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Where Opportunity Knox names regional veteran connector

Will assist veterans and families in transition to civilian life

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Feb. 8, 2016) — Whitney P. Allen, Jr. has been hired as a regional veteran connector (RVC) for Where Opportunity Knox. Allen will provide veterans and their families with personalized assistance during their transition to civilian life.

Whitney P. Allen, Jr.
Whitney P. Allen, Jr.

Where Opportunity Knox is a regional initiative to connect 10,000 transitioning veterans and/or military spouses to jobs and the Greater Louisville Region by the end of 2017.

Allen, a retired lieutenant colonel and a military intelligence officer in the Army, most recently served as chief of current operations for United States Army Cadet Command Headquarters at Ft. Knox. There, he directed supervised and trained a 12-person division responsible for the coordination and direction of all short-term operations, training and security activities supporting Cadet Command’s corporate headquarters and its eight regional headquarters across the U.S. Previously he served as a law enforcement coach/trainer with the 101st Airborne Division in Afghanistan and as the operations manager for the US Army Mission Support Battalion at Ft. Knox.

“We are fortunate to have someone with Whitney’s experience join our team as a next regional veteran connector,” said Beth Avey, Where Opportunity Knox executive director. “He will be a great asset to our program as he helps connect employers seeking talent and Veterans seeking opportunities,”

Allen will work one-on-one with veterans and their families, providing them with concierge-type services to help them connect to career opportunities, build a professional network in the region and just as importantly, find a community in the Greater Louisville Region that suits their particular needs. RVCs, typically veterans themselves who once faced the same transition process, identify and connect veterans to regional resources that can respond to their specific needs including information on local school systems and other educational opportunities, healthcare information and amenities. In addition, RVCs work with employers to identify talent and workforce needs and gain commitment to Veteran hiring. RVCs also help these organizations understand how to translate military jobs skills to the civilian sector.

Allen, a native of Louisiana, earned his commission through the Tulane University ROTC program in May 1994. He holds a masters of arts in management and leadership from Webster University and a bachelor of science in physics from Dillard University. Prior to receiving his commission, Allen served as a combat engineer in the U.S. Army Reserve from April 1988 to February 1992. He and his wife Yolanda have two daughters and currently reside in Louisville.