This segment is the fifth and last of a 5 part series dedicated to our active duty service members transitioning out of the service and starting their entrepreneurial journey.  Lindsey Germono interviews marine veteran Jim Friddell.

Important topics they discuss:

• [01:22] What Jim does and his time in the service
• [3:34] What motivated him to start a business
• [5:04] Investing and having savings
• [6:44] What it was like working for someone else
• [11:10] The current investment industry setup
• [13:09] From one coffee to a business
• [15:11] Finding great partners
• [18:20] Mistakes he made along the way
• [19:00] Results and revenues

Quote:
"When you start making a lot of money and you’re not use to making money. You don’t know what to do with it." -Jim Friddell

Social:
Thrift Savings Plan
Jim's Linkedin Profile
Jim's Company Website
Email Jim

This segment is the 4th of a 5 part series dedicated to our active duty service members transitioning out of the service and starting their entrepreneurial journey. Jonny Coreson is active duty Navy and provides Career counseling services to transitioning service members.

Important topics they discuss:

• [1:06] Jonny is active duty Navy and provides Career counseling services to transitioning service members
• [1:39] How he formed Bluejacketeer
• [3:23] Career counseling in 2013
• [4:38] Be realistic when pursuing entrepreneurship
• [5:00] Advice: Go research and use resources available.
• [7:38] Elevator speech to communicate what you want to do.
• [8:28] Using creative financing and bootstrapping
• [9:00] Passion to support the navy
• [10:10] Boots to business
• [12:31] What type of business should an active duty service member form?

Quote:
"Answer the basic questions and be confident in your way forward and plug into these resources early and glean. Just be a sponge." -Jonny Coreson

Social:
National Military Family Association Facebook Page
Inc 5000
Inc 5000 Conferences
StreetShares
BlueJacketeer
BlueJacketeer Facebook Page
Email Jonny
Facebook Group - Drop and Give Me 20

This segment is the 3 of a 5 part series dedicated to our active duty service members transitioning out of the service and starting their entrepreneurial journey.  Lindsey Germono interviews Anthony Williams, Army veteran and founder of SAW Contracting, Inc.  Listen as Anthony shares how he took what he learned while active duty as preparation for his future commercial construction business.

Important topics they discuss:

• [1:20] His Old Dominion University ROTC days
• [2:13] Anthony’s experiences during his deployments
• [5:10] He became asst. project manager, learned the ropes and moved up 6 years
• [6:00] Didn’t think he’d own a business, joined Army to travel the world and get away from home
• [7:20] What does he use from the military in his business today?
• [9:19] Piece of advice he’d give to his younger self
• [11:18] His dreams of ice cream and opening a dog rescue
• [13:08] What his construction business looks like
• [14:17] Tips to any military who’s starting a business

Quote:
"We’re a government contractor…everything has to be organized, prepared properly, communicated properly'" - Anthony Williams

Social:
Old Dominion University
Saw Contracting
Saw Contracting Facebook Page
Anthony's LinkedIn Profile
Facebook Group - Drop and Give Me 20

This segment is the second of a 5 part series dedicated to our active duty service members transitioning out of the service and starting their entrepreneurial journey.  In this episode, Lindsey Germono interviews Kevin Bemel of The Bemel Company. Learn about Kevin’s 5-Step process catered to veterans to help them land a high paying job or start a business!

Important topics they discuss:

• [1:30] All about Kevin and what led him to this venture
• [3:40] Started an entrepreneurship bootcamp for veterans
• [6:43] The so-called military-civilian divide
• [9:04] Teaching veterans to ‘fish’
• [9:59] The 5 Step Process
• [15:16] Getting your part of the American Dream
• [17:29] Getting the most of this process
• [19:06] Definition of a job board
• [22:05] Major struggles veterans face using this process
• [24:27] View on civilian care and support to veterans
• [26:24] The issue of entitlement

Quote:
"This is the heart of any entrepreneurial venture, 'How can I add value to other people’s lives?'" - Kevin Bemel
Social:

Bemel
LinkedIn
Facebook
Twitter
Facebook Group
Facebook Group - Drop and Give Me 20

This segment is the first of a 5 part series dedicated to our active duty service members transitioning out of the service and starting their entrepreneurial journey. Lindsey Germono interviews motivational speaker, Frank Shankwitz, Air Force veteran and founder of Make-A-Wish Foundation. Listen as Frank shares his life experiences, values and ethics that’ll definitely set you on the right track to running a successful organization.

Important topics they discuss:

• [1:19] Frank’s experience serving the Air Force
• [2:55] Franks career with Arizona Highway Patrol as a homicide detective
• [03:05] The story behind Make-A-Wish Foundation
• [04:50] Sharing how the Make-A-Wish foundation was first initiated
• [10:40] Insights on starting a business
• [12:45] Frank’s advice: Stickability
• [13:55] Making the best of your situation
• [18:00] Why it’s important as a business to get involved in causes
• [20:20] Discussing his movie, “Wishman”
• [21:00] “Wishman” the book

Quote:

"They say to surround yourself with experts, people that are smarter than you and I knew to do that. And that’s what we did and that’s the people that made it grow to what it is today.” - Frank Shankwitz
Social:

Make a Wish Foundation
Frank’s Website
Wishman Movie
Wishman Book by Frank Shankwitz and Kitty Shankwitz