Veterans at South Jersey Industries featured On Military Makeover Operation Career with Montel Williams airing on Lifetime TV
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South Jersey Industries News
FOLSOM, NJ, February 1, 2021 – SJI (NYSE: SJI) is proud to announce that two highly valued veterans on our team have been selected to appear in “Military Makeover: Operation Career” on Lifetime TV with host Montel Williams. The show features the career journey that veterans take to transition from being in the military service to a career in civilian life.
WHAT: Two employees from South Jersey Industries featured on “Military Makeover: Operation Career” airing on Lifetime TV with host Montel Williams.
WHEN: The show first aired on January 29 and is now available to watch at https://militarymakeover.tv/veterans-continuing-to-make-a-difference/
The show will air again on Lifetime TV at 7:30 a.m. on February 4
WHO: South Jersey Gas Administrative Services Manager Cristina Fernandez and SJI Senior Government Affairs Specialist Rich DeRose. Both served in the Army National Guard.
About Cristina Fernandez
South Jersey Gas (SJG) Administrative Services Manager Cristina Fernandez served in the Army National Guard as part of the 945th Service Company in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. In Kuwait, her unit was responsible for vehicle redeployment operations and military escorts to coalition forces. At SJG, Cristina is responsible for managing administrative operations and making sure all work by field crews is processed timely and correctly.
“At SJG, I feel the same sense of loyalty which was instilled in me as a core Army value. I am loyal to the organization, the mission, my team and our customers, and I am very proud of that,” says Fernandez.
About Rich DeRose
SJI Senior Government Affairs Specialist Rich DeRose served in the Army National Guard as an infantryman, serving a tour of duty in Iraq. Rich was the Deputy Chief of Staff at the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities prior to joining SJI where he now serves as a liaison between the company and local, State and federal public officials.
"The military taught me how to work together, as a team, regardless of differences. This approach has not only helped me to collaborate successfully within the company, but has also given me the skills to seamlessly work with all of our external customers and elected officials,” says DeRose.
*Last year, Cristina and Rich co-founded the Veterans Engagement Team of SJI (VETS) which aims to engage with veteran employees, encourage them to use their experience as an asset to the company, address issues unique to the veteran community, and support initiatives inside and outside the company that support the Armed Forces of the United States.