Veteran On The Move

This week Joe is joined by Army Veteran and co-founder of Wove, Brian Elliott. Wove provides customers a new way to purchase custom engagement rings that are designed and handmade in the USA. Brian served as an Infantry Officer and prepared for his transition from Active Duty to entrepreneurship through self study and informational interviews. Brian shares the lessons he learned from his experiences with startups and the power of networking for entrepreneurs. Check out Wove here.   About Our Guest  Brian Elliott is a Serial Entrepreneur with a passion for reinventing outdated consumer experiences. He is currently a Co-founder at Wove where he focuses on Digital Product, UX and Marketing. He previously worked in 2 Venture-backed consumer startups, one as a Founder and the other as an early employee. Prior to this, Brian served as a Platoon Leader in the U.S. Army's 75th Ranger Regiment, leading a team of 40 Special Operators in unconventional environments around the World. In his free time, Brian enjoys kaya

This week Joe is joined by Army Veteran, entrepreneur, and co-founder of Facet Wealth, Patrick McKenna. Patrick served as an officer in the Signal Corps and actively planned for his transition from Active Duty attending graduate school before entering the civilian workforce. He shares his entrepreneurial journey; starting in finance on Wall Street to working at a tech startup before launching his own businesses. Patrick discusses what entrepreneurs need to know before they get started and the unique soft skills that Veterans can leverage. He explains the inspiration behind and mission of Facet Wealth and how it is different from other financial planning services on the market. Learn more about Facet Wealth here.   About Our Guest  Patrick McKenna is an experienced entrepreneur and angel investor, having generated more than $1B in exits over his career. Prior to Co-Founding Facet Wealth, he founded HighRidge Venture Partners to invest in companies based outside Silicon Valley, and he was a co-founder and an e

This week Joe is joined by Kira Caban, a flexible work expert and global communications lead for Instawork. Instawork is an application based platform that connects flexible workers with hourly shifts at a variety of businesses in their local area. There are over 15,000 businesses on the app in various industries to include hospitality, retail, and logistics. Instawork has partnered with Hiring Our Heroes to connect the military community with the flexible work opportunities available through Instawork. Instawork gives military spouses and Veterans the opportunity to find work around their schedule and that can move with them as they PCS. Learn more about Instawork here.      About Our Guest  Kira Caban is a flexible work expert and leads global communications for Instawork. Her insights have been leveraged by CBS News, CBS Mornings, Fox News, and others. She has worked with some of the nation's leading brands and thought leaders to discuss and provide technology-driven resolutions to the industry's most pr

This week Joe is joined by Navy Veteran, Educator, and business owner, Bill Hoopes. Bill served for 16 years, finding success as a recruiter and ultimately reaching the rank of Chief Petty Officer. Prior to his naval service,  Bill dropped out of high school to help his Mom with bills and earned his GED. It was during this time he first experienced the restaurant business and the daily challenges it brings. Now Bill is the owner of the first Capital Tacos franchise, a quick service restaurant brand that is expanding on local success. Bill shares the challenges he faced transitioning from active duty after 16 years of service and the experience of starting his own business; using his lessons learned from the Navy and leveraging his wife’s skills as an educator.  Learn more about Capital Tacos here.  About Our Guest  Bill Hoopes opted for helping his mother pay the bills over school growing up. A decision he doesn't regret at all. Though, he did eventually choose to return to education, enrolling in culinary

This week Joe is joined by retired Army Officer and business owner Dave Vodarick. After his retirement from the Army, Dave was drawn to entrepreneurship and the opportunity to have more control in his life. Joe and Dave discuss the benefit of starting small to get more comfortable with owning your own business and learn about more opportunities. Dave shares how he started with an ice machine business and is now the co-owner of BV Contracting Solutions; a business providing maintenance for commercial and residential property management companies. He also discusses the opportunities available through Bunker Labs and the Veteran In Residence program.  Find out more about Bunker Labs and the Veterans In Residence Program here.   About Our Guest  Dave Vodarick is a retired Army Officer and business owner in Kansas City. After retiring in 2016, Dave worked in commercial construction operations while also getting started in small business side hustles. In 2020, Dave and his friend Roy Boyd started BV Contracting

This week Joe is joined by Brittney Norman, the winner of the 2022 NHL Stick Tap for Service. In hockey, a tap of the stick against the ice or boards is a sign of appreciation or applause. With the Stick Tap for Service, Navy Federal Credit Union and the NHL teamed up to recognize military members and family for their contributions to the community. Brittney is a Marine Corps Spouse that has contributed to her community as a volunteer with the American Red Cross and advocate for The Ability Experience. Listen today to hear Brittney’s story and her advice for military spouses looking to make an impact in their community, both overseas and stateside.  To learn more about the NHL Stick Tap for Service presented by Navy Federal Credit Union here.    About Our Guest    Brittney is a Marine Corps spouse who has moved around the globe, serving her community, and supporting her family along the way. While living in Japan, she was a volunteer phlebotomist with the American Red Cross at Marine Corps Station Iwakuni.

This week Joe is joined by Army Veteran, podcast host, and founder of The Veteran Professional, Mark Delaney. During Mark’s own transition from Active Duty he identified shortfalls in the process and now addresses them on his website and podcast to help others. In this episode, Joe and Mark discuss opportunities available for Veterans interested in entrepreneurship and how Mark is working to bridge the gap between employers and Veterans. Check out The Veteran Professional here.      About Our Guest      Mark Delaney grew up in Bel Air, MD and did ROTC while getting an English degree at the University of Maryland. His army career started as an infantry officer in the 82nd, including a deployment to Baghdad in 2015. After CAAS and CAQC, Mark headed to the 96th to serve as a CA Teal Leader. While there, he deployed to Syria in 2017 in support of OIR and Saudi Arabia in 2018 to advise the Saudi Joint Forces Command on humanitarian operations inside Yemen. Since exiting the army, Mark started The Veteran Profe

This week Joe is joined by Air Force Veteran and College HUNKS Director of Franchise Development, Dana Hansen. After his transition from Active Duty, Dana found success as an Entrepreneur and enjoyed the flexibility of being his own boss. After touring College HUNKS HQ, Dana accepted his current position, attracted by the unique and positive company culture. College HUNKS is a purpose driven, values based company that provides high quality and customer focused moving and junk hauling services. Dana and Joe discussed why Veterans make quality franchisees and the opportunities available. College HUNKS are also giving away a free franchise to a Veteran this year. Listen today to learn more about this awesome opportunity.  Find out more about the contest here.   About Our Guest Dana Hansen is a USAF Desert Storm Veteran who has owned and operated 2 very successful businesses. He also has 15 years of franchise experience as a franchise consultant and working with other franchisors. As the Director of Franchise D

This week Joe is joined by Army Veteran and co-founder of The Veteran Marketplace, Drew Everett. Drew shares how transitioned off active duty without a plan but eventually found his motivation in college to want more and start his business career. Drew entered sales; finding success and eventually becoming a sales trainer. Along with his childhood friend and fellow Veteran Nick Wyatt, Drew created The Veteran Marketplace, a one stop online shop for Veteran made products with the goal of elevating Veteran brands. Listen today to hear the story behind The Veteran Marketplace and Drew’s advice for fellow Veteran Entrepreneurs.      About Our Guests  Drew Everett is an Army veteran and co-founder of The Veteran Marketplace. Drew launched this platform last year with his longtime friend and former Marine Nick Wyatt. Their mission is to elevate Veteran brands by providing a convenient marketplace style platform making it easy for shoppers to find and support veteran owned businesses. Check out The Veteran Market

This week Joe is joined by Marine, author, and entrepreneur David Pere. David served on Active Duty for 13 years and continues to serve as a Reservist. In this episode, he shares with Joe how he started with house-hacking while on Active Duty and is now financially free with over 100 units in his inventory. Through From Military to Millionaire, David is teaching servicemembers how they can do the same and providing a community of support. His recent book, The No B.S. Guide to Military Life, is sharing his lessons learned for the youngest service members and how to strive for success both in and after the military. Check out David and From Military to Millionaire here.     About Our Guests  David Pere joined the Marine Corps in August of 2008. Since that time, he has lived in or traveled to many unique places around the world, including a combat tour in Afghanistan. David got started in real estate investing in 2015. He house-hacked a duplex with the FHA loan and lived in it for a little while until getting

This week Joe is joined by Marine Veteran and founder of Freelance Corporal, Brandon Childers. Brandon served as a UH-1Y crew chief and after his enlistment entered college ultimately earning his Master of Science in Psychology. It was during his transition, he saw the need to bridge the gap between the veteran community and the resources available to them. Seeing poor money management as one of the challenges facing the military community that later impacts a Veteran’s long term success, Brandon created Freelance Corporal. FreeLCPL is an interactive financial literacy app that helps users not only budget but see how much they can save by the end of their enlistment. Through gamification, users can earn rewards as they work towards their financial goals.  Find out more about Freelance Corporal here.     About Our Guests  Brandon Childers is a husband, father, Marine veteran, and Founder of Freelance Corporal - Gamified Budgeting. After serving as a junior enlisted Huey crew chief in OEF, Brandon got out and

This week Joe is joined by Navy Veterans Kaj Larsen and Sean Bonner, the co-founders of Guild. Kaj and Sean have made it their mission to close the gap of inadequate financial education and training provided to our military service members and veterans. In 2021, the team created Guild,  a self-directed investment platform that inspires the military community to secure financial freedom through training and education. Guild encourages better investment behaviors and connects users to a community; with a leaderboard and collective intelligence shared among users. Kaj and Sean shared their unique stories behind their military service and how they overcame the challenges of launching a new product. Find out more about Guild here.    About Our Guests    Kaj Larsen is the Co-Founder of Guild, a former U.S. Navy Seal and award-winning filmmaker and correspondent. He has worked for Vice News, CNN, Now This News and Current TV, including producing the Emmy Award-winning Vanguard journalist series. He is a combat ve

This week Joe is joined by Army Officers Clark Cave and Trent Reece, the founder and vice-president of The MindGrapes App. Trent and Clark are both Medical Service Officers who met while enrolled in the Army-Baylor Program as MBA/MHA candidates. The MindGrapes is an app that friends and family can use to share recommendations of what to watch and help solve the problem of having too many options when it comes to streaming. Clark and Trent share the story behind the MindGrapes and advice for other entrepreneurs when it comes to creating an app. Check out the MindGrapes here and check out their podcast on your streaming platform of choice.  About Our Guests  Clark Cave served 15 years in the Army as an officer in the Medical Service Corps (MSC). He instituted several entrepreneurial ventures both inside and outside of the military. In the defense health agency, he created the first to-the-home video telehealth capability. He launched a surgical cost analysis initiative at the Womack Army Medical Center in Ft.

This week Joe is joined by William Toti, retired Naval Officer and author of From CO to CEO: A Practical Guide for Transitioning from Military to Industry Leadership. William served for 26 years on Active duty including tours as a fast attack submarine Commanding Officer and Commodore of Submarine Squadron Three. He timed his retirement to facilitate a successful transition into the corporate world and served over a decade in the defense industry. William shares with Joe the motivation behind writing his latest book and the lessons he wants to share with Veterans looking for a career in industry. Listen today to learn why it is important to have an informed passion to learn and why you need more than good leadership to be successful in Corporate America.  From CO to CEO on Amazon     About Our Guest  Captain William Toti, US Navy (Retired), is author of From CO to CEO: A Practical Guide for Transitioning from Military to Industry Leadership. He served for more than 26 years on active duty in the U.S. Navy,

This week on Veteran On the Move, Joe is joined by Stacey Marmolejo, the creator of Franchise Prep Academy. Stacey spent 20 years in the corporate world before becoming a franchise owner. She would later successfully sell her franchise and now she helps others figure out if franchise ownership is right for them. Franchise Prep Academy is a four week course and helps clients understand their why, explore funding options, and other key details of doing business as a franchisee. Joe and Stacey discuss why Veterans make successful franchisees and how to get started. Check out Franchise Prep Academy here.      About Our Guest    Stacey Marmolejo, a G.I. Brat, is the creator of Franchise Prep Academy, an unbiased course in which people learn all they need to know to buy a franchise business in the U.S. After 20 years of climbing a corporate ladder, Stacey gave up a prestigious Senior Vice President position with a national firm to purchase a start-up franchise. 16 years later she successfully sold her franchise

This week Joe is joined by Army Veteran, Scott Wilder. Scott is an emergency assistance administrator with the Army Emergency Relief and shares information about the opportunities available to transitioning Soldiers through the Career Skills Program. Scott discusses his own transition after his retirement and how he uses those lessons learned to help others. The Army Emergency Relief provides grants and access to assistance for transitioning soldiers, family members, and retirees. He shares his advice for service members struggling with the transition to the civilian work force and how to connect with the available help.      About Our Guest    Scott Wilder joined the Army in 1989 and retired in Nov 2019. He served in the Infantry for most of his career then served as a congressional advisor for the 14th and 15th SGM of the Army ending his career as the Army Soldier for Life Program SGM. Scott has been working at AER since Jan 2020 serving as an Emergency Assistance Administrator. Join the conversation o

This week Joe is joined by Army Veteran, West Point graduate, and former NCAA athlete, Dan Murphy. Dan is the COO of D1 Training; a fitness training franchise with 50 plus locations and over 200 more in development. D1 is different from your average gym because it provides everyone the opportunity to workout as an elite athlete.  Dan shared his transition story and the challenges he faced entering the civilian workforce. Joe and Dan discuss why Veterans have the right skill set for franchising and the opportunities it offers for growth.  Check out D1 Training here.      About Our Guest  Dan Murphy is a West Point graduate, Army Veteran, and a former NCAA athlete. He came from a military family and naturally followed the footsteps of his father to become an Army Captain. And while he eventually left his military career behind him, certain elements stayed with him as he became COO of D1 Training and grew it from its founding to a 50-plus unit franchise with over 200 facilities in development. .   Join the c

This week Joe is joined by Marine Corps Veteran and co-founder of Burn Pit BBQ, Greg Fischer. Greg served for four years, completing three combat deployments before transitioning into the civilian world. He attended college and started a ten year career in the insurance industry. Greg made the move to full time entrepreneurship in 2020, with his company Burn Pit BBQ, turning his passion for cooking and helping others into a full time business. Burn Pit BBQ sells high quality, all natural rubs, seasoning, and sauces online and select storefronts. Greg shares his advice for entrepreneurs looking to expand their business and achieve their long term goals. Check out Burn Pit BBQ here.  About Our Guest  Greg Fischer is a US Marine Corps veteran and co-founder of Burn Pit BBQ, where he shares grilling and barbecuing recipes and tips. Greg served 3 combat deployments in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. As a Marine, he led and took part in combat & humanitarian missions. Greg was ho

This week Joe is joined by Marine Corps Veteran Zach Morrow. Zach served on Active Duty for five years and was a member of the Marine Presidential Security Force. As he transitioned into civilian life Zach continued his education and ended up owning his own gym. While running his business, he was mentored by a client that would later offer him a position at his current company, Boron Capital. Zach and Joe discuss the importance of soft skills and qualities that lead Veterans to success and the importance of being prepared for opportunity. He shares more information about Cryptocurrency and Real Estate investments. If you want to learn more about crypto, text info to 877-771-0615 to connect with Zach.  About Our Guest  Zach Morrow is a seasoned Real Estate and Cryptocurrency Hedge Fund manager who doesn't just help protect his client’s wealth, he has actively protected 3 different U.S. presidents while serving on a Marine Presidential Security Force for a top secret facility and Department of the White House.

This week Joe is joined by Army Veteran and founder of Patriot Family Homes, Joe Riley. Joe started his business while on Active Duty after seeing the need for flexible and reliable housing near military bases. He participated in the Skillbridge Program as part of his transition and now offers internships with his business. Patriot Family Homes provides property management services, short term rental management, and rental properties in over 25 markets. Joe discusses the importance of leaders understanding all aspects of their business and how he overcame challenges in the real estate industry. Check out Patriot Family Homes here.    About Our Guest  Joe founded Patriot Family Homes to meet the need for affordable, reliable housing in the South, particularly near military bases. A captain in the Army, Joe has deployed with the Ranger Regiment to Afghanistan and Ukraine. He previously served on the National Security Council at the White House.     Join the conversation on Facebook! Check out Veteran on the