Throughout Steven Vinezeano's (SV) career, he has always understood the value of public involvement and advocacy. Prior to starting his career in local government, Steven began his public service career in the U.S. Army, attaining the rank of captain with the 38th Engineer Company in Karlsruhe, Germany, serving in the Gulf War. He continued his military service in the U.S. Army Reserves until he was honorably discharged as an Army Captain in 1997.

After the military, he began a career in local government as the assistant city administrator for Prospect Heights in 1996. In 2000, he accepted a position with the Village of Niles, where he served as the assistant to- and assistant village manager until 2012. In December of 2012 he became acting village manager until he was appointed village manager in May 2013.

Steven has been a great advocate for helping veterans transition from the military to local government and has written about it in PM, The Long Reach of Military Experience, How It Influences My Management Career, as well as on his blog, Open Your Jobs to Veterans.

Read on to find out more about Steven, his military career, and how he has applied his knowledge from the military to his job in local government.

Q1: After serving in the military, what interested you in having a career in local government?

SV:  When I left active duty in 1992, I was eager to utilize the Illinois Veterans Grant Program that pays tuition and fees at Illinois state-supported colleges and universities for veterans who served in a foreign country in a time of hostilities.  In my case, I served in the Gulf War.  However, I did not know what career path to pursue. 

Shortly after my return home, my father introduced me to the city manager of the town I grew up in – Rolling Meadows, Illinois. I spent the summer working in the Finance Department and assisting the village manager, and enjoyed knowing I could make life better for those in my town. After years of watching my father and mother volunteer their time to the community in an effort to give their children (ten of us) and neighbors a better community, this sense of public service I was experiencing in this short summer internship seemed to come naturally. I found my vocation and it was local government. 

Q2: What skills/knowledge/background from your military career have you been able to apply to your local government career?

SV: Early in my career, what probably stood out to my employers was my level of commitment to the mission and my ability to fearlessly tackle projects outside of my knowledge base. I was seen as confident, organized, and able to adapt to changing situations. Later in my career, as my responsibilities once again involved supervision of employees, my ability to develop a team approach to mission was a key skillset. The military performance review process that I learned as an officer is also something I have utilized over the years.

Q3: Do you have any tips/advice for active duty personnel or veterans who are interested in a career in local government?

SV:  My advice to active duty personnel or veterans who are interested in a career in local government is to take advantage of any military educational dollars and earn your master of public administration degree.  My undergraduate degree was in architecture, so I spent my first year back from the military at a community college taking classes to prepare me for graduate school. This first year also allowed me to be close to home while transitioning from military service to civilian life. While at school (or before), volunteer at your local city or village, which could turn into a valuable internship down the road.      

Q4: With veterans returning home to a weak and challenging labor market, have you implemented any sort of veteran’s program in your community, such as: employment, health, housing, education, and the transition to civilian life?

SV: Since 2011, when I believe NRD.gov was launched, our HR Department was directed to post employment opportunities on the National Resource Directory. This is a website that serves as a Veterans Job Bank.  Through our mayor, our municipality also recognizes returning vets with a “key to the village.”  The village also has a Family Services Department that is more than capable of assisting returning veterans and/or their families with human services. 

Q5: Are there any educational/professional development programs that you would recommend to veterans who are transitioning from a career in the military to a career in local government?

SV: This, I believe, was covered mostly in question #3. The transition from a career in the military to local government for me was a process. First, my father helped me learn that it was right for me all along. Then it was important that I do two things:  secure the proper education (an MPA); and decompress from the rigor of military service to civilian life. At the same time, volunteer your time or do whatever is necessary to work in local government and demonstrate your value. Demonstrate how your skillsets from military service are of tremendous value to the mission of any organization you serve.

Let me end this with a quick story

Shortly before I was to graduate with an MPA, I cornered a city manager in an elevator and asked him to take a chance and let me serve in a free summer internship. He took me up on the offer. Later on, as a thank you for my service, he sent me to a summer ILCMA conference where I met the city manager who hired me for my first position in local government the following spring when I graduated. 

What is the moral of the story? Get the right education to augment your military skillset and get out there and prove yourself through hard work and commitment.