Texas Veterans Commission Liaison Reveals Free Hiring Pipeline for Employers
On Rock Solid, host Bryan Eisenberg interviews Isaac Marquez-Diaz, Veteran Employer Liaison for the Texas Veterans Commission, about free hiring resources, WorkInTexas.com, the TAP internship program, and the upcoming July 22 job fair at Kalahari expected to host 200+ employers.
Round Rock, TX (Newsworthy.ai) Friday May 29, 2026 @ 8:00 AM CDT
Rock Solid: Round Rock Business Leaders Podcast — 75. Isaac Marquez-Diaz | How Veterans Can Find Great Jobs in Texas
Photo: Round Rock Studio
“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.”
Episode 75 of Rock Solid: Round Rock Business Leaders Podcast, titled 'How Veterans Can Find Great Jobs in Texas,' hosted by Bryan Eisenberg, brings listeners an in-depth conversation with Isaac Marquez-Diaz, Veteran Employer Liaison for the Texas Veterans Commission. Released May 26, 2026, the episode highlights a free, state-funded hiring pipeline unknown to many Central Texas business owners, and explains why transitioning service members may be the strongest, most overlooked talent pool available to employers across Round Rock, Williamson County, and the broader Texas economy.
Marquez-Diaz, a military veteran and former police officer based out of the Round Rock Workforce Solutions office, breaks down the practical mechanics of veteran hiring and the support available at no cost to Texas employers. Topics covered include:
Rock Solid: Round Rock Business Leaders Podcast — 75. Isaac Marquez-Diaz | How Veterans Can Find Great Jobs in Texas
Photo: Round Rock Studio
“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.”
- How WorkInTexas.com auto-matches job postings to qualified candidates, including unemployment recipients required to maintain accounts
- The TAP (Transition Assistance Program) internship pipeline, which allows employers to host transitioning soldiers for up to 90 days while the military continues paying their salary
- Translating military titles such as sergeant or commander into civilian equivalents like supervisor, manager, or director
- The Texas Veterans Commission Job Fair Con at Kalahari, scheduled July 22, with 200+ employers expected
Marquez-Diaz shares why he left law enforcement to take this 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, explaining the discipline built into 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."
Eisenberg, who operates the A Place at Home franchise providing care for seniors and veterans, presses Marquez-Diaz on how small businesses can actually connect with this talent pool.
The conversation digs into specific success stories, including a Marine veteran relocating from San Diego whose state application was nearly rejected over 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 also recounted on a recent community project, and detailed last year's Kalahari job fair, which drew over 1,200 attendees, including candidates who flew in from New York. Employers can contact him at Email Contact or connect via LinkedIn.
About Rock Solid: Round Rock Business Leaders Podcast
Rock Solid is produced and recorded at Round Rock Studio and hosted by Bryan Eisenberg, bestselling author and international keynote speaker. The show explores the journeys of entrepreneurs, nonprofits, and large organizations across Round Rock, Texas, highlighting the people and businesses powering one of Central Texas's fastest-growing communities. Episode 75 is available now wherever podcasts are heard.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Who is Isaac Marquez-Diaz and what does a Veteran Employer Liaison actually do?
- Isaac Marquez-Diaz is the Veteran Employer Liaison for the Texas Veterans Commission, based at the Round Rock Workforce Solutions office. A military veteran and former police officer, he connects employers with veteran candidates, helps businesses write job descriptions, translates military experience on resumes, organizes hiring events, and coaches employers on interviewing — all at no cost to the business.
- What is WorkInTexas.com and why should employers use it?
- WorkInTexas.com is a free state-run job board where employers can post openings and search candidates. Because unemployment recipients and most workforce-office visitors are required to maintain accounts, the talent pool is broad. The system also auto-matches postings to qualified candidates and notifies them directly, meaning employers get active outreach rather than waiting on inbound applications.
- How does the TAP internship program work for employers?
- Through the military's Transition Assistance Program, employers can host a transitioning service member for roughly the final 90 days of their service while the military continues paying their salary. The employer trains the candidate at no labor cost and decides afterward whether to hire. Marquez-Diaz describes it as a win-win, giving soldiers new skills and employers a risk-free trial.
- Why do veteran resumes often get overlooked by employers?
- Veterans frequently use military terminology — sergeant, commander, unit-specific acronyms — that civilian hiring managers do not recognize as leadership experience. Marquez-Diaz noted that a sergeant managing personnel is effectively a manager or supervisor, but that translation is often missing. He offers to help employers decode military resumes and rewrite job descriptions to attract qualified veteran applicants.
- What is the Texas Veterans Commission Job Fair Con at Kalahari?
- It is a large hiring event Marquez-Diaz created in partnership with the Kalahari Resort. Last year's fair drew over 1,200 attendees, including candidates who flew in from New York. The next event is scheduled for July 22 and is expected to host more than 200 employers and service organizations. Employers can request a booth by contacting Marquez-Diaz directly.
- How can a small business or startup get started working with Marquez-Diaz?
- Employers can email [email protected], connect on LinkedIn, or visit the Round Rock Workforce Office. Marquez-Diaz works with businesses of any size, helps draft job postings, provides interview space at Workforce Solutions locations in Round Rock, Austin, and San Marcos, and can advise veteran-owned startups on state hiring incentives.
Media Contact
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