MTSU Daniels Center speaker series features distinguished veteran who recruits talent for Amazon

A distinguished veteran who is in senior management for online retail giant Amazon will be the next guest speaker for the MTSU Daniels Veterans Center “Roll Call” series.

Beau Higgins of Tampa, Florida, a senior manager on Amazon’s Military Affairs team since 2016, will discuss the transition from military to civilian employment starting at 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 8. To register for the free Zoom event, visit https://www.mtsu.edu/military/speaker-series.

Roll Call is the Charlie and Hazel Daniels Veterans and Military Family Center’s monthly virtual veteran speaker series that focuses on topics such as military transition, leadership, corporate hiring, VA benefits and more.

Beau Higgins

John Quintas

“It’s informative and interactive,” said Lori Ogden, director of development and external affairs for the Daniels Center. “People who participate (in person) can go right to the source. They can ask questions and have them answered.”

Ogden said what’s great about the series is that they are recorded, noting that the American Legion has reached out to her so they can share the talks with others.

“Veterans, service members, and their families can access Roll Call recordings when they have time,” she said. “It’s a way for veterans (and others) to gain knowledge and access resources that they need to have in their toolkit. Veterans love the Roll Call series because they are packed with valuable information.”

To access the series, email Ogden at Lori.Ogden@mtsu.edu.

A retired Marine colonel with Legion of Merit, Bronze Star and other military awards, Higgins leads a team focused on developing Amazon’s ongoing efforts to increase hiring of diverse veteran talent, military spouses and wounded warriors. The company has hired thousands of veterans.

Coming this summer and fall

Future Roll Call speaker series schedule (all start at 6 p.m. Central):

A graphic related to the Daniels Veterans Center Roll Call speaker series • Tuesday, July 13 — A panel discussing VA home loans.

• Tuesday, Sept. 14 — TBA.

• Tuesday, Oct. 5 — Retired U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. John Quintas with Amazon.

• Tuesday, Nov. 9 — Tim Coop with Wounded Warrior Project.

— Randy Weiler (Randy.Weiler@mtsu.edu)

Hilary Miller, left, director of MTSU’s Charlie and Hazel Daniels Veterans and Military Family Center, discusses the eagle mural with alumnus Randy Purcell, a professional artist, in the Keathley University Center. Purcell is painting a 70-foot section of the hallway outside the center. The center is home to 1,000 student veterans and family members who are welcome to participate in monthly virtual Roll Call veterans speaker events and more. (MTSU file photo by Randy Weiler)