As trained leaders for whom accountability and a strong work ethic are second nature, Chicagoland veterans are uniquely equipped to meet the demands of today's jobs. That veterans typically possess the skills and character needed to excel in the civilian workplace makes reports on the state of veteran unemployment more troubling. Through the Commercial Club of Chicago Veterans Working Group (VWG), some of the city's top employers are working together to share best practices and advance new ideas to help reverse this trend and support veterans in finding meaningful careers. The VWG's success is an outstanding example of a community's potential to effect change when diverse stakeholders are empowered to share challenges, leverage each other's strengths, and develop a community of practice. The goal of this publication is to recognize the efforts that VWG members have taken to improve their veteran recruitment, training and retention practices, and to create a blueprint for the successful replication of the VWG model in other communities throughout the country.