In The News: Military Spouse Fellowship Program

Click to view: Fox 13 4PM May 10, 2024 National Military Spouse Appreciation Day - full interview. 

Fox 13 Tampa Bay spotlighted the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation's Military Spouse Fellowship Program of Hiring Our Heroes. The in-studio interview on National Military Spouse Appreciation Day was with Aleksandra Johnston, Deputy Director of Corporate Fellowships - East Region. Johnston, a military spouse herself, led the Foundation's first fellowship in Tampa Bay in 2020. In that inaugural cohort there were five military spouses and it was among the first flagship locations launched outside the Maryland-D.C. Area. In 2021, it grew to include military spouses across Florida, after the success in Tampa Bay.

Early days of the first cohort of Military Spouse Fellowship Program led by Aleksandra Johnston in 2020. 

2020 Graduation Day of first Military Spouse Fellowship in the Sunshine State - Tampa, FL! 

In 2023, the program was expanded again to include military spouses in all 50 states. The 12 week fellowship program is free to participants - there's no cost to either the military spouse or the business hosting them. For 5+ years, our Tampa Bay Chamber has proudly worked with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation to support its Hiring Our Heroes and Military Spouse Fellowship programs in our region and in 2018 was recognized as a Hiring Our Heroes Chamber of Valor. 

Johnston, who's husband retired from the U.S. Air Force recently, knows first-hand the challenges spouses face during the customary relocations and moves military families make during deployments and assignment relocations for service members. Johnston shared with News Anchor Chris Cato the story of one particular woman in the fellowship who began an entirely new career thanks to the doors opened by the fellowship. This participant went from being a school teacher to a professional in the fintech industry! It was an opportunity the teacher had never thought of as a career option and a candidate the employer may not have considered outside the fellowship, explained Johnston during the live television interview.  

 Click to view: Fox 13 4PM May 10, 2024 National Military Spouse Appreciation Day Interview.