Hiring veterans at IWCO
How a Chanhassen direct marketing company, and a LockLeed Patriot Award recipient, recruits veterans and keeps people for decades.
Making Better Happen, in Minnesota and Pennsylvania
IWCO is a Chanhassen, Minnesota company that has provided end-to-end direct marketing services to a broad range of customers for more than 55 years. When we spoke with its HR leaders in 2024, it employed about 1,100 people across its Minnesota and Pennsylvania locations, in roles from engineers and equipment technicians to finance, HR, client services, data analysis and executive leadership.
Its value proposition is Making Better Happen, backed by state-of-the-art equipment, processes and systems, a robust employee retention strategy and a commitment to keeping 100% of its production in the United States.
A 2026 Patriot Award recipient
LockLeed named IWCO a recipient of its Patriot Award in 2026, recognizing IWCO’s dedication to recruiting, hiring and retaining veterans, and our ongoing partnership.
The plaque, made by Mike Wolbrink and Jody Younger of Younger Gunworks in Le Center, Minnesota, is displayed in IWCO’s main lobby, where employees and visitors see it every day.
Values that line up
Missy Smutny, IWCO’s Chief Human Resources Officer and an Army veteran, describes the veterans she knows as loyal, trustworthy, dedicated, resourceful and innovative, qualities that match IWCO’s own values. Some of IWCO’s veterans are still serving, and their family members contribute to the company’s success as well.
In 2024, about 4% of IWCO’s workforce were veterans, and the company set out to raise that number. Veterans bring the leadership and critical thinking its growth plan calls for.
Translating military experience
Alison Walters, IWCO’s Human Resources Manager, enjoys helping veterans translate their military experience into civilian language. A résumé is often a recruiter’s first contact with an applicant, so describing a veteran’s qualifications well helps employers see how that experience applies to the roles they need to fill.
“It’s the spirit of our company.”
Missy Smutny, on the leadership and critical thinking veterans bring
Working with LockLeed
“The LockLeed team screens candidates up front and is always willing to walk us through someone’s résumé, pointing out how their skill sets apply to our job opening. We are tapping into a qualified market of candidates and then our recruiters can advocate for veterans to fill open positions.”
“This streamlines the process and helps us get to an offer more quickly, avoiding a lengthy (and frustrating) period of uncertainty for the candidate. We have a close relationship that we don’t get with an on-line job posting site.”
“Recently, an employee retired after 50 years with the company, nearly our entire history! Another individual joined with no experience and retired after 34 years having advanced through various roles.”
“We blend art and science and recently invested in digital technology to differentiate our company. This investment has created more jobs and expanded the skill sets needed to drive growth opportunities across the industries we serve.”
Thank you, IWCO
Service carries forward. LockLeed International connects employers with military-trained professionals for direct-hire roles, and we are proud to share how employers like IWCO support the people who served.
Sources: LockLeed News, Volume 24 (October 2024), an interview with Missy Smutny and Alison Walters; LockLeed’s Patriot Award posts on LinkedIn (2026); iwco.com.
Employers we’ve been proud to work with
Q2 2026 Patriot AwardWalser Automotive GroupVeterans at Walser on service, support and building civilian careers at a Twin Cities automotive group.Read the spotlight →
Partnership spotlight, 2025Anderson Trucking ServiceA St. Cloud carrier hiring veterans for roles from diesel mechanic to sales.Read the spotlight →
Employer spotlight, 2025Ambush OutdoorA family-run Detroit Lakes ice house maker on growing its team and hiring through LockLeed.Read the spotlight →
2020 Employer of the YearNystromThe Minneapolis building products manufacturer LockLeed honored for hiring military talent.Read the spotlight →