Alabama Veterans Resource Center opens Montgomery office, names Alex Karagas executive director.

For many veterans and their families, finding help can feel like navigating a maze: a phone number here, a form there, an office across town, another website that sends you somewhere else. The Alabama Veterans Resource Center (AVRC) was built to simplify that first step – by creating a clear front door to the help, guidance, and connections veterans and their families need.

AVRC is a public-private partnership and a statewide hub designed to help connect Alabama’s veterans and their families with services, opportunities, and support. Examples include help navigating benefits and paperwork, connections to employment and training opportunities, education and transition support, and referrals to health, mental health, housing, and other services.

Business leaders and the Alabama State Legislature joined forces to establish AVRC with a shared goal: improve the lives of veterans and help make Alabama the best place in the nation for veterans to live, work, and thrive.

“Our service men and women have made tremendous sacrifices for our country,” said Jeff Peoples, Alabama Power Chairman, President and CEO. “It is our honor to support the Alabama Veterans Resource Center and its work to ensure these heroes, and their families, have access to the resources they need to thrive.” 

On Thursday, AVRC marked the opening of its new Montgomery office with a ribbon cutting at a renovated building on Dexter Avenue. The new location will serve as a place where veterans and their families can meet, ask questions, and connect with available resources in person. Attending the event were Alabama Governor Kay Ivey, Secretary Greg Reed, Commissioner Jeff Newton, Jeff Peoples, representatives from the Alabama State Legislature, members of the AVRC Board, and others.

The AVRC Board – appointed by Gov. Ivey and comprised of members of state government and Alabama business leaders – also announced Alex Karagas as AVRC’s new executive director following a committee review and interview process. Karagas will lead day-to-day operations and support the organization’s mission statewide. A higher education leader with more than 13 years of experience serving military-affiliated students, Karagas previously held roles at the University of Alabama supporting student veterans and launching targeted support programs. Most recently at Albany State University, she led military and adult education efforts.

“We’ve spent the past several months listening to veterans, sitting down with partners across the state, and building a simple way to help people find the right next step,” said Greg Reed, Secretary of the Alabama Department of Workforce and Chairman of the AVRC Board. “For a veteran who’s trying to navigate benefits, find work, or get connected to support for their family, it helps to have a place where someone will look you in the eye, hear your story, and help you move forward. This Montgomery office is a front door, and the start of what we’re building statewide.”

In addition to the Montgomery location, AVRC has launched an online hub to help provide statewide access to resources and has already begun serving veterans through its digital platform.

To learn more, visit missionforwardal.org.