Joining Forces and America’s Best Contacts & Eyeglasses
Joining the Cause
Janine Toucet-Pacheco, O.D. was asked to attend the Joining Forces event at the White House this month. When the call came, she said she “couldn’t believe it! One doesn’t typically receive such exciting news on a daily basis.” Dr. Toucet-Pacheco practices with Texas Eye & Vision Associates (TEVA) at the America’s Best Contacts & Eyeglasses store in Humble, TX. She served in the Army from 2006-2015 and served as the commanding officer in her unit. TEVA hired the then Army veteran in September 2015.
First Lady Michelle Obama and Vice President Joe Biden’s wife, Dr. Jill Biden founded Joining Forces in 2011. The nationwide initiative calls “all Americans to rally around service members, veterans, and their families and support them through wellness, education, and employment opportunities.” National Vision, Inc., parent company of America’s Best, proudly supports this initiative. Dr. Toucet-Pacheco, National Vision President & COO Bruce Steffey, and Talent Acquisition Generalist Forrest Tennant attended a Joining Forces White House press conference to celebrate five successful years of Joining Forces.
Joining Forces in Washington, D.C.
The First Lady and Dr. Biden announce new commitments by companies across the US at the press conference. The commitments included pledges to hire veterans and veteran spouses in the technology industry, including National Vision’s pledge to hire 100 veterans or veteran spouses in the tech industry over the next 5 years. Dr. Toucet-Pacheco thinks National Vision’s pledge “will help re-integrate [veterans] back into society, which is after all what we all would want and they deserve. Most veterans have been exposed to some sort of high technological device while serving in the U.S. military. They can bring important and valuable insight to companies that are investing in technological advances.”
According to the Joining Forces website, the organization works hand-in-hand with the public and private sector. They ensure that service members, veterans, and their families have the tools they need to succeed throughout their lives. Dr. Toucet-Pacheco believes it’s “important that private companies employ veterans because many veterans have a difficult time re-adapting to the everyday civilian lifestyle.” She knows that there are “many talented veterans that can positively affect the progress of a company, not only because of their experience, but also because veterans are people that are committed, hardworking, and loyal.”
Dr. Toucet-Pacheco was thankful and proud to represent veteran optometrists, TEVA and National Vision in Washington, D.C. She felt “very honored to be affiliated with a company that is committed to help others, and very thankful as a veteran optometrist for such a wonderful and special gesture.” This trip to Washington, D.C. was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that she’ll remember for the rest of her life.
Sources: www.whitehouse.gov/joiningforces
