job applications. With a deep understanding of military, federal, and corporate HR systems, he provides practical guidance on resume writing and applications, as well as career coaching, helping veterans bridge the military-to-civilian divide with clarity and confidence.
Representatives from the Civil Service, Energy, and Aerospace sectors will attend, including Ms. Shena Goforth, HR Manager for the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs, and Dr. Katherine Koch, Student Programs Manager and Program Analyst for the FAA in OKC. Panelists will share insights on what hiring managers are looking for and how veterans can present their skills effectively to potential employers.
5:00-8:00 p.m. | Heritage Room, Webster Commons | SNU Campus, Bethany, OK
Topic areas will include interview readiness, employer networking, application coaching, and speaking with confidence about who you are and what you are about. This workshop will operate similarly to Workshop I.
Sawyer Center | SNU Campus, Bethany, OK
Open to all SNU students, the surrounding community, and veterans, service members, Guard/Reserve, and military family members statewide. The career fair will include employers from the public, private, and nonprofit sectors.
While attendance for the Career Transition Workshops is free, registration is required to help us prepare, as light refreshments will be provided.
RSVP at: https://www.snu.edu/vets-center-career-transition-workshops
Celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, the Southern Nazarene University VETS Center has provided tailored academic, professional, and personal support to veterans, active-duty service members, military-connected students, and their families since 2015. Recognized at the state and national levels for its commitment to the veteran community, the VETS Center serves as both a campus resource and a regional hub for military transition support.