The Veteran (Semi) Professional

Send us a textNick is a fascinating guy. He was born in Iran and had an American dad, then fled the country during the Islamic Revolution.  He came to the US and had along career in Special Operations.  Since then, he has worked in IT consulting.  

Send us a textAlex is one of the most impressive entrepreneurs I've had the chance to speak with.  Before launching Franzy, Alex co-founded 2ULaundry and LaundroLab, where he helped scale the business from a college side hustle into a multi-unit franchise brand with over 100 franchise licenses sold and a rapidly growing network of stores.He then started Franzy, basically "Zillow for franchises".  It's a super impressive product, much needed, and he is the guy to do it.  Tune in to learn more from this very smart entrepreneur. 

Send us a textRobert is a former Marine who found his way into corporate M&A through grit and bit of luck.  He now runs a firm providing financial advisory services to small and medium-sized businesses. 

Send us a textGabe and Lindsey are both Army veterans with impressive backgrounds, he an infantry officer and she was one of the first women in the 160th.  After leaving the Army, Gabe started a fire/water/mold remediation business, scaled it to $1 million in a few years and then sold it, while Lindsey is an MBA student at HBS. Oh, and they are married. Power couple.  Right now, they are building Oply.  Here is the pitch: "Just like your car tells you when to change the oil, Oply uses intelligent technology to tell you what your home needs next. Your Oply Home Score tracks the health of every major system—giving you predictive insights and helping you fix issues early with vetted pros, all in a tap. Oply thinks, predicts, and acts for you—so you can enjoy your home with peace of mind."

Send us a textLisa is one of the few 2x guests on the show.  She is the head of Search Fund lending at Live Oak Bank, one of the top SBA lenders in the country, and a premier expert on loans for buying small businesses.  She also loves to work with veterans and I had her on the show to talk about why.  

Send us a textMatthew talks about transitioning from the Navy to the VA and then ending up in software sales.  

Send us a textRob retired from the Army as a Special Forces officer and then spent time working with a veteran transition nonprofit.  He was often the one raising money and that put me in contact with a lot of high-net-worth individuals.  After a bit, they started to ask him "Do you think you can do what we did?  Buy businesses?" He said yes, got his first investors, and started getting to work.  Listen in to hear how. 

Send us a textJack is an Air Force veteran who went to HBS.  He was told "everyone thinks of veterans as "leaders" but don't let that define you" Turns out, Jack liked leading people.  He liked being labeled a "leader."  So he made some career pivots and ended up managing a $500 million business for a PE fund. Listen in to hear his story. 

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Send us a textJason Anderson is a former Air Force O-6 who retired from the military and started what looked like was his dream job. Business development in a sector of the Air Force he knewGot to live in JapanMaking GREAT money But he realized he didn't feel like he was really going to succeed in the role and was not getting the feeling he wanted from his work.  So he started looking into the veteran transition process and really started to appreciate the MASSIVE jump that someone needed to make to have a successful transition.  Through this journey, he founded PreVeteran.  They run highly professional courses that help you go through the journey from military to civilian, backed by data and corporate learnings.  It's the real deal.  Listen in to hear Jason's story and what makes PreVeteran unique.

Send us a textToday's guest is Bobby Payne from Shift Group. He is an Air Force veteran and a really awesome guy who I've gotten to know a lot more recently. Since starting The Veteran Professional in 2019, I have been contacted by a number of veteran-focused recruiting companies.  I even worked for one for a bit.  The only one I have decided to partner with in a meaningful way is Shift Group. Here is why: 1,000+ veterans and athletes placed300+ hiring partners9 months average time to promotion for new placements, compared to an average of 18 monthsAnd the stat that sealed this for me, they have

Send us a textI have had a lot of guests on the show to talk about buying a small business.  From lenders, buyers, and investors- everyone seems to be saying, "Go buy a business!  You will make a ton of money and can't go wrong!"  Well, today's guest is a story of what happens when it does go wrong. Jed Morris is an Air Force veteran who bought a landscaping business and then quickly bought another.  He did a lot of things right: Worked inside business #1 for 6 months before making an offerBuilt a great relationship with the ownerMade a good deal that made financial senseBut after a few months, the wheels started to come off and Jed ended up going bankrupt on the deal.  Despite this, he is still optimistic on buying small businesses.  His is a great story of resilience, grit, and how to think about risk.  

Send us a textGaming culture is huge in the military.  Video games are a way to blow off steam on a deployment, stay connected with friends around the world, and just have fun. So I'm really excited to bring this episode to you about two combat veterans who are starting their own video game studio, Old Glory Studios. Lewis and Matt served early in the GMOT.  Lewis was a combat engineer in the 82nd Airborne and Matt fought out of a Bradley in Iraq with 3rd ID.  They both went on to work on big-name games like Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon, Tom Clancy's The Division 1 & 2, Dying Light 2, Vampire the Masquerade: Bloodhunt, Exoborne, and more.  Now they are working on their own studio, which you can even invest in here. "Founded by combat veterans and seasoned game developers Lewis Manalo and Matt Patak, Old Glory Studios brings over 25 years of experience in the gaming industry. Our founders have worked on some of the most popular tactical shooters in the world, bringing their real-life experiences into game development. Old Glory's goal is to make combat games that are easy to pick up, but hard to master. Backed by a talented network of developers, writers, and artists, our mission is to deliver games that are accessible to everyone while staying true to the authentic combat experiences of our founders. "Note: I am not a registered investment broker and am offering this as information purposes only. 

Send us a textDonte McGaughy is a seasoned entrepreneur, former government employee, and a United States Air Force service-disabled veteran. As the Founder and CEO of Selenius Holdings, an Atlanta-based freight forwarding and truck hauling company, Donte is dedicated to driving growth through strategic acquisitions. His vision is to establish the largest minority-certified logistics firm in the United States.With a proven track record, Donte co-founded and served as the President of TDC Premier Trucking, where he played a pivotal role in building a robust infrastructure, managing 50 staff members, and expanding the fleet of box trucks to 35 for the Amazon box truck program. Under his leadership, the company expanded its 18-wheeler fleet to 27 trucks, operating nationwide and servicing major accounts such as Amazon, UPS, and Family Dollar.

Send us a textI really like Nate.  He's just...a good dude.  He's got some serious business chops, too. He led $200 million in projects for WeWork and was a VP for a whole region.  Then he dove into the world of buying small businesses and acquired two HVAC companies.  AND he runs Smooth Operator, which places veterans in leadership positions in small businesses.  I like him a lot and I think you will also. 

Send us a textLukas is a previous guest and we talk about the VC-backed startup from our first episode that he shut down. But his new project, Vetclaims.ai , is pretty awesome.  They use AI to look over your records and find discrepancies in your VA claim.  What is their impact? $694,962 Average Lifetime Earnings Increase$111M Overall Economic Impact100% Veteran FeedbackListen in to hear why and how Lukas started this and be sure to check out Vetclaims.ai for your own needs. 

Send us a textToday we have a conversation going into all the ins and out of the VA home loan with former Marine and mortgage expert, Chris Wesson. 

Send us a textI got connected with Steve from a guy on X (formerly, Twitter).  Steve has been INCREDIBLY successful and was very gracious with his time to discuss his new book: Rich Routines: Simple Habits That Enrich Every Area of Your LifeWe get into business, fatherhood (I'm a new dad!), and making tough decisions in life.  He was an absolute pleasure to speak with. Steve's Bio: Steve Houghton is Chairman and CEO of Houghton Capital, a privately owned investment boutique focused on special situations in oil & gas, self-storage and finance. He is the former co-founder and chairman of ProPay, a payment solutions and processing firm acquired in 2012 by Total System Services, Inc. (NYSE: TSS). Steve's career began with the Trammell Crow Company after graduating with a BS degree from BYU. He and his wife, Jennifer, live in Dallas, Texas and have five 

Send us a textAlex went from flying fighter jets to running an e-commerce company, living abroad, and investing in real estate.  He is one of the coolest cats I've met-enjoy!

Send us a textAlex is a first-year MBA student and founder of Organic Grit, a CBD company.  We talk about founding a company on active duty, applying to MBA programs, and choosing a purposeful career.  Resources mentioned: Veteran's Adventure Group (veteransadventuregroup.org)Outdoor Education Adventures & Wilderness Programs | Outward Bound | Outward BoundLeading Veteran CBD Company. One Farm | One Strain | Organic GritTeam-Based MBA Admissions Consulting | Stratus Admissions (stratusadmissionscounseling.com)

Send us a textI've had a number of franchisees and business owners on the show, but Mike is the first from the side of a franchisor (think: corporate).  He is the CEO of CertaPro Painting, where he gets to see how locations across the country perform inside their $700 million business. 

Send us a Text Message.First- Austin would be on my short list for Most Interesting Man in the World. - Air Force SOF- Casually mentions going to Ukraine (during the war) - Tillman Scholar - Researched medicine for NASAPlus he's just a legit dude.  This is my first interview with a veteran pursuing medical school and there is a lot to learn here for any of you future MDs out there. 

Send us a Text Message.Shawn spent time in law enforcement and retired from the Navy and then decided he wanted to own his own business.  He partnered with WIN Home Inspections and has been loving every bit of it. 

Send us a Text Message.Today's guest is Stephanie Dasher, executive director of Warrior Surf Foundation (WSF), a Charleston nonprofit founded in May 2015. WSF works to provide free surf therapy, yoga, wellness classes and community to Veterans struggling with PTSD and other mental health challenges. Stephanie is a Veteran herself, having served in the U.S. Navy for five years, and would love to speak to you about the unique challenges that Veterans face and why they need our support now more than ever.WSF's 12-week Surf Therapy program strives to enhance the psychological and physical well-being of Veterans, active duty service members and their families, and teaches resiliency, positive psychology and goal setting. Stephanie has also been instrumental in organizing countless community-building and fundraising events, including a Golf Classic that raised over $310k this past spring.Last year, WSF provided over 2,545 hours of direct support. To date, WSF has served more than 700 Veterans.

Brian left the army and moved back home, eventually buying a small financial services firm and growing it.  We talk about how that helps tie him into his local community and how he uses his network and business to give back to other veterans. Brian McCarver, CFP®, CIMA® | Stonebridge Financial Group (stonebridgefg.com)DOD SkillBridge Program (osd.mil)Veterans Outreach of Pennsylvania | Harrisburg PA (veteransoutreachofpa.org)Tunnel to Towers Foundation (t2t.org)

Afterburner Fighter Pilots - Motivational Keynote SpeakersDown Range: A Transitioning Veteran's Career Guide to Life's Next Phase: Murphy, James D., Duke, William M.: 9781118790151: Amazon.com: BooksGet Expert Advice Instantly - MinnectJim "Murph" Murphy, the Founder and CEO of Afterburner, Inc., has a unique and powerful mix of leadership skills in both the military and business worlds. After graduating from the University of Kentucky, Murph joined the U.S. Air Force where he learned to fly the F-15. He has logged over 1,200 hours as an instructor pilot in the F-15 and has accumulated over 3,200 hours of flight time in other high-performance jet aircraft. As the 116th Fighter Wing's Chief of Training for the Georgia Air National Guard, Murph's job was to keep 42 combat-trained Fighter Pilots ready to deploy worldwide within 72 hours. As a flight leader, he has flown missions to Central America, Asia, Central Europe and the Middle East. After years in the military, Murph returned to his love of business. Prior to his service in the U.S. Air Force, Murph had a successful career in imaging equipment sales, where he helped increase his company's sales by 500%. Years later, Murph became Director of Sales for a small paint company. Realizing that the concepts of the Flawless Execution model could be applied to business, he engaged the proven model — "Plan. Brief. Execute. Debrief." — and increased his company's sales from $5 million to $52 million. Realizing that many companies could benefit from these same concepts, Murph started Afterburner in early 1996. Through his leadership, Afterburner has landed on Inc. Magazine's "Inc. 500 List" twice. Murph has been regularly featured in such publications as The Wall Street Journal, BusinessWeek, Inc. Magazine, Newsweek, Meetings & Conventions Magazine and has appeared on CNN, Fox News, and Bloomberg news to name a few. He has also been named as one of Atlanta's top 50 entrepreneurs by Catalyst Magazine. To date, the Afterburner team of elite military professionals has led over 1 million executives, sales professionals, and business people from every industry through Afterburner's Flawless Execution Model, and its unique, high-energy programs. Afterburner notable clients include the Who's Who of the Global 1000 list of companies. Murph's groundbreaking book Business Is Combat, is now in its third printing, and his latest book Flawless Execution was released May 1st, 2005 by Harper Collins publishing. Murph has spoken at the world's notable business schools to include Harvard, Wharton, Cornell, Emory, and Duke. 

Erik is the first stock trader I've had on the podcast and he talks about how he got started in investing and why he loves this path for building wealth. CORE Leadership Program | Deloitte USThe Intelligent Investor Rev Ed.: The Definitive Book on Value Investing: Benjamin Graham, Jason Zweig, Warren E. Buffett: Amazon.com: BooksesInvests | Investing without the BS esInvests - YouTubeErik @esInvests (@esInvests) / X (twitter.com)

Jon is a prominent voice in the business acquisition community and got his start in buying businesses after leaving the Air Force. Resources Mentioned: Ep. 150: Enlisted Marine to Working at the VA, Supporting Veteran Entrepreneurs, and Founding a Veteran-Focused Marketing Firm with Barrett Bogue (buzzsprout.com)Ep. 154: Working in Finance, Taking the Leap, and Connecting Veterans with Capital: Bill Militello from Localvest (buzzsprout.com)Ep. 120: Army NCO to Business Owner by Acquiring a Small Business with John Hubbard (buzzsprout.com)Buy and Sell Online Businesses & Websites - Empire FlippersJon Stoddard | LinkedIn

Kathy has QUITE a story.  She's bounced around from industry and industry and mastered the art of changing careers.  Listen how this Navy EOD veteran went from the military to being a stunt performer to names like Facebook and Crossfit. 

I've had a lot of people on the show talk about buying businesses and have tangentially mentioned the traditional search fund model before, but Jack Ogden is the first guest on the show who is currently running a search fund. Resources mentioned: The COMMIT Foundation | Veteran Transition AssistanceWith Your Shield: A McMorrow Veterans Initiative | USC Military & Veterans InitiativeHome - The Honor FoundationFourBlock – Veteran Career Readiness

Jordan is using his love for our country to work with high-profile investors to invest in the American economy and defense. Union: A Democrat, a Republican, and a Search for Common Ground: Blashek, Jordan, Haugh, Christopher: 9780316423793: Amazon.com: BooksJordan Blashek — America's Frontier Fund (americasfrontier.org)Jordan Blashek (@JordanBlashek) / X (twitter.com)

Caleb writes on equity crowdfunding.  See how his side hustle turned into a dream job for him.  Caleb Naysmith (@ccnaysmith) / X (twitter.com)Articles written by Caleb Naysmith - BenzingaDemocratizing.finance | Equity Crowdfunding News & Education

Charles left the army and immediately launched himself into entrepreneurship.  It wasn't all smooth sailing, but he found a way to his current niche and is finding a way to make it happen. MK3 Industries | Your Automotive Equipment Supplier | MK3 Industries

Luke's story of how he created Clusiv literally brought me to tears. You will want to hear it.  You will also laugh at his story of nervously pounding some red bulls before an investor pitch...and winning the competition.  Home-2023 - ClusivHome - Bunker LabsThink and Grow Rich: The Landmark... by Napoleon Hill (amazon.com)Amazon.com: The Compound Effect: 9781593157241: Hardy, Darren: BooksHomepage » Code Platoon | Code Camp for Veterans & SpousesWarrior Rising | Charitable Organization Empowering Veterans in BusinessAccelerate Your Success | Techstars Global Startup Network

A veteran with a t-shirt or coffee company?! How original.  In all seriousness, what Mike is building at ARC is different.  He wants to be the antithesis to Black Rifle Coffee Company and isn't afraid to say it.  We get into very practical and tactical details about getting started of a new company and how he thinks about brand positioning (it's smart). Aerial Resupply Coffee – Veteran Owned Coffee | Military CoffeeAerialResupplyCoffee (@aerialresupplycoffee) • Instagram photos and videosThe COMMIT Foundation | Veteran Transition AssistanceDOD SkillBridge Program (osd.mil)

Minnesota-native Matt Butler is the inventor of Rollors. The concept was first visualized on downtime between deployments overseas in Iraq and Afghanistan supporting combat operations. Upon return, Matt developed a prototype in his garage that was a hit at BBQs, parties, and other outdoor get-togethers. Around the time of the recession; Matt saw many local veterans out of work that had the resident wood working skills that helped spark the light bulb onto a means to help them. He then decided he wanted to employ local veterans to help construct the wooden disks and wooden, cone-shaped targets used in the game in their home workshops.After countless number of games were handcrafted, packaged and sold through the website, church, craft fairs, and other types of venues it was then distributed in brick and mortar retailers across American and has even started distribution outside of the United States. After helping numerous veterans get themselves back on their feet from the recession he has it developed outside of the United States to be able to get it to a price point so many more people and families can enjoy the fun.Rollors has turned into an award-winning and unique game which is revolutionizing beach and backyard fun.Rollors | The Next Great Outdoor Game – Rollors Outdoor Yard GameTally Tumbler – Tally TumblerDOD SkillBridge Program (osd.mil)

https://www.nickdevlincoaching.com/aboutNick's bio:"I am a transformational life coach, entrepreneur, father and former US Army Ranger.  My mission is to empower you to live your life as an adventure - with peace, passion and intention.  I do this by helping you embrace uncertainty and envision the life you want to live (your adventure).  I guide you through first steps and hold you accountable for taking action.  In addition to coaching sessions by phone and in person, I take you out in the wilderness for "adventure coaching sessions" to get you out of your head and into your heart.  I listen, reflect, and support you to grow.  I celebrate your successes and push you to be brave, go farther, and we do it together.​Throughout this bold and adventurous life, I have won and lost.  I have played with the fear of the deep unknown. I have tasted the sweet victory resulting from dedicated effort and hard work.  I have felt the pain of trying to control things beyond my control.  As a recovering “control addict” and former corporate employee (asleep at the wheel of my life), I have felt the struggle of living disconnectedly – void of true purpose – a vassal to the grind and societal expectations.  I've been stuck in the preservation zone, playing safe and playing small.   I got unstuck when a life coach, and friend, asked me one pivotal question. It was the question that cut deep and shook me to the core. It shook me awake - wide awake.  I grabbed the wheel, and redirected my course towards passion and purpose.   I chose to live with intention and explore the possibilities of my most adventurous life.  With critical guidance from my coach – I now live my adventure.   It's my turn to help you live yours! "

John weighed the decision: is it worth it to stay until retirement?  For many, the pension and benefits seem too good to pass up, but John decided it was worth the risk and left when he everyone said he was crazy.  He then leveraged his grit (and Twitter) to build Gray Line Investments, a real estate private equity firm. 

Patrick did what a lot of people do after the military: he went into contracting.  Then he ended up applying to Y Combinator with a Web3 technology (listen if you don't know what that is) that helps curb counterfeit products and child labor.  This is not some new crypto, it's a way to track the authenticity of physical products. He is a guy with a lot of skills and using them to make a real impact. You are going to enjoy this one. Resources and Other Episodes:AGAMI Is Making Counterfeit Products a Thing of the Past. Read More---> (agamico.com)Ep. 114: Working in Tech as a Product Manager with Erik Huckle (buzzsprout.com)Ep. 164: PSYOP NCO, Dropping Out of College to be an Entrepreneur, Bitcoin, and Turning a passion for Crypto into a Business with Johnny Demaddalena (buzzsprout.com)Ep. 168: Working with Chaos, Lehman Brothers, and Investing in Blockchain and Web3 with Chris Perkins from Veterans in Digital Assets (buzzsprout.com)Y CombinatorHome - Bunker LabsSuper Founders: What Data Reveals About Billion-Dollar Startups - By Ali Tamaseb (superfoundersbook.com)

You can learn more about Randy here, but I am glad to share this interview with you.  Randy has had a full life: -25 years active duty- Hiked El Camino (IYKYK)- Freelance writer and editorWe talk about freelancing and how to make a great life out of it. Randy is also eligible to work with through DoD Skillbridge, which is a super cool way to use that time.  You can learn more about that here. 

Susan Maly runs a solo consulting business where she provides strategy and planning services to small businesses.  Maly StrategiesHere is Susan's official bio: " I spent over a decade at a large Fortune 500 management consulting firm with leadership roles across government and commercial businesses, as well as corporate headquarters.  Prior to my business career, I served as an officer in the U.S. Air Force.  My life centers on my 5Fs - Faith, Family, Friends, Fitness, and Fun. I strive to maintain integrity in all I do and enjoy life while I'm at it.  I hold a B.S. in Chemistry with a minor in German from the U.S. Air Force Academy and a Master of Public Policy from Harvard University. I also hold Project Management Professional (PMP), Change Management Advanced Practitioner (CMAP), and Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) certifications, and earned an Artificial Intelligence: Implications for Business Strategy certificate from MIT's Sloan School of Management.  "

Rob is a great guy and we had a fantastic conversation about the veteran recruiting landscape and what companies need to work on to be more ready for veterans. BufferSprings | Veteran Hiring, Retention, and Community BuildingLinkedIn | Rob Arndt

Ricardo is crushing it and has a lot to share about real estate investing. 

Today I have a duo, Christopher Lay and James Parker, who have an amazing business.  They help gov con businesses get funding to grow and donate 50% of their profits to veteran causes. 

Scott is a retired Air Force officer who owns multiple franchises in Colorado.  Notes: Ep. 129: Wharton MBA, Google, and Goldman Sachs to Improving Mental Performance with former SEAL Patrick Dossett (buzzsprout.com)Ep. 199: Veteran-Focused Franchise with Army Veteran Paul Huszar at VetCor (buzzsprout.com)Find Home Services Experts in Your Town, For Free | NeighborlyScott DeThomas | LinkedIn

Paul is a retired army officer who started a water and mold remediation franchise focused on getting veterans as franchisees.  Listen in on why franchises are a great model for veterans and why Vet Cor may be a great one for you. Paul Huszar, CFE, P.E. | LinkedIn24/7 Water and Mold Damage Restoration Services - VetCor ServicesTraction by Gino Wickman - Get a Grip on Your Business (eosworldwide.com)

Will is a consultant who doesn't have a military background but wanted to do something about the veteran suicide problem.  So he started Caritas Apparel, which makes GREAT socks, and 20% goes to veteran causes. Show Notes:Caritas ApparelCaritas Apparel (@caritasapparel) • Instagram photos and videosEp.156: Founding Hydro Flask, Doing Business in China, and Enjoying the Ride of Entrepreneurship with Travis Rosbach (buzzsprout.com)

Warning: This episode gets intense. Brian's Book: One in three will experience a significant trauma in their life. For Army Apache Pilot Brian Slade, his first was in Afghanistan. Offering a unique perspective on preparing one's mind for trauma, Cleared Hot puts readers in the cockpit of the most lethal helicopter in the world as Slade learns on the job, flying over an unforgiving landscape.Follow Slade as he navigates the ugliness of combat while working to preserve a difficult marriage to a wife suffering from mental illness. Witness the challenges that taught him universal lessons on resilience and coping—and how they equipped him to think fast under pressure and maneuver through a curtain of enemy fire that crippled his aircraft and wounded his co-pilot, ultimately earning him the Distinguished Flying Cross. Cleared Hot offers readers an exhilarating ride while giving them tools they can use to survive the traumas of their own lives.

Chris is a great guy. He's taking his time in the SEAL teams to build tech for the defense world and invest in great entrepreneurs. 

Mike's official bio:Michael (Mike) D. Lahiff serves as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of ZeroEyes, an intelligent video analytics company that uses artificial intelligence with existing security cameras to detect weapons and send alerts to local staff and first responders. Prior to founding ZeroEyes, Mr. Lahiff served as Director of Digital Programs at Comcast NBC Universal where he oversaw the coordination between project management teams and software development teams in order to deliver multiple digital products. Prior to joining Comcast, Mr. Lahiff was the managing member of Horsemen Partners, a private fund focused on acquisitions of small and medium-sized businesses. Mr. Lahiff also spent ten years in the United States Navy as a Navy SEAL.

I love sharing the powerful stories of veterans using psychedelics to recover and heal.  Bob Taylor shares his experiences with these therapies to have a transformational and life-changing experience. Home - Patriot Promise FoundationPatriot's Promise (@patriots_promise) on InstagramAmazon.com: From Service To Success: New Mission, New Purpose, and a New Journey to a Great Life: 9781636980171: Taylor, Bob: Books