The Texas Veterans Commission is offering a free hiring pipeline that many Central Texas employers remain unaware of, according to Isaac Marquez-Diaz, Veteran Employer Liaison for the commission. In Episode 75 of the Rock Solid: Round Rock Business Leaders Podcast, released May 26, 2026, Marquez-Diaz explained how businesses can access a pool of highly disciplined transitioning service members at no cost through state-funded programs.
Marquez-Diaz, a military veteran and former police officer based at the Round Rock Workforce Solutions office, detailed the practical mechanics of veteran hiring. He highlighted WorkInTexas.com, which automatically matches job postings to qualified candidates, including unemployment recipients required to maintain accounts. The Transition Assistance Program (TAP) internship pipeline allows employers to host transitioning soldiers for up to 90 days while the military continues paying their salary, effectively providing a risk-free trial period.
One of the key challenges Marquez-Diaz addresses is translating military titles into civilian equivalents. A sergeant or commander can be recast as a supervisor, manager, or director, making resumes more accessible to hiring managers. He also emphasized the discipline instilled in service members: 'When you go to basic training, they kind of delete who you were and they transform you into a soldier. If you give them a mission, they're going to accomplish it.'
The Texas Veterans Commission Job Fair Con at Kalahari, scheduled for July 22, is expected to draw over 200 employers. Last year’s event attracted more than 1,200 attendees, including candidates who flew in from New York. Marquez-Diaz shared a success story of a Marine veteran relocating from San Diego whose state application was nearly rejected due to a technical error. After Marquez-Diaz advocated on his behalf, the candidate was hired and now serves as HR Director for the Texas General Land Office, where he is building new veteran-focused programs.
Marquez-Diaz left law enforcement to take his current role after the Texas Veterans Commission helped him find work at an Austin-area job fair. He pushes back on the assumption that veteran hiring requires special handling, stressing that the discipline and mission-oriented mindset of veterans make them an overlooked talent pool. Host Bryan Eisenberg, who operates the A Place at Home franchise providing care for seniors and veterans, pressed Marquez-Diaz on how small businesses can connect with this talent pool. Employers can contact Marquez-Diaz via email or connect through LinkedIn for more information.
The episode underscores the importance of leveraging state resources to fill workforce gaps, particularly in fast-growing regions like Round Rock and Williamson County. With the upcoming job fair and the free tools available through the Texas Veterans Commission, employers have a clear path to tapping into a dedicated and skilled labor force.
