Phillips Distilling Co. and Breakthru Beverage Join Forces to Help Military Veterans

May 17, 2017

Breakthru Beverage has partnered with Philips Distilling Co. on a mission to provide support, resources and employment opportunities for our country’s veterans through the UV Vodka "Salute to Heroes" campaign. Throughout April and May, the two companies have hosted a series of Hiring Our Heroes career fairs and networking events for U.S. veterans living in the greater Chicagoland area.

“The unemployment rate for servicemen and women is higher than the national average,” said Jeff Roth, Breakthru Illinois Vice President of Sales, Vanguard Division. “That is why it is so key that we put our support and resources behind programs like ‘UV Salute to Heroes’ so that these veterans can receive an opportunity to start a new career.”

This year’s mission kicked off on April 12 at the Hiring Our Heroes career fair inside the United Center, where representatives from both Breakthru and Philips met with potential applicants, answering questions, networking and offering on-the-spot career guidance. 

"As a company that has a workforce made up of approximately 10% veterans, we proudly support Hiring our Heroes and their employment initiatives,” said Christine Halverson, human resources business partner for Philips Distilling Co. 

Following the career fair, a total of 32 applicants with backgrounds in sales, marketing, human resources, operations and IT, were invited to a networking event at the Breakthru Beverage Illinois Alchemy Room on May 3. Members of Breakthru and Philips executive teams, including Breakthru Vice Chairman Danny Wirtz and Philips CEO Mike Duggan, met with the applicants and offered career guidance.

“Phillips Distilling Co. and Breakthru Beverage have a long history of hiring and supporting veterans,” said Mike Duggan, CEO Phillips Distilling Co. “As we enter the 3rd year of the UV ‘Salute to Heroes’ program, we are proud to see that the program is achieving its goal of helping veterans find meaningful employment. Since the beginning of the Salute to Heroes program, Breakthru Beverage has been a major catalyst for the growth of the program from the top of their organization all the way to the market level teams. We will continue to work together to help support veterans in finding employment in the beverage industry.”

 For photos from the Hiring Our Heroes Career Fair, click here.