GREENFIELD — Doing things for others drives Brian Evans.
Evans, 26, graduated from Greenfield-Central High School in 2012. Rather than heading off to college, he joined the Marine Corps, where he earned the rank of sergeant during his 4½ years of service.
Early in his military career, Evans earned a special duty assignment in Washington, D.C., where he worked for the commandant of the Marine Corps. The position eventually helped him land a job inside the White House, where he was the director of correspondence analysis for the Executive Office of the President for two years.
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Now, Evans; his wife, Sarah, who is from Germany; and their 7-month-old son are back in Indiana, where he now works helping veterans find jobs.
Evans is the manager of external affairs for INVETS, a statewide organization that works to help veterans find good-paying jobs in the state. The organization is currently working with about 2,000 veterans from across the United States. Advisers offer help with resumes, interview advice and building connection networks.
A current focus is connecting veterans with emerging businesses in Hancock County such as Yamaha Precision Propellers, Amazon and WalMart, which are bringing upwards of 2,000 jobs to the county.
“Men and woman all over the country answer the call of duty,” Evans said. “But, when you serve, then you leave, it can feel like you’re kind of dumped to the side, and that can be difficult.”
Evans said many veterans leaving the service face uncertainty.
“When you serve, you’re serving something bigger than yourself, and for many of us when we get out, we wonder what are we going to do?” Evans said. “It’s hard to answer that, but INVETS can help.”
He can relate. After working in the White House and taking part in numerous special details — including duty at the United Nations and attending some 300 funerals at Arlington National Cemetery — he had a hard time figuring out what to do once his military career was over. Few people at home knew all he had accomplished as a Marine. After taking a job for a few months with a company, this past spring INVETS officials asked him to come on board.
“You get out of the military and you think, ‘Who wouldn’t hire me?’” Evans said. “But, a lot of people don’t see all you’ve done in the military as translating to the workforce like a college education.”
When Evans talks with potential employers on behalf of veterans, he reminds them that many young people in the military have taken on a great deal of responsibility; work hard; and perform well under pressure.
“Part of my job is to educate employers how great a transiting veteran can be,” Evans said. “When you’re in the military, you sometimes see the worst of the worst, so nothing upsets people with military experience.”
As for his experience in the White House — which he did for two years — the work lasted until his wife became pregnant in 2019. That’s when the couple decided to move back to Indiana to raise their son.
Once the couple decided to make a change, Evans called Greenfield Mayor Chuck Fewell for advice about coming back to Greenfield. Evans’ grandfather, Gary Evans, formerly was on the Greenfield City Council. His uncle, Brad Evans, is assistant street commissioner. Scott Evans, Brian’s cousin, also worked for the street department.
“Brian called and we talked and he just struck me as the type of young man Greenfield should have an interest in to get involved with and move forward with,” Fewell said. “If he wants to get involved in politics or business, he’s just a shining star for wanting to do things for people.”
