UPDATE: Click to see Ryan Pusins Military Appreciation Video published May 20, 2024.
We’re delighted to announce that Ryan Pusins, who recently retired from the Marines, will be featured in our 2nd Annual Military Appreciation Interview Series. With help from the Hiring Our Heroes Corporate Fellowship Program here at the Tampa Bay Chamber, Pusins spent the last few months of his military career embedded with the team at Ombra. The Chamber Member company is one of 700+ businesses that have partnered with the Chamber over the years to help bridge the career gap for transitioning service members, veterans and military spouses.
One-hundred and eighty-days prior to his “separation” from the Marines, Pusins began his “skill bridge” at Ombra, a technology and professional services company working primarily with the U.S. Department of Defense. Based in Tampa, and with offices in Potsdam, New York, Ombra welcomed the Marine Corps Helicopter Pilot and flight instructor. Their “first” transitioning service member and experience with the HOH Corporate Fellowship in Tampa Bay, Pusins would not be the last. Four more veterans would come after him.
Michael Fieldson is the Founder and President of Ombra, and a military veteran himself. Having served in Navy Intelligence and Special Operations Command before, Fieldson knows, firsthand, how challenging the transition can be pivoting from a military career to a civilian one. Both men shared their perspectives during sit-down interviews to be shared during National Military Appreciation Month.
The fellowship experience at Ombra landed Pusins a full-time job overseeing business functions and launched Pusin’s post-military career. Three months into this new phase of his life, he experienced another milestone pivot. On April 24, he came back to the Tampa Bay Chamber office as a panelist for Operation Partnership’s Annual Transition Tampa Bay event. The just retired Marine Major shared his story during the “Understanding Corporate Culture” panel, which also included representatives from Mosaic and Spectrum.
The former Marine was also filmed by Fox 13 Tampa Bay for their special report on the Chamber’s military programming.
Stay tuned for the video series launching in May. In the meantime, don’t miss your opportunity to salute active-duty service members in Tampa Bay on May 16th during our 25th Annual Military Appreciation event at Armature Works. It’s open to the general public. Ticket sales make it possible for 300+ service members to attend the event at no cost to them.