In Episode 75 of the Rock Solid: Round Rock Business Leaders Podcast, titled 'How Veterans Can Find Great Jobs in Texas,' host Bryan Eisenberg interviews Isaac Marquez-Diaz, Veteran Employer Liaison for the Texas Veterans Commission. Released May 26, 2026, the episode sheds light on a free, state-funded hiring pipeline that many Central Texas business owners are unaware of, emphasizing why transitioning service members represent a strong, often overlooked talent pool for employers across Round Rock, Williamson County, and the broader Texas economy.
Marquez-Diaz, a military veteran and former police officer based at the Round Rock Workforce Solutions office, details the practical mechanics of veteran hiring and the no-cost support available to Texas employers. Key topics include how WorkInTexas.com auto-matches job postings to qualified candidates, including unemployment recipients required to maintain accounts. He also explains the Transition Assistance Program (TAP) internship pipeline, which allows employers to host transitioning soldiers for up to 90 days while the military continues paying their salary. Additionally, Marquez-Diaz discusses translating military titles such as sergeant or commander into civilian equivalents like supervisor, manager, or director, and highlights the Texas Veterans Commission Job Fair Con at Kalahari, scheduled for July 22, with over 200 employers expected.
Marquez-Diaz shares his personal story of leaving 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,' he said.
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 includes specific success stories, such as 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 last year's Kalahari job fair, which drew over 1,200 attendees, including candidates who flew in from New York.
For employers interested in tapping into this pipeline, Marquez-Diaz can be contacted via LinkedIn. The episode underscores the importance of leveraging state-funded resources to address workforce needs, particularly for small and medium-sized businesses that may struggle to find reliable, skilled employees. The implications are significant: by utilizing this free pipeline, employers can reduce hiring costs, improve retention, and gain access to a disciplined, mission-oriented workforce that is often overlooked. For business leaders, understanding and engaging with these programs could provide a competitive edge in a tight labor market.
