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A World of Thanks to Our Military
Meet two employees who celebrate and strengthen connections through McKesson’s military ERG.
Read time: 4 minutes
At McKesson, we’re proud that our employee resource groups connect people of all backgrounds and experiences to embrace their unique roles as part of something greater. Our McKesson Military Resource Group (MMRG) honors and supports our employees who have served in the military, as well as the families and other allies of those serving in every branch of military service.
In honor of our recognition of veterans, we’re introducing two McKesson employees whose active participation in MMRG is bringing the group’s mission to life. They’re building and extending valuable networks, supporting those who have worked in the military, and helping us leverage the strengths of our veterans to deliver the best experiences to our customers, our employees, and the patients we ultimately serve.
Kedesha Pennant
What she does at McKesson:
As a senior communications associate, Kedesha writes articles, talking points, scripts, and other internal and external communications support for our Pharmaceutical Services and Solutions business. She joined the company in January 2022, and she is thankful for the easy transition from her eight-year military career. She was a public affairs specialist and photojournalist with the U.S. Air Force at Dyess Air Force base in Abilene, Texas. She also volunteered for a six-month deployment in Kuwait.
What MMRG means to her:
Kedesha joined MMRG to maintain and build connections with other veterans and hopes to contribute her writing and event planning experience to help the group share information and strengthen the network.
“It's important to have a community that you identify with the most. MMRG presents a unique opportunity to be an easy resource for information that others may not know about, whether it’s news from the Department of Veterans Affairs, or restaurants that are honoring current and past members of the military with free meals on Veterans Day.”
Kedesha’s parents were also in the military, and she fondly remembers coming across people they’d known from their time in the service when they were out in public – often at unexpected places like a mall. It’s a “small” military, after all. That’s the kind of lasting connection she is grateful MMRG fosters.
“MMRG is a continued camaraderie with other service members that can keep us connected. It helps me feel more powerful in my ability to do things that support McKesson.”
Susan Dean
What she does at McKesson:
Susan is the director of operations for McKesson’s New York metro pharmaceutical distribution center.
Why she’s passionate about the military:
Susan grew up living a military life. Although she did not enter the military herself, Susan served as a U.S. Navy ombudsman – the liaison between the Commander and the families – for the Fifth Fleet in Quincy, Mass., and the Joint Public Affairs Support Element unit in Norfolk, Va.
Her father, a U.S. Army colonel, was part of the 101st Airborne Division and served in Vietnam. He was decorated with the Defense Superior Service medal – one of the country’s highest peacetime medals – and the Legion of Merit.
“My father was an excellent strategist and operations leader, and the toughest person I have ever met. I learned a great deal from him, and I relied heavily on his leadership training during the pandemic. He used to say to me, ‘When things get bad, get low in the foxhole, and keep moving forward.’ That’s just what we did. We focused on our mission of making healthcare happen, and we’ve kept moving forward.”
She cherishes her experiences as part of a military family, from attending nine K-12 schools in five U.S. states and Germany, to opening their home to become a United Way Aftercare Group Home for a dozen teenage girls.
“The best part of growing up in a military family is the discipline and the closeness of the people that you meet. Because we moved so often, we learned to be flexible and adaptable, and we met a diverse group of people who became friends for life. It broadened my perspective.”
What MMRG means to her:
Susan joined MMRG when she started with McKesson eight years ago because she believes in recognizing veterans and the sacrifices that they and their families have made, and because she was eager to find the kinds of military connections that were familiar to her.
She also appreciates the information MMRG provides, the opportunities for members to share their stories, and the support for veterans, from acclimating within a civilian work environment to helping veterans navigate serious challenges such as PTSD and financial hardships.
“I love the military, and I love the connections that are made through MMRG. I am proud to share that McKesson is one of the largest non-defense employers of veterans in the U.S. Joining MMRG provides an opportunity to connect with that elite group of men and women to whom we owe a world of thanks.”
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