We are the supporters of possible: Serving with Honor as VP of Government

Danielle Carosello’s passion is people. And her parents instilled in her a strong sense of giving back to her country.

With that backdrop, perhaps it was a natural progression in her education, after attending private school during her formative years, to accept a ROTC scholarship through the U.S. Army.

Although Danielle enjoyed nearly a decade in the military, it was not her choice to leave. A traumatic brain injury required her to change her occupation, but she viewed it as an opportunity to continue serving her country – just in a very different capacity.

“I wanted to make sure when I took off the uniform and made the transition to the business world that it was aligned to a purpose. I see my role as bringing a unique perspective to BD as I receive on-going care through the VA Healthcare System. In that regard, I am dual-hatted as a vendor as well as a patient. The VA is one of BD’s largest customers, and as a patient I am motivated to ensure they receive white glove service and support.  As the VA is also one of the federal accounts I oversee at BD, I am able to keep a close eye on how we support this customer and where there may be opportunities for improvement.”

Transitioning from the Military

s a former Officer in the U.S. Army, Medical Service Corps branch, she successfully made her transition from the uniform to civilian life in 2005. Through more than a decade in roles with increasing responsibility with GE Healthcare and Honeywell focused on Federal Account Management, Danielle joined BD as the Vice President of Government/Federal Accounts – overseeing sales, contracting and operations. It’s a role she enjoys immensely as it marries her love of servant leadership and commitment to serving her country.

“My team is responsible for the total book of business for federal accounts, including the Department of Defense (DOD), Veteran’s Healthcare Administration (VHA), Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) and the Indian Health Service (IHS). My role allows me a way to continue serving the nation, which I love because I believe so strongly in the med tech devices and solutions we offer,” said Danielle.

A graduate of John Caroll University where she earned her bachelor’s of science in biology and chemistry, Danielle also holds a master’s degree in business administration from Webster University, and is pursuing her PhD in Organizational Culture and Behavior.

Supporting Others Transitioning Out of the Service through the VETS ARG

In addition to overseeing several BD Federal Accounts, Danielle also co-leads the BD VETS ARG.  

The BD VETS (Veteran Employee and Troop Support) is an associate resource group (ARG) open to BD veterans, reservists, National Guard, and anyone looking to support our troops through the work of the ARG. More specifically, the ARG recognizes past and present military service veterans who enrich our work environment and raises awareness of veterans’ unique contribution to our company and community. VETS partners with company leadership to enhance veteran-recruitment efforts, enable professional networking and career development for members, and support community veteran organizations.

“I’m so proud of the work we are doing through the ARG, and we have such committed members. Based on our Voice of Associate Survey Results, we are focused on supplying more volunteer opportunities, which is why we have partnered with Fisher House Foundation this year, which supports military families whose service member or veteran is hospitalized with nearby housing and accommodations. Having loved ones nearby allows the injured service member or veteran to have the needed support to take a more open posture to their healthcare and new-normal.  VETS & LIMITLESS’ partnered through Social Investing to sponsor Fisher House’s Family Support Program, allowing BD to be corporate sponsor during the DOD Warrior Games,. ”

Additional opportunities to help drive awareness of the ARG

A key priority of the ARG is supporting the transition from the military to the business world through the government’s SkillBridge Program. The Department of Defense oversees the program, which supplies service members the opportunity to gain valuable civilian work experience through training, apprenticeships, or internships during the last 180 days of military service. BD has been a proud partner with SkillBridge for the past several years.

“We absolutely can leverage the strong skills, experiences, and expertise of former military personnel at BD. There are thousands of individuals transitioning out of the military and we have so many opportunities within BD, so partnering with SkillBridge is a perfect match,” said Danielle.

The Department of Defense is one of the most diverse organizations and so is its’ transitioning population. The VETS ARG is showcasing this through a communications campaign the team has developed around ‘We are Vets and…..”, which aims to demonstrate the intersectionality of veterans. For example, Danielle co-leads the BD VETS ARG but is also a member of the Limitless ARG, which supports those with disabilities and its allies.

“Through this campaign, we want to put our arms around each other and show how we can all support one another across the ARGs, which makes for a stronger BD overall. I’m looking forward to seeing how else we will elevate our efforts going forward,” concluded Danielle.