Veteran On The Move

In this episode, Joe is joined by the winner of the 11th Annual FedEx Small Business Grant Contest Barton O’Brien. Bart is a Marine Corps Veteran and the founder of BAYDOG, a pet supply company. Transitioning out of the Marine Corps following his third deployment, Bart attended graduate school before starting a career in finance. Wanting more professionally and personally from his career than life on Wall Street had to offer, Bart shifted his focus to entrepreneurship. Bart shares with Joe the story behind BAYDOG and what makes his company stand out from others in the market. He discusses how skills Veterans learn in the military can empower them as entrepreneurs and the importance of not being afraid to fail. Check out BAYDOG here and remember to use the promo VETERAN20 to save 20%.   About Our Guest   BAYDOG was founded by Barton (Bart) OBrien, a reformed Wall Streeter and avid dog lover. After years of working in finance in London and New York, Bart decided he needed a change. He quit his job and the very

In this episode, Joe is joined by Canadian Armed Forces Veteran and CEO of  Ventus Respiratory Technologies, Arjun Grewal. Arjun deployed worldwide during his 20 years in the Canadian Armed Forces, 12 of those years with Canadian Special Operations. Retiring in 2018, Arjun took a position with IBM before making the move to entrepreneurship. Shifting his focus to a defense startup, Arjun used his military experience to solve a problem faced by special operators around the world. Ventus Respiratory Technologies provides easy to wear respiratory protection for training and the operational environment. Arjun shares his advice for entrepreneurs including having the right people on your team and knowing where you want to be in the future.      About Our Guest   Arjun Grewal is the CEO of Ventus Respiratory Technologies and a veteran of the Canadian Armed Forces. During his 20 years in the military, he was deployed on global operations and high-value counter-terrorism missions. His service included training, comba

In this episode, Joe is joined by Army Veteran, career coach, and entrepreneur Ahmad Burse. Ahmad served in the Infantry and later in his career with Wounded Warriors. Following his transition to civilian life, Ahmad worked in HR with the Army Corps of Engineers. It was in this role that he realized that he was a problem solver for engineers and was able to assist with common skill gaps found in the engineering community. He shares with Joe how he shifted to entrepreneurship, found his focus, and harnessed his soft skills to become a career coach. Ahmed discusses the importance of identifying your value and best ways to connect with clients.    About Our Guest   Ahmad J. Burse is a highly skilled career coach specializing in guiding engineers toward professional success. He is a US Army veteran with a diverse background that includes serving in the military as an infantryman and paratrooper and being a dedicated caregiver for wounded warriors, Ahmad brings a unique perspective to his coaching practice. Drawi

In this episode, Joe is joined by Army Veteran, author, and entrepreneur Wayne Altman. Wayne served in the Army for over 8 years and intended on continuing his Army career as an officer after finishing his education. Following a different path into civilian life, Wayne worked in the mortgage business and wrote six books on credit and mortgage including, When Bad Credit Happens To Good People. After exiting the mortgage industry, Wayne took the skills he learned from being an author and knowledge of SEO to open 14 online businesses, including Melody Clouds. Melody Clouds harnesses the healing healing power of music providing customers a library of 8,000 hours of music and 18,000 audio books. Wayne shares with Joe how he built his platform and advice for fellow Veteran entrepreneurs.     About Our Guest   With a strong desire to make a difference to the people around him, Wayne Altman has worn many hats during his 54 years of life on planet Earth. Born in California but raised in Texas, Wayne grew up knowing

In this episode, Joe is joined by entrepreneur, podcast host, and author Jim James. Jim shares his unique entrepreneurial experiences from building businesses around the world. He founded his first company at 27 in Singapore after deciding he wasn’t interested in a corporate career. Jim and Joe discuss the lessons he learned from starting his first business, the importance of getting your brand noticed, and how to become an author. Jim now hosts The UnNoticed Entrepreneur podcast and helps entrepreneurs make their business stand out from the crowd. Learn more about Jim here.    About Our Guest   Jim James has built businesses from a suitcase on 3 continents over 25 years, all using public relations. His first brush with getting noticed was at 18 when he jumped out of a plane in return for sponsorship and received expedition equipment in return for media publicity. He hasn’t stopped this model of brand+business building ever since.   Having grown up in Europe, Africa and America, it was perhaps inevitable t

In this episode, Joe is joined by retired Marine Officer and entrepreneurial business leader Tom Paquin. Tom served in the Marine Corps for 21 years as an F/A-18 pilot and entered the world of entrepreneurship following his military retirement. He founded several successful renewable energy companies prior to starting VictoryBase. VictoryBase offers military families an alternative housing solution in the face of challenging housing markets and constant PCS moves. In addition to renting a home in a community focused neighborhood; families can build equity and invest in the VictoryBase Corporation stock. Tom shares his advice for transitioning service members and the importance of preparing for the cultural differences of the civilian world and the hard work needed for success.  Check out VictoryBase Corporation here.   About Our Guest   Tom Paquin is a retired US Marine Corps Lieutenant Colonel and F/A-18 pilot who has made remarkable achievements as a business leader in various industries. He founded sever

In this episode, Joe is joined by Air Force retiree and D1 Training franchisee John Rose. As he prepared for his military retirement, John participated in the Skillbridge program and was later hired by the company he interned with. Inspired by his daughters’ athletic training regimen, John saw the need for more training centers focused on the needs of athletes. John discusses why he decided to go the franchise route and how he funded his initial investment for his business. He shares information about great resources for entrepreneurs, like the SBA, and the importance of pursuing a business you are passionate about and taking time to do your research. Learn more about D1 Training here.     About Our Guest   John Rose is a retired 20 year veteran of the USAF. After a brief stint as a collegiate baseball player John joined the Air Force in 2001. Upon retiring he devoted his spare time to his daughters' love of sports. Through additional speed/agility training his daughters' were wanting, he found D1 Training

In this episode, Joe is joined by Certified Personal Trainer,  Daniel Raz. Daniel shares his own fitness journey and what led him to a career in exercise and nutrition. In 2020, he pivoted his business to an online model, working through the challenges of working with clients on a new platform. Joe and Daniel discuss the importance of understanding who your target client is and focusing your efforts on connecting with them. Daniel gives insight into how he uses social media to connect with customers and his advice for entrepreneurs. Learn more about Daniel here.      About Our Guest   Daniel Raz went to the University of British Columbia in Canada to study exercise and nutrition. While Daniel began his career with in-person training, his main focus now is online, where he can help more people get better results than he could in-person..     Join the conversation on Facebook! Check out Veteran on the Move on Facebook to connect with our guests and other listeners. A place where you can network with other l

In this episode, Joe is joined by Stan Popovich, the author of A Layman’s Guide to Managing Fear. Struggling with fear and anxiety himself, Stan has taken the lessons learned from his personal experiences to help others through his book and website, http://www.managingfear.com. Stan and Joe discuss the impact fear can have on one's business and why entrepreneurs need to be proactive when facing anxiety and depression. Stan shares techniques that worked for him and the importance of making a plan and asking for help.    About Our Guest   Stan Popovich is the author of the popular managing fear book, A Layman’s Guide to Managing Fear. For more information about Stan’s book and to get some free mental health advice, please visit Stan’s website at http://www.managingfear.com .   Join the conversation on Facebook! Check out Veteran on the Move on Facebook to connect with our guests and other listeners. A place where you can network with other like-minded veterans who are transitioning to entrepreneurship and ge

In this episode, Joe is joined by retired Air Force officer and Senior Consultant Eric Gervais. Eric started his Air Force career as an enlisted aircraft mechanic and later commissioned in the Air National Guard as a finance officer. He discusses with Joe his lessons learned from multiple transitions between Active Duty, Civilian life, and the National Guard. Following his retirement, he has been able to apply his military knowledge and experience to his position as a Senior Consulate with Infinite Technologies, Inc (ITI). ITI provides IT support and services to customers, including the Air Force and Air National Guard. Eric shares tips for entrepreneurs on the importance of networking within the military and protecting what you create with patents and copyright.    About Our Guest   Eric Gervais is an experienced Senior Consultant at Infinite Technologies, Inc. (ITI) with extensive background in aircraft maintenance, logistics, financial management, and information technology. He has been a senior consultan

In this episode, Joe is joined by Navy Veteran and CEO of Executive Presence, Justin Nassiri. Justin served as a Submarine officer and attended business school following his service. He discusses the challenges he faced going straight into entrepreneurship from school and advice for others considering doing the same. Before founding Executive Presence, Justin led two other startups that he later sold. Executive Presence manages LinkedIn accounts for CEOs, allowing business leaders to take full advantage of the power of social media. Justin shares actionable advice for both transitioning Veterans and fledgling Entrepreneurs.   About Our Guest Justin Nassiri is the CEO of Executive Presence, a fully managed social media presence for CEOs. He started his career in the Navy onboard nuclear submarines. Since his military service, he has built and sold two businesses. He holds a BS from the U.S. Naval Academy, and an MBA from Stanford Business School. Join the conversation on Facebook! Check out Veteran on the M

In this episode, Joe is joined by Brendan Aronson, CEO and co-founder of The Military Veteran. A Naval Academy graduate, Brendan served as an Infantry Officer for six years before transitioning to the civilian world. While completing his MBA, Brendan volunteered with Service to School, assisting other Veterans in their pursuit of higher education opportunities. Brendan continues to help transitioning service members with The Military Veteran. The Military Veteran works with employers looking to hire vets and holds conferences to connect Veterans with a valuable network and resources. Brendan shares with Joe his best practices for transitioning service members and advice for Entrepreneurs struggling to get started. Check out upcoming The Military Veteran events here.    About Our Guest   Brendan Aronson is a co-founder and CEO of The Military Veteran. Brendan attended the US Naval Academy for his undergraduate degree and served for six years as an infantry officer in the US Marine Corps. As a Marine, he compl

In this episode, Joe is joined by retired Army Officer and entrepreneur Tom Burrell. Tom served as an Artillery Officer and after retirement entered corporate America. He discusses with Joe his journey in entrepreneurship and what led up to the founding of Atlas MKE. Atlas MKE is a public benefits company specializing in business to business marketing. Tom shares how the Army prepared him for Entrepreneurship and how refining processes learned in the military can be translated into success in the civilian world. Check out Atlas MKE here.      About Our Guest   Tom Burrell is an experienced executive who is transforming not only how businesses grow but also how they give back. Leading by example, Atlas MKE is an innovative service company that embraces a high level of corporate responsibility. 25% of Atlas MKE profits are given directly back to the community through local 501c partners. Tom views each business as an integral part of our global society. It's through that lens that Atlas MKE was founded - a co

In this episode, Joe is joined by returning guest, Air Force Veteran, and Entrepreneur Brian Reese. Brian is the founder and CEO of VA Claims Insider and is on a mission to help Veterans get the VA rating and compensation they have earned and deserve. He experienced difficulties with the system during his own transition from Active Duty and saw the need to help fellow Veterans with the complex process. Brian shares his three key tips when navigating the claim process and advice from inside the process. Additionally, Brain wrote; ​​You Deserve It: The Definitive Guide to Getting the Veteran Benefits You've Earned; as the guide he wished he had during his claims process. Learn more about Brian and VA Claims Insider here.    About Our Guest   Brian Reese is an American entrepreneur, author, and former military officer. He is known for being the founder and CEO of VA Claims Insider and the author of the bestselling book "You Deserve It: The Definitive Guide to Getting the Veteran Benefits You've Earned." Reese i

In this episode, Joe is joined by Entrepreneur and Military Spouse, Molly Rose Speed. Molly is the founder of the Virtual Assistant Academy and Virtual Assistant Management. After working in the corporate world for 14 years, Molly wanted more freedom and flexibility so she quit her job and became a Virtual Assistant (VA). She shares with Joe why being a VA is a great opportunity for Military Spouses and how she is now using her experience to help others start their career from anywhere the military sends them. Molly has trained and certified over 150 VAs, 80% who are military spouses, through her Virtual Assistant Academy. She has also created an agency to match VAs with employers. Listen today to learn not only about the opportunities to work as a VA but how a VA can help you as an Entrepreneur and a small business owner.  Learn more about Molly here.    About Our Guest   Molly Rose Speed is an expert in creating what everyone wants more of -- time freedom. She is the creator of Virtual Assistant Academy an

In this episode, Joe is joined by Navy Veteran and founder of the Government Contracting Academy, Randy Wimmer. After graduating from the Naval Academy, Randy served for ten years as a Surface Warfare Officer before leaving the Navy to focus on his family and started to work as a government contractor. Randy saw the opportunities available as an entrepreneur and started his own government contract business. His path to success wasn’t easy; Randy focused on learning the skills he needed and the best practices to win lucrative government contracts. To help fellow Entrepreneurs, Randy founded the Government Contracting Academy, providing actionable information and tools over a 12 month, self paced course. Learn more about the Government Contracting Academy here.    About Our Guest   Following ten years of naval service, Randy Wimmer made the difficult choice to leave a promising naval career for the routine working hours of a contractor position to start a family. After learning what he calls the Contractor Com

In this episode, Joe is joined by Entrepreneur and digital marketing expert Greg Writer. Greg has forty years of experience mentoring entrepreneurs and currently is the CEO of Launch Cart. Launch Cart is an on demand ecommerce platform providing entrepreneurs an alternative to Shopify. Launch Cart empowers small business owners through simple and quick access to the market with production on demand. Greg and Joe discuss creating a brand and the power of personal development. Check out Launch Cart here and use promo code 30VETERANS for 30% off any Launch Cart plan.      About Our Guest   Greg Writer is an experienced entrepreneur and digital marketing expert with over 35 years of experience in corporate finance, capital formation, and executive management. He has earned the reputation as "The Entrepreneur's Best Friend" through his dedication to coaching thousands of entrepreneurs on how to market their businesses, raise capital, and increase their revenues. As a self-declared "digital marketing guru", Greg

In this episode, Joe is joined by Author, Podcast Host,  and Entrepreneur Matt McWilliams. Matt is the author of Turn Your Passions into Profits and is on a mission to help Entrepreneurs find their passion and turn it into a successful business. He shares the importance of finding your niche and an audience that needs you and your product. If you are unsure of how to get started, Matt walks through the first steps and his tips for focusing on what you are passionate about while being a successful entrepreneur.  Learn more about Matt here.      About Our Guest   Matt McWilliams  is living proof that one can pursue one's passion in life, and do so while making a profit as well. He's worked with some of the top companies and entrepreneurs on the planet such as Shark Tank's Kevin Harrington, Tony Robbins, Dean Graziosi, Kim Walsh Philips, Ryan Levesque, Michael Hyatt, Claire Diaz-Ortiz, Lewis Howes, Brian Tracy, Jeff Walker and more. He's here to help you on your quest to turn your passion and message into a

In this episode, Joe is joined by Airforce and Army Veteran Brian Will. Brian is the best selling author of The Dropout Multi-Millionaire and a successful, serial entrepreneur. He shares how he started his first business and the valuable lessons he learned after things didn’t go to plan. Brian now helps other entrepreneurs get started on their path to success and profits as a coach and mentor. Check out Brian here.      About Our Guest   Brian Will served in both the Air Force and Army. He is the author of the Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling book "The Dropout Multi-Millionaire". He is a serial entrepreneur and an industry expert in sales and management consulting. Starting his entrepreneurial journey in his early 20's, Brian has created or co-created seven highly successful companies across four different industries in the last thirty-five years, with a peak combined value of over a half a billion dollars. Throughout his career, Brian has been instrumental in turning around multiple projects a

In this episode, Joe is joined by Navy Veteran and entrepreneur Peter Mann. Peter is the founder and CEO of Oransi; an air purification company. After serving for four years as a Surface Warfare Officer, he entered the corporate world. Building on his business experience gained from working at two Fortune 100 companies, Peter started a successful ecommerce business and later Oransi. Peter shares his lessons learned while building a business from its foundation and the importance of understanding the customers you service. Check out Ornasi here.        About Our Guest   Peter Mann is the CEO & Founder of Virginia-based Oransi, a leading air purification company known for its efficient, intuitive and reliable products for consumers, schools, organizations and businesses. He also is the Chair of the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers Air Cleaner Council. In 2021, Oransi merged with Aviemore Technologies and is now a motor technology company with a clean energy mission. Oransis new manufacturing facili