Legion honors McDermott
After serving as an Air Force recruiter, George E. McDermott has spent the past 20 years helping veterans find jobs at Career Link. On the verge of retirement, McDermott was recently honored by the Milton L. Bishop American Legion Post 301 in Connellsville for his efforts in aiding veterans.
In presenting the certificates Don Burkholder, Post 301 adjutant said McDermott has more than proven himself as a veteran representative through Career Link.
“We honor George McDermott today for his exemplary service in employment of the handicapped, or like I like to say handicapable, employment of veterans and employment of the older workers,” said Burkholder. “George has worked hand-in-hand with the American Legion providing us with statistics concerning veterans he has helped out over the past years, which I have to forward to District 24 because I’m also the adjutant there.”
Burkholder said each year the statistics show that the numbers of veterans helped by McDermott keep growing and growing, and that means that the Career Link veteran’s representative is doing a great job.
“Unfortunately, George is retiring next month,” said Burkholder “and I can tell you that he is going to be deeply missed.”
McDermott lives in Connellsville with his wife, Vivian, and near his grown children, David McDermott and Lisa Karwatsky, and 10-year-old grandson Kyle.
McDermott said although he has enjoyed working at Career Link and with the veterans he is looking forward to retirement.
“As a veterans employment representative I can say that I have truly enjoyed working with the men and women who have served our country,” said McDermott. “Career Link is a one-stop shop and is a composite of many agencies and we serve all of the people in Fayette County and surrounding counties.”
McDermott said Career Link offers education, training, employment and veterans’ services.
“There are four or five schools here,” said McDermott. “Penn State, West Virginia Career Institute, Laurel Business, Douglas and PIA Truck Drivers School.”
And the good news is that you don’t have to be a veteran to benefit from these programs.
“The programs are for everyone,” said McDermott. “All people have to do is come in and we will enroll them in our computer system, which is statewide, and as soon as they find something they are interested in we will help them to either send out a resume or sent them to an employer.”
McDermott said all veterans get priority on jobs, however.
“We have what they call federal contractors and they are under law to list their jobs with us,” said McDermott. “So, for the first 48 hours after they list with us all we look for is veterans and disabled veterans.”
McDermott said Career Link is looking for veterans who are unemployed and underemployed.
“If someone comes in and is only making say $6 an hour and they see something for $8 per hour, by all means we are going to send them out for that job,” said McDermott. “I personally visit employers myself. Every Wednesday I’m on the road and I drive anywhere from 100 to 150 miles a week visiting employers looking for jobs for these people.”
McDermott said Career Link has just finished what’s called the manufacturing set in Fayette County and are now into travel and tourism, which involves bars and restaurants and fast food places.
“I’ve been very fortunate,” said McDermott “to get quality jobs. I know last summer I brought back 32 job orders in two months and they were jobs like machinist and welders that paid $8 to $12 per hour.”
McDermott said he is very, very conscientious about serving his employers because the better he serves them the better they serve him by employing the people that he has sent. “It really works both ways and I get a lot of satisfaction out of that,” said McDermott.
McDermott said his retirement date is June 20 and he plans to sit on his patio and watch the grass grow and when it’s high enough he intends to cut it and sit down again and watch it grow again.
“I’m just kidding,” said McDermott. “I think I’m going to have quite a bit to do. I told Donnie (Burkholder) I’m going to get more involved in the American Legion and I’m involved in my church (St. Rita’s R.C. Church in Connellsville) and in the Knights of Columbus. My wife and I would also like to travel a little bit.”