SPARTANBURG — When Ny’sim Miller left the Marine Corps, he had a hard time finding work in a field that suited his skills.
The Spartanburg native knew he wanted to stay close to home to help take care of his mother, who has a heart condition. After several attempts, he found what he was looking for at Cooper Standard Automotive in Boiling Springs. The plant employs just under 500 workers, including 25 veterans. Some vets were hired through S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce’s Stay to Apply Your Skills in South Carolina.
The program, known as STAYS, launched in late 2024. It is designed to help veterans and their spouses find jobs in the state. Since it launched, more than 300 employers across the state have participated.
Miller’s been on the job for about four months.
“When I came off active duty, it was difficult finding a job that wasn’t just temporary,” Miller said. “I got three jobs that were not a great fit for me, then I finally got here. I am still finding my way around, but coming here was easy.”
He’s not the only veteran recently hired through STAYS. Spartanburg resident Aaron Hewitt is another veteran who used the program to find work at Cooper Standard. He spent most of the week going through orientation. On his last job, he suffered an injury, so he wasn’t sure what he would do next.
“I have great expectations about working here,” Hewitt said. “I want to see how far I can go, and it seems like a great place to work.”
On May 28, S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce Executive Director William Floyd made a stop at the Cooper Standard Automotive plant to recognize the company’s partnership with STAYS. The program helps connect veterans and their spouses with potential employers offering at least five interview opportunities. Floyd expects the program to grow across the state and considers it a model for others to follow.
“It’s so important for us to promote veterans in our state,” Floyd told The Post and Courier. “There are 70,000 jobs open in South Carolina, and we continue to bring the people that are needed to engage with employers. There is so much transition that takes place in the military after they leave, and sometimes they aren’t sure where they will go next. We want to do all we can to keep them in South Carolina and help them find a pathway to a great manufacturer.”
Floyd said both small and large businesses have participated in STAYS.
Cooper Standard is a leading global supplier of systems and components for sealing and fluid handling solutions. The company employs 22,000 workers in 20 countries. The plant in Spartanburg manufactures durable seals for car doors.
Veteran Josh Painter has been with the company for 15 years. He’s still active with the Army National Guard. He’s helping train several recently hired veterans. Painter said he can relate to what younger veterans face when they try to transition into a civilian workforce.
“I know what it is like to go from the military to a civilian job.” Painter said. “It’s a completely different world.”
Painter’s time at Cooper Standard Automotive has been a successful one. He’s been promoted several times and is a supervisor. Painter has high hopes for other veterans recently hired at the plant that they too will be successful with their transition.
