NC4ME Brings a Mission-Ready Workforce to Raleigh

From left to right: David Hayden – Membership Chair, Jessica Lee – Public Image Chair, Carrie Hasbrouck – NC4ME Guest Speaker, and Trevor Chambers – Rotary President

Meet

Carrie Hasbrouck

a retired U.S. Navy Captain with 35 years of leadership in cybersecurity, military communications, and IT innovation. Now serving as Director of Strategic Business Alignment for North Carolina for Military Employment (NC4ME), she’s on a mission to connect veterans with meaningful careers across our state.

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NC4ME Myth vs Fact

• Myth: Veterans only know how to follow orders they’re not innovative thinkers.

• Fact: Veterans are trained to make split-second decisions in uncertain, high-stakes environments. They know how to execute a mission and adjust the plan when the terrain changes. That’s innovation.

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NC4ME Myth vs Fact

• Myth: Military experience isn’t relevant in the private sector.

• Fact: Leadership, accountability, teamwork, resilience these are exactly the competencies companies spend thousands training for. Veterans show up with them on day one

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NC4ME Myth vs Fact

• Myth: Veterans don’t stay in civilian jobs long.

• Fact: Actually, studies show veteran hires outperform peers in retention, advancement, and loyalty especially when placed in roles that value their leadership and structure.

  
  

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NC4ME Myth vs Fact

• Myth: Hiring a veteran means dealing with red tape, transition issues, or special accommodations.

• Fact: What it really means? You're hiring someone who’s been drug tested, security cleared, trained, certified, and mission-ready. The paperwork is often easier than hiring anyone else.

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A unified front: Service members representing all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces march in step a powerful reminder of the leadership, discipline, and teamwork veterans bring to North Carolina’s workforce.

NC4ME: Advancing North Carolina’s Economic Strength Through Military Talent

North Carolina for Military Employment (NC4ME) was founded in 2015 through a governor-led public‑private initiative aiming to make North Carolina the #1 state for military employment. Each year, roughly 20,000 service members transition out of NC’s military installations, Rather than waiting for job seekers to find employers, NC4ME adopts a demand‑side, employer‑centric strategy. Their work helps businesses understand the value veterans bring, trains HR professionals on military hiring, and connects employers with highly trained military talent through certified tools and custom outreach.

NC4ME’s flagship tool, Career Connection 365, offers employers searchable access to veterans, transitioning personnel, Guard/Reserve members, and military spouses. Career seekers benefit from résumé review, coaching, and weekly curated job alerts and all services are provided at no cost North Carolina for Military

The results speak for themselves:

• Over 21,600 career connections facilitated since inception

• More than 12,700 veterans and spouses served through NC4ME programs

• 13,900+ business leaders trained on military hiring best practices

  
  

That 52% success rate of job offers or follow-ups demonstrates the platform’s real-world impact on both candidates and employers.

Beyond the numbers, NC4ME partners with workforce centers and higher-education programs to enhance outcomes. Initiatives like Onward to Opportunity (O2O) provide professional certification training, while DMVA integrates military training with state licensing frameworks

NC4ME also hosts industry-specific hiring events and "Career Connection Socials" virtual and in-person forums designed to build connections and momentum between talent and employers. Recent events include expos at Fort Bragg, Camp Lejeune, and MCAS facilities.

In sum, NC4ME is a rigorous, metrics-driven model of how public-private partnerships can drive both veterans’ career success and state economic resilience. As Carrie explained, NC4ME doesn’t just fill vacancies it strategically aligns military-trained talent with business needs, from cybersecurity to clean-energy sectors.

Rotary’s mission of Service Above Self finds a clear partner in NC4ME: both organizations help people transition with purpose into roles where they can thrive and lead. By advocating for or participating in NC4ME programs, Rotary members contribute to building stronger businesses and communities across our state.

Would you like help integrating citations as hyperlinks in the blog editor or sourcing NC4ME’s downloadable toolkits directly for readers?

Why We Serve

We believe that service doesn’t end when the uniform comes off in fact, that’s often when it begins to take new shape. Carrie reminded us that veterans aren’t just looking for jobs; they’re looking for communities that see their value, understand their sacrifice, and are ready to walk alongside them into their next chapter.

That’s why NC4ME’s work resonates so deeply with our club. Their mission is about more than workforce numbers it’s about honoring skills, unlocking purpose, and building bridges between those who’ve served and the communities they now call home.

At Rotary, we’ve always stood for connection, action, and meaningful impact. And this week, we were reminded how powerful that can be when directed toward North Carolina’s military families. If you want to serve those who’ve served we know a place where you can start.

Want to Join Us?

If you’ve been sitting on the sidelines wondering when to get involved here’s your sign. We’re not just a lunch club. We’re a think tank, a work crew, a laughter-filled idea lab that believes in rolling up our sleeves and getting good things done.

We host amazing speakers like Carrie, we volunteer with purpose, and yes we do have coffee strong enough to restart a submarine. (Side effects include spontaneous service projects and an alarming increase in new friends.)

So whether you're a veteran, a business leader, a student, a connector, or just someone who wants to make a little noise for a good cause there’s a seat for you at our table.

7:30 AM every Tuesday at Carolina Country Club: Coffee, conversation, and community service guaranteed

We’re growing. We’re energized. And if you’re still reading, we suspect you might just be one of us. Come visit. Come serve. Come laugh.

Rotary Club of the Capital City – People of Action in Raleigh

Because service isn't something we talk about. it's something we do.