Meet Niki Bourque: Military Spouse and Regions Bank Wellness Administrator.
For more than 15 years, Bourque has provided coaching and education to help people build healthy habits through positions with the U.S. Air Force, academic settings and the private sector. Today she brings her expertise and passion for health and wellness to Regions Bank where she creates and promotes programs that benefit associates across the company.
Bourque met her husband, who is a member of the U.S. Air Force, through her career as a wellness professional. Like many military spouses, Bourque has switched jobs over time, often due to relocations associated with her husband’s military service.
“Any military branch typically requires a lot of moving and so it’s very difficult as a military spouse to grow roots in your career. You know, you may get hired and then have to leave within a year or two and a lot of employers don’t want to invest in someone they aren’t sure is going to stay for the long haul, and so that’s one of the main things we experience as military spouses,” said Bourque.
“I’ve been with Regions for five years and we do have a program that ties military spouses together … I just have to give Regions kudos for providing a program like this and to have Regions take a chance on military members’ wives or husbands – military spouses.”
Hear more of Bourque’s story in this video.
Program Spotlight: Military Spouse Employment Partnership
The Military Spouse Employment Partnership (MSEP) is a Department of Defense career program connecting military spouses with hundreds of partner employers who commit to recruit, hire, promote and retain military spouses. Regions was inducted into the partnership in 2020, becoming one of 500 corporate members. The MSEP helps military spouses find employment to achieve their career goals, despite the challenges of frequent relocation. Unemployment among military spouses is far higher than the general public — around 24%. This is due to the frequent relocating and “restarting” of careers. Military spouses from all branches of the armed forces can use the MSEP’s job search to access career opportunities offered by MSEP partners worldwide. And this now includes jobs at Regions. A dedicated MSEP specialist works with Regions, recommending candidates to jobs and jobs to candidates.
Read more about how Regions is supporting military families and building the best team through the Military Spouse Employment Partnership.
About this series:
Regions Bank supports military members, military veterans and their families through community involvement, military friendly products and services, and efforts to employ and develop veterans, military members and their spouses. Regions recognizes Veterans Day Nov. 11 and is celebrating military veterans and their families throughout the month of November.
This is the final story and video in this series. Looking for more? Check out the first three stories and videos in the series:
Bring Your Whole Self to Work
We have a passion for creating an inclusive environment that promotes and values diversity of race, color, national origin, religion, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sex, pregnancy, and many other primary and secondary dimensions that make each of us unique as individuals and provide valuable perspective that makes us a better company and employer. More importantly, we recognize that creating a workplace where everyone, regardless of background, can do their best work is the right thing to do.
OFCCP Disclosure: Equal Opportunity Employer/Disabled/Veterans