COLD SPRING, Ky. — An Atlanta-based company that makes it part of their business strategy to hire veterans will receive the DAV (Disabled American Veterans) Large Employer of the Year award.

The award will be presented Aug. 1 during the 95th DAV National Convention in Atlanta.

First Data, a financial technology and merchant services company, was named the award recipient for meeting the criteria of making it a regular business practice to hire veterans and having more than 500 total employees.

“The [First Data] Military and Veteran Affairs team has dedicated recruiters focused on military-affiliated candidate recruiting, retention and education for owner associates as well as resources to aid veteran entrepreneurs and business owners,” said First Data Military Project Manager Melissa Bird. “Military recruiters are specifically focused on veterans, Guard [and] Reserve members, and military spouses.”

According to the company, First Data hired 29 disabled veterans in 2015 and 99 female veterans. Since the establishment of First Data’s Military and Veterans Affairs team in 2014, veteran and spouse hires have risen from 2 to 15 percent.

“Hiring veterans isn’t so much philanthropy as it is just good business sense,” said DAV National Commander Moses A. McIntosh Jr. “Veterans and disabled veterans alike come to the workforce with experience in management, leadership, working in teams, discipline and a zero-mission-failure attitude.

“I’m grateful for what First Data has done for the men and women who served,” McIntosh continued. “These employers know when you hire veterans, you hire some very skilled and sought-after talent.”