Ismael Ortiz, Jr.

TOPIC:
"MY STORY OF SERVICE" and "CARRY THE LOAD" MISSION AND HOW WE CAN GET INVOLVED

Mr. Ismael (Junior) Ortiz, Jr. is an Ambassador for Carry the Load. He is a retired Lieutenant Colonel of the United States Marines and the former Acting Assistant Secretary of Labor for Veterans Employment. His professional career spans over 30 years of working in government, corporate and the nonprofit sector.

After more than 33 years’ experience with AT&T, David incorporated a small business to share big business expertise. After two plus years of working with clients, David accepted the challenge to help establish the truly transformational train as a member of the Texas Central team.

Mr. Ortiz served as an enlisted man before being accepted to the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland where he received his commission as a Second Lieutenant in the Marines. His twenty-seven year career in the Marines encompassed many diverse assignments that ranged from Administration, Communication, Law Enforcement, Counter-drug Operations, Recruiting, Marketing and Advertising for the Marine Corps to professor and coach at the Naval Academy.

Upon retiring from the Marines, Mr. Ortiz worked as Senior Vice President and Director of Government Relations for MBNA America where he was responsible for marketing, new business development, analyzing impacting legislation and community relations within emerging markets for the financial sector.

Before being appointed to the Administration, Mr. Ortiz was the Director of Membership Development and Director of Brand Relations for AARP. His responsibilities included designing and implementing marketing and advertising programs, particularly aimed at multicultural markets, with emphasis on Latinos and African Americans. He developed and executed national advertising campaigns on print, broadcast and online media, including national bilingual, bi- partisan campaigns to advance healthcare and financial reform. He has been the spokesperson for Spanish language media on such policy issues as Social Security, health care reform, and Medicare, all critical issues impacting seniors and multicultural communities.

At the Department of Labor, Acting Assistant Secretary Ortiz was the Principal advisor to the Secretary of Labor on the design and implementation of all policies and procedures for Veterans employment, training, and transition assistance. He was responsible for the coordination, implementation, and oversight of all employment and training programs for Veterans with a particular focus on reaching hard to serve populations, including homeless, disabled, rural, and disadvantaged.

At Trident Response Group, he worked to assists leaders, businesses, and families with problem solving and managing risks. Additionally he helps organizations to evaluate and implement alternative solutions that help organizations build a cultural base for transitioning veterans into the private sector.

Today, as a Professor of Leadership at the Hart Center for Engineering Leadership, Lyle School of Engineering at Southern Methodist University, he conducts leadership workshops to help students focus on personal leadership and management of human talent while developing strategic plans used to recruit, hire, and work with diverse populations.

He has a Master of Science in Human Resource Management from Central Michigan University and a Bachelor of Science in Political Science with a concentration in Latin American studies from the U.S. Naval Academy.

Mr. Ortiz has served on numerous Corporate Board of Advisors, Board of Directors and Board of Trustees of Association and organizations throughout the United States and has participated in numerous White House Task Forces and public policy initiatives. He is a Life Member of the Naval Academy Alumni Association, the Marine Corps Law Enforcement Foundation, the Military Officers Association of America, the American GI Forum of the United States and the American Legion.