Celebrating and honoring WEX veterans and their families on Veterans Day

Veterans Day was established on November 11, 1918 to commemorate the end of World War I. It was originally called “The Armistice,” marking a cessation of hostilities, the end of the war, and victory for the Allies. It put a line in the sand at the end of one of the most devastating conflicts in history. In 1954, after the conclusion of the Korean War, the U.S. officially named the holiday “Veterans Day” to honor all American veterans. 

On Veterans Day, our thoughts turn to the countless heroes who have served in the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, and Coast Guard. When first introduced, Veterans Day was formally recognized on the 11th hour, of the 11th day, of the 11th month in 1918. This year, the United States pays tribute during a Veterans Day National Ceremony on November 11th at Arlington National Cemetery. The ceremony starts at 11 o’clock ET in the morning with a wreath laying at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and continues inside the Memorial Amphitheater with a veterans parade of colors and dignitary remarks. There are parades, church services, contests, food, and more to honor and thank all who have served.

Employee Resource Groups (ERGs): building community and celebrating milestones

Employee resource groups (ERGs) are organizations within companies serving as internal communities. They provide a meeting point for various groups across an organization that share interests, cultures, identities, or backgrounds. There are ten ERGs at WEX, including: WEX NexGen, Women of WEX, Parents@WEX, WEXPride, WEXVets, Black Growth Council, WEXcessibility, Women in Tech @ WEX, Latin X @ WEX, and Asian Alliance.  WEX honors its veterans and military families through its WEX Vets ERG.

WEX Vets ERG celebrates and supports veterans throughout the year

WEX Vets’ focus this year has been creating a community within WEX for veterans to not just support each other, but have a place to bond with other veterans.

Sarah Terison has been a WEXer for 23 years. She manages the Project and Agile Tooling team, and is the chair of WEX Vets. “The camaraderie and shared experiences with military peers is hard to match elsewhere,” Sarah says, “I think WEX Vets provides a great way to stay connected not only with my history as a military veteran, but also to build a sense of community with other folks at WEX who are also veterans or veteran supporters or in military families. The ERG provides a bonding connection point.”

As part of their initiative, WEX Vets volunteers with the Travis Mills Foundation to increase their support of veterans in the community. This foundation is a resource for veterans and their families. Through long-term programs, it aims to help them overcome physical obstacles, strengthen their families, and at the same time, the Foundation seeks to provide well-deserved rest and relaxation to vets.

WEX Vets also has a long tradition hosting the Murph Challenge every spring. This event helps fundraise for the LT. Michael P. Murphy Memorial Scholarship Foundation. This is a fitness challenge and competition that has raised over $2 million since its founding in 2014. All proceeds go to the LT. Michael P. Murphy Memorial Scholarship Foundation. The annual Murph Challenge put on by the foundation is not only a challenge physically, it is a mental and emotional challenge as well, pushing participants to their limits. WEXers who participate cheer each other on, share pictures of their physical feats, and celebrate completing the challenge together.

Veteran and WEXer Jonalynn Horn on valuing her military service

Jonalynn Horn, Carrier Operations Specialist at WEX is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force and shares that distinction with her mother, her father, and three of her brothers. She also has a grandfather who was military. She was a part of Security Forces during her time in the military, which is Military Police for the Air Force.

Jonalynn attended boot camp and technical training in San Antonio, Texas at JBSA Lackland. While in boot camp and throughout her time in the Air Force, Jonalynn grew and matured. She further refined her discipline and mastered her time management skills with the guidance the military provided. “They teach you discipline from the day you get to boot camp. We were taught how you’re supposed to act and dress and carry yourself. How we handled our equipment is one way we were trained to be disciplined. Your equipment should always be extremely clean and tidy. And this goes all the way down to things as basic as the way you fold your socks.” 

Jonalynn’s dad was in law enforcement after his military career and she grew up surrounded by military-trained family members so she learned military values starting as a child. “Growing up, we already had a sense of the value of time management. My dad always said, ‘If you’re not early, you’re late.” She and her siblings learned how to be responsible, respectful, and the value of a strong work ethic. 

Jonalynn with her dad at tech school graduation.

When she completed boot camp, she moved to a base in Anchorage, Alaska and took a role in Military Law Enforcement. “You have a pretty big responsibility every day to uphold the law when you’re in Military Law Enforcement in the Air Force. And this is done all while conducting yourself in a professional manner.” Her role was serious and impactful and she was dedicated to carrying it out with the utmost respect for the traditions of the military and by using all that she learned from family and from her training.

Jonalynn with her mom at tech school graduation.

Her time in Anchorage was a thrilling experience for her providing her with lifelong friendships and great memories. An avid outdoors person, she celebrated Alaska’s natural beauty while living there. “I saw the northern lights. I saw glaciers. I saw ice caves. I saw the Iditarod which is really cool. The colors in the fall, and the moose, and all the animals and the mountains, were a highlight. And there’s a highway called the Seward Highway. When you travel on that road you’re driving along the ocean and the mountains at the same time. It’s just absolutely gorgeous there. So, living in Alaska and getting to take in all the beauty that is there and be outside as much as I could was an amazing experience.”

Jonalynn during her time serving in the Air Force in Alaska.

From Alaska, Jonalynn then moved back to her home state of Washington and now resides on Whidbey Island in Northern Washington State where she continues to spend as much time as she can outdoors. She just finished climbing the skyline trail on Mount Rainier for a second time, a huge accomplishment. Climbing like that takes physical, mental, and emotional strength, all qualities Jonalynn has in spades.

Jonalynn celebrating the view on a mountain called Oyster Dome

From her Whidbey Island home, where she can see Rainier every day from a distance, Jonalynn works in a remote office for WEX’s Benefits division and is responsible for completing COBRA closings, overseeing plans, renewals, change forms, and error reports for customers as well as a variety of tasks she oversees for internal customers.

Jonalynn on the Skyline Trail on Mount Rainier

Jonalynn has built a strong community during her time at WEX and describes her fellow WEXers as her favorite people in her life. A big part of that community is the friends she’s made through WEXVets. “We all have a common interest, we were all in the military, and then we had to enter the workforce in the civilian world and try to make our way. These are people who have overcome adversity and come out the other side as stronger individuals.” 

Jonalynn crabbing at Guemes Island in Washington State

She also describes how leaving the military for her meant leaving a community and how WEXVets has helped her create a new community in her civilian life. “Being a part of the WEXVets ERG has given me a sense of camaraderie that was missing after I left the Air Force.”

When she contemplates those early years of her career right after leaving the Air Force, she has advice for younger people early in their career. She advises them to “Embrace feedback, set goals and work towards continuous learning and skill development.” It is her belief that these guidelines are the most important ways to prepare for a career that involves growth and advancement. 

Seattle skyline with Mount Rainier in the distance.

Some say that successful careers are built out of strong habits and routines. Jonalynn’s military service helped her build good habits and growing up in a military family did too. “Checklists are key. We have a Carrier Operations Lifecycle and TAT doc which outlines the order in which tasks and queues must be completed. In the military we always had checklists which aided in reducing mistakes, ensuring consistency and quality, and improving time management skills.” Keeping lists is a big part of Jonalynn’s way of staying on task and organized.

When asked what she would tell her 18-year-old self looking back on the road she’s traveled so far her answer was: “Embrace uncertainty, you don’t need to have everything figured out right away. Take more risks, some of the best opportunities will come when you push past what’s familiar. Be kind to yourself, celebrate your successes, and forgive your mistakes.” 

Veteran family member and WEXer Chantana Cosey shares her story

Chantana Cosey, a customer support specialist at WEX is on a team that builds Benefits websites for clients, assists them with their open enrollment needs, and resolves issues as they arise. “We remain the main point of contact for the client, so we have to ensure effective communication so that all parties are provided what they need. I love training new clients on how to maneuver our unique system.”

When she joined WEX, Chantana had to start from scratch, learning all about benefits. This included learning a whole new platform apart from her previous knowledge of ethics and compliance platforms. She attributes her success at WEX to her drive and will to learn.”I truly have a passion for learning new things and that passion fuels my soul and pushes me to want to learn more.”

One of the ways Chantana likes to learn is through observing others and being inspired by how they lead. An example she gives is the leadership exhibited by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. “His pursuit to achieve his goals was relentless. He persevered no matter what obstacles got in his way and there, of course, were many. His way of thinking inspires me to reach for more in all aspects of my life.” One of the ways Chantana reaches for more at WEX is through her role as a board member on the WEXVets ERG.

WEXVets board members meeting virtually to plan an upcoming event.

Chantana has built many of her friendships at WEX through the work she does for the WEXVets ERG. “I am part of an awesome group of veterans on WEXVet’s ERG. I didn’t serve, but I am the spouse of a veteran and my uncle is a Vietnam veteran. Hearing all of the WEXVet’s experiences while they served is humbling and fills me with gratitude.”

Chantana’s husband, Willie Cosey, Jr., is a military veteran. Chantana says, “Being the spouse of a veteran gives me profound gratitude like no other. My spouse is driven and believes in hard work and dedication and this pushes me when I even think about giving up or complaining. It most impacts my career because it keeps me motivated and goal oriented.” Before she met her husband, Chantana was already a disciplined and organized person so their pairing made a lot of sense to both of them. She appreciates and values how organized he is and celebrates those qualities.

Chantana with her husband, Willie.

Chantana’s uncle, Joseph Williams, was also in the military, and served in the Vietnam War. Both through his experiences and that of her husband she has witnessed a lot of change for veterans over the course of her life. Chantana says, “I see a greater focus on mental health support, particularly regarding PTSD and traumatic brain injuries, alongside increased awareness of the unique challenges faced by female veterans, minority veterans, and LGBTQ+ veterans, leading to more tailored transition programs and support services to help them integrate into civilian life effectively. Additionally, there’s been a growing recognition of the importance of translating military skills to civilian jobs, with better resources available to aid in career transitions.”

Her uncle served for 8 months in Vietnam for one tour of duty in artillery and aviation. For most of her life Chantana never heard him talk about his service. Over the last several years, he opened up about it. She attributes this to the new generation of soldiers who grew up in the millennial era where sharing feelings is much more accepted and encouraged. This way of living has been passed on to the older generations of veterans and is allowing them to let go of their fears and their shame and share what happened when they served and what it meant to them.

Chantana’s uncle, Joseph Williams, while serving in Vietnam

Chantana’s uncle, Joseph Williams, today

One value Chantana has learned from her husband, Willie, is the importance of mentors and how a career can be expanded if you prioritize mentorship. “Throughout my career, mentors have played a crucial role in guiding my professional development, providing invaluable insights, and helping me navigate complex situations, particularly when transitioning into new roles or facing challenging decisions. Their experience and advice has been instrumental in shaping my career trajectory and building my confidence in my abilities.”

Chantana’s husband, Willie Cosey, Jr.

Chantana’s husband, Willie Cosey, Jr.

When thinking about what advice she would give as a mentor to young people just entering the workforce today, Chantana has valuable words of wisdom: “The most important thing is to be open to learning, actively seek feedback, prioritize building strong relationships with colleagues, and don’t be afraid to ask questions. In your first job you will have a valuable opportunity to explore your interests and develop your skills. Remember that your career path may evolve over time, so be adaptable and embrace new challenges.”

Additionally, a perspective Chantana’s husband, Willie, got from his time in the military was the importance of building strong habits and routines. Chantana’s most valued routines and habits that have helped her succeed have been “prioritizing tasks, setting clear goals, consistent learning, regular exercise, dedicated time for reflection, maintaining a healthy sleep schedule, managing time effectively, and practicing gratitude. These habits are valuable because they promote focus, discipline, personal growth, well-being, and a balanced approach to life, allowing individuals to achieve their goals more effectively.”

WEX is grateful for this opportunity on Veterans Day to pay respect to the WEXers who have served and WEX family members who have made sacrifices for the safety and well-being of our country. WEX is fortunate to have both Jonalynn and Chantana as community members, bringing the unique and valuable perspective of serving in the military to their work and their collegial relationships.

WEX is a global commerce platform that simplifies the business of running a business. WEX has created a powerful ecosystem that offers seamlessly embedded, personalized solutions for its customers around the world. Through its rich data and specialized expertise in simplifying benefits, reimagining mobility, and paying and getting paid, WEX aims to make it easy for companies to overcome complexity and reach their full potential. WEX values diversity and equity and is an equal opportunity employer. Search jobs on our careers site.