In this episode of Drop and Give Me 20, Lindsey interviews Paul A. Dillon, a veteran and the owner of Dillon Consulting Services. Dillon Consulting Services LLC provides project management and business development services for clients in the service industry. 

Paul talks about his experiences during his active duty and he shares his passion in helping his co-veterans become entrepreneurs themselves.

Important topics they discuss:

• [01:39] Paul’s active duty Army background
• [04:56] How Paul transitioned into consulting
• [07:17] Facts and figures veterans face in relation to entrepreneurship
• [10:23] How Paul’s company facilitates those interested in entrepreneurship
• [13:53] How Paul overcomes the obstacles in his business

Quote:

“Every problem has a solution, it takes merely intelligence to find it, and then the courage to act on it." - Paul A. Dillon

Social:
Dillon Consulting Services LLC
Paul's Email Address
Paul's LinkedIn

Social:

Charlie Mike Podcast
Landmark Life Coaching Website
Dwayne's LinkedIn

In this episode of Drop and Give Me 20, Lindsey interviews Corey Christman, a retired Special Agent, a criminal investigator, a combat veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom, a wine maker, and an amazing leader who developed a company called Vethos. Vethos is a Human Capital Leadership and Executive Strategy firm. They help in creating leaders, building cultures and growing revenues.

Corey also talks about how he became an entrepreneur and shares some tips on the process of hiring the right people.

Important topics they discuss:

• [01:21] What is Vethos all about
• [02:08] From a retired special agent, a criminal investigator, a combat veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom to being an entrepreneur
• [03:08] What made Corey become an entrepreneur
• [03:38] How Corey’s learning in the service helps Vethos
• [05:03] How to hire the right people the first time
• [08:08] Tips on what the company can do to make sure that the newly-hired employee is going to stay
• [10:59] Being a wine-maker
• [12:50] Thoughts on entrepreneurs having more than one business
• [14:28] Advice to those interested in entrepreneurship

Quote:

“Basically, it’s bringing value to companies that have a disconnect between where they are today and where they want to go tomorrow.” - Corey Christman

Social:
Vethos
Corey Christman's LinkedIn
Corey's Twitter

In this episode of Drop and Give Me 20, Lindsey interviews Megan Hall, a podcaster and a military spouse entrepreneur. Megan has a wonderful community tailored to helping woman called Inspired Women Community.

Megan talks about her journey as a military spouse to becoming a successful entrepreneur and helping women through life coaching.

Important topics they discuss:

• [01:30] Megan’s backstory
• [03:08] About Life Coaching
• [04:23] How to connect with a life coach
• [05:03] What makes Megan stand out
• [06:43] Megan’s journey as a military spouse and as an entrepreneur
• [09:22] Coaching clients
• [10:40] Megan’s advice to other military spouse entrepreneurs
• [11:55] Running a business at home
• [15:36] Two years from now, where will Megan Hall be
• [16:06] Building a team

Quote:

"So with military spouse and being an entrepreneur, it was about finding my people - finding the people I can connect with, I can resonate with and those who are going to support me, but also maybe I can support them as well." - Megan Hall

Social:
Inspired Women Community
Inspired Women Podcast Website
Inspired Women Podcast Facebook 
Inspired Women Podcast's Instagram
Megan Hall's Website
Megan's Facebook Profile
Megan's Instagram
Megan's Twitter
Megan's Linkedin

In this episode of Drop and Give Me 20, Lindsey interviews Esther Avant, a Nutrition Coach, a Personal Trainer and the owner of Esther Avant Wellness Coaching.
Esther talks about how she overcame the struggles of having a virtual business as a military spouse. She also shares her ways of bringing in new clients.

Important topics they discuss:

• [01:14] About Wellness Coaching
• [02:39] Esther’s struggles to overcome in the business
• [06:04] Advice to other military spouse business owners/entrepreneurs
• [09:29] Esther’s role model
• [09:55] One thing Esther’s clients struggle with
• [10:47] Esther’s business five years from now
• [12:02] Bringing in new clients

Quote:

“You didn’t graduate college and end up a CEO. You had to show up everyday and put in to work and overtime you got to where you wanted to be… and it’s the same thing with business.” - Esther Avant

Social:
Esther Avant
Esther Avant Wellness Coaching Facebook 
Esther's Instagram
Esther's Twitter
Live Diet Free Facebook group

In this episode of Drop and Give Me 20, Lindsey interviews Jean South who spent 9 years as a FBI Special Agent and is now the CEO of Hire Served.  Hire Served helps military-passionate employers in recruiting, hiring and on-boarding top veteran talents.

Jean talks about the challenges of being a CEO. She also shares her life as an entrepreneur and a military spouse.

Important topics they discuss:

• [01:01] Jean’s backstory
• [02:50] Hire Served services
• [03:33] Defining their industry
• [04:08] How they compete in a crowded industry
• [06:13] The challenges of entrepreneurship
• [09:17] Managing as a CEO
• [11:30] A day in a life of an entrepreneur
• [17:10] Fun Fact about Jean South

Quote:

“… I never really recognized that that’s the role of the CEO - to be the expert at the vision.” -Jean South

Social:
Hire Served
Hire Served's Twitter
Hire Served's Facebook Page
Hire Served's Instagram
Jean South's Youtube Channel

In this episode of Drop and Give Me 20, Lindsey Germono speaks with Meghan Alonso, who is known for her medical device podcast and is the woman behind Imua Services.

Important topics they discuss:

• [01:13] What Imua Services provide and offer
• [02:15] Meghan’s medical background
• [03:50] Military wife experience
• [05:15] Cash Flow management
• [10:48] Finding new clients
• [13:10] Meghan’s podcast
• [17:00] Finding people that serve your audience

Quote:

“But a lot in times in life, the lessons are the best if you actually experience it.” - Meghan Alonso

Social:
IMUA
IMUA's Facebook Page
IMUA’s LinkedIn Profile
IMUA's Twitter

In this episode of Drop and Give Me 20, Lindsey interviews the amazing ladies behind The Hive & Co, a company that offers online marketing services for small business owners. Meet Miranda Perales and Shiang-ling Bissonnette. They share how their partnership started and the challenges they face as they grow with their business.

Miranda and Shiang-ling also talk about what it's like to be military spouse business owners and how their differences helped them in handling their business. Don’t miss this episode!

Important topics they discuss:

• [01:10] What Miranda and Shang-Ling do
• [02:16] How Miranda and Shang-Ling started their business together
• [04:26] Challenges they experienced as partners
• [06:10] Tips for virtual business owners
• [08:05] Tips for military spouses on finding their people
• [11:17] Dealing with vulnerability and rejection

Quote:

"The partnership we have is a great thing because we have somebody to fall back on. But we also have to keep in mind that we are constantly balancing each other out and having to make sure that we are always in line because that’s something important for us to be successful." - Miranda Perales

Social:
The Hive & Co.
The Hive & Co's Facebook Page
The Hive & Co's Instagram
The Hive & Co's Pinterest
The Hive & Co's Twitter
The Hive & Co's LinkedIn
The Hive & Co's Email Address

In this episode of Drop and Give Me 20, Lindsey interviews the women behind MadSkills, a company that allows you to outsource all your business needs to highly skilled military spouses. Meet Erica McMannes and Liza Rodewald as they share how their passion of providing opportunities for military spouses led them to starting MadSkills. You’ll also learn the ins and outs on how to start a business and form a partnership that works!

They have created an awesome business that not only helps military spouses, but also provides opportunities to empower them to earn income from anywhere in the world! Don’t miss this amazing episode!

Important topics they discuss:

• [1:15] Who are Erica and Liza and what is MadSkills
  
• [2:09] Why MadSkills?
  
• [4:35] Common misconceptions about virtual and remote work
• [6:05] Events and Happenings that they are working on
  
• [8:14] Why business partnerships are like marriages
  
• [10:22] The future of MadSkills
  
• [13:00] Issues with candidates who work from posts
  
• [14:50] Some personal questions
• [17:15] Advice for fellow military spouses who want to start a business

Quote:

"Spouses are a force to be reckoned with, more people should know about you all. And that was like a light bulb in my head, people need to know more about us outside the military community…"  - Erica McMannes

Social:
MadSkills
MadSkills Facebook Page
Erica’s LinkedIn Profile
Liza's LinkedIn Profile

In this episode of Drop and Give Me 20, Lindsey speaks with Jason Dempsey and Ken Robbins of GoMillie. They share their backgrounds, how they established an effective partnership, and their vision for the military community.

Important topics they discuss:

• [1:25] Background of Ken in the army
• [3:46] How the business led to finding Amy and Lauren
• [7:10] Why a partnership makes sense
• [8:19] Challenges of working with new partners
• [12:08] Their exit strategy
• [15:00] Tips for those who wants to get into starting a business

Quote:

"In some point, you don’t know what the future is going to be. So you got to decide is what I’m holding to right now, what I want, and do I want to take this leap of faith..."  - Ken Robbins

Social: Agent Hero Gomillie.com

In this episode of Drop and Give Me 20, Lindsey speaks with Amy Shick & Lauren Rothlisberger of Millie to find out what it was like to sell their business, Military Property Project.  This is part 1 of a two part Millie series. 

Important topics they discuss:

• [1:20] Where Amy & Lauren are today in their entrepreneur journey
• [2:00] What are their roles with Millie
• [4:22] How they met and their mutual passion
• [6:30] When Project Hero approached them about selling
• [8:00] The idea of creating Millie and combining companies
• [9:50] The emotion process of “should we sell’
• [11:45] Lauren on removing the emotions when selling
• [15:09] Amy on getting to focus on their strengths at Millie

Quote:

“It really doesn’t matter about us personally, it what matters for Military Property Project & Scout and the resources we’ve created, giving them the best chance to helping as many military families as possible” - Amy Shick

Social:
Agent Hero
Gomillie.com
scout.gomillie.com
Facebook
Twitter
Lauren@gomillie.com
Amy@gomillie.com

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

In this episode of Drop and Give Me 20, Lindsey Germono speaks with Cameron Cruse, co-founder of R. Riveter.

Important topics they discuss:

•  Creating a company that provides military spouses with employment they can take with them when PCS'ing.
•  The Shark tank experience and partnering with Mark Cuban
• "I think Shark Tank was one of the more terrifying things that we had done just because it forced us to look at who we are, what we're trying to do with this company, and how do we best support our military spouses."
• As military spouses, so many times we're pulling that double duty- we have so much going on in our lives.
• We started with the why- this is the glue.
• Benefits of having a partner in business.
• The future of R. Riveter.

Quote:

"Understand where you want to be and where you are and don't be afraid of the in between." -Cameron Cruse

Social:

Twitter

Facebook

Instagram

Website

In this episode of Drop and Give Me 20, Lindsey Germono speaks with Jessica Bertsch, founder of Powerhouse Planning.  Powerhouse Planning (Powerhouse) guides companies toward initiating and instituting high-IMPACT business plans that succeed in the forms of growth, recognition, efficiency, and new opportunities.
 
Important topics they discuss:

• [2:07]  All about Powerhouse Planning
• [4:48] The five pillars of Powerhouse Planning
• [5:23] How Jessica taps into the skills of military spouses and veterans to build her team
• [8:28] Jessica’s biggest mistake in the beginning of launching her business
• [10:01]  Jessica’s letter to new CEO’s
• [10:45] The benefits of having a professional mentor
• [12:08] The importance of giving back when running a business

Quote:
“We don’t want to lose our professional identity, want to continue to flourish and do awesome things as well over a 20+ year career.” – Jessica Bertsch

Social:

LinkedIn
Facebook
Pinterest

In this episode of Drop and Give Me 20, Lindsey Germono speaks with Claire Yanta-O’Mahoney, the Founder of Fleur de Lis Fitness. Claire.

Important topics they discuss:

• [1:47] All About Claire and Fleur de Lis Fitness
• [3:26] How Claire’s transition from a military spouse to a veteran spouse impacted her business
• [7:20] Challenges Claire has faced and overcome
• [9:02] Do It In the Morning: Time management skills for military entrepreneurs -
• [10:26] Advantages of working with a personal coach
• [13:09] Lindsey’s Personal Story
• [13:09] Tips Claire wished she could have told herself before she started her business

Quote:

“Try to silence the self doubt. There’s this voice in the back of our head wondering if this is the right way to do it and what someone might say. These fears are there but that doesn’t mean you need to listen to it.” - Claire Yanta-O’Mahoney

Social:

• Fleur de Lis Fitness
• LinkedIn
• Twitter
• Facebook
• Instagram