Service Academy Business Mastermind: Recent Episodes
Scott Mackes, USNA '01
The Service Academy Business Mastermind (SABM) is a transformational program for Service Academy graduates who are building businesses.
Our podcast features entrepreneurial success stories from the Service Academy community (West Point, Naval Academy, Air Force Academy, Coast Guard Academy, and Merchant Marine Academy).
To learn more, please visit: www.sabmgroup.com.
Joshua Emison is the founder of Tracer Franchising, where he helps individuals identify proven, scalable franchise opportunities tailored to their financial and lifestyle goals. With a background in business development and a sharp eye for operational models, he simplifies what’s often a crowded and confusing process in franchising. Josh works across industries to guide clients toward sustainable, long-term ownership—whether they’re exploring their first opportunity or expanding an existing portfolio.
A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and former Marine Corps Infantry Officer, Josh approaches business ownership with the same focus and structure that defined his military career. He’s also the co-founder of Sans Bank, a fintech company using blockchain to make alternative investments more accessible through asset tokenization. Across both ventures, Josh is focused on helping others take ownership of their future through smart, strategic decisions.
In this episode of the SABM podcast, Scott chats with Joshua about:
- Franchise Education: A clear process to help new owners understand the realities of franchising.
- Matching System: A detailed quiz and vetting method to pair candidates with the right franchises.
- Tippy Toes Model: A lean, mobile business chosen for its strong demand and trusted leadership.
- Startup vs. Franchise: Franchising offers structure and support that startups often lack.
- Owner Mindset: Success requires patience, realistic expectations, and long-term commitment.
Timestamps:
- 00:59 Josh's Background and Career Journey
- 02:29 Introduction to Tracer Franchising
- 03:06 The Franchising Process Explained
- 05:55 Selecting the Right Franchise
- 09:57 Funding Your Franchise
- 11:59 Negotiating Franchise Terms
- 14:51 Choosing Tippy Toes Dance Franchise
- 17:56 Comparing Franchisee Experience with Startups
- 18:36 The Challenges of Starting a Business from Scratch
- 19:25 The Benefits of Franchising
- 20:55 Sales Success Stories
- 24:24 Adapting the Business Model
- 26:35 Future Goals and Vision
- 30:33 Common Challenges in Franchising
Connect with Joshua:
- Email: joshua@raintreegrowth.com
If you found value in today’s episode, don’t keep it to yourself—share it with a colleague or friend who could benefit. And if you’re a Service Academy graduate ready to elevate your business, we’d love for you to join our community and get started today.
Make sure you never miss an episode—subscribe now and help support the show:
- Apple Podcasts
- Spotify
- Leave us a 5-star review!
A special thank you to Joshua for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Need financing for your next investment property? Visit: https://www.academyfund.com/
Want to join us in San Antonio, TX on June 11th & 12th? Visit: https://www.10xvets.com/events
____
Zachary Guerra is a powerful force in storytelling, making the leap from Naval Aviator flying S-3B Vikings to directing multi-million-dollar productions for some of the world’s biggest brands.
Over the past decade, Zachary has directed and produced more than 25 high-impact campaigns for global brands such as Apple and ESPN, managing more than $34 million in production budgets. As a Director, Writer, and Producer, Zachary has written 15+ screenplays and directed over 20 commercials, all while actively developing feature films with both major studios and independent teams.
Beyond his commercial success, Zachary is deeply invested in the next generation of creatives. He mentors aspiring filmmakers and imparts his knowledge of Editing, Cinematography, and Producing at esteemed institutions. His dedication to education reflects his belief in storytelling as a transformative tool.
Zachary's approach to filmmaking is characterized by a relentless pursuit of compelling narratives and a commitment to excellence. Each project he undertakes is infused with a unique blend of strategic insight and creative vision, making him a distinctive voice in contemporary cinema.
In this episode of the SABM podcast, Scott chats with Zachary about:
- Post-Navy Pivot: After flying jets, Zachary turned to filmmaking to follow his creative drive.
- Turning Points: He lost equipment and faced shutdowns but stayed focused on real, human stories.
- Canon Shot: His new documentary that captures the croquet rivalry between Navy and St. John’s, spotlighting cultural gaps. The film reveals how two schools in the same town rarely engage with each other.
- Real-World Impact: How his documentary helped spark new partnerships, with midshipmen now taking classes at St. John’s.
Timestamps:
- 00:31 Zach's Journey into Filmmaking
- 01:55 Early Wins and Challenges
- 03:36 The Concept of 'Dance for Your Dinner'
- 09:52 The Making of 'Canon Shot'
- 16:12 Surprising Discoveries and Reflections
- 22:35 Current Status and Support Needed
- 30:01 Conclusion and Contact Information
Connect with Zachary:
- Contact Page
If you found value in today’s episode, don’t keep it to yourself—share it with a colleague or friend who could benefit. And if you’re a Service Academy graduate ready to elevate your business, we’d love for you to join our community and get started today.
Make sure you never miss an episode—subscribe now and help support the show:
- Apple Podcasts
- Spotify
- Leave us a 5-star review!
A special thank you to Zachary for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Need financing for your next investment property? Visit: https://www.academyfund.com/
Want to join us in San Antonio, TX on June 11th & 12th? Visit: https://www.10xvets.com/events
____
Rob Pekarek is an Operations Research Analyst at Air Combat Command and a General Partner in multifamily real estate. On active duty, he serves on the staff of the four-star General commanding ACC, where he leads teams that solve operational challenges across the Air Force using tools like Python, Excel, and PowerPoint automation. His work has improved aircraft scheduling, streamlined data systems, and delivered practical solutions to commanders on base.
Rob previously completed a fully funded research fellowship at Purdue University, where he modeled climate adaptation strategies and infrastructure investment. His work informed a $5 billion coastal protection plan for Louisiana and supported the Naval Academy’s Sea Level Rise action plan.
Now active in real estate investing, Rob helped acquire a 24-unit apartment complex in 2024 and led investor outreach, raising over $500,000. He continues to manage investor communications and is passionate about building long-term value through data, real estate, and veteran collaboration.
In this episode of the SABM podcast, Scott chats with Rob about:
- Real Estate at Full Speed: While on active duty, Rob became a general partner in two multifamily deals totaling over 50 units.
- Helping First Pays Off: He earned his first GP role by offering free support and adding value to the team.
- Lead Gen That Works: Rob uses content and clear qualifiers to attract the right investors.
- His Three Pillars: He focuses on fitness, wealth building, and creating purpose through community.
- Mindset for Growth: Rob believes in taking action, learning through failure, and building real relationships.
Timestamps:
- 01:02 Guest Background and Early Career
- 03:05 Real Estate Ventures and Side Hustles
- 10:25 Lead Generation Strategies
- 20:45 Three Pillars of a Successful Life
Connect with Rob:
- LinkTree | Rob Pekarek
If you found value in today’s episode, don’t keep it to yourself—share it with a colleague or friend who could benefit. And if you’re a Service Academy graduate ready to elevate your business, we’d love for you to join our community and get started today.
Make sure you never miss an episode—subscribe now and help support the show:
- Apple Podcasts
- Spotify
- Leave us a 5-star review!
A special thank you to Rob for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Need financing for your next investment property? Visit: https://www.academyfund.com/
Want to join us in San Antonio, TX on June 11th & 12th? Visit: https://www.10xvets.com/events
____
Jason is the founder of John Galt Services, a Bali-based outsourcing company that connects businesses with high-performing, multilingual talent across Indonesia. With a focus on quality, training, and long-term impact, his team works in person from Bali to deliver reliable, professional support at global standards.
A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and former Navy Surface Warfare Officer, Jason has spent over two decades leading product development and building enterprise software systems for startups and major financial institutions. He previously founded a data systems firm that served clients like Invesco and Bridgewater Associates.
Today, he also serves as a lead developer and technical leader at VeteranCrowd. Fluent in Bahasa Indonesia and deeply embedded in the local community, Jason is passionate about creating meaningful opportunities through global collaboration.
In this episode of the SABM podcast, Scott chats with Jason about:
- The Spark Behind John Galt Services: Bridging global opportunity with untapped talent in Indonesia.
- What Sets It Apart: High-caliber, multilingual professionals trained and managed locally in Bali.
- Jason’s Path: From Navy officer and software developer to founder building impact abroad.
- Early Lessons: Navigating a competitive outsourcing market while prioritizing quality and purpose.
- What’s Next: Growing one placement at a time toward full-service managed teams.
Timestamps:
- 00:13 Reflecting on the Past Four Years
- 00:27 The End of Ring Knocker
- 01:19 Introducing John Galt Services
- 02:15 Discovering Indonesian Talent
- 04:06 The Business Proposition
- 08:37 The Start of a New Venture
- 15:45 Recruitment and Skill Matching
- 17:43 Goals and Future Plans
- 19:06 Expanding Services and Competitive Landscape
- 22:43 Journey to Indonesia and Life in Bali
- 24:52 Creating Opportunities and Making a Difference
- 26:36 Future Plans and Business Connections
- 28:03 A Story of Barbecue and Cultural Fusion
Connect with Jason:
If you found value in today’s episode, don’t keep it to yourself—share it with a colleague or friend who could benefit. And if you’re a Service Academy graduate ready to elevate your business, we’d love for you to join our community and get started today.
Make sure you never miss an episode—subscribe now and help support the show:
- Apple Podcasts
- Spotify
- Leave us a 5-star review!
A special thank you to Jason for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Need financing for your next investment property? Visit: https://www.academyfund.com/
Want to join us in San Antonio, TX on June 11th & 12th? Visit: https://www.10xvets.com/events
____
Mario Cortizo is the Founder and President of Maerco Consulting, helping companies expand into Panama and Latin America through strategic market entry, partnerships, and business development support. A West Point graduate and seasoned entrepreneur, Mario combines disciplined leadership with a deep understanding of regional growth opportunities.
His career highlights include leading business development for companies with over 200 million users, managing $2 billion infrastructure initiatives, and representing Panama in the 2022 Young Leaders of the Americas Entrepreneurship Program.
At Maerco Consulting, Mario specializes in diagnosing challenges, identifying new markets, and building partnerships that drive long-term success. With multicultural experience and fluency in four languages, he is uniquely positioned to help companies navigate the Latin American landscape.
Known for his hands-on leadership and commitment to innovation, Mario is focused on helping businesses expand, thrive, and create meaningful impact across borders.
In this episode of the SABM podcast, Scott chats with Mario about:
- West Point Legacy: Mario is the first Panamanian West Point grad since 1987, continuing his father's legacy.
- Founder of MI Consulting: He helps U.S. companies enter the Panama and Latin America markets.
- Strategic Panama Advantage: Panama offers tax incentives, U.S. dollar stability, and top-tier infrastructure to global businesses.
- Clients from Startups to Multinationals: His firm supports companies ranging from early-stage brands to tech giants with 600M+ users.
- Actively Seeking U.S. Partners: He's building the brand and welcomes referrals from businesses interested in expanding to Latin America.
Timestamps:
- 01:39 Journey to West Point
- 03:41 Starting MI Consulting
- 05:52 Why Panama is a Business Hub
- 11:31 Future Goals and Vision
Connect with Mario:
- Email: mariocortizo@hotmail.com
If you found value in today’s episode, don’t keep it to yourself—share it with a colleague or friend who could benefit. And if you’re a Service Academy graduate ready to elevate your business, we’d love for you to join our community and get started today.
Make sure you never miss an episode—subscribe now and help support the show:
- Apple Podcasts
- Spotify
- Leave us a 5-star review!
A special thank you to Mario for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Need financing for your next investment property? Visit: https://www.academyfund.com/
Want to join us in San Antonio, TX on June 11th & 12th? Visit: https://www.10xvets.com/events
____
Chris Coughlan is the Founder and CEO of C Infinity Solutions, a digital consultancy helping companies turn big ideas into scalable, AI-powered products. A Naval Academy graduate and former intelligence officer, Chris blends military precision with business innovation to drive real results.
After leadership roles at IBM, Wizeline, and Atrium, he launched C Infinity to rethink how businesses build technology — faster, smarter, and with fewer barriers. His team specializes in helping founders and enterprises bring new products to market, modernize operations, and scale with confidence. Known for his hands-on leadership and focus on execution, Chris is helping redefine what technology partnerships can achieve.
In this episode of the SABM podcast, Scott chats with Chris about:
- The Start of C Infinity Solutions: Combining military experience and business strategy to help companies build scalable digital products.
- How They Stand Out: Speeding up product development by turning ideas into full engineering specs in just four hours.
- Chris’s Path: From Navy leadership to IBM sales and strategy, then founding a digital consultancy focused on growth through technology.
- Lessons Learned: Bridging the gap between business goals and tech execution, while using AI to streamline and scale.
- What’s Next: Growing C Infinity’s client base, launching a SaaS product, and building a portfolio of tech-enabled companies.
Timestamps:
- 00:39 Chris's Journey from Military to Tech
- 01:23 Overview of C Infinity Solutions
- 02:28 Exciting Projects and Use Cases
- 08:01 Team Composition and Skills
- 11:25 Innovative AI Tools and Methodologies
- 18:27 Future Goals and Vision
- 22:56 Connecting with Founders and Veterans
Connect with Chris:
- Email: chris@cinfinitysolutions.com
If you found value in today’s episode, don’t keep it to yourself—share it with a colleague or friend who could benefit. And if you’re a Service Academy graduate ready to elevate your business, we’d love for you to join our community and get started today.
Make sure you never miss an episode—subscribe now and help support the show:
- Apple Podcasts
- Spotify
- Leave us a 5-star review!
A special thank you to Chris for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Need financing for your next investment property? Visit: https://www.academyfund.com/
Want to join us in San Antonio, TX on June 11th & 12th? Visit: https://www.10xvets.com/events
____
Jeff Servello is a seasoned leader and trusted Principal Advisor specializing in executive coaching, leadership development, and crisis response. A U.S. Naval Academy graduate, he also holds a Master of Professional Studies in Leadership, Education, and Development from the University of Maryland.
Over the past 20 years, Jeff has led award-winning teams, managed billion-dollar resources, and coached cross-functional units to high performance in complex environments. He piloted multi-functional operations supporting global missions, oversaw $5M budgets, and directed the professional development of over 700 emerging leaders. As chief architect of an enterprise-wide talent plan, he increased retention rates by 12% and streamlined candidate screening for 800+ individuals annually.
Today, Jeff partners with new and emerging leaders through Provision Advisors, helping them scale and sustain growth. His passion lies in empowering small business owners and future leaders to reach their full potential.
In this episode of the SABM podcast, Scott chats with Jeff about:
- The Start of Provision Advisors: Turning years of Navy mentorship and leadership into a business helping teams perform at their best.
- How They Stand Out: Helping leaders prevent crises before they happen and communicate clearly when they do.
- Jeff’s Path: From Navy XO and CO to executive coach, partnering with his brother to grow the firm.
- Lessons Learned: Adapting military leadership skills to business, learning the art of sales, and understanding how small shifts in mindset drive big results.
- What’s Next: Expanding his coaching practice and helping businesses scale with stronger, more resilient teams.
Timestamps:
- 00:59 Journey into Coaching
- 01:54 Provision Advisors and Family Dynamics
- 04:44 Coaching Philosophy and Techniques
- 10:34 Leadership Lessons from the Navy
- 17:31 Tools and Assessments for Effective Coaching
- 26:27 Goals and Future Aspirations
- 30:07 Connecting and Networking
Connect with Jeff:
- https://calendly.com/jeffservello
If you found value in today’s episode, don’t keep it to yourself—share it with a colleague or friend who could benefit. And if you’re a Service Academy graduate ready to elevate your business, we’d love for you to join our community and get started today.
Make sure you never miss an episode—subscribe now and help support the show:
- Apple Podcasts
- Spotify
- Leave us a 5-star review!
A special thank you to Jeff for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Need financing for your next investment property? Visit: https://www.academyfund.com/
Want to join us in San Antonio, TX on June 11th & 12th? Visit: https://www.10xvets.com/events
____
Jeff Tegman is the Vice President of LCAB Holdings, a veteran-owned holding company redefining how the commercial construction industry attracts talent, maintains quality, and drives operational excellence. An Army veteran with an MBA in Engineering Management, Jeff leads LCAB’s strategy of acquiring specialized construction companies, building a resilient network that addresses industry fragmentation and labor shortages while raising the standard for subcontractor performance.
With a disciplined, long-term approach to leadership and growth, Jeff is committed to shaping a more efficient and sustainable future for commercial construction. He also mentors veterans and military spouses through American Corporate Partners (ACP) and serves as a Parent Advisory Group Member for DC Public Schools.
In this episode of the SABM podcast, Scott chats with Jeff about:
- From Fragmentation to Opportunity: How Jeff and LCAB Holdings are solving the $500B construction productivity gap through strategic acquisitions.
- Scaling Through Cross-Selling: Building a diversified portfolio of construction trades to unlock new growth across customer networks.
- Leading Change with EOS: Why implementing the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) is critical to successful post-acquisition integration.
- Investing in the Full Picture: How LCAB structures investments to give investors exposure to an entire portfolio, not just one company.
- Building the Future with Talent: Why recruiting veterans and strong leaders is the key to scaling LCAB’s vision across new markets.
Timestamps:
- 00:48 Overview of LCAB Holdings
- 01:32 Challenges and Opportunities in the Construction Industry
- 04:08 Investment Strategy and Acquisition Process
- 06:34 Geographic Focus and Market Expansion
- 12:04 Acquisition Integration and Best Practices
- 18:44 Funding and Investor Relations
- 21:27 Personal Insights and Future Goals
- 35:48 Conclusion and Contact Information
Connect with Jeff:
- Email: jeff@lcabholdings.com
- www.lcabholdings.com
If you found value in today’s episode, don’t keep it to yourself—share it with a colleague or friend who could benefit. And if you’re a Service Academy graduate ready to elevate your business, we’d love for you to join our community and get started today.
Make sure you never miss an episode—subscribe now and help support the show:
- Apple Podcasts
- Spotify
- Leave us a 5-star review!
A special thank you to Jeff for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Need financing for your next investment property? Visit: https://www.academyfund.com/
Want to join us in San Antonio, TX on June 11th & 12th? Visit: https://www.10xvets.com/events
____
Jeff Martinovich is a seasoned business advisor, entrepreneur, and U.S. Air Force veteran with a background in finance, leadership, and strategic growth. A former Gulf War officer, he went on to build a billion-dollar investment firm, gaining firsthand experience in high-performance leadership and navigating complexity under pressure. After a highly public legal battle that reshaped his views on resilience and integrity, Jeff now channels his experience into helping leaders grow with purpose and clarity.
As a partner at ASH Business Advisory, he works alongside fellow Air Force Academy grads to support early-stage and mid-market companies through capital, executive support, and operational strategy. He’s the author of When Not If, a Forbes Books bestseller on leading through adversity, and speaks nationally on business growth, accountability, and principled leadership. Today, Jeff is focused on helping entrepreneurs lead with confidence, scale intentionally, and build businesses that make a lasting impact.
In this episode of the SABM podcast, Scott chats with Jeff about:
- From Billion-Dollar Firm to Prison: Jeff's journey from leading a billion-dollar investment firm to facing incarceration.
- Turning Time Into Opportunity: How Jeff studied law behind bars and earned early release from a 14-year sentence.
- Purpose-Driven Business: Helping small companies grow through Ash Business Advisory.
- Hard-Earned Wisdom: Authoring two books to share lessons from failure, redemption, and rebuilding.
- Championing Founders: Jeff now mentors entrepreneurs, offering strategic guidance to help them grow with clarity and integrity.
Timestamps:
- 01:00 Jeff's Background Before 2012
- 02:07 The Crazy Story Begins
- 05:38 Surviving Prison and Helping Others
- 08:50 Life After Prison
- 12:39 Lessons Learned and Business Ventures
- 15:55 The Power of Sharing Stories
Connect with Jeffrey:
- Email: jam@jeffmartinovich.com
- https://www.jeffmartinovich.com/
If you found value in today’s episode, don’t keep it to yourself—share it with a colleague or friend who could benefit. And if you’re a Service Academy graduate ready to elevate your business, we’d love for you to join our community and get started today.
Make sure you never miss an episode—subscribe now and help support the show:
- Apple Podcasts
- Spotify
- Leave us a 5-star review!
A special thank you to Jeff for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Need financing for your next investment property? Visit: https://www.academyfund.com/
Want to join us in San Antonio, TX on June 11th & 12th? Visit: https://www.10xvets.com/events
____
Mike Brumagin is a U.S. Army veteran, West Point graduate, and co-founder of Battle Monument Group, a private real estate investment firm specializing in single-tenant net lease properties. After earning the Bronze Star for his leadership during Operation Desert Storm, Mike spent over a decade building and managing national restaurant franchises before shifting his focus to real estate.
At Battle Monument Group, he has led the acquisition of more than 100 properties across 20 states, primarily focused on mission-critical retail tenants like Dollar General. Through eight successful fundraises—entirely through relationships with veterans, advisors, and private investors—Mike has built a model centered on trust, long-term value, and predictable cash flow.
His approach reflects a disciplined commitment to stable, income-producing assets in underserved markets, with a long-term vision to scale the portfolio beyond 500 properties. Mike and his team are positioning BMG for a strategic REIT exit while continuing to support investors who value transparency, alignment, and operational excellence.
In this episode of the SABM podcast, Scott chats with Mike about:
- From Army to Arby’s: Mike’s path from West Point and Desert Storm to leading major restaurant franchises.
- Real Estate Pivot: Co-founded Battle Monument Group, focusing on single-tenant net lease properties like Dollar General.
- Predictable Profits: Built a niche strategy around stable, high-yield corporate leases in rural America.
- Investor-Led Growth: Raised eight funds through trusted relationships with veterans and advisors—no institutional capital.
- Scaling for Exit: Targeting 500+ properties to position BMG for REIT acquisition or strategic sale.
Timestamps:
- 01:03 Mike's Background and Career Journey
- 02:38 Transition to Real Estate: Battle Monument Group
- 03:18 Franchise Ventures and Personal Anecdotes
- 04:25 Battle Monument Group's Strategy and Growth
- 08:16 Fundraising and Investor Relations
- 12:35 Wealth Advisory Groups and Investment Strategies
- 24:30 Delaware Statutory Trusts (DSTs) Explained
Connect with Mike:
- Email: mbrumagin@battlemonument.com
- Battle Monument Group
If you found value in today’s episode, don’t keep it to yourself—share it with a colleague or friend who could benefit. And if you’re a Service Academy graduate ready to elevate your business, we’d love for you to join our community and get started today.
Make sure you never miss an episode—subscribe now and help support the show:
- Apple Podcasts
- Spotify
- Leave us a 5-star review!
A special thank you to Mike for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Need financing for your next investment property? Visit: https://www.academyfund.com/
Want to join us in San Antonio, TX on June 11th & 12th? Visit: https://www.10xvets.com/events
____
Patrick E. Alcorn is a business strategist, veteran, and leadership coach committed to empowering entrepreneurs and organizations. As Director of the Veterans Business Outreach Center, he supports military-connected business owners at every stage of growth.
A former combat engineer and West Point graduate, Patrick applies strategic thinking and leadership to drive economic development and innovation. He founded Business Beyond the Battlefield Conference to foster community and provide resources for veteran entrepreneurs navigating business ownership. As a Maxwell Leadership Certified Coach, he mentors executives and emerging leaders, helping them advance into senior roles. Through his work, Patrick is reshaping perceptions of veteran entrepreneurship and highlighting the impact of veteran-led businesses on the economy and local communities.
In this episode of the SABM podcast, Scott chats with Patrick about:
- Empowering Military Entrepreneurs: Business Beyond the Battlefield Conference provides education, inspiration, and networking for veteran business owners.
- Expanding Veteran Business Outreach: Veterans Business Outreach Center (VBOC) offers free business resources to veterans across Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Nevada.
- Changing the Narrative: Advocating for veterans as leaders, innovators, and economic drivers beyond their military service.
- Scaling Through Sponsorship: Seeking a title sponsor to expand Business Beyond the Battlefield.
- Coaching Future Leaders: Maxwell Leadership-certified coaching helps professionals transition into executive roles.
- Building a Lasting Legacy: Positioning Business Beyond the Battlefield for long-term success under a nonprofit.
Timestamps:
- 01:06 Military Background and Family
- 01:53 Entrepreneurial Journey
- 02:11 Business Beyond the Battlefield Conference
- 05:28 Conference Evolution and Impact
- 12:48 Changing the Veteran Narrative
- 19:17 Coaching and John Maxwell Affiliation
- 22:45 Goals and Future Plans
Connect with Patrick:
- Email: alcornttg@gmail.com
- Change the Narrative video: (HERE)
- Business Beyond the Battlefield Conference (BBBC)
- BBBC Sponsorship Opportunities
- Veterans Business Outreach Center Program
- Patrick E Alcorn Executive Coaching
If you found value in today’s episode, don’t keep it to yourself—share it with a colleague or friend who could benefit. And if you’re a Service Academy graduate ready to elevate your business, we’d love for you to join our community and get started today.
Make sure you never miss an episode—subscribe now and help support the show:
- Apple Podcasts
- Spotify
- Leave us a 5-star review!
A special thank you to Patrick for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Need financing for your next investment property? Visit: https://www.academyfund.com/
Want to join us in San Antonio, TX on June 11th & 12th? Visit: https://www.10xvets.com/events
____
Schuyler Williamson is an accomplished leader with a background in business, real estate, and mentorship. A West Point graduate and former college baseball player, he brings a competitive mindset and strategic approach to every endeavor. As the founder of Williamson Group Real Estate, he has built a thriving business as a real estate professional, investor, and entrepreneur.
As the author of The Steady Leader, Schuyler shares his expertise in leadership and personal development. Passionate about mentorship, he volunteers with SCORE Mentors to guide entrepreneurs and supports individuals with cognitive disabilities at Marbridge. He also speaks on leadership, business strategy, and resilience, helping others navigate challenges with confidence. Today, Schuyler is focused on expanding his business, mentoring the next generation of leaders, and continuing to make an impact.
In this episode of the SABM podcast, Scott chats with Schuyler about:
- From West Point to Real Estate Leader: Schuyler’s journey from baseball player and military officer to building a thriving real estate business.
- The Power of Letting Go: Why handing off operations to the right leaders is key to business growth and personal freedom.
- Leading with Stability: The Steady Leader—Schuyler’s book on leadership models that drive long-term success in business.
- Scaling with Strategy: How EOS, Profit First, and 90-day planning drive success in his businesses.
- Turning Problems into Opportunities: How a vacant retail space led to launching a thriving laundromat franchise.
Timestamps:
- 01:28 Entrepreneurial Ventures in Austin
- 03:28 The Laundromat Business Model
- 06:09 Leadership and Delegation
- 09:54 Vision and Planning for Growth
- 15:21 The Steady Leader: Book Inspiration
- 21:57 The Essence of Brotherhood and Purpose
- 22:22 Spiritual Health and Leadership
- 22:56 Writing as a Gift to the World
- 23:25 A Leader's Journey: From Military to Business
- 25:57 The Transition to Real Estate
- 28:57 Learning the Math of Real Estate
- 29:35 Starting a Real Estate Team
- 31:07 The Entrepreneurial Model
- 32:59 Vision and Execution
- 36:54 The Importance of Vision and Planning
Connect with Schuyler:
- Email: info@wgrouprealestate.com
- https://www.wgrouprealestate.com/
If you found value in today’s episode, don’t keep it to yourself—share it with a colleague or friend who could benefit. And if you’re a Service Academy graduate ready to elevate your business, we’d love for you to join our community and get started today.
Make sure you never miss an episode—subscribe now and help support the show:
- Apple Podcasts
- Spotify
- Leave us a 5-star review!
A special thank you to Schuyler for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Need financing for your next investment property? Visit: https://www.academyfund.com/
Want to join us in San Antonio, TX on June 11th & 12th? Visit: https://www.10xvets.com/events
____
Claude Burns is a visionary entrepreneur, veteran, and startup founder transforming the workplace food and beverage industry. A former Navy Officer, he brings a mission-driven approach to leadership, strategy, and innovation.
As the Founder and CEO of Office Libations, he is redefining B2B food service with a tech-driven model that optimizes inventory, reduces costs, and enhances service. Competing with industry giants, Office Libations has rapidly expanded operations across multiple markets, serving Fortune 500 firms and high-growth startups with a seamless, scalable solution. By combining technology with hospitality, Claude has built a company that delivers both efficiency and exceptional service, reshaping how businesses approach workplace amenities.
With a strong foundation in operations and business growth, he is leading Office Libations toward national expansion, setting a new standard in workplace hospitality and industry innovation.
In this episode of the SABM podcast, Scott chats with Claude about:
- Revolutionizing Office Hospitality: Blending technology, efficiency, and premium service to transform workplace perks.
- Thriving Through Uncertainty: Overcoming the loss of 95% of revenue and staff, making tough decisions, and rebuilding through resilience and innovation.
- Taking on Industry Giants: Competing with legacy providers by delivering smarter, tech-driven solutions.
- Fueling Fortune 500 Workplaces: Providing top-tier coffee, snacks, and drinks to leading companies.
- Scaling for Impact: Expanding into new markets and redefining the future of workplace amenities.
Timestamps:
- 00:17 Reflecting on the Past: January 24th, 2020
- 01:13 Introduction to Office Libations
- 02:30 Impact of the Pandemic on Business
- 03:35 Surviving the Gauntlet: Strategies and Adaptations
- 08:16 Rebuilding and Innovating Post-Pandemic
- 14:11 Future Goals and Expansion Plans
- 23:51 Challenges and Opportunities Ahead
Connect with Claude Burns:
- Email: claude@officelibations.com
- Website: https://officelibations.com/about-us/
If you found value in today’s episode, don’t keep it to yourself—share it with a colleague or friend who could benefit. And if you’re a Service Academy graduate ready to elevate your business, we’d love for you to join our community and get started today.
Make sure you never miss an episode—subscribe now and help support the show:
- Apple Podcasts
- Spotify
- Leave us a 5-star review!
A special thank you to Claude Burns for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Need financing for your next investment property? Visit: https://www.academyfund.com/
Want to join us in San Antonio, TX on June 11th & 12th? Visit: https://www.10xvets.com/events
____
Corey Reiser is a former Army Artillery Officer, real estate investor, and founder of School of Grit. A Division I lacrosse player at the U.S. Military Academy, he built the discipline and resilience that shaped his career. After leaving the military, Corey applied those same principles to real estate, creating a successful portfolio and achieving financial freedom at a young age.
Through School of Grit, he shares hard-earned lessons on mental toughness, self-reliance, and overcoming obstacles. Whether leading in the Army, competing on the field, or navigating business challenges, he believes in pushing limits and learning through experience. Outside of work, Corey enjoys traveling and seeking out new challenges that expand his perspective.
In this episode of the SABM podcast, Scott chats with Corey about:
- From Military to Mission: Corey’s transition from a 10-year military career to founding the School of Grit.
- Fixing a Critical Gap: How the lack of financial education in the military inspired a mission to empower veterans.
- More Than Just Money: Teaching financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and the power of living with purpose.
- AI Meets Ambition: How ChatGPT and visualization techniques helped turn dreams into reality.
- Manifesting the Dream: The incredible story of how Corey’s vision led him to buy the perfect farm.
- The Grit Factor: How mindset, resilience, and education pave the way to financial freedom and fulfillment.
Timestamps:
- 00:32 Corey's Background and Journey
- 01:46 Founding the School of Grit
- 08:22 Core Values and Pillars of School of Grit
- 13:09 Leveraging AI for Goal Setting
- 16:21 Visualization and Achieving Goals
- 35:42 Connecting and Learning More
Connect with Corey Reiser:
- LinkedIn - Corey Reiser
- Email: corey@schoolofgrit.co
If you found value in today’s episode, don’t keep it to yourself—share it with a colleague or friend who could benefit. And if you’re a Service Academy graduate ready to elevate your business, we’d love for you to join our community and get started today.
Make sure you never miss an episode—subscribe now and help support the show:
- Apple Podcasts
- Spotify
- Leave us a 5-star review!
A special thank you to Corey for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Need financing for your next investment property? Visit: https://www.academyfund.com/
Want to join us in San Antonio, TX on June 11th & 12th? Visit: https://www.10xvets.com/events
____
David Baska is a dynamic leader with expertise in operations, finance, and strategic planning. As Chief Operating Officer at Swift Brands, he spearheads the company’s mission to revolutionize military-branded apparel and the broader apparel industry through innovative technology and U.S.-based on-demand manufacturing. A former officer in the U.S. Air Force, David served in space and military operations, earning honors such as the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, and later contributed as a program manager in the U.S. Space Force. An academy graduate and former collegiate baseball player, he brings a strong foundation in leadership and teamwork to his professional endeavors. David’s passion for innovation and dedication to excellence continue to drive meaningful advancements across industries, leaving a lasting impact.
In this episode of the SABM podcast, Scott chats with David about:
- The Vision for Swift Brands: Revolutionizing apparel with a vertically integrated tech and e-commerce platform.
- Innovative Solutions: Addressing supply chain issues with U.S.-based on-demand manufacturing for youth sports, schools, and military sectors.
- David’s Journey: From academy grad and baseball player to leader of Swift Brands and MadeinVSA.com.
- Simplifying Customization: Empowering schools, military units, and affinity groups to create and manage custom apparel lines effortlessly.
- Challenges and Future Goals: Tackling industry obstacles and aiming for impactful milestones in 2025.
- Ways to Collaborate: Opportunities to partner with Swift Brands and connect with David for support.
Timestamps:
- 00:25 Overview of Swift Brands
- 03:23 Understanding VSA and Its Market
- 09:46 Military Market and Vision
- 18:06 Future Goals and Challenges
Connect with David :
- LinkedIn - David B.
- www.madeinvsa.com
If you found value in today’s episode, don’t keep it to yourself—share it with a colleague or friend who could benefit. And if you’re a Service Academy graduate ready to elevate your business, we’d love for you to join our community and get started today.
Make sure you never miss an episode—subscribe now and help support the show:
- Apple Podcasts
- Spotify
- Leave us a 5-star review!
A special thank you to David for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Need financing for your next investment property? Visit: https://www.academyfund.com/
____
With 33 years of experience, David Chepauskas specializes in solving problems and maximizing opportunities for senior Wall Street professionals, business owners, executives, and retirees. He is a partner at Summit Financial LLC, a leading independent financial planning firm serving the NJ Tri-State area. David is passionate about working with veterans and service academy graduates, leveraging his network to help them achieve their business goals and build meaningful relationships. His expertise spans retirement, estate, insurance, investment, and income tax planning. David’s goal is to provide tailored financial strategies to meet the unique needs of his clients. He enjoys connecting people and fostering professional connections that lead to growth. David’s deep knowledge and personal approach have made him a trusted advisor in his field.
Show Notes:
In this episode of the SABM podcast, Scott chats with David about:
- The Unique Focus of David’s Firm: Tailored wealth-building strategies for academy graduates and veterans.
- Private Markets: The benefits of private equity, private credit, and private real estate, including higher returns and lower volatility.
- Portfolio Allocation: Why diversification is key to successful wealth management.
- Advanced Tax Strategies: Insights into tax-loss harvesting and direct indexing.
- Charitable Giving: Using philanthropy as a tool for managing high income and capital gains.
Timestamps:
- 00:49 Introducing the Unique Approach of Summit Financial
- 04:02 Diving into Private Market Investments
- 09:52 Understanding Portfolio Allocation
- 14:42 The Benefits and Drawbacks of Private Investments
- 21:50 Exploring Tax Loss Harvesting Strategies
- 31:15 Charitable Giving and Estate Planning
Connect with David :
- LinkedIn - David C.
- http://www.summitfinancial.com
If you found value in today’s episode, don’t keep it to yourself—share it with a colleague or friend who could benefit. And if you’re a Service Academy graduate ready to elevate your business, we’d love for you to join our community and get started today.
Make sure you never miss an episode—subscribe now and help support the show:
- Apple Podcasts
- Spotify
- Leave us a 5-star review!
A special thank you to David for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Need financing for your next investment property? Visit: https://www.academyfund.com/
____
Sean Mullin is an award-winning filmmaker known for his feature film debut, AMIRA & SAM, which won multiple film festivals and was distributed by Drafthouse Films. He co-wrote and co-produced SEMPER FI with Oscar-nominated director Henry-Alex Rubin, and produced ALLEGIANCE, both of which saw theatrical releases. Sean directed the documentary KINGS OF BEER and IT AIN’T OVER, the highest-grossing theatrical documentary of 2023, about baseball legend Yogi Berra. A former Army officer and first responder on 9/11, Sean holds an MFA from Columbia University and a B.S. from West Point. He is represented by UTA and runs Five By Eight Productions in Los Angeles.
In this episode of the SABM podcast, Scott chats with Sean about:
- Filmmaking with Sean Mullen: From West Point to filmmaking
- Family Influence: How Sean’s entrepreneurial roots shaped his creative vision.
- Notable Projects: It Ain’t Over, the West Point rugby doc, and working with Buzz Aldrin’s family.
- Building Five by Eight Productions: Growing a successful production company.
- Creative Wisdom: Sean’s advice on chasing passion and making it in the film world
Timestamps:
- 00:08 Sean's Unique Career Path
- 01:59 Early Influences and Creative Upbringing
- 04:24 Military Service and Transition to Filmmaking
- 08:18 First Feature Film: Amira and Sam
- 10:56 Documentary Journey: Kings of Beer and It Ain't Over
- 15:40 Current Projects and Teaching
- 25:07 Advice for Aspiring Filmmakers
Connect with Sean
Make sure you never miss an episode—subscribe now and help support the show:
- Apple Podcasts
- Spotify
- Leave us a 5-star review!
A special thank you to Sean Mullin for joining me this week. Until next time!
- Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Need financing for your next investment property? Visit: https://www.academyfund.com/
____
Michael Euperio - Michael is the Chief Operating Officer at Redeem Investments, overseeing operations for a firm specializing in commercial real estate and renewable energy projects. His military background has shaped his leadership style, emphasizing discipline, strategic thinking, and adaptability. Michael values strong teams and strategic partnerships, which are central to his work at Redeem. As a founder and managing principal at K2DM Capital, he focuses on multifamily real estate investment. His approach prioritizes collaboration, integrity, and innovative strategies to achieve shared success.
Christian Catron - Christian Catron has over 20 years of healthcare experience and has transitioned into real estate investment, specializing in strategic redevelopments and adaptive reuse projects in high-growth markets. As a co-founder of a visionary real estate firm, he collaborates with Michael, a seasoned professional in high-tech and private equity. Together, they transform underutilized properties in the Texas Triangle into high-demand assets aligned with emerging market trends. Drawing on their backgrounds as West Point graduates and veterans, Christian and Michael emphasize integrity, excellence, and strategic partnerships. Christian’s expertise lies in navigating complex transactions and maximizing returns through innovative renovations. He welcomes connections with professionals passionate about real estate innovation, healthcare, or veteran initiatives.
Transforming Real Estate: Michael and Christian’s Vision for Purpose-Driven Projects
- Shared Vision: How Michael and Christian’s paths crossed at a West Point real estate conference.
- Innovative Strategy: Repurposing vacant offices for medical use based on market trends.
- Notable Projects: Converting an office building into a Marriott and a Best Buy into a medical center.
- Mission-Driven Growth: The role of relationships in their sustainable real estate approach.
- Get Involved: Opportunities for brokers, investors, and developers to join their mission.
Timestamps:
- 00:27 How We Met and Became Business Partners
- 03:50 Our Real Estate Journey and Redeem Investments
- 05:10 Pivoting to New Opportunities
- 07:43 Case Studies and Success Stories
- 21:47 Future Goals and Vision
- 24:32 How You Can Help and Get Involved
Connect with Michael & Chris :
- LinkedIn - Michael E.
- LinkedIn - Christian Catron
- https://redeeminvestments.com/
If you found value in today’s episode, don’t keep it to yourself—share it with a colleague or friend who could benefit. And if you’re a Service Academy graduate ready to elevate your business, we’d love for you to join our community and get started today.
Make sure you never miss an episode—subscribe now and help support the show:
- Apple Podcasts
- Spotify
- Leave us a 5-star review!
A special thank you to Michael and Christian for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Need financing for your next investment property? Visit: https://www.academyfund.com/
Want to join us in Tampa on January 28th? Visit: https://www.10xvets.com/events
____
Michael Mandarino is a seasoned financial advisor with over 20 years of experience in investment advisory and financial planning. As the owner of 123 Investing LLC and CEO of Soterios LLC, an SDVOSB, he specializes in faith-based investing, tax-advantaged strategies, retirement planning, and charitable giving solutions. Michael is dedicated to serving transitioning military officers, religious organizations, charities, and small businesses, offering expertise in planned giving and biblical-responsible investing. A West Point graduate and former U.S. Army Platoon Leader, Michael collaborates with CPAs and Enrolled Agents to ensure comprehensive financial oversight. His work has been featured in Proactive Advisor Magazine, and he educates others about investing through his YouTube channel.
MIchaal Mandarino’s Securities & Investment Advisory Services are offered through G.A. Repple & Company, a Registered Broker/Dealer & Investment Advisor Member FINRA & SIPC, 101 Normandy Road Casselberry, FL 32707 T. 407-339-9090.
The Vision Behind Faith-Driven Finance: Turning Experience into Purposeful Wealth Strategies
- Michael’s Journey: From West Point graduate and Army Platoon Leader to financial advisor in 2002.
- A Faith-Driven Mission: How a pivotal moment in 2012 led to specializing in biblical-responsible investing.
- Serving Veterans: Helping service members navigate military benefits and transitions.
- Expanding Expertise: Assisting high-net-worth clients with complex tax strategies and capital gains planning.
- Educational Impact: Growing a YouTube channel to 55,000+ subscribers with compliant financial content.
- Future Growth: Mentoring junior advisors and acquiring books of business to expand his practice.
Timestamps:
- 00:47 Michael's Background and Career Journey
- 02:37 Finding a Niche in Financial Advising
- 05:35 Faith and Business: A Unique Approach
- 09:48 Short and Long Term Goals
- 13:11 The YouTube Endeavor
- 19:47 Challenges and Support
Connect with Michael
- YouTube
- 123-Investing
- Email: mmandarino@123-investing.com
- Phone or text: (813) 710 - 4123
If you found value in today’s episode, don’t keep it to yourself—share it with a colleague or friend who could benefit. And if you’re a Service Academy graduate ready to elevate your business, we’d love for you to join our community and get started today.
Make sure you never miss an episode—subscribe now and help support the show:
- Apple Podcasts
- Spotify
- Leave us a 5-star review!
A special thank you to Michael Mandarino for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Need financing for your next investment property? Visit: https://www.academyfund.com/
____
Gabe Smith is a leadership strategist and organizational development expert who blends military discipline, pastoral insight, and business acumen to drive transformational growth. As the founder of Altitude Consulting, LLC, he coaches leaders to navigate challenges and achieve strategic clarity. A West Point graduate and Ranger-qualified Infantry Officer, Gabe served eight years in the Army, including leading operations in Mosul, Iraq, and during the 9/11 Pentagon response. Post-military, he held leadership roles at Forest Hill Church, Mesa Global, and New City Church, managing budgets and driving organizational growth. Gabe also co-founded the nonprofit East Mountain in South Africa and Pangea, focusing on leadership development. Based in Charlotte, North Carolina, he is dedicated to helping leaders clarify purpose and create lasting impact.
In this episode of the SABM podcast, Scott chats with Gabe about:
The Vision Behind Altitude Consulting: Transforming Leadership with Purpose
- Gabe’s Journey: From Army Infantry Officer to leadership strategist and coach.
- Defining Moments: How military and pastoral experiences shaped his coaching philosophy.
- Innovative Methods: Leadership lessons inspired by French culinary fundamentals.
- Collaborative Ventures: Partnering with his wife Janet in real estate and developing unique methodologies with Nicole Eunice.
- Purpose-Driven Focus: Helping leaders and entrepreneurs achieve clarity and growth.
- Looking Ahead: Expanding Altitude Consulting's impact on purpose-driven leadership.
Timestamps:
- 01:10 Gabe's Entrepreneurial Journey
- 02:06 Janet's Real Estate Ventures
- 04:27 The Birth of Altitude Consulting
- 05:37 Gabe's Coaching Philosophy
- 10:51 From Infantry to Chaplaincy
- 14:47 Leadership Development in South Africa
- 17:20 Future Goals and Challenges
- 24:07 How You Can Help
Connect with Gabe
- Altitude Consulting
If you found value in today’s episode, don’t keep it to yourself—share it with a colleague or friend who could benefit. And if you’re a Service Academy graduate ready to elevate your business, we’d love for you to join our community and get started today.
Make sure you never miss an episode—subscribe now and help support the show:
- Apple Podcasts
- Spotify
- Leave us a 5-star review!
A special thank you to Gabe Smith for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Need financing for your next investment property? Visit: https://www.academyfund.com/
Want to join us in Tampa on Janary 28th? Visit: https://www.10xvets.com/events
____
Patrick Deane is a former Marine Corps Officer and accomplished business leader with a knack for driving organizational success. As Director of Operations at KIS Solutions, he brings a wealth of experience from roles like Vice President of Customer Success at High Level Marketing, where he managed over 1,200 clients and $23M in ARR. He showcased his entrepreneurial side as the founder of Line of Departure Fitness, crafting a unique, holistic approach to fitness coaching. At UKG, Patrick led a 12-person team through a major workforce management software implementation during a high-profile merger. Known for his strategic planning and team-building skills, Patrick’s career is rooted in a dedication to process improvement and empowering others to excel.
In this episode of the SABM podcast, Scott chats with Patrick about:
The Story Behind KIS Solutions: Transforming the enterprise tech landscape
- Military Foundations: How Patrick applied his Marine Corps discipline and operational expertise to scale the company.
- A Unique Start: Founded by Ben Quintana to address the lack of quality technical vendors for enterprise clients.
- Nearshore Model: Building a 100-person team in Brazil with plans to expand into Colombia and Mexico City.
- Growth Without Sales: Scaling entirely through referrals and delivering custom solutions for enterprise clients.
- Solving Enterprise Challenges: Providing alternatives to rigid "70% fit" software with adaptable, custom-built solutions.
- Future Vision: Expanding talent pipelines, securing new clients, and helping startups integrate AI capabilities.
Timestamps:
- 00:31 Joining 10X Vets and Unique Skillset
- 01:13 About KIS Solutions
- 02:26 Company Origins and Operations
- 04:28 Brazilian Talent and Expansion
- 06:44 Personal Journey and Role
- 09:24 Ideal Customers and Sales Strategy
- 12:56 Goals for 2025 and Beyond
- 15:19 Challenges and Needs
- 18:13 Exciting Opportunities and Future Plans
Connect with Patrick
- KIS Solutions
If you found value in today’s episode, don’t keep it to yourself—share it with a colleague or friend who could benefit. And if you’re a Service Academy graduate ready to elevate your business, we’d love for you to join our community and get started today.
Make sure you never miss an episode—subscribe now and help support the show:
- Apple Podcasts
- Spotify
- Leave us a 5-star review!
A special thank you to Patrick Deane for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Need financing for your next investment property? Visit: https://www.academyfund.com/
Want to join us in Tampa on January 28th? Visit: https://www.10xvets.com/events
____
Mike Bristol is a seasoned innovator with a legacy of excellence in defense, technology, and communications. A West Point graduate, he has held executive roles at organizations like Comtech Command & Control Technologies and Oracle Corporation. As Founder and Chief Strategy Officer of Fairwinds Technologies, he built a thriving systems integrator, delivering secure communication solutions for the DoD and emergency management communities. Known for his entrepreneurial vision and expertise in government sales and program management, Mike now invests in and mentors entrepreneurs while enjoying golf, poker, and time with his eight children. His career reflects a relentless drive for growth and meaningful impact.
In this episode of the SABM podcast, Scott chats with Mike about:
Mike’s Career Journey: From West Point to Executive Leadership
- Strategic Growth: Scaling a $24M government business unit into a $300M operation in 12 years.
- Entrepreneurial Leap: Founding Fairwinds Technologies and growing it to $144M before a successful exit.
- Leadership Philosophy: Belief in “nothing happens until the cash register rings,” highlighting the importance of sales.
- Team Building: Creating high-performing teams through performance reviews and metrics-driven meetings.
- Smart Hiring: Emphasizing hiring experts smarter than himself and fostering ego-free leadership.
- New Chapter: Transitioning from executive roles to investing and mentoring entrepreneurs.
- Commitment to Growth: Pursuing personal development through golf, poker, and continuous learning.
Timestamps:
- 00:17 Mike's Journey to Retirement
- 01:20 Career Highlights and Achievements
- 04:11 Building a Saleable Company
- 09:24 Transition to Full-Time Investor
- 14:13 Philosophy and Key Insights
- 22:09 Personal Interests and Hobbies
Connect with Michael
- mbristol1981@yahoo.com
Make sure you never miss an episode—subscribe now and help support the show:
- Apple Podcasts
- Spotify
- Leave us a 5-star review!
A special thank you to Mike Bristol for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Need financing for your next investment property? Visit: https://www.academyfund.com/
Want to join us in Tampa on Janary 28th? Visit: https://www.10xvets.com/events
____
Tom Aiello is a seasoned marketing executive with over 25 years of experience in corporate and entrepreneurial ventures. A West Point graduate with an MBA from Northwestern's Kellogg School of Management, he has led marketing initiatives for major brands like McDonald’s, Kenmore, and Craftsman. He held leadership roles at Monster Worldwide and Sears Holdings before founding MARCH Marketing, specializing in products for military and veteran families. In 2022, Tom launched Operation Good Boy, a military-inspired dog products company. He also serves as Chairperson of the Board for OnComms, a veteran-owned mobile telecommunications company.
In this episode, we discuss:
- How Tom incorporates military principles and leadership strategies to marketing, advertising, and running a business.
- How his experience at a major advertising agency taught him valuable lessons about consumer psychology, integrated marketing, and turning client criticism into opportunities.
- How his personal experience caring for his sick dog showed him the parallels between the loyalty and selflessness of dogs and military service members, inspiring him to start a military-inspired pets products company, Operation Good Boy.
- Operation Good Boy's rapid growth from zero retail presence in 2023 to commitments for 3,000 stores by 2025, including major retailers like Walmart and Tractor Supply, driven by their premium supplement formulations and military-themed product line.
- Their strategic pivot from a subscription box model to allowing customers more control over their orders, which dramatically increased average order value and demonstrated the importance of "failing fast" and learning from customer feedback.
- The critical importance for consumer brands to have a presence on Amazon along with customer reviews for securing retail distribution deals, and how proper Amazon optimization requires specialized expertise and strategic investment.
- Operation Good Boy's mission to transform pet health in America through education and premium products, while giving back to military working dog organizations and veteran support initiatives.
- How Operation Good Boy leverages military precision in product development, partnering with an airborne ranger veterinarian to ensure their supplements, treats, and toys exceed market standards for quality and effectiveness.
Connect with Tom
- Email: info@marchcorp.com
- March Marketing
- Operation Good Boy
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts & Spotify
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Tom Aiello for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Need financing for your next investment property? Visit: https://www.academyfund.com/
Want to join us in Tampa on Janary 28th? Visit: https://www.10xvets.com/events
____
"Fitness has always been an important part of my life as a former Green Beret and college athlete.. I didn’t want to give that up." - Nick Perkins, USMA '12
Nick Perkins is a dynamic leader with a unique blend of military, entrepreneurial, and investment expertise. A former Green Beret, he spent nearly a decade leading high-stakes missions and diplomatic roles, earning multiple commendations. He co-founded The Operation Baby Foundation, a nonprofit that has awarded over $140K in grants to help military couples overcome infertility. Nick also founded Club Green, a first-of-its-kind holistic social club focused on wellness and connection. A Wharton MBA and two-time Penn Wharton Innovation Fund winner, he honed his private equity skills by developing strategic insights in the fertility sector. Outside of work, he enjoys traveling, staying active, and exploring the outdoors with his wife, Emma. Today, Nick is focused on helping startups grow, especially in Chief of Staff roles, where his leadership and strategic vision leave a lasting impact.
In this episode of the SABM podcast, Scott chats with Nick about:
The Inspiration Behind Club Green: Turning a vision into a modern sport and social club.
- A Unique Offering: Blending gym, spa, lounge amenities, and indoor golf technology.
- Nick’s Journey: From Green Beret to entrepreneur and founder of Club Green.
- Challenges and Wins: The realities of launching a first-of-its-kind concept.
- Looking Ahead: Upcoming milestones and future goals for Club Green.
- How to Get Involved: Ways to support, join, or connect with the community.
Timestamps:
- 01:14 What is Club Green?
- 02:25 Target Audience and Market Positioning
- 06:12 Fitness and Golf Integration
- 08:05 Partnerships and Fitness Programs
- 12:39 Current Progress and Challenges
- 20:03 Future Vision and Expansion Plans
Connect with Nick:
- Club Green
- Email: Nperk23@wharton.upenn.edu
If you found value in today’s episode, don’t keep it to yourself—share it with a colleague or friend who could benefit. And if you’re a Service Academy graduate ready to elevate your business, we’d love for you to join our community and get started today.
Make sure you never miss an episode—subscribe now and help support the show:
- Apple Podcasts
- Spotify
- Leave us a 5-star review!
A special thank you to Nick Perkins for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Are you a real estate investor in need of financing for your next investment property? If so, the Academy Fund has you covered! Whether you need short term financing for “fix-and-flip” projects, land development, or new construction or you need long term financing for single family or multi family rentals, we are your reliable financial partner. Our mission is to bridge the gaps often left by conventional banking institutions, making sure your real estate dreams become reality.
And for accredited investors looking to earn purpose driven passive income while supporting military veteran real estate investors, the Academy Fund is the perfect opportunity. Our short term loans are powered by capital from investors like you, who receive monthly distributions.
To learn more, visit AcademyFund.com.
Are you ready to connect, grow, and have some serious fun? Reserve your spot now for our upcoming event at The Tampa Club in Tampa, Florida, on January 28th. Space is limited to just 30 participants, so act fast to secure your place.
Join us for an unforgettable experience filled with camaraderie, inspiration, and personal growth alongside like-minded individuals who share your values and ambitions.
To learn more and reserve your spot, visit 10xvets.com/events.
____________
Don Grier is a seasoned technology executive with over 30 years of experience delivering innovative and impactful solutions for diverse clients and industries. As the Founder and Managing Partner of Wellness Leadership LLC, Don helps organizations achieve excellence while caring for their people.
In this episode, we discuss:
- How Don's career evolved from West Point graduate and Army Captain to Managing Director at Accenture to eventually creating his company Wellness Leadership LLC
- His dramatic personal transformation story of losing 170 pounds in one year while maintaining a demanding executive travel schedule, sparked by a 3 AM fall outside his office.
- How he grew a new Accenture venture from zero to 1,000 people, building a delivery center and implementing critical eligibility determination software.
- His innovative approach to global project management, incorporating cultural awareness and wellness principles into traditional methodologies, including the development of his "Well-Led Project Framework."
- The importance of his "relationship map" methodology for project success, matching team members' strengths with stakeholder relationships to optimize communication and outcomes.
- His systematic approach to personal wellness transformation, built on five key pillars: tracking metrics, progressive fitness goals, maintaining a strong "why," prioritizing sleep, and having a consistent prayer and meditation practice.
- His commitment to building and nurturing community and accountability, demonstrated through his ongoing participation in his Weight Watchers community, doing volunteer work, and developing corporate wellness programs.
Connect with Don:
- Wellness Leadership LLC
- Podcast: Change Well by Wellness Leadership LLC
Book and App Recommendations:
- The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business by Charles Duhigg
- Streaks - habit tracking app
- Halo - mindfulness and meditation app
Special thanks to Don Grier for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Are you a real estate investor in need of financing for your next investment property? If so, the Academy Fund has you covered! Whether you need short term financing for “fix-and-flip” projects, land development, or new construction or you need long term financing for single family or multi family rentals, we are your reliable financial partner. Our mission is to bridge the gaps often left by conventional banking institutions, making sure your real estate dreams become reality.
And for accredited investors looking to earn purpose driven passive income while supporting military veteran real estate investors, the Academy Fund is the perfect opportunity. Our short term loans are powered by capital from investors like you, who receive monthly distributions.
To learn more, visit AcademyFund.com.
Are you ready to connect, grow, and have some serious fun? Reserve your spot now for our upcoming event at The Tampa Club in Tampa, Florida, on January 28th. Space is limited to just 30 participants, so act fast to secure your place.
Join us for an unforgettable experience filled with camaraderie, inspiration, and personal growth alongside like-minded individuals who share your values and ambitions.
To learn more and reserve your spot, visit 10xvets.com/events.
______________
Jared Ogden is a distinguished military veteran and successful entrepreneur who has dedicated his career to national security, tactical training, and veteran support. As CEO and Co-founder of Triumph Systems, he leads a company that designs and manufactures innovative firearm training tools and technology systems for civilians, law enforcement, and military personnel.
In this episode, we discuss:
- How Jared's childhood dream of becoming a Navy SEAL led him to the Naval Academy and his service as both a Surface Warfare Officer and Naval Special Warfare Officer.
- Jared’s transition from military service to entrepreneurship, including how he co-founded Triumph Systems and grew it to nearly $6 million in lifetime sales over eight years.
- How he and his team made a strategic pivot during the COVID pandemic from physical targeting systems to technology-based solutions, resulting in the development of BRASS App, a revolutionary shooting performance tracking platform.
- How Triumph Systems created the "world's first digital range" by integrating software that measures shooting metrics and enables users to compete virtually with others.
- Triumph Systems’ innovative approach to democratizing shooting sports training by offering free technology that replaces traditional $150 shot timers, making performance tracking accessible to the 56 million target shooters in the United States.
- His commitment to finding synergies between special operations and law enforcement training methodologies through technology and innovative product design.
- The company's growth strategy, including current fundraising efforts focused on sales, marketing, and R&D, to expand their user base and transition to a subscription model.
- Jared's vision for the future of Triumph Systems, including plans for integrating their turning target system with decision-making tracking software for law enforcement training.
Connect with Jared
- Triumph Systems
- Brass App
- Email: jared@triumph-systems.com
Special thanks to Jared Ogden for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Today we’re celebrating episode 300 of the SABM Podcast! To mark this incredible milestone, I sat down again with my good friend Ginni Guiton, who interviewed me in February 2020 for episode 100 and in February 2022 for episode 200. At the time of this recording, the SABM Podcast has received almost 200,000 downloads! So many great things have happened since Ginni and I spoke in 2020 and 2022. I’m grateful for this opportunity to thank our listeners as I reflect on the progress we’ve made and share our goals for the future.
In this episode, we discuss:
- The idea of "letting go" and being open to opportunities, as opposed to using brute force to achieve goals.
- Advice for anyone starting a business and the importance of loving your customers and getting that first sale.
- The evolution of different kinds of businesses: Strengths Mugs, 10X Vets, and the Academy Fund, and the unique scaling challenges that each business model presents.
- The concept of "collective victory" and how it aligns with Scott’s top Clifton Strengths.
- The impact of in-person events for 10X Vets and fostering authentic connections.
- How the Academy Fund has grown through organic connections and introductions rather than traditional hiring processes.
- The importance of tapping into intuition and being open to unexpected opportunities in business and life.
- Ginni's perspective on creating space for miracles and allowing things to happen naturally rather than through constant effort.
It’s been another fantastic couple of years on the SABM Podcast. We’re thankful for your support and excited for the next 100 episodes!
Connect with Ginni and Scott:
- Ginni Guiton
- GG Hypnosis
- Scott Mackes
- 10X Vets
- Academy Fund
Book Recommendations
- Letting Go: The Pathway to Surrender by David R. Hawkins M.D. Ph.D and Peter Lownds PhD
- Atomic Habits by James Clear
- Don’t Believe Everything You Think by Joseph Nguyen
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Ginni for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Are you a real estate investor in need of financing for your next investment property? If so, the Academy Fund has you covered! Whether you need short term financing for “fix-and-flip” projects, land development, or new construction or you need long term financing for single family or multi family rentals, we are your reliable financial partner. Our mission is to bridge the gaps often left by conventional banking institutions, making sure your real estate dreams become reality.
And for accredited investors looking to earn purpose driven passive income while supporting military veteran real estate investors, the Academy Fund is the perfect opportunity. Our short term loans are powered by capital from investors like you, who receive monthly distributions.
To learn more, visit AcademyFund.com.
Are you ready to connect, grow, and have some serious fun? Reserve your spot now for our upcoming event at The Tampa Club in Tampa, Florida, on January 28th. Space is limited to just 30 participants, so act fast to secure your place.
Join us for an unforgettable experience filled with camaraderie, inspiration, and personal growth alongside like-minded individuals who share your values and ambitions.
To learn more and reserve your spot, visit 10xvets.com/events.
____________
Tom Connally is the Founder and President of Connally Consulting, LLC, a leadership development firm that transforms managers into leaders through strategic assessment and coaching. Drawing on his extensive military leadership experience, he helps organizations build cultures of performance by aligning their mission, strategy, and organizational dynamics.
In this episode, we discuss:
- How Tom evolved from 30 years of Marine Corps leadership through defense contracting to founding his company, Connally Consulting.
- How a heartfelt letter to his daughter about leadership was the catalyst to finding his true calling and writing a book.
- The profound realization that his corporate roles weren't aligned with his core mission of developing leaders, leading him to launch a consulting practice centered around helping managers become stronger leaders.
- Tom's systematic approach to leadership development, starting with helping clients identify their core values and creating alignment between their inner beliefs and outer actions.
- The critical connection between personal values and organizational performance.
- Tom's unique perspective on leadership coaching was shaped by commanding 22 organizations during his Marine Corps career, including insights learned from recruiting duty that became foundational to his coaching methodology.
- The evolution of Connally Consulting's service offerings into five distinct coaching programs.
- Tom's integration of business disciplines with his service-oriented mission, balancing pro bono work for nonprofits while building a sustainable coaching practice.
- His emphasis on written reflection and goal-setting as powerful tools for personal and professional development, demonstrated by his own practice of keeping written goals since 1989.
Connect with Tom
- Connally Consulting
- tom@connallyconsulting.com
Special thanks to Tom for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Are you a real estate investor in need of financing for your next investment property? If so, the Academy Fund has you covered! Whether you need short term financing for “fix-and-flip” projects, land development, or new construction or you need long term financing for single family or multi family rentals, we are your reliable financial partner. Our mission is to bridge the gaps often left by conventional banking institutions, making sure your real estate dreams become reality.
And for accredited investors looking to earn purpose driven passive income while supporting military veteran real estate investors, the Academy Fund is the perfect opportunity. Our short term loans are powered by capital from investors like you, who receive monthly distributions.
To learn more, visit AcademyFund.com.
Are you ready to connect, grow, and have some serious fun? Reserve your spot now for our upcoming event at The Tampa Club in Tampa, Florida, on January 28th. Space is limited to just 30 participants, so act fast to secure your place.
Join us for an unforgettable experience filled with camaraderie, inspiration, and personal growth alongside like-minded individuals who share your values and ambitions.
To learn more and reserve your spot, visit 10xvets.com/events.
_______
Gabriella (Gaby) Riffle-Gonzalez is the Founder and CEO of Antipolíticas Cigars, a premium cigar company that draws on her Cuban heritage and four generations of family expertise in the tobacco industry. Inspired by her family's resilience after leaving Cuba, she's reinventing the traditional cigar experience with a modern, celebratory focus. Gaby is currently working on expanding the Antipolíticas brand with a line of alcoholic beverages. In addition to being an entrepreneur, Gaby is a Real Estate Consultant with Berkshire Hathaway Home Services as she’s pursuing a master's degree in commercial real estate at Georgetown with plans to get her MBA at UNC Chapel Hill.
For a 10% discount at Antipolíticas Cigars, enter code: SABM10.
In this episode, we discuss:
- How Gaby transformed her Cuban family's tobacco heritage into Antipolíticas Cigars, a modern brand that celebrates nonconformity, success, avoiding political talk, and having a good time
- The story behind her uncle's preservation of their family's Cuban tobacco legacy by bringing seeds and expertise from Cuba to Nicaragua
- Her strategic approach to building a lifestyle brand, including partnerships with professional athletes and plans for future product lines
- How she balances multiple ventures, including real estate sales in three states, commercial investments, and pursuing dual masters degrees
- The transition from guaranteed military purpose to entrepreneurship, and her advice about trying multiple ventures to find your true passion
- Her commitment to investing 50% of Antipolíticas' proceeds into women's professional sports, inspired by her own journey as a former basketball player
- Her involvement with Unrivaled Basketball, a new women's professional league launching in January 2024 with TNT media rights
- The importance of having a supportive spouse and making strategic lifestyle choices to fund entrepreneurial dreams
- Her vision for the future: creating celebratory moments and advancing equity in women's athletics
- How she's learning to balance multiple pursuits and prioritize time management while building a lifestyle company with a strong brand
Connect with Gaby
- Contact Links
- Antipoliticas
Special thanks to Gaby Riffle-Gonzalez for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
"They've run hundreds of missions out here, and they’re an incredibly nimble group. They create their missions the day before, and then they push out that morning with those missions." - Alex Jarbo, U.S. Marine Corps ‘13 - ‘17
This podcast is a slight departure from the regular SABM Podcast episode because of the hurricanes that have devastated communities in the southeastern U.S. For this episode, we interviewed Alex Jarbo, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, 10X Vets Member, and resident of Asheville, North Carolina – an area that has been heavily impacted by Hurricane Helene. Alex and a team of heroic volunteers are working to help local residents with rescue and reconstruction efforts. In this episode, Alex describes his first-hand experience of what’s been happening on the ground and how people are coming together to help. To support their efforts, please consider donating to their GoFundMe campaign.
How You Can Help
As of this writing, 60 consistent volunteers, who will be up to 100 by this weekend, are running missions to help stranded, isolated, and hurricane-impacted residents in Western North Carolina There is an immediate need of $65,000 that will go towards chainsaws, fuel, and other supplies, with the eventual goal being $1,000,000, which will go into rebuilding roads and bridges in Western North Carolina.
The team is doing incredible work. For example, there’s an IV bag shortage and they were able to secure 10,000 IV Bags even before FEMA was able to, as FEMA is managing relief in multiple geographical areas impacted by multiple hurricanes.
Equip Aerial Recovery Volunteers to Rebuild Western North Carolina After Hurricane Helene
- GoFundMe
- Updates on Instagram
As a seasoned expert in the short-term rental industry, Alex Jarbo owns 16 successful properties and founded Open Atlas, an investment and management firm dedicated to developing and acquiring distinctive short-term rentals worldwide. Over the past seven years, Alex has coached over 5,000 students and provided personalized guidance to more than 300 individuals, helping them build thriving vacation rental businesses. He is the lead writer on short-term rentals for BiggerPockets, a real estate investing community, where his blog posts have reached over 500,000 readers in the past year. Alex's ambitious goal is to develop or acquire 1,000 unique micro resort units within the next five years.
Prior to his entrepreneurial journey, Alex served in the U.S. Marine Corps for 4.5 years as part of the Honor Guard in Washington, D.C. He holds an MBA specializing in Real Estate Development and is completing a Doctorate in Business with a focus on Leadership.
In this episode, we discuss:
- The unexpected impact of Hurricane Helene on inland areas, such as Asheville, North Carolina, including severe flooding, which has not been seen in over 100 years.
- The initial lack of communication and awareness about the severity of the storm, including the loss of cell phone reception, and the overwhelmed 911 emergency system.
- Alex and his wife turning their bed and breakfast property, Engadine Inn and Cabins, into a base for relief operations.
- The partnership with Aerial Recovery Group, a nonprofit organization specializing in disaster recovery, and how they joined forces to respond to the crisis.
- How relief efforts have evolved quickly, starting with an initial team of 8-10 volunteers, then 50, and with expectations the team will soon grow to more than 200 people.
- The diverse range of missions conducted by the relief team, including aerial rescues, road clearing, food and supply delivery, and medical assistance.
- The involvement of diverse helpers, including ex-special forces personnel, general contractors, electricians, and even local Amish taking horses into areas inaccessible to vehicles.
- The challenges faced by the local community, such as the collapse of Asheville's water system and the destruction of key infrastructure, including concrete and gravel factories.
- The fundraising efforts initiated by Alex and his team to support the relief operations, with a goal of raising $1 million.
- The focus on acquiring essential equipment, like heavy-duty chainsaws and communication gear, to enhance the efficiency of rescue and recovery operations.
- The potential long-term impact of these private relief efforts, emphasizing speed and flexibility, in responding to community needs.
Help Equip Aerial Recovery Volunteers to Rebuild Western North Carolina in the Aftermath of Hurricane Helene
- GoFundMe
- Updates on Instagram
Connect with Alex:
- Engadine Inns and Cabins
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts & Spotify
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Alex for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Are you a real estate investor in need of financing for your next investment property? If so, the Academy Fund has you covered! Whether you need short term financing for “fix-and-flip” projects, land development, or new construction or you need long term financing for single family or multi family rentals, we are your reliable financial partner. Our mission is to bridge the gaps often left by conventional banking institutions, making sure your real estate dreams become reality.
And for accredited investors looking to earn purpose driven passive income while supporting military veteran real estate investors, the Academy Fund is the perfect opportunity. Our short term loans are powered by capital from investors like you, who receive monthly distributions.
To learn more, visit AcademyFund.com.
Are you ready to connect, grow, and have some serious fun? Reserve your spot now for our upcoming event at The Tampa Club in Tampa, Florida, on January 28th. Space is limited to just 30 participants, so act fast to secure your place.
Join us for an unforgettable experience filled with camaraderie, inspiration, and personal growth alongside like-minded individuals who share your values and ambitions.
To learn more and reserve your spot, visit 10xvets.com/events.
_______
If you've ever worked on a really high performing team, it's just awesome. Everything seems easy. It's easier to come to work. Challenges seem easier. You're in a better mood when you go home." –Caleb Mancuso
Caleb Mancuso is a Founding Partner at Ayres Advisory Partners, a strategic business consultancy that specializes in helping mid-size and privately-held companies build organizational success. Caleb's diverse professional experience spans roles in military intelligence, plant management, logistics, and operations leadership. As a former U.S. Army officer with over five years of service, Caleb held various leadership roles, including Intelligence Program Officer and Program Director. Caleb's mission is to assist business owners in achieving new levels of success by identifying employee talents, setting clear goals, fine tuning business strategy, and fostering team engagement. His unique blend of military discipline and business acumen makes him a valuable asset in guiding high-caliber teams and driving organizational success. Caleb is currently writing a book about building high-performing teams.
In this episode, we discuss:
- How Caleb leveraged his experience from the Army to create his company Ayres Advisory Partners, which specializes in building high-performing teams.
- HIs experience serving as a Fire Detection Officer in the United Arab Emirates when ISIS took over a large portion of Iraq and Syria.
- The importance of role fit, as illustrated by the story of an E7 NCO who flourished in a new position during deployment.
- How he uses the Judgment Index™ tool to assess decision-making abilities and improve team performance and how it can be used by private equity and VC firms to screen potential investments and avoid "red flags" with founders.
- How to reduce employee turnover as exemplified by a health insurance company's success story.
- The value of partnerships and networking in business growth, particularly through programs like 10X Vets.
- Insights into writing a book, including setting a consistent writing schedule and knowing when to stop.
- Caleb's approach to goal-setting and his shot- and long-term visions for Ayres Advisory Partners.
- The challenges and opportunities of working with mid-sized, privately held companies
Connect with Caleb
- caleb@ayresap.com
- Ayres Advisory Partners
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts & Spotify
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Caleb for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Are you a real estate investor in need of financing for your next investment property? If so, the Academy Fund has you covered! Whether you need short term financing for “fix-and-flip” projects, land development, or new construction or you need long term financing for single family or multi family rentals, we are your reliable financial partner. Our mission is to bridge the gaps often left by conventional banking institutions, making sure your real estate dreams become reality.
And for accredited investors looking to earn purpose driven passive income while supporting military veteran real estate investors, the Academy Fund is the perfect opportunity. Our short term loans are powered by capital from investors like you, who receive monthly distributions.
To learn more, visit AcademyFund.com.
Are you ready to connect, grow, and have some serious fun? Reserve your spot now for our upcoming event at The Tampa Club in Tampa, Florida, on January 28th. Space is limited to just 30 participants, so act fast to secure your place.
Join us for an unforgettable experience filled with camaraderie, inspiration, and personal growth alongside like-minded individuals who share your values and ambitions.
To learn more and reserve your spot, visit 10xvets.com/events.
__
Nate Lamb is the Marketing Director at Joint Forces Roofing, a veteran-owned commercial roofing company dedicated to providing top-tier roofing solutions with integrity and excellence. The team, made up of veterans and industry experts, is committed to delivering superior service and quality workmanship. Honoring their military roots, they infuse discipline, commitment, and a strong work ethic into every aspect of their work. Nate is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Economics. He further enhanced his business acumen by completing an MBA at Johns Hopkins University's Carey Business School.
In this episode, we discuss:
- Nate's unique path as an older student at the Naval Academy and how he over-compensated for his self-described lack of “smarts” with hard work and dedication.
- Nate's transition from naval service to the roofing industry, and how he identified a customer-centric niche in roof life extension services.
- The unique approach of Joint Forces Roofing, focusing on rehabilitating and extending the life of existing commercial roofs instead of pushing premature replacements on customers.
- Nate's short-term and long-term revenue goals for the company, and his commitment to growing the business for the long haul.
- The importance of educating potential clients about a novel approach and getting them to understand the benefits.
- How the combination of Nate's experience at the Naval Academy and his MBA program prepared him for entrepreneurship.
- The value Nate finds in the veteran entrepreneur community for networking and business development.
Connect with Nate Lamb:
- Joint Forces Roofing
- (443) 454-3369
- info@jfroof.com
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Are you a real estate investor in need of financing for your next investment property? If so, the Academy Fund has you covered! Whether you need short term financing for “fix-and-flip” projects, land development, or new construction or you need long term financing for single family or multi family rentals, we are your reliable financial partner. Our mission is to bridge the gaps often left by conventional banking institutions, making sure your real estate dreams become reality.
And for accredited investors looking to earn purpose driven passive income while supporting military veteran real estate investors, the Academy Fund is the perfect opportunity. Our short term loans are powered by capital from investors like you, who receive monthly distributions.
To learn more, visit AcademyFund.com.
Are you ready to connect, grow, and have some serious fun? Reserve your spot now for our upcoming event at The Tampa Club in Tampa, Florida, on January 28th. Space is limited to just 30 participants, so act fast to secure your place.
Join us for an unforgettable experience filled with camaraderie, inspiration, and personal growth alongside like-minded individuals who share your values and ambitions.
To learn more and reserve your spot, visit 10xvets.com/events.
____
“That's actually why I started calling myself ‘Iron’ Mike. It wasn't because of the boxing ring. It was suggestive. But it was really because I had to give myself a mental pep talk during COVID, when I had spent all this time building something, and to virtually see it go to zero overnight. Luckily, I was able to bounce back." –“Iron” Mike Steadman, USNA ‘10
"Iron" Mike Steadman is a dynamic entrepreneur, business coach, and brand builder who specializes in helping “underdogs” and “misfits” launch successful brands. A graduate of the United States Naval Academy and former Marine Corps infantry officer with deployments to Afghanistan, Japan, and the Philippines, Mike is also a three-time national boxing champion.
He is the founder of the nonprofit IRONBOUND Boxing as well as the business and consulting companies IRONBOUND Media, Flawless Acceleration, and The MisFits Branding & Design Co. Mike is also the author of Black Veteran Entrepreneur, and he’s working on his second book, Dog Whistle Branding. In addition, he hosts two podcasts.
Mike says he became “Iron” Mike during the COVID pandemic when he had to keep his newly opened boxing gym alive despite shutdowns and little support. As a Hoover Veteran Fellow at Stanford University and a mentor for Techstars, he’s made it his mission to support and empower underrepresented entrepreneurs. Mike's diverse experience and resilient spirit fuel his mission to "lift as he climbs," helping others overcome adversity and build impactful businesses and brands.
In this episode, we discuss:
- How Mike transitioned from a three-time national boxing champion to a multifaceted business owner who empowers underrepresented entrepreneurs.
- Mike's entrepreneurial journey from founding the nonprofit IRONBOUND Boxing to weathering the storms of the COVID-19 pandemic shutdowns, how he got through it, and why he gave himself the nickname "Iron" Mike.
- How Mike went on to found other businesses, including IRONBOUND Media and The MisFits Branding & Design Co., offering services in branding, marketing, and business coaching.
- The importance of category design in marketing, using examples like Red Stripe's "Jamaican beer" category to illustrate how businesses can create their own niches.
- His first big deal, which set the stage for The MisFits’ business model and suite of services.
- The importance of creating adaptive brand identities that can evolve as a business does.
- How his approach to business and branding emphasizes "creative bravery" and helping underdogs and misfits build impactful businesses.
- His mission to "lift as he climbs," supporting fellow entrepreneurs as he grows his own businesses.
Connect with Mike Steadman:
- mike@ironbound.com
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts & Spotify
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Iron Mike for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
“Having served in the military, having that leadership experience, having gone to a service academy, I think that we can optimize things really well. We're relatively decent with technology. And so rather than having to invent a business, our skill sets work pretty well with – let's buy a Mom and Pop business and bring it into this century. Modernize things and make it work more efficiently.” –Carl Dieckmann
Carl Dieckmann is a commercial real estate broker at Emily Dieckmann Real Estate Team in Lago Vista, Texas, a firm he co-owns and runs with his wife Emily, which is one of the top producing brokerages in the Austin area. As a real estate investor, Carl has over a decade of experience flipping properties, managing buy-and-hold properties, and purchasing tax foreclosures. A serial entrepreneur, in 2020 Carl purchased Snowblaze Ski Shop in Angel Fire, New Mexico. In doing so, he acquired one of the most prime commercial property locations in Angel Fire along with additional land that’s earmarked for future development. In 2021, Carl teamed up with retired military veteran Ismael Reyna to start CJ Site Works, a tree clearing and dirt work business servicing Northwest Austin. Carl also leads a team of five in a syndication to develop a 120-pad RV park in New Braunfels, Texas. In addition to running his businesses, Carl is a part-time military reservist in the 701st COS supporting the Korean Theater.
In this episode, we discuss:
- How a risky move from Las Vegas, Nevada to be closer to family near Austin, Texas opened up a wave of new opportunities for self-employment and entrepreneurship.
- How Carl and his wife Emily turned a real estate business that made only $5,000 its first year into one of the top producing brokerages in the Austin, Texas area.
- Opening up and running a ski shop on the fly, right before ski season opens, and coercing your kids into cleaning skis when they’re returned.
- Why RV parks can be a good investment and the kinds of challenges you can face setting them up.
- Getting expert help to fill in for your own skill gaps.
Carl Dieckmann's journey from Air Force pilot to multi-faceted entrepreneur highlights how seemingly simple “Mom and Pop” type local businesses can turn into big opportunities while diversifying your business interests. After a risky move from Las Vegas to the Austin area, Carl and his wife Emily transformed a struggling real estate brokerage into one of the top-producing firms in the area. Carl's entrepreneurial spirit led him to expand beyond real estate, acquiring Snowblaze Ski Shop in New Mexico and co-founding CJ Site Works, a land clearing business, with a fellow vet. His latest venture involves developing a 120-pad RV park, demonstrating his ability to identify new business trends.
Carl's story illustrates how embracing change, leveraging local opportunities, and filling skill gaps with expert help can lead to success in different niches. His experiences remind us that entrepreneurial growth often comes from being adaptable, taking calculated risks, and continuously exploring new business avenues while maintaining a strong foundation in core competencies.
Connect with Carl Dieckmann:
- Team Dieckmann Commercial
- Snowblaze Ski Shop
- CJ Site Works
- carldieckmann@kw.com
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts & Spotify
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Carl for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
“One of the things that the military really does well to prepare entrepreneurs is creating the ability to be comfortable in an environment with a lot of unknowns, that's highly dynamic, and rolling with the punches with whatever's thrown at you." -Zach Scheel, U.S. Navy Veteran
Zach Scheel is the CEO and Co-founder of Rhumbix, a mobile technology company that empowers construction workers to capture accurate, real-time data in the field while providing project managers with data-driven insights to dramatically improve site safety and labor productivity. Zach has led Rhumbix from its inception in 2014 to the company being recognized as the Forbes #8 Veteran Startup in the U.S. He holds a BSE in mechanical engineering and mathematics from Duke University and an MS/MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business. From 2006-2011, Zach served as a Civil Engineer Corps Officer in the U.S. Navy while stationed in the Republic of Djibouti and as an Assistant Public Works Officer and Assistant Resident Officer in the Greater Seattle Area. He is a California Board Certified Professional Engineer, an LEED Accredited Professional, and an active member of YPO. He is passionate about leveraging technology to improve construction efficiency and worker safety.
In this episode, we discuss:
- Zach's career in the Navy as a Civil Engineer Corps Officer, managing large construction projects and facing technology limitations in the field.
- The inspiration for Rhumbix, drawn from Zach's military experience and exposure to systems like Blue Force Tracker while working in the Horn of Africa in Djibouti.
- Rhumbix's focus on field and workforce management for contractors and digitizing workflows, like timekeeping, production tracking, and safety compliance.
- The company's emphasis on user-friendly mobile applications designed specifically for field workers.
- Rhumbix's journey from a venture-backed startup to approaching profitability, with a shift in focus from hypergrowth to unit economics.
- The challenges faced by the construction industry, including skilled labor shortages and the need for increased productivity.
- Challenges faced during the COVID-19 pandemic, including workforce reductions and transitioning to remote work.
- Zach's goals for Rhumbix, including becoming the software of choice for craft workers in the construction industry.
Connect with Zach:
- Rhumbix
- zach@rhumbix.com
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts & Spotify
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Zach for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
“Do what you have to do in this industry to be successful, and what that usually entails is being uncomfortable and putting yourself out there… Every single time you put yourself out there, you're kind of shedding off a little bit of this ego." -Shawn Cleary
Shawn Cleary is a Realtor with Keller Williams Realty in the Charleston, South Carolina area. Prior to his career in real estate, he served in the U.S. Navy for over 11 years, rising to the rank of Lieutenant. During his naval career, Shawn served as a Submarine Officer and held various other positions including Shift Engineer at the Naval Prototype Training Unit and Naval Science Instructor at The Citadel. Shawn's educational background includes a bachelor of science in mechanical engineering from the U.S. Naval Academy, where he graduated in 2016. His diverse experience in naval operations and engineering provides a unique foundation for his current work in real estate.
In this episode, we discuss:
- Shawn's transition from Naval Submarine Officer to being on track to become the #1 real estate agent in Charleston, South Carolina within two years of getting his license.
- How living with roommates sparked his real estate investing fire.
- How military training can give you the skills for your next gig but how you have to let go of your ego when switching careers.
- Embracing the idea that everything is sales.
- The value of continuous learning through books, podcasts, and YouTube videos to become a knowledgeable expert in your craft.
- Strategies for building a personal brand, including having a consistent social media presence, and mirroring what other successful people do.
- The challenges and importance of scaling a business and building a team.
- Advice for aspiring real estate agents, investors, and entrepreneurs, on overcoming limiting beliefs and embracing discomfort to be successful.
- Why Charleston is a great place to live and do business.
Shawn Cleary, a former Naval Submarine Officer turned successful Realtor, joins us in this podcast episode to share his remarkable journey from military service to being on track to become the #1 real estate agent in Charleston, South Carolina. Drawing from his experiences in naval operations and engineering, Shawn discusses how he leveraged his military training while letting go of his ego to excel in his new career. In our conversation, Shawn reveals the strategies that propelled his rapid success, including continuous learning, personal branding, and embracing discomfort. He also delves into the challenges of scaling a real estate business and building a team, offering valuable insights for aspiring agents, investors, and entrepreneurs. Additionally, Shawn shares his perspective on why Charleston is a thriving business and lifestyle hub. This episode is a must-listen for anyone in a career transition or who’s interested in real estate or working on personal development.
Connect with Shawn
- ShawnClearyHomes.com
- YouTube
Book and Podcast Recommendations
- Atomic Habits by James Clear
- The Millionaire Real Estate Agent by Gary Keller
- Books by Bigger Pockets Publishing
- Real Estate Rockstars Podcast
- The Millionaire Real Estate Podcast
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts & Spotify
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Shawn for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
“I think people can't give their own personal agency away. I talk to a lot of veterans that kind of throw up their hands, ‘Oh, the VA isn't giving me the help that I need.’ Well, hey, man, take responsibility for your own life. You’ve got to figure this sh-t out. And we're here to help you.” –Scottie Schneider
Scottie Schneider is a military veteran, West Point graduate, and the founder of Waking Warrior, a community and support system for military veterans who are experiencing anxiety, depression, PTSD, substance abuse issues, and thoughts of suicide. Based in Medellín, Antioquia, Colombia, Scottie is adept at using traditional plant medicine, including hallucinogens, as part of the psychological healing process.
A West Point graduate with a bachelor's degree in environmental engineering and Russian language, Scottie served as an Army officer from 2005 to 2012, where he was stationed in Fairbanks, Alaska. Following his military service, Scottie embarked on a successful career in sales for a number of technology companies, where he mentored teams and developed an expertise in strategic relationships, key account management, sales operations, and revenue generation. Despite his business success, he also dealt with severe depression, substance abuse issues, and thoughts of suicide, which put him on a path of personal and spiritual exploration and, ultimately, healing.
In this episode, we discuss:
- Scottie's journey from West Point graduate to salesperson and his struggles with depression and alcoholism after leaving the military.
- The role of plant medicines and psychedelics in Scottie's personal healing process.
- The founding of Waking Warrior, an online community and support system for military veterans dealing with mental health challenges and substance abuse.
- The importance of authenticity and vulnerability in leadership, especially for men and veterans transitioning to civilian life.
- Scottie's approach to personal development, including the concept of "skill stacking" and focusing on building systems rather than just goals.
- The challenges of identity restructuring for veterans after leaving the military, and how Waking Warrior aims to address this.
- Alternative healing methods, from breathwork to meditation and beyond, and how experimenting with different modalities can help veterans coping with PTSD and other mental health issues find the right tools to live a healthy and fulfilling life.
Scottie Schneider's journey from West Point graduate to founder of Waking Warrior, a community and support system for veterans, is a testament to the power of personal and spiritual transformation and the importance of addressing mental health in the veteran community.
After serving as an Army officer in Fairbanks, Alaska, Scottie faced his own battles with depression and alcoholism upon leaving the military. His struggle led him to explore alternative healing methods, including plant medicines and psychedelics, which played a crucial role in his personal recovery.
Drawing from his experiences and leveraging his diverse skill set – which spans from environmental engineering to sales and technology – Scottie founded Waking Warrior. This online community and support system aims to help military veterans grappling with anxiety, depression, PTSD, substance abuse, and suicidal thoughts.
Scottie's approach emphasizes the importance of authenticity, vulnerability, and personal growth. Waking Warrior encourages veterans to explore various healing modalities, from breathwork to meditation and other systems, recognizing that each individual's path to recovery is unique. By addressing the challenges of identity restructuring and promoting "skill stacking," Scottie and Waking Warrior are working to provide veterans with the tools they need to thrive in civilian life and rediscover their sense of purpose.
Connect with Scottie:
- www.wakingwarrior.org
- scottie@wakingwarrior.org
Scottie's book recommendations from the podcast:
- Awaken the Giant Within by Tony Robbins
- How to Fail at Everything and Still Win Big by Scott Adams
- 12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos by Jordan Peterson
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts & Spotify
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Scottie for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
“I talked to a lot of people, and it was really surprising to me – the low levels of service that are prevalent in this industry. And a lot of the way we will win is by simply doing what we say we're going to do… We think we can bring more value, especially for someone who's in the e-commerce space and looking to be multichannel…” –Eric Lobdell
Eric Lobdell is the founder of Thrive 3PL, Lonestar Trade, and Lobdell Capital, companies that offer warehousing, fulfillment, and logistics solutions to help launch and scale e-commerce businesses. Eric turned a career in commercial real estate and a side hustle selling supplements on Amazon into a collection of companies that help their clients focus on growing their businesses and achieving success in the competitive e-commerce market.
In this episode, we discuss:
- The founding of Thrive 3PL, a third-party logistics company offering fulfillment services for e-commerce and other businesses.
- Eric's journey from running an Amazon reselling business to starting a commercial real estate venture and eventually launching Thrive 3PL.
- How Eric's colleague Robert Parr joined the company, transitioning from a career in tech and professional soccer coaching to e-commerce and logistics.
- How Eric’s other companies, Lonestar Trade and Lobdell Capital, fit into the mix.
- The company's vision for growth, including plans for expansion, and navigating the changing e-commerce business landscape that is largely dominated by Amazon.
Eric's journey from Amazon reseller to logistics innovator showcases the power of entrepreneurial adaptation. Eric explains how hurdles he faced in a side hustle selling supplements on Amazon led him to explore commercial real estate and warehousing as a tangible asset. This pivot unexpectedly paved the way for Thrive 3PL, a third-party logistics company born from the intersection of e-commerce expertise and real estate experience. By identifying the underserved needs of small to medium-sized e-commerce businesses, Eric and his team created a solution that combines warehouse management and fulfillment, cutting-edge software, and personalized service to help their customers thrive. Their story reminds us that entrepreneurial success often comes from leveraging past experiences to solve new problems and turning challenges into opportunities for innovation and growth.
Connect with Eric Lobdell:
- Thrive 3PL
- Lonestar Trade
- eric@thrive3pl.com
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts & Spotify
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Eric and Robert for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
“Let us show you how competitive we can be, how well we service, how well we support your draw and your rehab and construction efforts and let that speak for itself. Words are one thing, but action... I put a lot more stock in that." -Jason Hutton
Jason Hutton is the Managing Director of Academy Fund, a gateway for military veteran real estate investors to obtain flexible and competitively-priced capital to support their projects. In turn, these loans generate attractive risk-adjusted returns and ongoing passive income for Academy Fund investors. With nearly 25 years of experience as a senior executive, Jason has led organizations across various industries, managed multi-million dollar P&Ls, and has been involved in over $28 billion in loans. His expertise spans leadership, negotiations, strategic planning, and relationship management. Jason is a West Point graduate (‘95) and he holds an MBA from NYU's Stern School of Business. He is committed to mentoring veterans and aspiring Academy graduates and helping them to achieve their financial goals.
In this episode, we discuss:
- Jason's career path leading up to his work at Academy Fund, including being the SVP and COO at Sherman Bridge, where he overhauled the company’s prospecting, deal management, and CRM processes, resulting in over 2,300 loans valued at $500 million in less than two years.
- How Jason joined Academy Fund and his quick implementation of new products, including a 30-year financing option for real estate investors.
- The Academy Fund's focus on providing flexible financing options for military veteran real estate investors, including purchase, rehab, and ground-up construction financing for single-family and multifamily properties.
- Advice for real estate investors, emphasizing the importance of market research, proper planning, and open communication with lenders.
- Jason's goals for Academy Fund, including expanding the team, improving technology, and potentially doubling or tripling the business within the next two years, making it the premier lender for veteran and academy graduate real estate investors in the United States.
Jason Hutton is the Managing Director of Academy Fund. As a West Point graduate with an MBA from NYU's Stern School of Business and a former SVP and COO at Sherman Bridge, Jason brings nearly 25 years of senior executive experience to his role at Academy Fund. In this podcast interview with Service Academy founder Scott Mackes, Jason shares insights from his impressive career as well as his big goals to expand Academy Fund's team, improve its technology, and grow the business in the coming years, making it the premier lender for veteran and academy graduate real estate investors in the United States.
Connect with Jason:
- jason@academyfund.com
- (214) 205-7492
- https://www.academyfund.com/
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts & Spotify
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Jason for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
“We chose the name “Renting Freedom” because it's kind of like a play on words. But the whole goal is financial freedom. I'm sure that's a lot of people's goals. A way that you can do that is by having income-producing assets that you're renting out, and then that gives you freedom.” –Justin Artis
Justin Artis is a rising real estate investor and a naval submarine officer in the United States Navy. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 2018 with a degree in mechanical engineering, after attending the Naval Academy Preparatory School from 2013 to 2014. Following his graduation, Justin completed Nuclear Power School at the Naval Nuclear Power Training Command (NNPTC) in January of 2020, where he gained expertise in nuclear engineering and submarine operations.
Alongside his naval career, Justin's investment strategy includes buying and renovating properties, land development, and creative problem-solving to maximize returns. Justin co-invests with his mother, a licensed realtor, combining her people skills and relationship-building expertise with his analytical approach to deals and technical knowledge. As a passionate advocate for financial freedom through real estate, Justin shares his knowledge and experiences on his YouTube channel, "Renting Freedom." He aims to educate and inspire others to build wealth through real estate investing and create financial freedom. Justin's diverse skill set, spanning nuclear engineering, naval leadership, and real estate investing, positions him uniquely in the business world as he approaches the end of his naval service commitment.
In this episode, we discuss:
- Justin’s journey from selling candy as a kid to Naval Academy graduate to submarine officer to real estate investor.
- How he built a portfolio of rental properties in Charleston, South Carolina.
- The partnership between Justin, his wife, and his mom and how their teamwork helps to balance vital family time with entrepreneurial success.
- A detailed look at one of Justin's most successful investments: a single property rezoning that netted two valuable real estate assets.
- The creation of "Renting Freedom," Justin's YouTube channel aimed at educating others about real estate investing strategies.
- Justin's perspective on the four ways to make money in real estate.
- Justin's philosophy on valuing time over money and how it shapes his approach to real estate and life.
Connect with Justin Artis:
- YouTube
- justin.artis@yahoo.com
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today. Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts & Spotify
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Kris for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
“Most people will tell you, even myself at one time, ‘I don't like sales.’ But any business that you do is going to be rooted in sales. Understanding that process is so important… talking about investments or talking about how someone's looking to invest their money, and it’s still sales at the end of the day.” –Justin Loutfy, USAFA '16
Justin Loutfy is an investor, author, speaker, and self-proclaimed “Girl Dad” to his two young daughters. He is the managing partner of Onyx Peak Capital, a real estate and investing firm. In addition to his real estate ventures, Justin runs the DadVesters podcast and a YouTube channel where he shares his knowledge and experiences in real estate and investing. He aims to educate and inspire others to achieve financial freedom through investing. Before founding Onyx Peak Capital, Justin was the chief operating officer for Cherokee Wood Products. He was also an operations manager for Amazon and a fund analyst at Lion Creek Capital, LLC. In addition, Justin served as a special warfare officer/joint terminal attack controller (JTAC) for the U.S. Air Force.
In this episode, we discuss:
- Justin's journey from military service to 9-5 jobs to entrepreneurship in real estate investing.
- The rapid learning curve Justin experienced in his first year of entrepreneurship, trying various business models including wholesaling real estate and exploring teaching courses.
- Advice for aspiring entrepreneurs, including the value of practical experience in sales over a traditional business education.
- Justin’s innovative debt validation fund that provides a 20% return to investors while helping people get out of debt for half of what they originally owed.
- Justin's short-term goal of raising $50 million for his debt validation fund to help 25,000 people get out of debt.
- Justin's podcast "DadVestors," where he explores the intersection of parenting and investing.
Justin Loutfy's journey from U.S. Air Force special warfare officer to successful investor illustrates the power of diverse experiences in shaping innovative business ventures.
After 9-5 roles in operations at Amazon and Cherokee Wood Products, Justin transitioned to entrepreneurship, exploring various business models including real estate wholesaling and course teaching. This period of experimentation led him to found Onyx Peak Capital, a real estate and investing firm where is managing partner.
One of Justin's standout ventures is his debt validation fund, which offers a 20% return for investors while helping individuals reduce their debt by half. With an ambitious goal to raise $50 million, the fund aims to help 25,000 people overcome debt. This innovative approach exemplifies Justin's ability to create solutions that benefit both investors and the broader community.
Beyond his investing activities, Justin is dedicated to education and sharing his knowledge. He runs a YouTube channel focused on real estate investing and hosts the "DadVestors" podcast, exploring the intersection of parenting and investing.
As a self-proclaimed "Girl Dad" to two young daughters, Justin's story demonstrates how embracing diverse experiences, rapid learning, and innovative problem-solving can lead to entrepreneurial success while maintaining a focus on family and community impact.
Connect with Justin Loutfy:
- YouTube
- https://www.onyxpeakcapital.com/
- justinloutfy@gmail.com
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today. Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts & Spotify
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Justin for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
"For me, it's been rewarding to be helping the businesses that we help, because these are businesses that instead of spending money on customer support, they're spending that on marketing, they're spending that on developing a new product, which from a macro economic perspective is much better for our economy.” -Kris Sandor
Kris Sandor is the Co-Founder and CEO of Readyly, a company that automates manual customer support workflows through Generative AI technology. Kris's career includes roles as a Navy nuclear submarine officer, consultant at McKinsey, business development lead at Palantir, and CEO of Citi Bike, which he successfully exited to Lyft in 2018. Passionate about helping entrepreneurs scale and improving conditions for front-line workers, Kris also has expertise in bioterrorism defense. He holds an MBA from Stanford, an MA in International Security Studies from Georgetown, and a BS in Political Science from the Naval Academy. Kris speaks fluent Hungarian and English and enjoys reading, traveling, and mentoring.
In this episode, we discuss:
- How Kris' background in automation from his Navy career inspired him to found Readily to automate tier one customer support labor
- How Readyly's AI platform can automate up to 80% of customer contacts through web chat, email and internal tools like response drafting
- How the platform generates personalized knowledge bases by analyzing historical customer data and identifies gaps to improve support
- Kris’ most important goals like platform enhancements and integrating new technologies like voice
Kris Sandor's early career exposed him to the power of automation, from operating nuclear submarines to deploying technologies at Palantir and Citi Bike. This inspired his current venture, Readily, which aims to automate tier one customer support labor through conversational AI.
In a podcast with fellow alum Scott Mackes, Kris discussed his pathway into entrepreneurship after the Navy. He founded Readyly to address the massive need for more efficient customer support, especially as interactions moved online during the pandemic.Thank you, Kris!
Connect with Kris:
- Readyly
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today. Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts & Spotify
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Kris for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
“The best advantage of being in this industry for 17 years is the relationships. You can make a very good living and make money in health care, which is great. However, I think most people who go into this field genuinely care about improving patient care.” -Greg Parranto
Greg Parranto is the Chief Executive Officer of Endeavor Orthopedics with over 16 years of experience in orthopedic trauma and medical device sales, business development, and management. He has held leadership roles at Depuy Synthes/Johnson & Johnson, including Midwest Area Vice President for Trauma and Extremities, National Director of Specialty Sales, and Global Segment Manager. Greg's expertise spans global perspectives on orthopedics, diverse medical device markets, and innovation in product development. He holds an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management with a Healthcare Leadership Certificate, a Master of Public Administration from Webster University, and a Bachelor of Science in Engineering Management from the US Military Academy at West Point.
In this episode, we discuss:
- Differences between skill sets needed at a large company vs. startup
- When is the right time to bring in a CEO for a founder-led startup
- Closing his $2M convertible note funding round
- Hiring a VP of Sales once funding is secured to focus on growing sales
- Launching 3 additional products currently in development pipelines
Greg walks through his career journey from sales to leadership roles at large companies like Synthes and Johnson & Johnson, where he gained invaluable experience but missed the opportunity to directly solve clinical problems. This inspired Greg to pursue an MBA and eventually join Endeavor Orthopedics as CEO. Thank you, Greg!
Connect with Greg:
- Endeavor Orthopedics
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today. Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts & Spotify
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Greg for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
“Almost four years later, two funds, multiple loan participation opportunities…we’ve lent north of $60 million and have never missed a monthly distribution to investors. From idea to $60 million in under four years. I’m proud of all the support we’ve provided to our fellow vets who are entrepreneurs out there swinging for it.” -Bill Militello, USNA ‘92
On today’s podcast, Bill and Scott express their gratitude to the investors who have supported the Academy Fund and its growth over the past four years and discuss a new project emerging within the community
In 2023, a member of 10X Vets approached them with a compelling idea. Having recently sold his business, he sought a network of trustworthy and capable investors within the group to conduct due diligence and invest together in high-quality opportunities. Inspired by his vision, they formed a steering committee to gather feedback and shape this initiative. By June 2024, the Investor Syndicate was born.
Their vision for the 10X Vets Investor Syndicate is to foster camaraderie, collaboratively analyze investment opportunities, and become the premier funding source for top commercial real estate operators within the military veteran community. Through the syndicate, they aim to create a strong, supportive network that enhances investment success and strengthens the collective financial future of the group.
Bill’s secret tip for operators who want a “fast pass” to having their deal evaluated? Join 10X Vets! By contributing to the group and participating in meetings and events, we get to know you as a person instead of just a number.
Congratulations to Bill, Scott, and the rest of the Academy Fund and 10X Vets team on their incredible growth over the past four years!
In this episode, we discuss:
- How far the Academy Fun has come since it started in 2020
- The guiding principles of the Academy Fund and how it is attractive to both investors and real estate operators
- The “fast pass” for real estate operators to get their deals evaluated and the importance of the 10X Vets community
- The broader vision of the 10X Vets Investor Syndicate that recently launched
Learn more:
- Academy Fund: https://www.academyfund.com/
- 10X Vets: https://www.10xvets.com/
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today. Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Bill for joining me this week. Until next time! -Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Hey team! Before we dive in, I've got some exciting announcements:
1) Join us on August 8th NJ for an exclusive Advanced Real Estate Investing Workshop & Networking Event at the prestigious Park Avenue Club in Florham Park, NJ. This premier event is crafted to elevate your real estate investing skills with institutional-level analysis. Whether you're a private investor, a commercial real estate operator, or work in the commercial real estate industry, this is your chance to expand your network and learn from the best. Space is limited, so don’t miss out! Register here: https://www.10xvets.com/advanced-real-estate-workshop
2) On October 1st we're heading to Charleston, SC for an incredible retreat. We'll kick off with a business mastermind session at the Harbour Club in downtown Charleston. Later, we'll set sail on a harbor cruise and enjoy a fantastic dinner together. On October 2nd, get ready for an exciting inshore fishing tournament with a fleet of fishing boats. It's going to be an unforgettable experience and an opportunity to surround yourself with like-minded successful veterans who are pushing each other to greatness. Register here: https://www.10xvets.com/charleston-event
To learn more and register for these events, visit 10xvets.com/events. Hope to see you there!
Today's Podcast:
“Our vision is that child welfare is enabled, as a system, to support families and children rather than to separate them.” -Jennifer Jacobs, USMA ‘93
Jennifer Jacobs is the CEO and Co-founder of Connect Our Kids, a technology nonprofit dedicated to helping social workers, lawyers, family recruiters, and CASA/GAL volunteers find supportive family connections and natural support networks for America’s most vulnerable. The organization’s advanced tech tools speed up and scale up techniques for finding extended family members and other caring adults for children in foster care. Jennifer has applied her technical expertise gained from working in nuclear counterterrorism as an Army Officer to Connect Our Kids. The organization has affected 18,000 children and found over half a million connections for those children, touching the lives of over 10,000 American families.
In this episode, we discuss:
- Where Jennifer came up with the idea to create Connect Our Kids
- How the technology works to help social workers do their job more efficiently
- Impactful success stories of children being connected with family members and adults in their circle
- Jennifer’s long-term vision for Connect Our Kids and her short-term goals for 2024
- The challenges Jennifer is facing and the support she needs to help Connect Our Kids grow
Jennifer explains that social workers who work in child welfare can use the tools provided by Connect Our Kids to build out a “map” for a child. This helps to organize all known information about the child’s family and other adults in their circle and search for more details on the Internet through the Connect Our Kids People Search technology. By having a tool that searches for and organizes all of the key details, social workers have more time, bandwidth, and emotional energy to do the human work of social work. Due to Jennifer’s smart application of modern technology, Connect Our Kids is impacting the lives of thousands of children and families. Thank you, Jennifer, for creating tools that help foster children be connected to their people.
Connect with Jennifer:
- connectourkids.org
- jennifer@connectourkids.org
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Jennifer for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Hey team! Before we dive in, I've got some exciting announcements:
1) Join us on August 8th NJ for an exclusive Advanced Real Estate Investing Workshop & Networking Event at the prestigious Park Avenue Club in Florham Park, NJ. This premier event is crafted to elevate your real estate investing skills with institutional-level analysis. Whether you're a private investor, a commercial real estate operator, or work in the commercial real estate industry, this is your chance to expand your network and learn from the best. Space is limited, so don’t miss out! Register here: https://www.10xvets.com/advanced-real-estate-workshop
2) On October 1st we're heading to Charleston, SC for an incredible retreat. We'll kick off with a business mastermind session at the Harbour Club in downtown Charleston. Later, we'll set sail on a harbor cruise and enjoy a fantastic dinner together. On October 2nd, get ready for an exciting inshore fishing tournament with a fleet of fishing boats. It's going to be an unforgettable experience and an opportunity to surround yourself with like-minded successful veterans who are pushing each other to greatness. Register here: https://www.10xvets.com/charleston-event
To learn more and register for these events, visit 10xvets.com/events. Hope to see you there!
Today's Podcast:
“[As veterans], we’re adept at creating order from chaos. I think that lends itself well to being an entrepreneur. You’re able to step back, assess the situation, and try to create some order around what is happening.” -Rich Vaill, USNA ‘88
Rich Vaill is the President of Custom Marketing Solutions LLC, a Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) and vertically integrated print marketing agency specializing in offset print, digital print, large format projects, and promotional products. Rich and his team run a nimble shop that can handle large-scale projects based on each client’s needs. After 20 years in the financial sector, Rich transitioned into entrepreneurship by acquiring Custom Marketing Solutions LLC in 2023. He is a 1988 United States Naval Academy graduate and a Marine Corps veteran.
In this episode, we discuss:
- Rich’s transition from finance to entrepreneurship
- Key pieces of advice Rich would give to someone who wants to buy a business
- The printing services offered by Custom Marketing Solutions LLC
- How the skills from Rich’s time in the Marine Corps have translated to owning a business and leading his team
- The goals Rich has for the rest of the year and the biggest challenges he is facing as he establishes himself in his new role
Major career transitions are not easy, and Rich made a big leap from the financial sector to becoming an entrepreneur through acquisition. His two key pieces of advice for others who are buying a business? Ask a lot of questions and make sure you have the right trusted advisors around you. Acquiring a business takes time and there are many steps to go through, but when you have a knowledgeable team supporting you, it makes for a smooth process. We enjoyed discussing entrepreneurship, leadership, and best practices as a business owner with Rich and are excited to see him succeed with his new company, Custom Marketing Solutions LLC. Thank you, Rich!
Connect with Rich:
- Custom Marketing Solutions LLC
- rich@cmsgroupllc.com
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Rich for joining me this week. Until next time!
Are you a real estate investor in need of financing for your next investment property? The Academy Fund has you covered! Whether you're working on “fix-and-flip” projects, land development, or new construction, we are your reliable financial partner. Our mission is to bridge the gaps often left by conventional banking institutions, making sure your real estate dreams become reality.
And for accredited investors looking to earn passive income while supporting military veteran real estate investors, the Academy Fund is the perfect opportunity. Our loans are powered by capital from investors like you, who receive monthly distributions as the loans are repaid.
To learn more, visit AcademyFund.com.
Thank you for listening to today’s podcast. Enjoy the rest of your day and remember to dream big and take bold action!
Hey team! Before we dive in, I've got some exciting announcements:
1) Join us on August 8th NJ for an exclusive Advanced Real Estate Investing Workshop & Networking Event at the prestigious Park Avenue Club in Florham Park, NJ. This premier event is crafted to elevate your real estate investing skills with institutional-level analysis. Whether you're a private investor, a commercial real estate operator, or work in the commercial real estate industry, this is your chance to expand your network and learn from the best. Space is limited, so don’t miss out! Register here: https://www.10xvets.com/advanced-real-estate-workshop
2) On October 1st we're heading to Charleston, SC for an incredible retreat. We'll kick off with a business mastermind session at the Harbour Club in downtown Charleston. Later, we'll set sail on a harbor cruise and enjoy a fantastic dinner together. On October 2nd, get ready for an exciting inshore fishing tournament with a fleet of fishing boats. It's going to be an unforgettable experience and an opportunity to surround yourself with like-minded successful veterans who are pushing each other to greatness. Register here: https://www.10xvets.com/charleston-event
To learn more and register for these events, visit 10xvets.com/events. Hope to see you there!
Today's Podcast:
“We aspire to be way more than just a check… we want to be supportive capital and we want to help our veteran entrepreneurs scale their companies.” -Joshua Weed, USAFA ‘01
Joshua Weed is a Partner and Senior Director at Veteran Ventures Capital and a member of the Fund’s investment committee. Veteran Ventures Capital is a veteran-owned growth equity and venture capital firm specializing in making private investments into veteran-owned, post-revenue companies, primarily with a defense focus and superior dual-use technology. A 2001 graduate of the United States Air Force Academy, Joshua is a former Air Force Financial Management Officer and currently serves as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Air Force Reserves.
Connect with Joshua:
- www.veteranventures.us
- josh@veteranventures.us
Special thanks to Josh for joining me this week. Until next time!
Are you a real estate investor in need of financing for your next investment property? The Academy Fund has you covered! Whether you're working on “fix-and-flip” projects, land development, or new construction, we are your reliable financial partner. Our mission is to bridge the gaps often left by conventional banking institutions, making sure your real estate dreams become reality.
And for accredited investors looking to earn passive income while supporting military veteran real estate investors, the Academy Fund is the perfect opportunity. Our loans are powered by capital from investors like you, who receive monthly distributions as the loans are repaid.
To learn more, visit AcademyFund.com.
Thank you for listening to today’s podcast. Enjoy the rest of your day and remember to dream big and take bold action!
“That’s the beauty of note investing. You don’t have to do it locally. It’s not like a development deal or a rental property where you have to be semi-local because there are no tenants or maintenance. It’s vacant land that is the collateral on these notes. We do deals in 30-plus states and that’s how we’re able to really scale it.” -Quinn McArthur, USMA ‘08
Quinn McArthur is the Co-Founder and Fund Manager of Legacy Land Fund, a real estate fund that focuses exclusively on the distinctive and expanding land investments sector. By securing a 1st lien position, imposing stringent requirements for robust down payments and credit scores, and maintaining a carefully balanced 50-60% loan-to-value ratio, Legacy Land Fund ensures a secure and reliable approach to land investment and allows for passive income for its investors through mortgage note investing. Quinn is a West Point graduate and former Green Beret. A devoted husband and father, he balances faith-driven values and a commitment to stewardship with his real estate investments.
In this episode, we discuss:
- Quinn’s journey into real estate investing and what attracted him to the industry
- What Quinn and his partner are accomplishing at Legacy Land Fund
- The keys to success in finding and maintaining deal flow
- How mortgage note investing works
Although Quinn did not set out to establish a fund for his mortgage note investing efforts, his success in the business led him to create Legacy Land Fund to set him up to scale. He explains that because his strategy of buying discounted notes on the secondary market is niche, there is less competition and more opportunity. Plus, purchasing notes is a secure and predictable way to invest and the market is very healthy. We learned a lot from Quinn about how he has found success in mortgage note investing and look forward to seeing how he will scale with his first fund. Thanks for chatting, Quinn!
Connect with Quinn:
- www.legacylandfund.com
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Quinn for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
“Entrepreneurship, at its core, is all about leading. Leading customers, leading suppliers, leading bankers, leading lawyers, leading employees, and no one spends more money than the Department of Defense developing leaders. Have confidence that the raw leadership skill gets you halfway there.” -John Panaccione, Army Veteran
John Panaccione is an experienced Chief Executive Officer with a history of working in the information technology and services industry. He is a strong business development professional who is well-versed in the world of equity and debt financing, and the emerging wonderful world of equity crowdfunding and other SEC-exempt offerings used to raise capital. John’s company, Folla Capital, provides a platform for average Americans and accredited investors to invest in private small businesses of their choice, supporting the ventures and management teams they believe in. John also works with fellow veterans who are exploring entrepreneurship as a career path once they leave the military through his nonprofit, VETtoCEO.
In this episode, we discuss:
- The origin story of VETtoCEO
- John’s advice for those looking to transition from the military into entrepreneurship
- The three pathways to small business ownership
- What led John to start Folla Capital
- John’s ideal client that he serves at Folla Capital
John shares that sometimes it takes veterans years after transitioning out of the military to discover the pathway to entrepreneurship. There are many different ways to become an entrepreneur and one that can be a great fit for veterans is buying an existing business, as they can apply their leadership and decision-making skills to make improvements and move the needle. John is helping veterans succeed through his offerings at VETtoCEO and investment services at Folla Capital. Thank you for all you do for our military community, John!
Connect with John:
- vettoceo.org
- follacapital.com
- Folla Capital YouTube Video: Introduction to Alternative Investments - Opportunities for All of Us
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to John for joining me this week. Until next time!
“I want Zimba to be a key part of the digitization process that we’re starting to see in Uganda and other parts of Africa, especially for financial institutions.” -Isaac Were, USMA ‘16
Isaac Were is the CEO of Zimba Technologies, a SaaS financial technology company that builds cloud-based software to digitize and automate financial institutions as well as provide them with access to capital. Zimba’s mission is to bridge financial gaps in developing markets through innovation and technology. Originally from Uganda, Isaac is addressing the problem of access to capital for individuals and business owners in the more rural parts of his home country. He is a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point where he earned his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering with a Biomedical Concentration.
In this episode, we discuss:
- What led Isaac to start Zimba
- The types of clients Zimba serves and the services the company provides
- The typical journey for a customer using our Zimba’s core banking platform
- Isaac’s most important short-term and long-term goals
- The biggest challenges Isaac is facing as he works to scale Zimba
Isaac explains that in Uganda, a majority of the population lives in villages that are on the outskirts of the major cities. By working with the Savings and Credit Cooperatives to help improve their operations and infrastructure, Zimba can improve access to finance for all people, regardless of location. We enjoyed our conversation with Isaac and admire the work he is doing to cultivate economic growth and inclusion in Uganda. Great work, Isaac!
Connect with Isaac:
- zimba.io
- isaac@zimba.io
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Isaac for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
“...if we can learn to lead ourselves, to manage our minds and our emotions and our actions in our private life, in our health, in our relationships and in the corporate world, then we are better positioned to use those critical thinking skills to make a difference in our businesses and in the greater world…” -Traci Fisher, USMA ‘91
Traci Fisher, a West Point graduate from the class of '91, embarked on a transformative journey after her career as a helicopter pilot in the Army. Delving into the realm of fitness and health, she developed an innovative approach known as Wellbeingness®. This methodology integrates cognitive and physical sciences to optimize executive performance, enabling leaders to attain and sustain peak wellness. Through the application of self-leadership principles, Traci empowers individuals and teams to unlock their personal and professional potential amid complex and uncertain environments. Traci boasts certifications as a Health and Wellness Coach, ICF Professional Certified Coach, Gallup Strengths Coach, and Red Team Critical Thinker. She is also the host of The Healthy Leader Podcast and holds the position of managing director at two health and wellness companies. Passionate about holistic wellness, Traci, a proud mother of three adult children, resides in Cleveland with her family and their two beloved Beabulls, Emmie & Oscar.
In this episode, we discuss:
- Traci’s journey to becoming a Wellness Coach and her ideal client
- The Wellness Coach process and the Wellbeingness® Model
- Her top strengths and how she leverages them as a Wellness Coach
- Challenges Traci currently faces and goals for 2024
- Creating a vision statement that brings the future into the present
When Traci first began her health and fitness journey, she knew what to do to help her clients’ physical wellbeing but did not know how to make the changes last. Realizing she was missing the key components of emotional and mental health, Traci created the Wellbeingness® Model to marry wellness and wellbeing and give her clients a foundation to self-lead in often overscheduled and unpredictable environments. As a wellness coach, she relies on her top strength of Learner to consume large amounts of wellness data and to listen to the needs of her clients to provide the best tools for them. Sharing her vast health and wellness expertise gained over the past 25 years in the industry, Traci reminds us that caring for our mental and emotional wellbeing as well as our physical selves is essential to attaining peak performance in our professional and personal lives and offers her best wellness tips.
Connect with Traci:
- The Wellness Coach
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Traci for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
“You can sometimes convince somebody to buy a bottle of your whiskey the first time because of the story that you have, and I think we have a good story, but if the whiskey is no good, then they’re never going to buy another bottle. So the ideal combination is you’ve got a really good story and you’ve got a really great product.” -Ted Dumbauld, USNA ‘81
Ted Dumbauld is the Founder and CEO of SoNo 1420, an innovative, Double Gold award-winning distillery in South Norwalk, CT known for its ultra-premium brand whiskeys, vodkas, ready-to-drink vodka-based cocktails, innovative Threesome Ready-to-Mix Cocktails, and botanical gins. Before starting SoNo 1420, Ted was a successful investment manager of public and private securities and an aggressive and creative deal-maker. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Systems Engineering from the United States Naval Academy and his Master of Science in Finance from the MIT Sloan School of Management.
In this episode, we discuss:
- Ted’s inspiration for starting SoNo 1420 and what makes his product unique
- How the special “1420 Finished At Sea” product offering is made
- The key elements to building a successful spirits brand from scratch
- The most important relationships Ted has related to sales and marketing
- Ted’s most important goals for 2024 and the biggest challenges he is currently facing
Ted shares the challenges that are unique to the spirits industry as it is a three-tiered system made up of producers, distributors, and sellers. Because SoNo 1420 works with many different distributors to get its product out there, there is a lot of work involved when entering into a new market. As an emerging brand, Ted works hard to come up with creative ways to market his products so customers are familiar with them once distributors get them on the shelves in retail locations. We enjoyed speaking with Ted about what it takes to build a successful whiskey brand in the competitive spirits industry. Cheers to the growth of SoNo 1420!
Connect with Ted:
- SoNo 1420
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Ted for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
“We’re really taking care of the houses and we’re really taking care of the families that are living in these houses. We’re providing a service just as much as we are being landlords because these families can take their government vouchers wherever they go. We have to be good stewards of the government funding or else it is going to naturally leave.” -Briar Bearss, USMA ‘22
Briar Bearss is an entrepreneur focused on real estate and private capital. His former ventures include My Tennessee Home Solution, Tennessee's premier off-market homebuyer. Briar is the President and CEO of the Bearss Company, a boutique alternative asset manager holding controlling positions in exceptional companies and projects. He also leads The Bearss Foundation, a private family foundation formed under Section 501(c)(3) providing scholarship opportunities and mentorship to high school students in his home state of Michigan. Briar currently serves as an Army Officer and graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point with a Bachelor of Science in Business Management & Systems Engineering.
In this episode, we discuss:
- How Briar’s real estate investing business has grown and changed
- Briar’s goals as he wraps up his first fund and begins to plan for his second
- The sources through which Briar learned about real estate investing and his approach as he continues to grow his knowledge
- The Bearss Foundation and how it helps to expand the horizons of kids in the greater Flint, MI area
Briar shares his greatest sources of learning as he educated himself about real estate investing. In addition to reading and consuming as much content as he can on the subject, Briar connects with others who have achieved success in the field and seeks mentorship. By sharing his ideas and work with others in his network, he is constantly improving his processes and operations. Briar takes advantage of every opportunity to learn, grow, and connect with others, which will help him go far as a real estate entrepreneur. Kudos to you, Briar, and we look forward to seeing all you achieve!
Connect with Briar:
- bearssproperties.com
- bearssfoundation.org
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Briar for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
“In today’s world, a lot of things are moved out into the cloud…it’s up to the business themselves to protect that data.” -Dennis Moore, USAFA ‘87
Dennis Moore is the Founder of Coefficient Technologies, a trusted cybersecurity partner that provides the most up-to-date cybersecurity solutions, strategies, and IT services to help companies defend themselves from known and unknown APTs and attackers, ransomware, scams, outdated policies and best practices, and insider threats. Dennis has over 30 years of experience building and maintaining computer networks and providing information technology services and solutions. His specialties include cybersecurity, network design and implementation, data center operations, IT and web architecture and management, network security, and business continuity.
In this episode, we discuss:
- What Coefficient Technologies is and the types of clients Dennis helps
- The biggest cybersecurity threats that exist today
- Dennis’s career in IT, from the Air Force to the private sector
- The goals Dennis has for Coefficient Technologies for this year
Connect with Dennis:
- Coefficient Technologies
We learned a lot from Dennis, a true expert in the cybersecurity space, about how small business owners can protect and even increase the value of their company by putting the proper IT safeguards in place. Thanks for chatting with us, Dennis!
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Dennis for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
“I think it’s easy to make your first million. What’s hard is staying there and doing it consistently, because now, all of the pressure is on you.” -Max Sivohins, USCGA ‘13
Max Sivohins is a serial entrepreneur primarily focused on multi-family real estate development and government contracting. He is the Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of Archie Supply, a distribution company that supplies over 100,000 office, janitorial, and safety products to federal, state and local government agencies from 54 warehouses across the nation. As a real estate investor, Max’s portfolio is comprised of over 50 units including mixed-use, multi-family, residential, and office properties. He is also the President and Co-Founder of Skydive Chesapeake, a drop zone operated by a collection of professional skydivers with over 50 years of experience in the sport. Max is a 2013 graduate of the United States Coast Guard Academy and will be earning his MS in Real Estate Development from George Mason University in May 2024.
In this episode, we discuss:
- Max’s story of how he moved to the United States and ended up at the Coast Guard Academy
- Some of Max’s early entrepreneurial ventures and how he found his way to government contracting
- How Max entered into real estate investment to preserve and grow his wealth
- The AI company he is supporting the development through research and development and beta testing
- The mindset behind Max feeling unstoppable
Connect with Max:
Max shares that his success stems from the relationships he has built and continues to foster. When his family moved to America after the Soviet Union collapsed, they knew no one. Now, Max takes pride in the connections he has made and how he has built and grown his many business ventures. Thank you, Max, for sharing your story as an entrepreneur with us!
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Max for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
“Esports can turn something that could be very negative…180 degrees into a very positive experience for a child’s life.” -Patrick Cronin, USMA ‘13
Patrick Cronin is the Co-Founder and CEO of Vanta, an esports company that provides a curriculum, a platform, and leagues to help kids from 8-18 grow into the best version of themselves. The company integrates the lessons and life skills gained from traditional sports—being part of a team, learning how to win and lose well, and showing up for each other—into esports, allowing kids to become inspiring athletes and model citizens who can positively impact the gaming world and become future leaders. Pat earned his BS in Systems Management from the United States Military Academy at West Point and his Master of Business Administration from the Boston College Carroll School of Management.
In this episode, we discuss:
- The inspiration for starting Vanta
- How the program works at schools across the country and the positive impact it is having on kids
- The growth Vanta has experienced so far and Pat’s goals for this year
- How Pat and his team partner with large name brands in unique ways
- The challenges Vanta is facing as it continues to grow
90 percent of kids identify as a gamer, meaning they spend 10 hours a week or more gaming. Pat shares that the team at Vanta is making an impact on this demographic of kids by providing an after-school activity of interest to them that allows for social and emotional development, mentorship, and a sense of community. Not only is it rewarding for Pat to provide kids with an opportunity they wouldn’t have had otherwise, but it is also rewarding for Vanta as a company, which will be cash-flow positive starting this month. We enjoyed hearing from Pat about the very popular esports industry and how Vanta is creating community in the space. Congratulations on all of your success so far, Pat, and we look forward to seeing Vanta continue to grow!
Connect with Pat:
- vanta.gg
- pat@vanta.gg
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Pat for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
"Any storied franchise that would love to get on board and continue to add more value to the brand they have already created would be a huge milestone.” -Antoine Hood II, USAFA ‘06
Antoine Hood II is a professional basketball player, cancer survivor, published writer, U.S. Air Force Academy graduate, and military officer. As an NBA free agent guard, Antoine has played in preseason/training camp for the San Antonio Spurs and Denver Nuggets. He has excelled in the hoops world, starring on a select USA basketball team playing in China, excelling with international pro teams, and earning Mountain West all-conference honors. As a published writer, Antoine’s most recent work is a thought-provoking book of poetry titled Hood Thoughts II. He continues to serve his country as an officer in the US Air Force Reserves. As a cancer survivor, Antoine has faced and defeated life-threatening adversity. He recently launched his new business, Iondration, which has a line of customizable water bottles tailored for the sports market.
In this episode, we discuss:
- Antoine’s journey to playing basketball at the Air Force Academy
- His new startup, Iondration, and his vision for the product
- His goals for Iondration in 2024
- The moment as an entrepreneur that gave Antoine affirmation for his idea
- Antoine’s experiences playing against some basketball greats and what he learned about mental capacity, fortitude, durability, and consistency
During his time playing professional basketball, Antoine learned that one’s mental game is what takes someone from good to great. Having strong mental capacity, fortitude, durability, and consistency allows professional athletes to achieve greatness, but this also can be applied to entrepreneurship. Those lessons Antoine learned while playing hoops are bringing him to the next level with his startup. From basketball, to poetry, to his new innovative product, we enjoyed chatting with Antoine about the different facets of his life and career. Thanks for joining us, Antoine!
Connect with Antoine:
- X: @antoinehood26
- Instagram: hoodwinked06
- Facebook: Antoine Hood II
- Hood Thoughts II on Amazon
- antoinehood@gmail.com
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Antoine for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
“I’m an acquirer and curator of ideas and strategies, and I have a Rolodex of people to execute those strategies.” -Steve Wingard, USMA ‘87
Steve Wingard is the Founder and Managing Partner of Wayfinder Wealth, a financial advising firm that helps families and business owners uncomplicate complex planning with a specialization in high net-worth strategies. Steve is a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point and has been a financial services professional for more than 20 years. He enjoys simplifying the process through problem-solving for intangibles and is passionate about helping clients to achieve their goals. At Wayfinder, Steve works to shape the future services and capabilities of the firm and leverages his strategic financial planning expertise to empower enterprising individuals and families.
In this episode, we discuss:
- What Steve does at Wayfinder Wealth and how he helps clients look at their complete financial picture
- How Steve came about writing his e-book, “A Dozen Ways to Derail Your Wealth”
- Steve’s journey in the world of financial advising and what has made him successful
- Some of the strategies Steve uses to solve the financial “puzzles” his clients face
- Steve’s most important goals for 2024
Steve’s unofficial title at Wayfinder is “Chief Puzzle Officer” because he likes to look at a client’s complete picture and put all of the pieces together to create the best strategy possible. By assembling a curated team of advisors that he knows will best suit each individual set of circumstances, Steve can ensure that his client’s financial plan stays focused and well-coordinated. Thank you, Steve, for sharing your expertise with us. You are a wealth of knowledge!
Connect with Steve:
- Wayfinder Wealth
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Steve for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
“Our vision for DAG is to become that trusted go-to for clear-eyed UAS insight within the industry.”-Bill Daggett, USAFA ‘01
Bill Daggett is the Founder and Managing Director of Delta Advisory Group (DAG), a commercially focused consulting company with a concentration on emerging Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) platforms and capabilities. DAG uses its vast operational experience, market knowledge, and extensive network to create UAS solutions that deliver real results. Bill’s 24 years of service in the Air Force and Air National Guard, including time as an MQ-9 Pilot and Functional Area Manager, provided him with extensive experience in the aviation sector, including interfacing with government agencies for global missions. Bill is a 2001 graduate of the United States Air Force Academy.
In this episode, we discuss:
- How did Bill ended up in the UAS industry his experience in the Air Force and Air National Guard
- The resources that are available for a company starting out in the UAS space
- What industry trends and unique use cases Bill is most excited about
- The different types of clients Delta Advisory Group works with
At Delta Advisory Group, Bill and his team serve three main customer groups—founders of UAS start-up companies that have drone technology and need to develop a business plan, individuals and institutions looking to invest in the UAS space, and overseas UAS companies that are looking to enter the US market. With Bill’s passion, expertise, and network, he is able to help his clients reach their goals in the industry. We learned a lot from Bill about what is happening right now in the quickly evolving UAS market. Thanks for sharing with us, Bill!
Connect with Bill:
- Delta Advisory Group
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Bill for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
“Something that has been very beneficial to me was the value of a mentor, in both real estate and the private equity space.” -Neil Hoy, USAFA ‘03
Neil Hoy is an Investor Relations Specialist with VaultCap Partners, a private real estate investment firm that specializes in the acquisition, renovation, and asset management of underperforming multifamily assets in the Dallas, Texas area. VaultCap utilizes its 25 years of combined experience, market knowledge, and extensive professional network to source undervalued multifamily opportunities within high-growth markets. Neil graduated from the United States Air Force Academy and received his MA in International Relations and Affairs from the University of Oklahoma.
In this episode, we discuss:
- Neil’s real estate investing journey and how he got started with VaultCap
- The types of value-add deals VaultCap invests in
- The firm’s short-term and long-term goals given the current real estate market
- What Neil has done to improve his capital-raising skills and the strategies with which he has had success
Neil shares how his involvement in the community has been beneficial for him as a real estate investor. He has leveraged the strong personal relationships he has formed through volunteering in youth sports leagues and school events. Neil also shared with us how he is educating himself on capital raising strategies and the real estate industry as a whole as he settles into his new role with VaultCap Partners. We enjoyed hearing from Neil about the lessons he has learned through his real estate journey and wish him success in his next chapter with VaultCap!
Connect with Neil:
- VaultCap Partners
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Neil for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
“I thought, ‘What if there’s a way to insure the wealth?’ That’s all you want, is to protect future sources of income.” -Scott Tucker, USMA ‘02
Scott Tucker is a former Army Officer, a West Point graduate, and author of four books with unconventional ideas about military retirement, life, and wealth. He is the Founder of US VetWealth, a wealth management firm that offers access to safe investment strategies and helps military retirees create a "Private Pension" for their wealth so that they have more ownership of their assets, increased access to their money whenever they want it, and the ability to profit without additional rules, taxes, and fees. Scott has helped 100+ retiree high-income earners create a flexible and secure retirement with their unique benefits and pensions.
In this episode, we discuss:
- Scott’s journey of transitioning out of the Army, entering into the life insurance business, and finding his niche
- How Scott’s personal health experiences intertwined with his success as an entrepreneur
- The new category of “wealth insurance” that Scott has created through his company, US VetWealth
- The unique strategies Scott implements to help military retirees protect their wealth
- Scott’s goals for US VetWealth and how he envisions the company to grow
When he was working in wealth management, Scott did not like the fact that he had to be all things to all people. That’s what led to him finding his niche of using the life insurance investment model to help military retirees. He understood that, as career military officers retire, they need to change their financial strategy in order to make the most of their wealth. We learned a lot from Scott about the nuts and bolts of how someone can use life insurance to protect their wealth. Thanks for sharing with us, Scott!
Connect with Scott:
- US Vet Wealth
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Scott for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
“This is National Estate Planning Awareness Week. If you don’t have any planning in place, I’d encourage you…to meet with an estate planning attorney, understand what your options are, and put something in place sooner rather than later.”-Rodney Hatley, Navy Veteran
Rodney Hatley is a former U.S. Navy Judge Advocate General (JAG) and the Founder of Hatley Law Group. As an estate planning attorney, Rodney protects successful individuals and families through estate planning strategies that eliminate taxes and safeguard assets. Hatley Law Group partners with their clients to protect everyone they love and everything they own. In addition to foundational estate planning, they offer advanced strategies to eliminate, or greatly mitigate, estate, generation-skipping transfer (GST), and gift taxes as well as domestic or offshore asset protection trusts.
In this episode, we discuss:
- Rodney’s time as a Navy JAG and his personal experience dealing with his father’s will
- The different components of an estate plan and how they differ from a will
- Special nuances business owners and investors should consider when creating their estate plan
- The lessons Rodney has learned over his 27-year career as an attorney
- How Rodney helps his clients organize all of the information related to their estate
Rodney explains that the typical estate plan can include a living trust, pour-over will, power of attorney, advanced healthcare directive, and HIPAA authorization. For those with business assets, membership interests, or shares of stock, he encourages that everything be tied back to the individual’s living trust. Thank you, Rodney, for sharing your estate planning expertise with us during National Estate Planning Awareness Week!
Connect with Rodney:
- Hatley Law Group
- rod@hatleylawgroup.com
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Rodney for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
“If you can work at the foundation of the problem and understand the nature of the problem… then creating the resolution for the problem is actually really simple.” -Mandy Barbee Lanier, USAFA ‘05
Mandy Barbee Lanier is the Founder and CEO of Palladium Mind, a business through which she facilitates measurable, high-value, personal transformations for her clients. An expert in transformation work, Mandy has led a $39 million P&L at a Fortune 500 Aerospace company, as well as teams, operations, and strategic initiatives in four different commercial industries, the US State Dept, and the US military to achieve shared goals. Mandy earned her M.A. in Economics from Old Dominion University and is a Distinguished Graduate of the United States Air Force Academy.
In this episode, we discuss:
- Mandy’s struggles with anxiety and depression and how that led to her starting Palladium Mind
- How Mandy successfully built up her client base for her business
- What Mandy does to help people figure out the source of their problems or pain
- The inverted pyramid that defines Palladium Mind’s work, which includes information searching, healing services, coaching, and transformation work
- An example of how Mandy helped a client transform his beliefs by leveraging imagery and the unconscious
- Mandy’s book, The Enjoyment Gap, that will be released in January 2024
Mandy shares how, in her purpose-based business, she helps people break patterns and reclaim inner control by tapping into the unconscious. She uses the language of the unconscious and leverages certain techniques to access the state where her client’s problems reside. From there, transformation and healing can occur. We learned so much from Mandy about the power of root cause resolution and the impact she has had on the lives of others. Thank you for the important work you do, Mandy!
Connect with Mandy:
- Palladium Mind
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Mandy for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
“How do you conceptualize your future and make sure that you're putting your assets to work for you to get to where you want to be? There's the psychological and emotional component to building wealth.” -Thomas Perez, Navy Veteran
Thomas Perez is a Financial Advisor with a practice through Northwestern Mutual. A Navy veteran, Tom has 28 years of combined active and reserve service. He began his military career at 18 on active duty as a submarine radioman and Navy diver before transitioning to the Navy Reserve, where he attended The Citadel on his G.I. Bill and earned his commission. He served as a Lieutenant Commander in the Navy Reserve in the Information Warfare Community where he was a leader in cybersecurity, computer network defense, computer network offense, non-kinetic effects, and information technology. In 2020, Tom transitioned into his career as a Financial Advisor. He provides services in personal financial planning and wealth management, business financial planning and corporate benefits planning, and VA benefits and military retirement planning.
In this episode, we discuss:
- Tom’s experience working as a Financial Advisor with Northwestern Mutual
- How Tom goes about identifying centers of influence in his network
- Unique offerings that draw clients to Tom and Northwestern Mutual
- Cash reposition strategies Tom implements with his clients
- The new endeavor Tom and his wife, Ullas, are pursuing
- Tom’s personal and professional goals for the rest of 2023
Tom is passionate about empowering people through sophisticated, yet simple wealth-building strategies and is motivated to help others based on his own life experiences. Tom shares an example of a cash reposition strategy he implements through cash-value life insurance. Regardless of where his clients are in their financial journey, Tom puts systems into place to help them get where they want to go. We enjoyed talking with Tom about the strategies he implements as a financial advisor and his approach to being a business owner and side hustler. Thank you for sharing with us, Tom!
Connect with Tom:
- thomasperez.nm.com
- tomullas.com
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Tom for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
“I really feel like I’ve built my dream job where I get to meet people, learn, grow, and make money while doing it.” -Justin Nassiri, USNA ‘02
Justin Nassiri is the CEO and Founder of Executive Presence, a fully managed social media service for CEOs and top executives. The company helps top-tier executives boost their visibility, activate their network, and position themselves as thought leaders. After transitioning out of the military and completing graduate school, Justin built and sold two successful companies before starting Executive Presence. He is also the creator and host of the podcast “Beyond the Uniform”, the #1 iTunes-rated podcast for military career transition advice with over 400 episodes. Justin is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy and earned his MBA from Stanford University Graduate School of Business.
In this episode, we discuss:
- Justin’s journey as an entrepreneur and how he got to where he is now
- How Justin shifted his perspective on making money and being successful
- Where the idea for Executive Presence came from and how it grew
- The client experience Justin and his team provide and what their ideal client looks like
- How thought leadership can help CEOs gain awareness and build their brand
Connect with Justin:
- Executive Presence
Justin shares about his journey as an entrepreneur and how every experience served as a stepping stone to where he is now. In the past, Justin has felt that he was grinding at work but was not growing as a human being. With Executive Presence, he has created his dream job where he is “paid to grow” as a person and has the opportunity to learn from the CEOs and high-performing individuals he works with. Thank you, Justin, for sharing your story with us, and congratulations on all you have achieved so far with Executive Presence!
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Justin for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
“The problem that we’re solving here is that 65% of investors don’t have a solid grasp of how their portfolios are performing… I find that to be unacceptable.” -Greg Namrow, Marine Corps Veteran
Greg Namrow is the Founder & CEO of TRACTIC, a real estate asset management platform enabling owners, investors, and landlords to assess the real-time performance of their portfolios. He is a passionate and dedicated founder and entrepreneur with a proven track record in launching and scaling successful startups in business, real estate investing, and PropTech. Greg served as an Infantry Officer in the United States Marine Corps, earned his MBA from American University, Kogod School of Business, and his MA in Leadership & Education Studies from the University of San Diego.
In this episode, we discuss:
- How Greg’s strengths helped him in building his property technology platform, TRACTIC
- The inspiration for TRACTIC based on Greg’s personal experiences with real estate
- What TRACTIC does and the platform’s ideal user
- Greg’s favorite features and how they help investors
- The challenges Greg is facing and his short-term and long-term goals
Connect with Greg:
- Tractic.io
Greg shares three things that make TRACTIC unique: the dynamic accountability and efficiency settings, the reduced workload it provides for users, and its ability to help investors make data-driven decisions to improve their portfolio performance. Whether you are an investor who just purchased your first property or you have owned multiple properties for many years, TRACTIC’s dynamic capabilities can help you analyze the performance of your real estate portfolio in real-time. It’s great to see Greg excel with his PropTech platform and we wish him success as TRACTIC continues to grow!
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Greg for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
“For me, it’s all about helping others really understand what their brand strategy is so they can be the best that they can be.” -Pete Canalichio, USNA ‘81
Pete Canalichio is a Brand & Licensing Strategist who is on a mission to help brands find the most authentic parts of their story so they can share it with the world. After successful careers in the Navy and global branding, brand expansion, and marketing, Pete realized that his greatest passion was helping brands reach their full potential. He employs proprietary digital guides and knowledge, platform talks, consulting workshops, and tools to inspire, educate, and empower others to achieve all that is possible.
In this episode, we discuss:
- Pete’s’ experience developing tools and courses to help his clients succeed
- How Pete helps “overcomers” who have not had the opportunity to reflect on branding
- The importance of defining your purpose, vision, and mission
- How a personal brand can be impactful in one’s personal and professional life
- All of the elements that need to be considered when developing a brand
Pete shares why building a personal brand is important and how everything we do communicates something—even when we aren’t trying to communicate anything. Pete’s goal is to help others understand what they are trying to communicate so they can do it well, and he uses the tools he has created to meet the needs of his clients. We are inspired by Pete’s thoughtful approach to helping brands grow and thrive!
Connect with Pete:
- Brand Alive
- Pete’s Book: Your Brand is a Promise (use coupon code “BRAND” upon checkout for free access!)
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Pete for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
“Things in the legal career field don’t happen in a vacuum… you’re not doing everything yourself. The lessons of how to build teams and how to maintain teams, as both a leader and a follower, that you learn in the military translate well to the civilian sector.” -Michael Segal, USAFA ‘02
Michael Segal is an attorney and graduate of the UCLA School of Law, with a specialization in Business Law. As a former USAF F-15 Fighter Pilot and current Air Force Reservist, Michael translates the skillsets he learned in complex, dynamic, and high-intensity situations to the legal profession and business environment. His military experience includes leading Airmen in combat as well as peacetime, while also managing billions of dollars in Department of Defense resources. Michael’s litigation practice focuses on commercial litigation. He seeks to help businesses with a broad spectrum of legal issues, including commercial litigation, securities law, private equity, venture capital, and real estate investment.
In this episode, we discuss:
- What led Michael to want to become an attorney
- Michael’s specialty within business law
- The intricacies of securities offerings and Michael’s internship with the SEC
- Best practices for someone who is raising capital or looking for investors
- Key takeaways from Michael’s military experience that he uses as an attorney
Michael shares that his work is focused on litigation and transactional work, including contract drafting, mergers and acquisitions, and loan agreements. Although he has not had the opportunity to do a lot of work in the space since becoming an attorney, Michael finds securities offerings very interesting and looks forward to doing more with securities down the road. His current goals include immersing himself in a wide range of legal training and learning as much as he can about the needs of his clients and the issues they are facing. Thank you, Michael, for sharing your story and offering your business law expertise!
Connect with Michael:
- Davidovich Stein Law Group
- michael@davidovichlaw.com
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Michael for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
“The most important thing that I can do in the next three to five years is… help as many people as I can develop wealth.” -Keegan Wetzel, USNA ‘13
Keegan Wetzel is a real estate agent and mortgage broker with a passion for helping his clients develop their net worth. Keegan earned a B.S. in Control Systems Engineering from the United States Naval Academy and has eight combined years of experience leading cross-functional teams in a high-tempo environment of military operations and logistics, and hunting net-new logos to build B2B SaaS ARR. While succeeding in his sales career, Keegan began to learn more about real estate investment and how it can help in achieving financial goals. He recently made the jump to work in real estate full-time and is currently building and training his team of agents.
In this episode, we discuss:
- Keegan’s transition out of the military into sales and his more recent transition to do real estate full-time
- His goals for the next 90 days as he enters his new endeavor
- How Keegan found his purpose of helping others achieve net worth
- Where Keegan sees himself in five years
Keegan shares his tangible goal for the next five years: Create 100 multimillionaires through real estate. He is passionate about communicating the strategies he has learned to develop net worth and looks forward to using them to help others achieve their financial goals. We enjoyed hearing about Keegan’s journey and congratulate him on entering this exciting new phase in real estate!
Connect with Keegan:
- keegan@keeganwetzel.com
- @keeganwetzel on social media platforms
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Keegan for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
“Use your network. Consider it as you’re doing interviews with people just to learn more. Those are the industry experts. The longer they’ve been doing it, the better. They have that institutional knowledge outside of the military that they can share. A lot of times, people are really excited to share…people will be excited to share their knowledge on something they’ve been working really hard to build up.”- Jeremy Smith (USNA ‘06)
Jeremy Smith is the Vice President of Roadmap Advisors, a mergers and acquisitions advisory firm that helps companies, investors and entrepreneurs grow through highly-targeted, thesis-driven acquisition searches. Jeremy started his career as an officer in the Navy where he deployed to the Baltic Sea, the Horn of Africa, and Iraq. Now, Jeremy is an accomplished financial professional with extensive experience in domestic and cross-border transactions spanning numerous sectors. He has advised and analyzed companies ranging from early-stage startups to multibillion-dollar public companies. Prior to joining Roadmap, Jeremy led a small M&A team, and worked for Citigroup and U.Group, a private equity, venture capital initiative led by the Department of Defense.
In this episode, we discuss:
- What Roadmap Advisors does and what Jeremy’s role involves
- How to maximize the value of your company prior to selling it
- Where to source a business to buy and why an investment thesis is so important
- Why research and networking are essential to every successful business acquisition
- The benefits of entrepreneurship through acquisition
Jeremy also shares how to prepare your business for acquisition from an operational standpoint and we discuss why military Veterans in particular possess the unique skills required to acquire and scale a company successfully. We really value Jeremy’s well-rounded approach to mergers and acquisitions and we’re excited to share his perceptive insights with you!
Connect with Jeremy:
- Roadmap Advisors
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Jeremy for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
“The mentality in entrepreneurial real estate of ‘Well, that’s someone else’s job, that’s someone else’s problem.’ That doesn’t exist in my world. If there is an issue or concern… I need to be involved in every step. That way, I can fill the gaps and tie it all together. That type of mental ownership comes from being a Military Officer.” -Curtis Cullen, USMA ‘09
Curtis Cullen is the Co-Founder and Managing Principal at Convolo Capital, a real estate investment firm that is focused on providing investors with opportunities to invest in Multi-Family value add real estate providing cash flow, tax benefits, and upside appreciation potential. Curtis served in the Army as both an Infantry Officer and Aviation Officer. Upon exiting the Army in 2018, he worked for a real estate data company. After talking with others in his network, he decided to enter into the apartment investing space and started Convolo Capital. Curtis received his MBA in Real Estate and Finance from the UCLA Anderson School of Management.
In this episode, we discuss:
- Why Curtis was drawn to real estate and his path to entering into apartment investing
- How Curtis approached building out his team at Convolo Capital
- The factors the Convolo team considered when selecting their geographic market
- Curtis’s short-term and long-term goals for the business
- The challenge of raising capital in the current macroeconomic environment
- The lessons Curtis learned during his time in the Army that he uses today
Curtis explains how, in the real estate business, there is a natural tension between growing the company and conservative underwriting. As he creates a plan to reach his short-term and long-term goals, he needs to ensure that Convolo will grow at a pace that will not disappoint his investors. Curtis also shares how the most important thing to consider when entering into the real estate business is finding the right partners who will create a well-rounded team. We enjoyed hearing about Curtis’s journey into real estate and how he has found success with his team at Convolo Capital. Congratulations on all you have achieved so far, Curtis!
Connect with Curtis:
- Convolo Capital
- curtis@convolocapital.com
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Curtis for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
“I wanted more return on my investment and hard work, and I wanted more consistency on those returns. I also wanted to be in more control of my future and lifestyle which is why I entered into this entrepreneurial endeavor. The cannabis industry offers all of this and more.” -Thomas Scuccimarra, USNA ‘82
Thomas Scuccimarra is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy and served 14 years of active duty and 12 years in the reserves in naval cryptology and intelligence. After his military career, he received his MBA in Finance from Pepperdine University’s School of Business and worked in the financial services industry for 25 years. Now, he is pursuing an exciting opportunity in the cannabis industry as he works towards opening his first cannabis dispensary franchise.
In this episode, we discuss:
- Thomas’s motivation for entering the cannabis industry
- The process of opening a cannabis dispensary franchise
- The vision Thomas has for this opportunity and where he stands now
- What lessons Thomas learned in the military that he still carries with him today
Thomas explains that opening a franchise requires you to think through every part of a business—including funding, training, marketing, store layout, and more. He also shares the challenges that are unique to the cannabis industry, like working with local municipalities to get buy-in, obtaining the required licensing, and considering security efforts for an all-cash business. Thank you Thomas for giving us a glimpse into what it is like to open up a franchise in the fast-growing cannabis industry.
Connect with Thomas:
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Thomas for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
“The Maguey Exchange is an exchange—an exchange of ideas, an exchange of communication, an exchange of product. Being at the center point of this relationship between producers and buyers, we are able to provide data insights that enable both sides to optimize and simply make better decisions.” -Rob Weir, USMA ‘11
Rob Weir is the Founder and CEO of Maguey Exchange, a supply chain technology platform reshaping the face of production and consumption in the agave spirit industry. Maguey Exchange empowers producers with cutting-edge technology, connects buyers to the tradition and culture of agave spirits, and actively contributes to the environmental production of the agave regions of Mexico. The platform reduces supply chain complexity and integrates with the systems producers already have in place. Rob was inspired to start the Maguey Exchange after a backpacking trip in Mexico. Leaning on his previous experience as an Infantry Officer deployed to Afghanistan and as a management consultant, the Maguey Exchange was born and continues to grow.
In this episode, we discuss:
- Rob’s military and professional background and how that led him to create The Maguey Exchange
- The steps Rob has taken to learn about the agave spirits industry and address the problems that exist in the supply chain
- What Rob has learned from the pilot version of the platform they tested with producers in Mexico
- How Rob builds relationships in the industry on the buyer side of the platform
- The challenges Rob is currently facing and his goals for The Maguey Exchange
Rob explains his approach to connecting with the producers in Mexico and educating them about how they can benefit from the technology that The Maguey Exchange offers. He also shares his big vision for the platform: to allow every spirits producer, no matter how remote, to have a place in the global marketplace through the digital economy. We learned a lot from Rob about the agave spirits industry and how his platform is making a big impact for both producers and buyers. Thank you, Rob!
Connect with Rob:
- Rob’s LinkedIn
- The Maguey Exchange Website
- The Maguey Exchange Socials: Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Rob for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
“It starts foundationally with planning and understanding how your money is coming in… and then building a long-term plan on how to more efficiently conduct your taxes for this year and moving forward. It really depends on the individual.” -Paul Munch, USNA ‘10
Paul Munch runs his own office through Trust Point Capital Partners, a family office consultancy and investment fund that specializes in tax mitigation strategy. TPC was founded to bring the model of a family office that is typically only accessible to the ultra-high-net-worth to high-net-worth individuals. Through TPC, Paul provides all of the services of a typical family office without the high operating costs. TPC creates its own products to aid in tax mitigation and offers both an active income product and a passive income product. Paul is a 2010 graduate of the United States Naval Academy and received his MBA in Finance and Data Analytics from NYU Stern School of Business.
In this episode, we discuss:
- How Trust Point Capital Partners was created and how Paul became a part of the TPC team
- What a traditional family office is and how TPC makes that structure accessible to a greater range of clients
- The different strategies Paul uses with his clients and what he has learned since he started working in tax mitigation and deferral
- How TPC’s bonus depreciation offering works and why it is a good fit for active income clients
- Paul’s short-term and long-term goals
Paul shares how he envisioned a different professional path for himself, but after spending time reflecting and learning from others in his network, he found himself in a career he loves that works for him and his family. He explains how he enjoys learning about different tax codes so he can better help his clients understand how they can be more efficient with their money. Thank you, Paul, for giving us insight into your business and how you help others through creative tax mitigation strategies and product offerings.
Connect with Paul:
- Trust Point Capital Partners
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Paul for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
“The more I worked with different organizations, the more I just saw this need for strategic support. Being able to embed with the leadership team and walk them through that journey…I love it. I was born a planner…so it’s a really good opportunity to wrap that into the work that I do.” - Susan Maly (USAFA ‘03)
Susan Maly (USAFA ‘03) is the Founder and CEO of Maly Strategies where she helps small to medium-sized businesses scale and grow as a fractional Chief Strategy Officer. As a seasoned leader serving clients across industries, Susan loves helping people and her passion is transforming ideas into impact. After serving in the U.S. Air Force as an F-16 maintenance officer and speechwriter, Susan 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.
In this episode, we discuss:
- What a fractional Chief Strategy Officer does and how Susan became one
- Why time, focus, and follow-through are the biggest strategic challenges for all businesses
- How to determine the best strategy for your business
- Why good communication is the foundation of an effective business strategy
- How Susan’s experience as an Air Force speechwriter helps her succeed today
Susan also shares who her ideal clients are, how strategy differentiates itself from operations, marketing sales, and finance, and why she enjoys aligning people within businesses around a common vision. We enjoyed hearing the story of how Susan went from being an F-16 maintenance officer to becoming a speechwriter in the U.S. Air Force and learning about what every good speech should contain. It was awesome talking with Susan and we hope her practical tips help you as you consider your business strategy.
Connect with Susan:
- Maly Strategies
- Strategy with Susan Newsletter
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Susan for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
“We help people act on their dream of starting a nonprofit. With our experience, we guide that dream to reality. For those who have already started a nonprofit, we’ve had success helping people become more compliant, which leads to better fundraising, which leads to growth.” - Vince Lindenmeyer (USMA ‘91)
Dr. Vince Lindenmeyer (USMA ‘91) is a retired Army Colonel and currently a Principal of Beacon 4sight Group a registered trade name of CFOUR Foundation LLC, which creates economic growth for equality and justice. Vince served in the Army for 26 years with overseas tours to Korea, Egypt, Qatar, and Iraq earning the Bronze Star Medal. As an educator, Vince has taught face-to-face and distance learning over the past 20 years. He earned a BS in Systems Engineering from West Point, master’s degrees in Logistics Management, Education, and Strategic Studies, and a PhD in Education. Vince actively supports women, veterans, minorities, persons with disabilities, and the formerly incarcerated in starting businesses and nonprofits to close the economic income gap.
In this episode, we discuss:
- How Vince transitioned from military strategist to nonprofit advisor
- Who Vince’s ideal clients are and how he supports them through the nonprofit journey
- Why sustainability, governance, and compliance matter to the success of every nonprofit
- How to optimize fundraising for a nonprofit
- Why every business can have a social impact mission
Vince also shares the story of how he met his business partner through the SABM network and reflects on his five-year anniversary as a nonprofit advisor. We enjoyed hearing how Vince is developing his business this year and learning about the positive social impact that military veteran-owned businesses Vince works with are creating. We wish Vince continued success and hope this episode inspires you to consider the social impact of your business.Connect with Vince:
- Beacon 4sight Group
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Vince for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
“EveryDoor is our B2B brand where we are coming alongside those large delivery providers and retailers so we can help them…grow their revenue and serve these customers in hard-to-reach markets. EveryDoor is an extension of our company where we take what we do best and we put it in the hands of delivery providers and retailers to make them successful.” -Todd Waldemar, USNA ‘89
Todd Waldemar is the founder of ChowCall, a 3rd party food delivery business that delivers to military bases and other hard-to-reach markets. He is now scaling his business with the launch of EveryDoor, a B2B brand that partners with large delivery providers and retailers to help serve hard-to-reach customers. After graduating from the United States Naval Academy and serving as a Marine Corps Officer, Todd opened up a restaurant and delivered almost one million orders to military bases over the span of 15 years. This experience led to the creation of ChowCall and EveryDoor. Todd holds an MBA from the University of California, Berkeley.
In this episode, we discuss:
- Todd’s journey from the Naval Academy, to serving in Iraq, to becoming an entrepreneur
- The inspiration for ChowCall and how the company has grown since 2019
- How EveryDoor will help Todd to scale his business and meet the needs of people in hard-to-reach markets
- The challenges Todd is facing and his goals for EveryDoor
Todd is launching an EveryDoor pilot program on select military bases. From there, he has a much larger vision of how he can provide value to hard-to-reach markets. Thank you, Todd, for your commitment to helping the military community and for providing a service that meets the needs of service members and their families.
Connect with Todd:
- ChowCall
- Listen to his SABM podcast from 3 years ago here
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Todd for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
“We are automating one of the more complex problems out there called prior authorization which, up until now, has not really been touched that much by technology… We’re in a good spot at a good time and having a measurable impact on providers that just want to get care to patients.” -Ron Wince, USNA ‘88
Ron Wince is the founder and CEO of Myndshft, a prior authorization software company that reduces manual work, eliminates duplication of effort, and shortens preauthorization cycle times so healthcare providers and payers can focus on their patients. A United States Naval Academy graduate and an experienced strategic consultant, Ron’s leadership and industry expertise are helping to fuel the growth of his third startup.
In this episode, we discuss:
- How prior authorization works in healthcare and where Myndshft comes into play
- What it was like bringing the software to market and the initial feedback from customers
- The key drivers that have led to Myndshft’s growth
- The importance of being hyper-focused on the customer experience
- Learnings from Ron’s time in the military that he still carries with him
Build a team of smart individuals, create an insanely good product, and lean into the customer experience: these three elements are what Ron believes has driven Myndshft’s growth. He also explains the importance of finding people that fit into your company culture and the challenges he is facing as his business starts to grow very quickly. Healthcare is something that every person has to deal with. Thank you to Ron for creating a product that makes the process better and more efficient.
Connect with Ron:
- MyndShft
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Ron for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
“It creates a stickiness and a partnership between our clients and their customers. That’s really what complete offers are there to do: make it easy to sell, make it easy to adopt, and create stickiness with the two businesses that ends up being a longstanding partnership for both companies… that’s the value of a complete offer. It creates the stickiness that you actually need.” -Shaun McAndrew, USNA ‘93
Shaun McAndrew is the Vice President of Business Development at The Service Design Group, a consultancy specializing in a service design approach to help product groups and service teams build complete offers and harden service packages. She also leads the Women’s Circle at 10X Vets. Before working in business development, Shaun graduated from the United States Naval Academy and had a successful military career that spanned 27 years. She served in numerous leadership capacities during her Navy tenure, including commanding a helicopter squadron, HSM-41, and serving as Commanding Officer of a Navy ROTC unit where she developed leadership skills in thousands of future officers.
In this episode, we discuss:
- Shaun’s journey from a Navy helicopter pilot to Vice President of Business Development after a 27-year military career
- Tips on how to apply the skills gained in the military and how to market yourself when applying for jobs
- The unique B2B services Shaun and her team at The Service Design Group provide
- How The Service Design Group helps its clients build a complete offer to show their customers how they can achieve their desired outcome
- The Service Design Group’s goals for 2023
Shaun explains in detail how she equates the skills, lingo, and structure of the Navy to the business world. She also shares how The Service Design Group takes a holistic approach to analyzing the B2B business model. We learned a lot from Shaun about how to approach transitioning out of the military AND the impact a complete offer can have on a business. Thank you, Shaun!
Connect with Shaun:
- The Service Design Group
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Shaun for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
“We were able to take the technology associated with blockchain and cryptocurrency and use that as a fundraising mechanism, initially, to help support cannabis operators.” -Greg Anderson, USMA ‘92
Both 1992 graduates of the United States Military Academy at West Point, Greg Anderson and Charlie Uchill came together to create CeresCoin, a financial services company for the highly regulated legal cannabis industry. Ceres is a blockchain compliance and transparency solution that provides a peer-to-peer methodology for conducting secure, auditable, financial transactions. As CEO, Greg brings leadership experience from his time in the military and over 20 years in the real estate development industry. With a background in alternative structured finance, Charlie brings his industry expertise to the Ceres team as COO.
In this episode, we discuss:
- The development of a financial services platform that bridges the gap between two highly regulated spaces—cannabis and blockchain
- How Greg and Charlie worked with the SEC to become a regulated security
- The challenges Ceres faces due to the uncertainty in both the crypto and cannabis industries
- How Ceres is a unique solution for a significant problem in a growing $70 billion industry
- Greg and Charlie’s goals for Ceres
Greg and Charlie explain how choosing to become a regulated security before it was the industry standard, although a long and difficult process, was the right path for Ceres. They also share how they are raising awareness about their business and how it is the perfect solution for both cannabis companies and crypto investors. We were inspired by the tenacity Greg and Charlie demonstrated while building their company in a space surrounded by a lot of uncertainty and admire their growth and success.
Connect with Greg and Charlie:
- Greg’s LinkedIn
- Charlie’s LinkedIn
- CeresCoin
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Greg and Charlie for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
“I wanted to build my business from the ground up… having the power to choose the clients you work with, figure out how you want to build your business strategically and for the long-term. It’s been exciting… doing it all from scratch.” -Matthew Wang, USMA ‘06
After graduating from the United States Military Academy at West Point and serving as an active-duty military intelligence officer in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, Matthew Wang transitioned into finance. Matthew completed the Bank of America Veterans Associate Program and then continued on to work with Bank of America's Global Markets institutional clients. He now works as a Private Wealth Manager with Merrill Private Wealth Management and is currently building out his team of financial advisors at The Wang Group.
In this episode, we discuss:
- Matt’s path from getting out of the Army to becoming a private wealth advisor
- Oh Six Answers—the Podcast Matt is launching that is focused on reconnecting his USMA ‘06 classmates ahead of their 20-year reunion
- The different financial advisor opportunities at Merrill
- The approach Matt is taking to build out his team of advisors at The Wang Group
- Different strategies Matt uses when working with high-net-worth clients and their families
Matthew is looking to connect with individuals who can help him service his clients. His goal is to build a team of military veterans who now work in finance and come from a variety of investment specialties. We enjoyed learning from Matthew about what it is like to work with individuals and families with $10 million or more in net worth and how he helps them in managing their wealth. Thank you for sharing your expertise with us!
Connect with Matthew:
- The Wang Group: Private Wealth Advisor
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Matthew for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
“It’s not a question of whether you can or can’t do it…it’s about mindset.” -Brett Hadley (USAFA ‘05)
Brett Hadley is an Air Force veteran and the Managing Partner of BAB Investments, which he founded in 2019 with his brother JJ. Using their combined knowledge and ambition, the two brothers founded BAB Investments with the hope of providing friends, veterans, and other investors the opportunity to reach their financial goals through the prospect of passive income. Mindset is the driving force behind Brett’s success in life and in business. In today’s episode, Brett shares what having an abundance mindset looks like for him on a day-to-day basis.
In this episode, we discuss:
- The value of resiliency and cultivating an abundance mindset
- Why authenticity can 10X your business and your life
- How Brett built his real estate business through the military veteran network
- Brett’s experience of implementing EOS
- Why you don’t need to be an expert in everything to be successful
Brett also shares why he recently paid $100 for a $10 book and reflects on the impacts an abundance mindset and the military veteran network has had on his life and business. We enjoyed hearing the story of how Brett became an HQ Process Manager in the Air Force Reserve, how he built a successful real estate business with his brother and what some of their biggest challenges are right now. If you want to know why mindset matters when it comes to growing a business, this episode is for you! We love talking with Brett and we’re thankful for the value he adds to our community.
Connect with Brett:
- BAB Investments
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Brett for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
“If you align incentives in purchasing a home… you create value for the resident of the home who wants to share on the upside and you create a tremendous amount of value for the investors who want a resident who cares about the home and wants to take care of it.” -Kent Keirsey, USMA ‘03
USMA alumni Kent Keirsey and Peter Crawford are co-founders of Acre Homes, an innovative real estate company that provides consumers with a better way to purchase and live in a home they love. After serving as an Infantry Officer, Kent has spent his post-military career building businesses in both the real estate and healthcare spaces. Peter, a former Infantry and Special Forces Officer, has worked in management consulting and operations.
In this episode, we discuss:
- Kent and Peter’s inspiration to improve the model for buying a home in the U.S.
- How Acre works from the homebuyer’s perspective
- Acre’s unique offerings that differ from a typical mortgage
- Kent and Peter’s short-term and long-term goals for Acre
- The strength that lies in connecting with other veterans and giving back to the community
Kent and Peter share how Acre is a lower-risk home buying option for individuals who are unsure about their long-term plans. Acre fills the gap that exists between renting a property and taking on a traditional mortgage. Thank you to Kent and Peter for providing a unique solution that meets the needs of so many consumers who are looking for a home.
Connect with Kent and Peter:
- Kent's LinkedIn
- Peter's LinkedIn
- Acre Homes
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Kent and Peter for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
“Some people say, ‘I am cancer’ or ‘I am bipolar,’ but it’s important to note that it’s just a health problem. They have a disorder…‘I have bipolar’ or ‘I’ve had cancer.’ I think that’s an important thing to note….My hope is that I can help impact the lives of folks that are struggling with a mental health challenge.” - Charlie Eadie (USMA ‘07)
After serving in the U.S Army for ten years and overcoming significant challenges, Charlie Eadie pivoted to small business leadership and growth functions where he currently thrives. Charlie's latest ventures include serving as the Senior Vice President of Channel Growth for the Demex Group, a venture-backed post-Series A startup that provides climate insurtech solutions. He is also the co-founder and General Partner of CMD Capital, a venture capital firm that invests where innovation commands capital. He and his partners are focused on investing in the following sectors: National Security, Infrastructure, Mental Health and Social Impact.
In this episode, we discuss:
- Charlie’s journey from juvenile hall to graduating #2 in his class at West Point
- What Command Capital does and the story behind Charlie’s investment thesis
- Why Charlie is most passionate about deploying capital to the mental health sector
- How challenges Charlie has overcome prepared him for the leadership role he’s in today
- The importance and impact of making a living while doing what you love
Charlie also shares the people, organizations, and experiences in his life that have had the greatest impact on his success and reflects on how the military prepared him to excel in the startup world. We enjoyed hearing Charlie’s incredible story and listening to him talk about what he would invest in if he had unlimited capital. Charlie is an inspiration to us and we hope this episode inspires you too.
Connect with Charlie:
- CMD Capital
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Charlie for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
“Culture really drives a lot of where people go. When you can create a family or team environment, that seems to attract a lot of folks from our community…our ultimate goal is to be able to serve everybody under the Special Operations umbrella who wants to come through our program.” - Matthew Stevens (USNA ‘91)
Matt Stevens is CEO of The Honor Foundation (THF), a non-profit organization whose virtual and in-person professional development programs effectively translate elite military service to the private sector and are helping to create the next generation of corporate and community leaders. Prior to his role at The Honor Foundation, Matt gained significant experience as a senior Special Operations executive leading high-performing teams conducting our nation’s most sensitive missions, cultivating interagency relationships, and executing plans in dynamic environments.
In this episode, we discuss:
- How The Honor Foundation helps U.S. Special Officers transition into civilian life
- Specific tools and strategies that support a successful transition
- Why networking is important to a positive career outcome
- What private sector roles military veterans are excelling within
- Matt’s transition story and important lessons he learned along the way
Matt also shares why discovering your purpose is essential to a successful transition and why it’s crucial to leave ego at the door when embarking on a new career path. He also discusses THF’s biggest goals and challenges for the year ahead, including opening more physical campus locations, adding a third virtual program to their service offering, and eventually advising the DoD on how to overhaul and improve their Transition Assistance Program. We enjoyed hearing that military veterans are overcoming job role prerequisites based on interview performance and were moved to learn how The Honor Foundation is helping save lives. THF’s work is incredibly valuable and we’re honored to know Matt.
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Matt for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
“I feel like I’m at the leading edge while also taking care of my team…they have ambitions and goals and dreams and so the fact that we win together and solution together, that’s the most exciting part for me…it’s the build up and the big presentation for the deal.”- Lance Kallman (USAFA ‘04)
Lance Kallman is the President and Co-Founder of DataPrime, a company focused on building machine learning engines for artificial intelligence solutions to solve business problems. DataPrime makes access to machine learning engines much easier and faster than traditional big-package software. DataPrime operates by using data to train and build artificial intelligence and is working toward building its own data marketplace, which allows everyone other than big tech to push in trade data and do it in a secure anonymous way. DataPrime even has an edge over technologies including Chat GPT and its solutions are already having a significant impact across all industries and sectors including everything from healthcare to travel and international freight.
In this episode, we discuss:
- How DataPrime uses machine learning to solve business problems
- What Lance enjoys most about his role at DataPrime
- How Lance transitioned from the Air Force into the data industry
- What smart tokens are and how DataPrime is using them to build a data marketplace
- How DataPrime is helping to improve healthcare through data-driven interventions
Lance also shares some of his biggest challenges, why he loves working on cutting-edge technology development, and why he values the military veteran and Service Academy graduate network. We enjoyed learning who DataPrime’s ideal customer is and why a recruitment job set Lance up for success in the data science industry. It’s exciting to hear how DataPrime’s solutions have positive implications for the ways in which we live our lives and we can’t wait to see what the future holds for Lance and his company.
Connect with Lance:
- Lance on Linkedin
- DataPrime
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Lance for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
“In a partnership, you need to have trust and friendship…commitment to the people and systems that go is what I get really excited about.”- Josh Kristoff (USNA ‘07)
In 2021, Navy veteran Josh Kristoff and his wife Kassandra (also a Navy veteran) joined longtime friends and Army veterans Jered and Carly DaCosta, to form Nomad Capital Ventures LLC, a vertically integrated group of real estate businesses that started with short-term rental properties in Jacksonville, Florida. Over the last two years, the company has grown to include in-house property management, a real estate brokerage, and a construction and design company that delivers a full-service experience for real estate investors. Today, Nomad Capital Ventures LLC has over $60M in assets under management…and they’re just getting started!
In this episode, we discuss:
- How Josh transitioned from Surface Warfare Officer to real estate professional
- What Nomad Capital Ventures does and how the company is structured
- How to maintain healthy relationships when your business partners are your friends
- The benefits of building a business around your family’s needs and values
- How to scale with intention and manage profit both responsibly and creatively
Josh also reflects on the power of the military veteran network, shares lessons learned from running a business with fellow military veterans and talks about some exciting projects in the works and goals for this year. We enjoyed hearing the story of how Nomad Capital Ventures’ real estate brokerage came to be and what Josh loves the most about his job. We’re inspired by Nomad Capital Ventures' company values, impressed by their skyrocketing success and can’t wait to see what the future holds for them!
Connect with Josh:
- Nomad Capital Ventures
- Nomad Hospitality
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Josh for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
“The continuous development of future leaders is something we’re big on. That’s a piece where we set ourselves apart from other companies. We spend a lot of time recruiting and finding the right resources, but when we bring you on our team we don’t care if you’ve been with us for a couple of days or a few months. If you have the right solution, we’re putting you in front of the customer…instilling that into the culture has been critical.” - Ryan Waguespack (USNA '03)
Ryan Waguespack is the President and Founder of Iberia Advisory, a company he launched during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. It’s a fascinating story! Iberia Advisory is a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business committed to helping federal agencies address financial management challenges. Following his military career as a Surface Warfare Officer in the Navy, Ryan supported the Federal government as a financial management consultant. He has led numerous project teams and assisted organizations in attaining their goals in audit readiness, budget execution, and business process reengineering by developing and implementing solutions.
In this episode, we discuss:
- The origin story of Ryan’s government contracting company Iberia Advisory
- Why Ryan took the leap into entrepreneurship during the Covid-19 pandemic
- Advice on how to succeed in the government contracting industry
- How to optimize your team and create a healthy workplace culture
- Why Ryan became a CPA after serving in the military
Ryan also shares some of his biggest goals for 2023 and beyond, including maintaining a strong team and the importance of pursuing the right vehicles for government contracts. We enjoyed listening to Ryan reflect on the value of patience and maintaining a growth mindset when running a business and hearing his top tips for building a successful team from scratch. We hope this episode inspires and motivates you as you lead your business this week!
Connect with Ryan:
- Iberia Advisory
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Ryan for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
“We are an outdoor furniture company that is on a mission to help people spend more time outdoors. My co-founder and I think there is something special about spending time outdoors with the ones you love. From personal experience, those are the most special memories whether it’s dining outdoors or sitting around a fire pit or even watching college football on a Saturday. If you’re doing it in an outdoor area, it just feels different.” - Alex Duncan (USMA ‘13)
Alex Duncan is an Army Veteran and the Co-Founder of Outmore Living, a company on a mission to encourage people to spend more time outdoors through innovative and timeless furniture design that utlizes experience-enhancing technology to make spending time outside more comfortable and enjoyable. Founded and based in Austin, Texas, the company is on a mission to foster deeper connections between family and friends, enrich experiences through innovation, and highlight the direct relationship between outdoor spaces and well-being.
In this episode, we discuss:
- The mission behind Alex’s company, Outmore Living
- How Outmore Living’s innovative products work
- Why direct-to-consumer marketing is Outmore Living’s primary sales strategy
- How a perceived failure can become your company’s biggest win
- Advice on everything from establishing a successful partnership to winning a pitch competition
Alex also shares what the journey from product design to market launch looks like, discusses different use case examples for Outmore Living’s product range, and describes who his ideal customers are. We enjoyed listening to him list his biggest goals for 2023 and beyond and describe all the valuable lessons he learned both in and out of business school. We love Outmore Living’s innovative ideas, can’t wait to see how consumers respond to their products, and wish them every success in the future.
Connect with Alex:
- Outmore Living
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Alex for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
“There’s so much more that goes into financial planning, especially when you’re talking business planning, than pie charts and spreadsheets. More often than not, it’s just clearing the way for the business owner to be able to work on the business instead of being sucked in to work in the business on a day-to-day basis.” - Donald Pearson (USNA ‘16)
Donald Pearson (USNA ‘16) is a Wealth Management Advisor at WestPac Wealth Partners and a Registered Representative (RR) & Investment Advisor Representative (IAR) of Park Avenue Securities. Upon graduating from the United States Naval Academy in 2016, Donald commissioned into the United States Marine Corps. He served as a Financial Manager responsible for all resources allocated in support of Marine Corps activities in Central and South America before joining WestPac. In his work, Donald most enjoys working with energetic, passionate, loving families and business owners that are growing and dedicated to making sound financial decisions to set their families and businesses up for long-term success.
In this episode, we discuss:
- Why the Marine Corps accelerated Donald’s career as a financial advisor
- How the military veteran network helped power Donald’s successful transition
- Tips on how to become a successful financial advisor and build a good reputation
- Why WestPac Wealth Partners focuses on working with clients who are business owners
- How WestPac Wealth Partners helps business owners organize and coordinate their financial team
Donald also shares why exit and contingency plans should be the top priority for every business owner and how a financial advisor can help business owners significantly increase the value of their companies. We also discuss why building authentic relationships is the key to being successful in life and in business and enjoyed listening to Donald’s most important goals, which include hiring 10 Service Academy grad financial advisors, building out the largest Service Academy grad wealth management team in the US, and building a Service Academy curriculum to teach people about money before active duty. We’re inspired by Donald’s early success and can’t wait to see how his future unfolds.
Connect with Donald:
- Westpac Wealth Partners
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Donald for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
“For me, it’s about creating as much value as you can and sharing it amongst as many people as you can. The bigger the community, the bigger the opportunity…I get a lot of joy from being around other people and working with other people. ”– Joshua Awad (USNA ‘02)
Navy Veteran, Joshua Awad is the Co-Founder of OnePet, a portfolio of digitally native companies in the veterinary and pet care space. He is also a Partner at eGateway Capital, a late-stage venture capital firm that invests in high-growth technology companies and operates as an M&A advisory practice that enables the future of eCommerce. Josh served as a Surface Warfare Officer from 2002-2008 after graduating from the Naval Academy and also holds master’s degrees from Oklahoma University and Harvard Business School.
In this episode, we discuss:
- How Josh got started in eCommerce after serving in the Navy
- The stories behind Josh’s different eCommerce business ventures
- How eGateway Capital functions as an eCommerce ecosystem and who it’s for
- The thriving community eGateway Capital is building through its investment fund
- Why Veterans make great business partners
Josh also shares some of eGateway Capital’s short-term and long-term goals, including plans to build the company into a $1 billion platform over the next 10 years. We enjoyed hearing the story of how Josh transitioned from the military into eCommerce, learning about the first products he sold online and hearing some of his eCommerce war stories. We love that Josh is building a supportive community through his businesses and can’t wait to see how it continues to grow and thrive.
Connect with Josh:
- eGateway Capital
- OnePet
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Josh for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
“The whole idea is to create something that provides lifelong memories that Veterans can share with their friends and family.”- Toby Prudhomme (USMA ‘96)
Toby Prudhomme (USMA ‘96) is President of Extreme Adventures, a 501(c)(19) non-profit organization that provides outdoor experiences for Veterans and their families. His goal is to enhance the lives of America’s Veterans through recreational and social opportunities that reengage them with the activities they love and unite them with people who share similar backgrounds and experiences. Toby grew up hunting and fishing in Louisiana. He’s a retired U.S. Army officer and completed over five combat deployments.
In this episode, we discuss:
- Why Toby founded a non-profit outdoor adventure company for Veterans
- How outdoor adventures build camaraderie and help military Veterans process difficult experiences
- What a typical adventure with Toby and the team looks like
- How Extreme Adventures fund their outdoor experiences, making them free for Veterans to join
Toby also shares his goal to plan 6-10 fully funded trips for 2023 and how the company is working to minimize expenses and establish long-term relationships with donors and other funding sources. We also discuss why the outdoors in particular facilitates healing by eliminating unhelpful distractions. The work Tony is doing at Extreme Adventures is so important. We can’t wait to see how his company continues to grow and look forward to hearing more stories from his outdoor adventures.
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Toby for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
“The big vision is how can we bring order to the mess that is the ocean transportation industry on the bulk side? $1.3 trillion is being spent to transport commodities annually…this is an international business and every ship is filled to the brim. The smallest shipment we’ve done is 50,000 metric tons. What that looks like is two and a half football fields long and seven stories high….you’re talking about a very big business for the building blocks of the world and we’re trying to bring order to that.”
- John Hahn (USMMA '04)
John Hahn is a U.S. Merchant Marine Academy grad and the CEO and Co-Founder of Ocean Freight Exchange, a company he started in 2015 to optimize the global supply chain and make shipping simple by connecting ship owners and charters via their data-centric AI platform, like Uber for the freight industry. The company’s platform enables brokers to become super-brokers, save over 3 hours of time every day, and generate over 4X revenue plus a 5X bonus. They ship everything from grain, fertilizer, and metallic ore to sugar, construction materials, coal, road salt and more across the world in dry bulk, oil tanker and gas freight vessels. They currently work with 28 people in 7 countries.
In this episode, we discuss:
- Why the technology developed by Ocean Freight Exchange is so groundbreaking
- How Ocean Freight Exchange is solving the biggest problems in the global ocean transportation industry
- When and how John’s business idea for Ocean Freight Exchange came to fruition
- Tips on raising capital and best practices for establishing relationships with investors
- Why execution is an essential part of every successful business
John also shares the story of his first sale and why his team members are as important to him as his clients. John also discusses recent wins, what he’s looking forward to in 2023 and how his experiences at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy are helping him in his business today. We loved learning how John’s company is making the ocean freight industry more efficient and can’t wait to see how he continues to transform the industry on an international scale.
Connect with John:
- Ocean Freight Exchange
- Venture Deals by Brad Field and Jason Mendelson
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to John for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
“Ingram Capital builds community through real estate…we buy dilapidated, abandoned homes, fix them up, and turn them into safe, single-family homes as long-term rentals.” - Wil Ingram (USNA ‘11)
Wil Ingram is a U.S. Navy veteran on a mission to build community through real estate. His interest in real estate began while serving as a Surface Warfare Officer in the U.S. Navy. After spending three out of his six years in uniform at sea, he decided it was time for a career change so he could spend more time with his growing family and founded Ingram Capital, LLC with his brother. Ingram Capital, LLC operates out of Dayton, Ohio and specializes in single-family long-term rental properties. Wil and his brother are passionate about buying semi-distressed or abandoned homes, fixing them up and making them useful for the community again.
In this episode, we discuss:
- What Ingram Capital does and why Wil recently acquired a cabinet and flooring company
- What made it possible for Wil to transition into real estate full time
- Wil’s best practices for managing and scaling a real estate investing business
- How Wil is meeting his goal to double the number of properties he owns this year
- Why it’s important to find a mentor and identify what motivates your goals
Wil also shares what it’s like to work with his brother every day, how they maintain a strong personal and professional relationship and some of the biggest lessons they learned from mistakes made early on in the business. We enjoyed learning what makes Dayton, Ohio a unique real estate market and listening to how Wil is managing rising interest rates. Wil also discusses how Ingram Capital finances investment properties and elaborates on the benefits of real estate investing. We’ve loved getting to know Wil and have no doubt he’ll not only meet but exceed his goal of 3500 properties under management by 2030.
Connect with Wil:
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Wil for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
“You have to be very selective about what you do and how you maintain your property as well as how you're going to get income…this is a whole new arena.”
- Gary Klaben (USMA ‘79)
Gary Klaben is the President of Coyle Financial Counsel, an innovative wealth management firm dedicated to helping families preserve and grow their wealth so they can have complete confidence in their financial legacy. This is Gary’s second guest appearance on the SABM Podcast and we’re delighted to welcome him back. In this episode, Gary dives into some great topics related to the benefits of multigenerational living and building a family estate. Gary is the author of Changing the Conversation, The Wealth Sanctuary and co-author of The Business Battlefield. He’s also a coach at Strategic Coach, the #1 business coaching program in the world for entrepreneurs.
In this episode, we discuss:
- The benefits of creating a family estate and how it can help everyone realize a vision and pursue a purpose
- Why vision boards are a great starting point for making big family decisions
- The basics and benefits of running a family estate and why regular communication is key
- Why creating a family estate is more complex than running a company
- What a functioning family estate looks like and how to make it run smoothly
Gary also shares why he decided to create an estate for his family and when he realized it was the right decision. He also discusses why you don’t need to be wealthy in order to have a family estate and opens up about the complexities and rewards of owning and running his family property. We enjoyed hearing what some of Gary’s favorite memories are since he started living on his family estate and hope this episode inspires you to create an exciting vision for your family’s future.
Connect with Gary:
- Coyle Financial Counsel
- Strategic Coach
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Gary for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
“We really believe that we’re going to change the global workforce by taking the best of military chaplaincy and pivoting that toward the corporate world…our commitment is to impact the company bottom line by increasing employee resiliency, engagement, performance and retention through chaplaincy.”
- Alan “Blues” Baker (USNA ‘78)
Alan “Blues” Baker is the Founder & CEO of ChaplainCare, which serves people and strengthens organizations by providing the benefits of military chaplaincy to civilian workplaces. Alan has over 34 years of experience in college, corporate, and military chaplaincy and now trains supervises, and endorses prospective and current chaplains in a variety of settings. A graduate of the United States Naval Academy, Baker rose to the rank of rear admiral. He currently teaches at Fuller, Gordon-Conwell, and Wesley seminaries. Alan is passionate about workforce chaplaincy and sees it as the most exciting and fastest-growing segment of soul care.
In this episode, we discuss:
- What ChaplainCare is and why Alan started it
- Why faith, leadership and learning are central to ChaplainCare’s operations
- What chaplaincy care for corporations looks like
- How companies can roll out and build awareness around chaplaincy care
- Why developing friendships and demonstrating care for people can transform a workplace
Alan also shares why chaplains make excellent personal advisors and how ChaplainCare operates within companies, including helping businesses implement diversity, equity and inclusion practices. We enjoyed listening to Alan tell stories from his experience as a chaplain at the Naval Academy and discussing how Alan uses Gallup’s CliftonStrengths Assessment and Q12 Employee Engagement Survey to inform his chaplaincy work. It’s not only the support Alan provides but also his dynamic approach to chaplaincy that helps companies excel.
Connect with Alan:
- Chaplain Care
- Gallup’s Q12 Employee Engagement Survey
- Gallup’s CliftonStrengths Assessment
- First Break All the Rules by Curt Coffman and Marcus Buckingham
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Alan for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
“Look at the example of continuous performance feedback. We take it for granted that part of being a leader is providing regular, consistent feedback, both critical and complimentary. If you're in the platform, and it says, hey, it's time for you to provide feedback, you start developing that habit early and often.”
- Scott Taylor (USMA ‘01)
Scott Taylor (USMA ‘01) is the Founder of Startwise, a SaaS platform that is transforming the way employers lead and employees grow within companies while addressing the fact that businesses nationwide face a trillion-dollar annual loss due to employee churn. The mission of Startwise is to reimagine the employee experience and the future of work by building software products using learning sciences and distributed leadership to accelerate human skills development. The company’s JobOS platform helps leaders build, develop and retain top-performing teams.
In this episode, we discuss:
- What it takes to build a SaaS platform and how Startwise works
- How Startwise uses customer feedback to enhance the platform
- Why learning sciences and leadership are key to employee retention
- How Startwise measures employee performance metrics through self-reporting
- Why regular feedback and communication are essential to thriving professional relationships
Scott also shares how Startwise is already helping companies reduce the time it takes to onboard new employees after just six months of operation and why companies that have teams of five people and over are a perfect fit for the platform. We also discuss why Startwise is a particularly valuable tool for growing successful sales teams and enjoyed hearing why the values Scott learned at West Point form the foundational values of his company. We wish Scott continued success as he helps companies transform the way they work for the better.
Connect with Scott:
- Startwise
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Scott for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
“Our theme is having partners who are experts at what they do. One of the founding principles behind Blue Flag is we really want to do things that we’re great at. We’re not interested in faking it until we make it. We’re interested in doing what we’ve had decades to get good at.”- Christian Jensen (USAFA ‘96)
Christian Jensen (USAFA ‘96) is a Managing Partner at Blue Flag, an LLP, or partnership between experts with diverse skills, much like a medical practice, that helps businesses reach their full potential through project management and talent solutions. While many technology and consulting companies are created to serve a core industry or have a unique specialization, Blue Flag’s structure allows the company to bring on co-owners and build a practice with depth in new areas very quickly. Chris and his team serve both the private and public sectors. Working with large government and private clients has given Blue Flag a foundation of proven solutions while working with startups infuses their everyday work with energy and innovation.
In this episode, we discuss:
- How an LLP functions
- Who the experts behind Blue Flag are and what they do
- What agile project management is and why it’s transforming the way teams work
- Expert tips on how to manage and overcome the challenges of office politics
- How to overcome the fear of saying “yes” to new opportunities
Chris also dives into the founding principles of Blue Flag, including why the company values people over processes. He also offers some excellent, practical tips on how individuals and teams can implement an agile methodology for work and life. We enjoyed hearing why Christ decided to start his own company and why he believes failure is a good learning opportunity and why preparation is the key to success. We learned a lot from Chris’s golden nuggets of workplace wisdom and hope this episode inspires you wherever you are in your professional journey.
Connect with Christian:
- Blue Flag
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Chris for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
“Academy grads have a special kind of independence and willingness to do things that are really difficult and see things through in the long term…I think that hardens your character and makes you push through…We really want to emphasize some of these core values: to present good opportunities to our team members and do operations in a way that’s honest and in a way that’s not only good for our customers but also benefits the greater good. The Academy has provided really strong values for executing those missions.”
- Zachary Adams (USAFA ‘13)
Zach Adams is a former F-15E Strike Eagle pilot in the U.S. Air Force and Co-Founder of Pitch Aeronautics (Pitch Aero), an unmanned aircraft startup company commercializing cyclorotor propulsion technology to save money and save lives. Zach is applying his doctoral research experience to develop and enable drones to physically interact with surfaces. Their drone prototype, "Astria" can perform up-close, touch, and robotic tasks that can replace expensive rope, crane, and helicopter access inspections, which are among the most dangerous jobs in America.
In this episode, we discuss:
- Why Pitch Aero is developing a drone to carry out industrial inspections and how the idea was born
- How Pitch Aero’s drone services concrete infrastructure and aids powerline installation
- Why engineering is Zach’s passion
- Lessons learned from raising capital for the first time
- Why Zach and his fellow Academy grad co-founder make a great team
Zach also shares how he and the Pitch Aero team are working to achieve a product market fit and eventually become the industry leader in robotic drone technology. He also discusses specific ways their seed round of funding will help them continue to grow and reflects on the benefits of being an Academy grad in a startup venture. Pitch Aero’s drone technology is amazing and we wish Zach and his team continued success as they work to save lives and money through their innovative technologies.
Connect with Zachary:
- Pitch Aeronautics
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Zach for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
“We are committed to our purpose, our mission to help our members live well and serve better so we like to think ahead as to what it means to craft a new model for housing and building wealth. We want to have a true impact on the main problems we’re attacking…not only on our members’ ability to build wealth, but also the connections our members are having to the local communities in which they live.”
- Rich Halverson (USNA ‘05)
Rich Halverson (USNA’ 05) is the Co-Founder of Joint Homes, a tech-enabled residential housing platform serving the military community by offering serving families exclusive access to beautiful homes as they move through their careers including integrated services that make it easy for them to be at home and the financial benefits of ownership so they can turn their rent into wealth. Rich created Joint Homes with Army veteran, Mel Levey (USMA ‘07) in order to solve the challenges they experienced at home while serving in the military. After multiple combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan and 16 military moves between them, their combined 25 years of service is the driving force behind their company’s mission.
In this episode, we discuss:
- The unseen financial impacts of military service
- How Joint Homes provides military families with the personal and financial benefits of home ownership through rental properties
- Where Joint Homes sources housing for military families
- The most important lesson Rich learned from serving in the U.S. Navy
- The challenges and rewards of growing a startup
Rich also shares how Joint Homes is working to better connect military families with the communities in which they live and how he and his team are working to build partnerships and close their pre-seed round of fundraising. We also discuss the biggest learning curves when starting a business and how lessons learned from military service are helping Rich build a sustainable and profitable company. Rich also shares insights into what it’s like working alongside an Army veteran! We’re so glad to know and can’t wait to see how his company continues to transform the lives of our nation’s military families for the better.
Connect with Rich:
- Joint Homes
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Rich for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
“For the last 20 years, I’ve either consulted or been a COO in small to medium-sized businesses so I know the specific pain that these ‘tweener’ companies have…my military experience really set the foundation…I want to bring those military values to my COO consultancy. My company values are military values without being militaristic. The deep values are the things that really matter in the long run.”- Kirk Alexander (USAFA ‘89)
Kirk Alexander is an Air Force veteran with over 20 years of experience as an operations executive in the information technology, health tech, SaaS, medical practice, and medical device industry. In 2004, Kirk founded Methodize.us where he uses his expertise to provide fractional COO services that help small and medium-sized companies take their businesses to the next level. In this episode, Kirk shares the methods, tools and resources he uses to help companies scale well into the future and why integrity-based values are his driving force.
In this episode, we discuss:
- Why Kirk decided to become a fractional COO
- How Kirk helped a surgeon’s practice increase its revenue by 300% in just three years
- Lessons learned from the successful sale of a private dental practice
- Why setting measurable goals is essential to growing a business
- How Kirk’s training at the Air Force Academy set him up for success as an entrepreneur
Kirk also shares how personality and strengths tests have helped guide his career and why an experienced fractional COO can transform a company in a very short period of time. We loved hearing how Kirk has helped medical practices resolve common pain points including long telephone waiting times and learned a lot about different technologies and platforms that help optimize business performance. Kirk’s knowledge and operational experience add exceptional value to his clients, but it’s his genuine passion for what he does that makes knowing and working with him both motivating and inspiring.
Connect with Kirk:
- Methodize.us
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Kirk for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
“Our goal is to help companies achieve their business goals faster…the people side is the hardest part of business and the knowledge piece is one of the core components of that people side. How do you document the knowledge that you have? How do you take that knowledge and impart it to the next generation? How do you ensure you can rapidly pass off information as things change? These are all really critical problems and what we’re trying to do is be part of the effort to meet all of these challenges that we see in the world through a learning and development lens.”-Matthew Gjertsen (USAFA '05)
Matthew Gjertsen is the Owner and Chief Learning Officer of Better Every Day Studios, which he founded on the idea that excellence is repeatable and can be achieved by anyone. Matthew and his experienced team work with organizations of all sizes across all industries to deliver exceptional learning and development experiences for their employees in order to achieve maximum performance. Prior to starting up Better Every Day Studios, Matthew served in the U.S. Air Force and was the Training and Development Manager for SpaceX.
In this episode, we discuss:
- What Better Every Day does to help companies revolutionize workplace learning and development communications and training programs
- How Matthew’s military service informed the development of his company
- Why transforming learning and development vastly improves business performance
- How we can approach education differently by focusing on outcomes and results rather than high-cost time commitments
- Matthew’s top book recommendations for anyone who is motivated to start a business
Matthew also shares why engaging onboarding processes that speak to employee and client perspectives are so important and how why it’s important to pay attention to the emotional benefits of your company. We enjoyed listening to Matthew’s biggest goals and challenges, feel inspired by his passion for learning and education, and hope this episode motivates you to build a better business every day.
Connect with Matthew:
- Better Every Day Studios
- Matthew’s book recommendations:
- Peak: Secrets from the New Science of Expertise by Anders Ericsson
- How Emotions Are Made: The Secret Life of the Brain by Lisa Feldman Barrett
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Matthew for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Jake Dulle is the Pre-Deployment Program Manager at LocalVest where he helps military veterans raise capital through their innovative online platform and community based events. Despite their impressive numbers, Veterans receive less overall financing from conventional lenders than their civilian-peers, despite filing more applications to more lenders. Without capital, Veteran businesses close and take their jobs, leadership and impact with them. Jake along with his team at LocalVest are here to change that.
In this episode, we discuss:
- Jake’s career transition from working at an 80,000+ employee company to working at a startup
- The LocalVest Pre-Deployment Program and how it prepares new founders to raise capital
- How LocalVest connects founders with the right investors who are mostly likely to invest in their deal
- Taking risks, betting on yourself and creating a new life for your family
Connect with Jake:
- LocalVest
- LocalVest Pre-Deployment Program
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Jake for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
“Loyalty, trust and transparency no matter what you’re doing in life–whether it’s running a business, having a family, being with your friends–if you keep that mentality and look after each other, you can make that path to success much easier.” - Tyler Laverick (USMMA ‘06)
Tyler Laverick is a U.S. Merchant Marine Corps Academy grad and results-driven leader with a passion for tackling the toughest challenges to solve real-world problems. As Co-Founder of Bridge Core, he and his close-knit team integrate leading-edge technology solutions in secure environments, allowing commercial solutions to answer the problems we face now. Bridge Core is leading digital change and creating the workplace of the future by transforming the way clients work across geographically dispersed teams in one common operating environment.
In this episode, we discuss:
- Bridge Core’s origin story
- How Bridge Core partners with tech companies to serve the federal government
- Why customer service is essential to Bridge Core’s mission
- How Tyler has created a strong and healthy workplace culture
- Best practices for building a successful business partnership
Tyler also shares why military veterans can make great business partners and why prioritizing workplace culture over growth has resulted in the success and recognition of Bridge Core’s services. Tyler also discusses how visual intelligence is shaping the company’s future development and we also enjoyed listening to his tips on how to maintain a healthy workplace culture at scale. Tyler is our first-ever U.S. Merchant Marine Corps Academy grad podcast guest and, thanks to his good work, we hope to have the opportunity to host many more in the future!
Connect with Tyler:
- Bridge Core
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Tyler for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
“My goal is to see this become a billion-dollar brand in the home services and construction industry. I want to get there by helping people build a sustainable source of wealth for themselves and their families. I want to get there by helping people build really solid businesses where they can define their participation…I don’t want to get there any other way.” - Zach Peyton (USMA ‘04)
After graduating from West Point in 2004 and serving as an Army intelligence officer, Zach Peyton found an exciting future in the home services industry in North Florida where he is now the Co-Founder and President of Superior Fence & Rail, the nation’s only fencing franchise.
Superior Fence & Rail locations are expanding rapidly across the United States thanks to Zach’s leadership and the company’s recent acquisition by Lynx Franchising. In this episode, Zach discusses what the exit experience was like from start to finish in addition to the big goals he has for Superior Fence & Rail’s continued growth within a brand portfolio.
In this episode, we discuss:
- Lessons learned from the experience of being acquired as an emerging brand
- Insights into company valuation and how the process works
- Why finding the right investment bank is important to navigating a successful exit
- How the experience of being acquired helped Zach improve the value of Superior Fence & Rail and create a robust plan for the future
- The portfolio of brands Superior Fence & Rail is part of and why it’s provided a supportive peer network
Zach also shares how Superior Fence & Rail’s recent acquisition is accelerating the company’s ability to scale and why getting acquired can be a positive experience for a small business owner. We enjoyed listening to Zach tell us about his billion-dollar goals for the future and learning how prioritizing people has enabled Zach to ensure Superior Fence & Rail continues to grow and expand at a sustainable pace. We’re grateful for Zach’s positive perspectives on the experience of getting acquired and hope this episode benefits anyone interested in entrepreneurship through franchising and acquisition.
Connect with Zach:
- Superior Fence & Rail
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Zach for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
“We hang our hats on every deal and, with that, we’ve been able to make a real impact on the market we’re in.”
- Kimberly Gile
“A lot of the success that we’ve seen and that we’re having is because we’re ready. We’ve got the investor money ready, we’ve got the structures ready, we’ve got the tenants ready…that’s the secret sauce, just being ready to rock n’ roll when the time comes.”
- Christian Gile (USAFA '98)
U.S. Air Force Veteran, Christian Gile and his wife Kimberly are the Founders of Gile Healthcare Real Estate, which provides premium commercial real estate services to physicians, dentists, veterinarians, optometrists, and medical investors looking to grow their businesses or invest for passive income. As a team, they provide premium services to ensure their clients are able to make solid real estate and brokerage decisions. Kimberly and Christian’s negotiation strategies coupled with their combined medical real estate experience and healthy working relationship continues to result in millions of dollars of savings and profits for their clients.
In this episode, we discuss:
- How Christian and Kimberly got started in commercial real estate
- Why commercial healthcare properties are great real estate investments
- What a sale-leaseback is and how it works
- How Christian and Kimberly conduct market and business analysis
- Pro tips for anyone thinking about going into business with a spouse or family member
Kimberly and Christian also share why putting clients first is important to their success and why repositioning distressed commercial real estate is their next big endeavor. They also share why the ongoing need for in-person patient interaction is important to their business and talk about their strategies for tackling one of their biggest challenges right now: finding opportunities in the market. We not only enjoyed learning from Christian and Kimberly’s wisdom and experience in the commercial healthcare real estate space but also enjoyed hearing how they’ve built a successful business relationship with each other.
Connect with Kimberly & Christian:
- Christian - LinkedIn
- Kimberly - LinkedIn
- Gile Healthcare Real Estate
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Kimberly and Christian for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
“There’s a lack of transparency in a system where we’re dealing with people’s health…it’s a tricky, frustrating space, but we’re just trying to do our small part to change that.”
- Jason Belvill (USAFA ‘08)
Jason Belvill is the Co-Founder & Director of Operations for BodySpec where he combines a passion for athletics with singular expertise in engineering to help design and oversee BodySpec's mobile scanning trucks. BodySpec’s mobile DEXA scans help people learn about their bodies so they can improve their overall health. Originally from Seattle, WA, Jason graduated from the Air Force Academy in 2008 where he was captain of the All-Armed Forces Soccer Team. In addition to soccer, CrossFit, and doughnuts, Jason enjoys world travel, having visited over 20 countries.
In this episode, we discuss:
- What BodySpec is and how it works
- The unique biomarkers that BodySpec analyzes
- What a DEXA scan is and why BodySpec utilizes them
- Why BodySpec wants to make preventative health accessible
- How BodySpec is reducing friction in the healthcare industry
Jason also shares how BodySpec helps clients achieve their health goals, including the company’s long-term plans to develop a comprehensive healthcare dashboard and new technology that detects skin cancer. We enjoyed hearing how Jason has come to understand the compliance and regulatory environment within the healthcare industry and learning more about the operational friction points he’s identified and improving upon. We’re proud of Jason’s perseverance in the healthcare industry and excited to see how he and the BodySpec team continue to transform the space to help others stay healthy.
Connect with Jason:
- BodySpec
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Jason for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
“I helped several veterans in franchising start businesses that they otherwise would not have found and do things that are good for their communities, but this is a way where I’m helping potentially hundreds, thousands, millions of people through the type of lending and investing that Sansbank is doing so I thought I’d go for it.”
- Josh Emison (USNA ‘14)
Josh Emison is the Co-Founder & CEO of Sansbank, a tech startup on a mission to democratize commercial real estate investing to allow anyone to receive passive income. Through an innovative cashflow tokenization process, Sansbank grants property owners cash advances against future profits. Property owners receive capital and maintain equity while investors participate in the offering by lending $100 tokens granting them fractionalized monthly preferred return payments. Prior to founding Sansbank, Josh served in the U.S. Marine Corps and owned a successful veteran franchise consulting business.
In this episode, we discuss:
- Why Josh transitioned from being a successful franchise consultant to becoming the co-founder of a tech startup
- How Sansbank approaches due diligence and secures loans
- What the blockchain is, how it works and how Sansbank uses it to automate compliance
- What Sansbank’s ideal pilot property looks like
- Advice and encouragement for anyone looking to make a career change
Josh shares how a story from his time in the U.S. Marine Corps can help anyone understand how the blockchain works and why real estate is a great investment. We enjoyed listening to Josh’s favorite wins over the last year and learning more about the innovative process Sansbank is developing. Josh tells us the awesome story of how he met his co-founder and why he believes that being truthful with yourself is the first step to finding true fufillment in work and in life. We love having Josh in our community and we’re inspired by everything he’s accomplished while helping other veterans along the way. We can’t wait to see Sansbank continue to grow and thrive!
Connect with Josh:
- Sansbank
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Josh for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
“Number one, don’t give up. Number two, think outside of the box. And, number three, build a strong team. If you have those three things working for you and a half-decent idea, you’ve got a good chance of making it.” - Eric Johnson (USNA ‘81)
Eric Johnson is CEO and Director at HELM Audio, a company focused on audio innovation. HELM Audio was founded in 2017 by a proven team of product developers, marketing strategists, industry veterans, and musicians who also happened to be great friends. With a passion for audio gear, great music, and the deep know-how needed to build world-class cutting-edge products, Eric and his team set out to fill a vast market gap with an ambitious brand born for music lovers who desire immersive audio with ultramodern freedom and functionality at a tremendous value. Prior to his career in technology, Eric served in the U.S. Navy.
In this episode, we discuss:
- The origin story of HELM Audio
- HELM Audio’s best-selling products and who their end users are
- Why HELM Audio has a competitive advantage in the marketplace
- How HELM Audio is using its technology to help first responders and individuals with hearing loss
- Valuable lessons learned from growing a company
Eric also shares what led him to his role at HELM and tells us some of his current goals and challenges. We enjoyed hearing how HELM’s first responder program during the Covid-19 pandemic not only helped others but also helped the company go viral. Eric also discusses HELM’s three-phase revenue model and why audio technology is so far behind video technology. Eric’s passion for what he does at HELM is really motivating. We enjoyed learning about the dynamism of the audio tech space and can’t wait to see how HELM Audio continues to innovate!
Connect with Eric:
- HELM Audio Website
- HELM Audio Amazon Store
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Eric for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
“I genuinely believe that this pathway was made for me and I had to meet the right people and take the right steps and have the right hardships and the right adversity to be the person I am now to write these songs that I’m putting out there…that’s what makes a song so good, capturing an emotion that’s real and raw. It’s a work of expression.”
- Chris Nurthen, USNA '15
On a mission to build something together, Chris Nurthen and his wife Keri started a small food truck business in 2018 out of a pop-up tent in Virginia Beach during Chris' tour in the Navy. Chris' overly aggressive “engage everyone" customer approach and Keri's counteract of genuine Southern hospitality drew in huge hungry crowds and Sweetnur’s "Home of the Iron Pie" became an instant success. Chris has since left the Navy and now lives in Memphis, Tennessee with his family where their successful food truck has become the launch pad for his career as a singer-songwriter.
In this episode, we discuss:
- What an iron pie is and why it launched Chris’ food truck business
- How Chris used his family food truck to launch his music career
- Why artistry and business sense are important to a successful music career
- Key strategies for getting music into the marketplace
- Why a military background gives Chris his competitive edge
Chris also shares the challenges and triumphs of being an independent singer-songwriter and why his family and their story are essential to the success of his food truck business and budding music career. We enjoyed hearing why facilitating emotional connections is Chris’ favorite part about songwriting and admire the drive, ambition, goals, and values pushing his career forward. Chris brings a worthwhile and inspiring perspective to the music industry and we can’t wait to witness his continued success.
Connect with Chris:
- Sweetnur’s Food Truck
- Sweetnur Music
- Sweetnur Linktree
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Chris for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
“All of this is very easy to do if you form a relationship with a firm like ours very early because we can crawl with the business, we can walk with the business and then run with the business as it goes from the idea phase to the startup phase to the growth phase…depending on where you are and how mature your business is, you can always reevaluate strategy, you can always identify what the strategy is and optimize it and tweak things, and you can always do maintenance on a partnership...we want to be in long-term relationships with our clients.”
- Chris Czaplak (USNA ‘00)
Chris Czaplak is an experienced litigator and former engineer who leverages 20 years of leadership and crisis management experience in the military to solve the most complicated business problems and tailor solutions to his clients’ needs. As a Partner at The Precept Group–a boutique firm working at the intersection of law, accounting and finance–Chris helps entrepreneurs create and implement efficient and effective legal and financial systems for their companies, empowering them to focus on what they love doing most.
In this episode, we discuss:
- What sparked Chris’ interest in law
- How The Precept Group helps clients optimize tax, legal and financial strategies
- Expert tips on how to optimize the tax and legal structure of your business
- The right ways to balance your business and personal finances
- The advantages and differences between LLCs, S-Corps, C-Corps and much more!
Chris shares so much knowledge and information in this episode. If you’re a business owner, you won’t want to miss it! We learned a lot from Chris about how to manage everything from active and passive income streams, revocable trusts, retirement accounts and so much more. We’re grateful to have Chris in our community and look forward to continuing to learn from his wealth of knowledge.
Connect with Chris:
- The Precept Group
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Chris for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
“I think a lot of us as entrepreneurs need to hit that home run in the beginning, early. We just need to get something and we’re going to crush it. But it’s those singles and doubles, and winning those little by little, getting one client. Making them very happy with your service, or your product, then doing it again and again.”
- Freddie Kim (USMA ‘04)
Freddie Kim, a former Special Forces Green Beret, founded MilSpec Talent where he helps businesses connect with and recruit the best leadership talent. Freddie calls these candidates “Veteran 2.0 Executives” who have successfully transitioned from the service and have proven themselves to achieve business results. Since transitioning, the Veterans he seeks have served in exceptional capacities in their various industries and business functions, with the common theme of being outstanding Leaders.
In this episode, we discuss:
- The early days of MilSpec Talent and overcoming large obstacles like COVID-19
- What MilSpec Talent currently looks like today and who they work with
- What things every company leader/recruiter should look for when hiring
- Resources that MilSpec Talent has for business leaders to take advantage of before recruiting
Freddie also talks about another business he started in the wake of COVID-19. We enjoyed hearing how Freddie founded MilSpec Talent with two objectives in mind: 1) to help veterans find their passion and purpose post-military and 2) to facilitate company access to high-impact veteran talent with proven performance histories in both the military and the private sector. We hope this episode motivates you to consider having an open mindset and inspires you to spend more time investing in recruitment resources.
Connect with Freddie:
- MilSpec Talent
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Freddie for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
“If you want to build resilience in kids, the first rule is to take them into an unfamiliar environment…and the second rule is to plan it in a stepwise way meaning plan, discuss, do and then revisit the shared memory together….We built this curriculum for a ship out of a need, but this isn’t just a Navy thing this is something that everyone can benefit from.” - Matt Brown (USNA ‘05)
Matthew Brown is the Founder of Chimeny Trail Co., a subscription box service that helps parents build resiliency and emotional durability in their children through fun outdoor adventures and activities. Once a Captain in the U.S. Navy, Matt experienced firsthand how a warship’s “operational readiness” was strongly linked to the sailors’ “family readiness.” Almost half of those serving in the U.S. military have children. Our “warrior elite” are also moms and dads and their amazing stories are what inspired Chimney Trail Co.’s mission.
In this episode, we discuss:
- The moving origin story behind Matt’s company, Chimney Trail Co.
- Why the wilderness is a great place to build resilience
- Why it’s important to support your coworkers both personally and professionally
- How to start meaningful conversations with your teammates
- Activities that will help bring your family closer together
Matt also shares a few recent wins, including some exciting NASCAR publicity. We also enjoyed learning about Matt’s different target markets and discussing why family wellbeing should be a priority not only at home but also at work. We hope this episode inspires you to spend valuable time with your family and encourages you to get to know your teammates as they work to provide for their families.
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Matt for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
“My personal mission statement in a phrase is to eliminate the civilian-military divide in the country…what we bring with us as veterans, those underlying soft skills are precisely what today’s corporate leaders say they desire for success for their businesses in the marketplace.” - Matt Louis (USMA ‘91)
Matt Louis is a leading expert in career transition for veterans and public service professionals. His award-winning book, Mission Transition is a practical guide for veterans in career transition, their families, and their employers. During active commissioned service in the U.S. Army, Matt served in the Southwest Asia combat theater and in the 194th Separate Armored Brigade. Later, Matt served as a reservist on the staff of the Army’s Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations and commanded multiple regions around the country for the U.S. Military Academy’s Admissions Office. Matt now serves on the Service Academy nominating committee for his local Congressman and is also the President of PurePost, an SaaS platform that instantly matches people’s talents to their best-fit careers.
In this episode, we discuss:
- The importance of having a purposeful mission statement
- Why the talent matching industry is ripe for disruption
- How Matt’s company PurePost translates talents into careers
- Why military veterans have skills the civilian world needs
- Why now is the best time to start thinking about a career transition
Matt also shares his top tips on how to transition from the military into a civilian job and why military veterans’ collective abilities to create order from chaos, thrive in discontinuous environments, and work cross-culturally enable them to thrive in corporate leadership roles. Matt also discusses why the military-civilian gap exists and details what he and his company PurePost are doing to close it. We love what Matt is doing at PurePost and wish him every success in the future!
Connect with Matt:
- Matthew J. Louis website
- Mission Transition
- PurePost
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Matt for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
“Once you start thinking about residual results, meaning you do something once that will pay you in perpetuity, then things change in your life. I try to do more things to create these residual results because that gives you so much more capacity, autonomy, and control over your time.”
- Kirby Atwell (USMA ‘05)
Kirby Atwell started his first full-time property rehabbing company, iCandy Homes, with two good friends after leaving active-duty military service in 2011. Five years later, Kirby formed Green Vet Homes, an investment company that leveraged everything he’d learned over the previous 10 years in order to support military veterans and their families. Today, Kirby also hosts a podcast and educational platform called Living Off Rentals. Kirby believes that owning high quality, cash flowing real estate is a great business model for someone who wants to create a lifestyle they desire.
In this episode, we discuss:
- How real estate enabled Kirby and his wife to quit their W2 jobs
- Why short-term rental properties are so profitable
- What makes a good short-term rental investment property
- Why decision making is easier when you have a vision and set clear goals
Kirby also shares how his interest in entrepreneurship through real estate began, why he decided to focus in on short-term rentals, and the criteria he uses to assess whether or not a short-term rental property will succeed in his chosen market. We enjoyed hearing how his real estate podcast grew into an educational platform and listening to Kirby reflect on what he wishes he knew when he first started out. We hope this episode helps you to identify what fears are holding you back from creating the lifestyle you want and inspires you to take action to overcome them.
Connect with Kirby:
- Green Vet Homes
- Living Off Rentals
- Effortless by Greg McKeown
- Essentialism by Greg McKeown
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Kirby for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
“I think all of us who left the Academy know how to adapt and learn in often a rapid, stressful environment. I think that’s the hallmark of Academy grads…all of us have learned the skill of learning how to learn. Part of it is having the confidence to know you have that skill.”
- Niv Caviar (USAFA '90)
Niv Caviar is the CEO of Spine Ovations, Inc., a clinical-stage medical device company developing a novel, minimally invasive treatment for lower back pain based on a proprietary technology platform. Their minimally invasive product addresses lower back pain and functionality by targeting key unmet needs: reduction of back pain, improvement in motion and mobility and delaying or eliminating the need for costly back surgery. Prior to his decades of experience in the healthcare industry, Niv served as a Captain in the U.S. Air Force.
In this episode, we discuss:
- How Spine Ovations treats lower back pain
- Why lessons Niv learned from the Academy are helping him excel
- The biggest challenges in bringing a medical device to market
- Why investing in medical device technology has a beneficial outcome
Niv also shares how Spine Ovations has grown over the last eight years and tells us all about the worldwide clinical study he is currently orchestrating. He also discusses why low back pain is so common, how his outsourced business model works, and how he transitioned from the U.S. Air Force into the healthcare industry. Spine Ovations’ innovative technology is fascinating. We value Niv’s knowledge, perspective, and contributions to the healthcare industry and wish him every success as he begins clinical trials.
Connect with Niv:
- Spine Ovations
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Niv for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
“We want to be the dominant player in professional education and usher in an entirely new era of professional education. We want to be the medical education platform for a mobile generation.”
- Christ West (USMA ‘88)
Chris West (USMA ‘88) is the Chief Operating Officer of ConveyMed, the number one app for Continuing Medical Education (CME) that aggregates content from leading medical education podcasts and partners to provide Continuing Education for medical professionals. Chris is a former executive in the pharmaceutical and biotech industry where he held several senior sales and marketing leadership roles. These roles included general management, medical education, strategic and in-line marketing, and senior sales leadership. Throughout his career, Chris has routinely collaborated with key opinion leaders and societies on physician education initiatives.
In this episode, we discuss:
- Why podcasts are an effective and successful educational tool
- What ConveyMed is doing to push the boundaries of podcast education
- How ConveyMed creates, produces and monetizes podcast content
- Why healthcare professionals are ConveyMed’s primary audience
Chris also shares some fascinating statistics on podcast listenters and who some of his content partners are. We enjoyed hearing how Chris and the ConveyMed team are working to optimize audience experience and learned a lot about different challenges in the mobile app industry. Chris also talks about the types of investors ConveyMed is seeking and how he wants to build out various content partnerships. We love what Chris is doing at ConveyMed and can’t wait to see how the company continues to grow!
Connect with Chris:
- ConveyMed
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Chris for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
“Grittiness and the ability to wear multiple hats simultaneously are the two areas that I see as being big lessons from my time in the military and that have carried over and proved true in spades as the leader of an early-stage startup.”
- Matt McBride (USNA ‘06)
Matt McBride is a dynamic healthcare leader that has spent the last decade guiding early-stage technologies to the commercial market, managing start-ups, and driving innovation policy and processes at large academic institutions. Matt actively leverages Wave Strategy’s extensive network to make meaningful introductions that expedite the development of cutting-edge technologies through strategic enterprise partners, healthcare systems, industry influencers, and entrepreneurs. Prior to working in the healthcare industry, Matt served as a Naval Officer at several commands around the world.
In this episode, we discuss:
- How Wave Strategy’s services benefit pre-revenue startups
- Why transparency, trust and accepting what you don’t know are keys to success in healthcare innovation
- Why Matt wants to help military veterans become leaders in biotech
- Tips for early-stage healthcare startups that want to bring their product to market
Matt also shares how he transitioned from the military into the healthcare industry and why military service doesn’t need to be the limiting factor in determining what industry you work for in the future. Matt also explains why it’s important to be able to discuss new technology openly and why provisional patents can be valuable when getting started in healthcare technology. We enjoyed hearing about Matt’s short-term and long-term goals and really value the wisdom he shares in this episode. We can’t wait to see how Wave Strategy continues to grow in the future and we’re excited to help Matt share Wave Strategy’s mission with a wider audience.
Connect with Matt:
- Wave Strategy
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Matt for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
“Being the leader of a business is sometimes a lonely spot to be in whether you’re leading 10 people or 1000 people. The ability to have someone else to lean on and ideate with, to have conversations with and to think about the next steps with is really important. The more you understand about yourself, the better and more effective you will be as a business owner.”
- Jeff Evenson (USMA ‘90)
Jeff Evenson (USMA ‘90) has owned multiple businesses since 2008 and has successfully launched, or purchased and scaled, several multi-million-dollar companies. Along the way, he’s experienced virtually every good and bad element of business, including startup, rapid expansion, purchase, sale, and franchise, which taught him countless valuable business lessons. Today, Jeff invests in, or buys companies, with an aim to scale them up and retain them. His goal is to create $1 billion in generational wealth for military veterans and their families over the next 25 years through his new venture, the Thayer Gate Project.
In this episode, we discuss:
- The story behind Jeff’s new venture, the Thayer Gate Project
- Why Service Academy grads make great business leaders
- Why acquisition is a great path to entrepreneurship
- What the general capital requirements are for acquiring a business
- How to find the right acquisition opportunity for your situation
Jeff also shares who his ideal partners and clients are and why personal services and manufacturing companies provide great acquisition opportunities. We also discuss why business acquisitions aren’t as risky as people think, why approaching acquisitions the right way is the key to success, and why starting a business from scratch isn’t always the only route to entrepreneurship. We enjoyed hearing Jeff’s thoughts on how teamwork and collaboration are essential when scaling a business and can’t wait to see what he accomplishes through the Thayer Gate Project.
Connect with Jeff:
- Thayer Gate Project
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Jeff for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
“Almost 80% of the buyers' journey is not attributable. We focus on the 20% that is. Our recommendation is also to focus on the dark funnel, where that 80% are feeding and getting their thought leadership from.”
- Matt Bolian (USMA ‘11)
Matt Bolian is the Co-Founder of RevPartners, a company that designs, builds and executes revenue operations to support holistic go to market strategies for scaling companies. RevPartners weaponizes data to drive a predictable, repeatable revenue engine through a proven growth operations framework while providing customers with less risk and better value when it comes to driving both strategy and execution. Matt has led teams as large as 250 people and thousands of projects in the United States and abroad for hundreds of clients across multiple functional areas in the military and in the private sector. He thrives under pressure and breaks rules when it makes sense.
In this episode, we discuss:
- How RevPartners’ revenue engine diagnostic and ops analysis works
- Why data is essential to operations optimization and deal velocity
- What customer life cycles look like and how to identify market qualified leads
- Tips on how to stay top of mind as consumer patterns shift
- What dark funnels are and why they are important
Matt also shares some tips on how to know when to hire someone to lead your sales and why now is the best time to start using a CRM. We also discuss why thought leadership is the sales function of the future and how a podcast can be a great way to get people thinking about your business or product. We enjoyed learning why Matt is such a big fan of HubSpot and value the insights he provides on some real-life examples of operations strategies. Wherever you are on your entrepreneurial journey, we hope this episode inspires you to engage more effectively with the operational side of your company.
Connect with Matt:
- RevPartners
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Matt for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
“My formula is 1) develop your relationship with God, 2) when you make big decisions, seek advice from those who are wiser than you, and 3) act. Action says I’m prepared to accept the risks and any consequences associated with this decision. This kind of mentality will help you move forward in any area of your life.”
- Burnie Lund (USNA ‘03)
Burnie Lund (USNA ‘03) graduated with a degree in Chemistry from the U.S. Naval Academy before moving to San Diego to report for sea duty as a Surface Warfare Officer. While looking for a church, God led him to Canyon Ridge Baptist, where he became Music Director in November 2004 and Assistant Pastor in 2008. He married his wife, Leslie, in 2010 and they have been blessed with four children. In addition to their ministry work, Burnie and his wife also invest in real estate as a means to achieve financial freedom and increase their ability to give generously to others.
In this episode, we discuss:
- What motivated Burnie to transition from Naval officer to pastor and real estate investor
- How Burnie is giving back through his growing real estate business
- Why money can be viewed as a tool for pursuing purpose
- The importance of realizing that wealth and money alone can’t bring true joy
- Tips on how to make big life decisions
Burnie also shares why reading and “filling up the well” have an important impact on his life and unpacks the real estate deals he’s taken down so far, including two single-family homes and a couple of apartment syndications. We enjoyed hearing how Burnie is inspiring his peers in ministry to take charge of their financial futures and value his practical perspectives on spirituality and the importance of having a balanced view of money and wealth.
Connect with Burnie:
- Canyon Ridge Baptist Church
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Burnie for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
“Not having a paycheck for the first time in my life and taking a jump into the unknown was scary as hell, but honestly, I don’t think I’ve ever felt more fulfilled in my career since making that decision. I was thinking, this feels great…I’m having a blast. For the first time in my life, it opened my eyes to the fact there’s a different way of living, there’s a different way of doing things. It's been really exciting to figure this out, to figure out a new way of living and doing.”
- Sean Blackman
Sean Blackman (USNA ‘07) is a former F/A-18 Hornet pilot and the Co-Founder and CEO of Nooks, which provides classified-spaces-as-a-service (CSaaS) to both commercial and government customers. Sean and his team believe that in order to win the great power competition of the next century, every effort must be made to accelerate technology transfer between industry and government. By lowering the barrier of entry for qualified companies to access secure facilities, Nooks plans to dramatically change the landscape of who can be competitive for classified contracts with the US government, thus speeding the pace of innovation and technology transfer.
In this episode, we discuss:
- The origin story of Nooks
- How Nooks is filling a gap in the classified marketplace
- Why Nooks' target market falls outside traditional associations with the DoD
- How Sean’s transition into tech accelerated his entrepreneurial journey
- Why “who?” not “how?” is the most important question to ask
Sean also shares how Nooks is growing, including his goal to have two fully operational sites by the end of 2022 and the company’s big-picture vision to make a significant impact on accelerating and improving national security within ten years. We enjoyed learning about the process Sean and his team go through to get sites up and running and why commercial real estate and government speed are two roadblocks they are overcoming. We also discuss some of the most valuable lessons Sean learned this year and why his partners and military veteran network are key to his success. The story behind Sean’s entrepreneurial journey is powerful and we hope this episode inspires you to overcome any beliefs or fears that may be limiting your success.
Connect with Sean:
- Nooks
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Sean for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
“What I discovered, which is the most important message of everything we're saying, is that you have to become an authentic person. An authentic person knows who they are, you have discovered your gifts and powers, you have forgiven those that have wounded you, healed the wounds, you are trusting your intuition, you're confident, you're courageous, you're fearless.”
- JD Messinger (USNA ‘81)
Jonathan David “JD” Messinger (USNA ‘81) is the Founder of The Messinger Institute, whose mission is to create authentic, congruent, and bold leaders who dare to imagine a new life, embrace a new way and embark on a new journey that balances people, profits, society, and the planet. Before establishing The Messinger Institute, JD served as a Submarine Officer in the US Navy and later became an executive at ExxonMobil, Ernst & Young and Capgemini. When a neck injury he sustained while serving in the Navy led to a near-death experience in 2000, JD embarked on a life-changing journey to find meaning and purpose.
In this episode, we discuss:
- How a near-death experience led to a significant career pivot
- Why JD embarked on a life-changing journey to find meaning and purpose
- Why setting intentions and finding your why is important
- How to break free from limiting beliefs and follow your intuition
- What it really means to “let go”
We also discuss how to tell the difference between intuition and fear and JD shares how he overcame childhood adversity and got accepted into the US Naval Academy. We enjoyed listening to JD tell us more about The Messinger Institute, how it came about, how it works, what his goals are for its future, and why money is not his motivation. JD adds so much value to our community. We’re grateful he’s part of our network and hope his story inspires and motivates you wherever you are on your entrepreneurial journey.
Connect with JD:
- The Messinger Institute
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to JD for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
“There have been times through the years when I've had a complex relationship with my experience of going through the ups and downs of being a student at the Naval Academy. But now, at this point, I would say that for the last 10 years of my professional journey in particular, it's explicitly no question that my experience in the military has been everything to me in terms of my ability to take on new challenges and not be afraid of them, to not be risk averse, to be decisive. I can get through any fears I have because I know how to get through them thanks to my time in the military. And nothing's as bad as plebe summer.”- Gabrielle Blocher (USNA ‘98) Gabrielle Blocher (USNA ‘08) is CEO of CelerPurus, a healthcare startup that uses proven, portable technology to safely and conveniently decontaminate masks and other personal items in just 60 seconds. In her role, Gaby handles day-to-day operations and the growth strategy for the business. She is a U.S. Naval Academy and Columbia Business School graduate and former Marine officer. Her professional career has included extensive start-up management and business growth experience. She solves complex problems with ingenuity and has a passion for building and growing dynamic teams with varying skills.
In this episode, we discuss:
- The story behind CelerPurus and how Gaby became involved
- What CelerPurus technology does and how it works
- How Gaby is bringing CelerPurus’ healthcare technology to market
- Why the military veteran network is so powerful
Gaby also shares how friendships with Academy Grads led to some great job opportunities and how her time in the U.S. Naval Academy prepared her for the challenges of working at various startup companies throughout her professional career. We also discuss why military veterans make great entrepreneurs and Gaby shares some important goals and sales strategies for 2022. It’s great to hear how military veterans are helping to revolutionize healthcare technology. We wish Gaby and CelerPurus continued success in bringing their amazing product to market.
Connect with Gabrielle:
- CelerPurus
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Gaby for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
“My belief is not what the business is, but in people, that’s one thing I’ve learned throughout my career is teaming up with the right people.” – Henry Russell (USNA ‘03)
“I’m a true believer that the strength of your ally determines the strength of your outcome. It’s never about me, it’s the team that we put together and about the people who are out there helping us achieve the mission. And I’m just one cog in that wheel.”– John Reeves (USNA ‘03)
This episode is all about two Academy Grads coming together to build a real estate investment company 18 years after they first met at the Naval Academy. John Reeves (USNA ‘03) has eleven years of real estate experience as a property manager, investor, real estate broker, and licensed contractor and completed multiple combat tours before building his own residential real estate company. Henry Russell (USNA ‘03) has eleven years of experience working in the financial industry and completed multiple combat tours, before he began his career in finance, assisting and managing several private investments in both the public and private sectors. As best friends, Henry Russell (USNA ‘03) was John’s pathway to a diploma at the Academy and John Reeves (USNA ‘03) was Henry’s pathway to entrepreneurship after the Academy. Together, they built Russell Reeves Capital.
In this episode, we discuss:
- Why John and Henry decided to start a real estate investment company together
- What Russell Reeves Capital does
- How John and Henry leverage their skill sets to create financial freedom for others
- Why partnerships and teamwork are essential to success in life and business
John and Henry also share stories from their U.S. Naval Academy days, including how they met and their experiences serving in the military. There are now seven Academy Grads on the Russell Reeves Capital team and John shares why loving, learning, giving and growing have been key to finding fulfillment. We enjoyed hearing how John and Henry’s partnership functions and how the company grew from 2 to 16 employees in just two years. They also share some important goals they have for 2022, which include creating affordable housing in California and much more. This episode is not only full of fun and laughter, but also lots of wisdom and encouragement and we hope it inspires you on your entrepreneurial journey to financial freedom.
Connect with John & Henry:
- Russell Reeves Capital
- John Reeves
- Henry Russell
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to John and Henry for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
“Our priority is to do well while doing good…Diversity says there's a difference between one person and the next. Inclusion identifies the value of that difference. That's what we need for our veterans, that difference needs to be valued by the civilian marketplace, and it needs to be harnessed so that the collective can be better than the individual.”
- Cal Quinn (USNA ‘97)
Cal Quinn (USNA ‘97) is Founder & CEO of Bancroft Capital, a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) and institutional broker-dealer committed to excellence with the underlying ideal of levering the firm to facilitate the restoration of veterans and disabled veterans through access to meaningful careers. Prior to his career in finance, Cal served as a Logistics Officer & Aviation Logistics Officer at the Naval Supply Corps School before volunteering for the initial phase of Operation Enduring Freedom in 2001, and was responsible for providing forward combat logistical support to surface, aviation, and coalition special force units operating in Afghanistan.
In this episode, we discuss:
- The moving story behind Bancroft Capital
- How Bancroft Capital empowers veterans to achieve financial freedom
- Why helping disabled veterans earn and preserve their dignity is so important
- How Bancroft Capital is disrupting the idea of greed at all costs in the financial industry
- Why it’s important to challenge the people who say, “You can’t.”
Cal shares some incredible stories from his tour of duty following 9/11, including how a near-death experience informed what he does now and why he is using his career to serve a purpose greater than himself. We enjoyed learning about the three core components behind the success of Bancroft Capital’s veteran training program and how the company’s philanthropic mission to support veterans is thriving. Cal also discusses his primary customer base and shares some of Bancroft Capital’s ongoing team and staff needs. Cal’s purpose-driven and mission-oriented focus is incredibly inspiring. We hope this episode motivates you on your entrepreneurial journey.
Connect with Cal:
- Bancroft Capital
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Cal for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
“I just want to double down on the idea of letting go…you have no idea how quickly the universe will deliver what you want if you get out of the way. What’s the beam of light that you want to stand under? Don’t block it! It’s important to have goals. Be true to what you actually want to achieve, don’t place any filters on it, write it down, and let it go. Work and do your thing, but be open to how that goal might manifest in your life.”
- Scott Mackes
We’re celebrating episode 200 of the SABM Podcast. My good friend Ginni Guiton interviewed me back in February 2020 for episode 100 and I’m excited to welcome her back to the podcast as we record episode 200 and reach over 100,000 downloads. A lot has happened since Ginni and I spoke two years ago and I’m grateful for this opportunity to thank our listeners as I reflect on the progress we’ve made and share goals for the future. In this episode, we discuss:
- Why teamwork makes the dream work
- How to build a strong team with great synergy
- How 10X Vets grew into a powerful network of 90+ business owners in just one year
- Tips on how to set goals with courage while letting go of fear
- Future plans for SABM and 10X Vets
We also celebrate an Academy Fund milestone of loaning $12M+ to military veteran real estate operators and talk about how 10X Vets is quickly reaching 100 members. Ginni and I also talk about the power of writing things down and letting things go and why sharing and celebrating personal and professional success stories is important. I also share how shifts in my recreational time have positively impacted my working week and why getting the balance right is important. It’s been a great year on the SABM Podcast. We’re thankful for your support and excited for the next 100 episodes!
Connect with Ginni & Scott:
- Ginni Guiton
- GG Hypnosis
- Scott Mackes
- 10X Vets
- Academy Fund
- Scott’s book recommendation
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Ginni for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
“If you want to find a way to transition out, it's possible, right? It's possible but it really starts with knowing what you want…just because you're not a commander doesn't mean you're not a leader. You can still find other ways to lead…there's so much opportunity in the civilian world, to still make a difference and influence people in a positive way, through your leadership through your own gifts. And I really want to encourage people to let them know it's there, it's real.”
- Iven Vian (USAFA ‘01)
Iven Vian (USAFA ‘01) is the Founder of Anthem Capital, a real estate investment firm that specializes in acquiring and operating multi-family real estate properties based in growing geographic markets across the United States while providing predictable returns for investors. Iven’s 20-year military career in the US Air Force equipped him for his role as Anthem Capital’s strategist and primary asset manager. Iven oversees Anthem’s operations with military precision, working in tandem with property management companies to ensure the successful execution of each project. Transitioning from B-1 bomber pilot to full-time real estate professional took time and effort, but Iven gained invaluable experience, knowledge and wisdom along the way.
In this episode, we discuss:
- How Iven’s Air Force career as a B-1 bomber pilot helped him take off as a real estate entrepreneur
- Why finding the right business partner is important
- Iven’s favorite geographic markets to invest in
- Tips for how to save on taxes through real estate
- Why it’s important to be honest with yourself about what you want to do
Connect with Iven:
- Anthem Capital
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Iven for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Ryan Martin (USMA ‘11) is a West Point graduate and Co-Owner of Fulfillment CO, a personable and startup-friendly fulfillment center in Colorado Springs, CO. Concurrent to Ryan's military career as a Blackhawk helicopter pilot, which includes two combat deployments to Afghanistan, Ryan handles all new client outreach, software integrations, and onboarding. Ryan also serves as Fulfillment CO's "Special Project Officer" by offering coaching and analysis to help dozens of eCommerce entrepreneurs make informed decisions about their shipping, packaging, cushioning, unboxing experiences, logistics, and more.
In this episode, we discuss:
- Why eCommerce companies are Ryan’s ideal client
- How forced delegation can help accelerate business growth
- Current trends in the shipping and fulfillment industry
- What Ryan hopes to achieve in 2022 with his veteran business partner
We loved hearing how Ryan’s desire to start a business began with Dunkin Donuts and enjoyed listening to how he helps clients ship everything from hula hoops and CBD products to subscription boxes and jewelry. Ryan also shares how he balances active-duty military service with business ownership, why being small-business friendly is his number one priority, and why he’s now an expert on eco-friendly packaging materials. Fulfillment CO's personal touch and direct-owner involvement is one of the many ways they’re delivering big results. We’re thankful to have Ryan in our network and can’t wait to see how his company continues to grow.
Connect with Ryan:
- Fulfillment CO
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Ryan for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Frank Scappaticci is a U.S. Army veteran and full time real-estate professional and partner with Gray Line Investments. Over the past five years Gray Line Investments has become successful in single family and small multi family investing and completed over 100 deals. The company now focuses the majority of their attention on self storage facilities. Prior to his career in real estate investing, Frank worked as a financial consultant in New York City and graduated from West Point where he played football with his now business partner, John Plumstead (USMA ‘09). In this episode, we discuss:
- How Frank started Gray Line Investments
- Why Gray Line Investments is focusing on the self-storage market
- How veteran-owned businesses are helping to expand the company
- Why digital marketing is key to Frank’s business strategy
- Top tips on running a digital business
We enjoyed learning why Oklahoma is a prime location for Gray Line Investments and how self-storage facilities differ from other real estate investment classes. Frank also shares key metrics he uses for measuring the success of his business strategies and why digitisation and automation have been game-changers. We really value Frank’s industry insights into self-storage and his willingness to share the knowledge he’s acquired with the SABM community.
Connect with Frank:
- Gray Line Investments
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Frank for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Scott Leishman (USMA ‘77) has over thirty years of experience in B2B sales and marketing. After working for West Point Association of Graduates as Assistant Director of Career Services, Scott decided to buy a shipping and freight franchise with his son. InXpress is an international shipping and freight consulting firm and authorized sales partner for world class courier companies including DHL, TNT and TOLL. Since 1999, InXpress has become one of the world's largest franchisers of worldwide express parcel delivery and transportation services. Their international and domestic Express & Freight services operate throughout the US, Asia Pacific, UK, Africa and Europe.
In this episode, we discuss:
- Why Scott decided to become a franchise owner with InXpress
- How Scott is partnering with his son to build the franchise
- The advantages of franchise ownership
- Why Service Academy graduates excel as business owners
Connect with Scott:
- InXpress
Scott also shares what he is learning from and about his son through the process of establishing the franchise, why it’s a great time to be in the shipping and freight industry, and how he plans to develop and market the franchise. We really enjoyed learning more about the shipping and freight industry from Scott, especially in a post-pandemic economy, and hearing about Scott’s goals for 2022. We value Scott’s perspectives on why Service Academy graduates make great business owners and loved hearing his franchise success stories so far.
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Scott for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
“My whole goal, whoever I coach or whoever I’m working with, is clarity. I want you to have clarity about where you’re going…I help people get better at what they do.”
-Gary Slyman (USNA '81)
Gary Slyman (USNA’ 81 ) is President and Founder of Great Transitions Strategies, a Leadership Consulting and Coaching practice with the mission to empower individuals and organizations to reach the next level of performance personally, professionally, and as an organization. After serving for 23 years in the United States Marine Corps in program management and as Commanding Officer of an aviation squadron in combat, Gary led, established, and assisted in the development of multiple ethics education programs as the Deputy Director of the Ethics Center at the United States Naval Academy. Gary also led the development of a Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 12 private independent school centered on a values based leadership program where he worked as Head of Middle and Upper School.
In this episode, we discuss:
- How vision, values and strengths shape Gary’s coaching strategies
- Why it’s important to love what you do
- Resource recommendations for discovering your values
- Tips on how to navigate entrepreneurship
- What helped Gary succeed as a leadership coach
Gary also tells us why he started Great Transitions Strategies and the story of how his daughter identified his talent for leadership coaching. We also discuss the types of transitions Gary is most passionate about helping people through, some of his favorite transition tools, and the motivating power of his Monday morning 5 minute stand-up meetings. We learned a lot from Gary’s expert tips and hope this episode inspires you as you kick start 2022!
Connect with Gary:
- Great Transitions Strategies
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks Gary for joining me this week. Until next time!
- Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
“The most important thing you know is what you don’t know…we present opportunities to people. We look at the law, we look at the code, and we say here’s something you could do that will have this impact.” - Geoffrey Dietrich (USMA ‘00)
Geoffrey Dietrich (USMA ‘00) is a full-time Managing Partner of Cantley Dietrich, PC, a national boutique law firm of experienced tax attorneys servicing high net-worth individuals. Geoff helps high-net-worth advisory teams legally protect their client's wealth and assets by minimizing tax liabilities through advanced innovative, compliant tax planning. Prior to his law career, Geoff graduated from West Point with a degree in Chinese and served in the Infantry division. Geoff is also a 10X Vets member. It’s great to have a tax attorney in our network!
In this episode, we discuss:
- How a constitutional law class at West Point inspired Geoff’s law career
- Why it’s important to find your passion
- What made Geoff decide to specialize in tax law
- Why Geoff enjoys working with entrepreneurs
- Tips on the best tax savings strategies
Geoff also shares his experiences serving in the military, how law school taught him how to think, and how Cantley Dietrich came to be. We also discuss why his ideal clients are like-minded individuals and how to know when you need to talk to a wealth manager in addition to your CPA. We learned a lot from the tax savings strategies he shared and enjoyed hearing some of his goals for 2022, which include winning a government contract. We’re grateful for Geoff’s expert insights and hope our conversation inspires you to pursue what you’re most passionate about.
Connect with Geoffrey:
- Cantley Dietrich, PC
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Geoff for joining me this week. Until next time!
- Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
“The goal of this program is not to give you a checklist of things you have to do in ten days, the goal is to shift the way that you’re showing up so that your reflexive self becomes your best self...You can’t un-see the perspectives that you create as a result of what you do through Madefor. You’re going to see things a little bit differently and you’re going to see things in a way that is aligned with what works for you.”
- Patrick Dossett
Patrick Dossett is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training, and the Wharton School of Business. Pat is currently CEO of Madefor, a science-backed step-by-step program designed to help individuals thrive by training them how to take control of their lives through developing simple and effective healthy habits. Of his time in uniform, he says, “I received far more than I gave and continue to be inspired by those I served alongside.” Pat believes in the power of small steps and is passionate about helping others realize their full potential. He currently lives in Santa Monica, CA with his wife, twin daughters, son, and cat, Kula.
In this episode, we discuss:
- What Madefor is and why Patrick started it
- How Madefor’s science forward, research-based program works
- Why gratitude and an ability to adjust your horizon are keys to success
- Tips for how to break down big goals into manageable steps
Patrick also shares his experiences as a SEAL and how his time in the military inspired the idea for Madefor. He also breaks down the ten stages of Madefor’s program and why hydration is the first step in setting yourself up for success. Talking with Patrick was eye-opening and we hope you enjoy our conversation as much as we did!
Connect with Patrick:
- Patrick Dossett
- Madefor
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Patrick for joining me this week. Until next time!
- Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
“Networking is not what you can get, it's what you can give. If you’re willing to give and to give over time and to give without an ulterior motive, then more than likely if you need something it will be available in the network that you’ve established already because you gave first.” - Kymberli Speight (USAFA ‘87)
Kymberli Speight (USAFA ‘87) is passionate about helping people build relationships. While completing a challenge to meet 100 people in 100 days, Kymberli learned how to be intentional about meeting and connecting with people, and her life has never been the same. Her book, I Need to Know You gives practical and applicable tips and “how-to” examples that help others improve personal and professional connections. While serving as a Contracting Officer in the U.S. Air Force, Kymberli made lots of connections and lived in places as far north and east as Maine, as far south as Texas, and as far west as Hawaii and Okinawa, Japan.
In this episode, we discuss:
- How Kymberli’s work with veterans in career transition inspired what she does today
- Why it’s important for military veterans to find a great network
- What Kymberli learned from challenging herself to meet 100 people in 100 days
- How to optimize daily interactions with others, start conversations and keep them going
- How overcoming the fear of meeting people can unlock opportunities and accelerate business development
Kymberli also shares why the need for acceptance, approval, appreciation and respect unites us all. We loved listening to Kymberli share her most memorable meetings during her 100-day challenge and learned a lot of great tips for how to create a positive network within your workplace and how to start conversations with individuals you don’t have much in common with. Kymberli believes that network equals net-worth and we couldn’t agree more! We hope our conversation inspires you to get out and meet someone new today.
Connect with Kymberli:
- LinkedIn - Kymberli Speight
- KymberliSpeight.com
- I Need to Know You by Kymberli Speight
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Kymberli for joining me this week. Until next time!
- Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
“Abandon the fantasy of, hey, I’m going to get to this level and have everything figured out. That’s a dangerous mindset to have because you should always be trying to get better and learn more and keep pushing yourself...don’t have the grass is greener mentality. The comparison game will kill you. It’s always a grind and I have utmost patience and respect for anybody putting themselves out there and trying to build something. It’s not easy and it takes support and it takes a whole team of people (peers, team members, family).”
- Mike Nemeth (USMA ‘04)
Mike Nemeth (USMA ’04) is an SABM podcast regular, best known across the Service Academy community for his hilarious pranks that capture the spirit of the Army/Navy rivalry. We’re excited to talk with him again this year during Army/Navy week. In addition to his role as the community prankster, Mike is also a very successful entrepreneur who has built Emblem Athletic, a very successful apparel business from the ground up.
In this episode, we discuss:
- How Mike made it onto the INC 5000 list in 2021
- What led to Emblem Athletic’s 1400% growth rate
- Why it’s important to define your sales cycle
- Mike’s latest Army/Navy pranks
Mike also shares how Emblem Athletic’s data-driven decision to focus on military fire and police helped him expand the business and survive the pandemic. We loved hearing about his first job out of the military as a door-to-door insurance salesman in New York City and how this experience is helping him now. Mike also talks about how his company is handling supply chain issues and why word-of-mouth referrals shouldn’t be underestimated. Last, but definitely not least, Mike shares stories of his favorite Army/Navy pranks, including what he has up his sleeve for this year.
Connect with Mike:
- Emblem Athletic
- Mike’s book - Discipline: The Annapolis Way
- Mike’s candle - Navy Tears of Sadness
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Mike for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
“It’s great to get together with like-minded individuals to discuss the things that bring us together and certainly, the vetrepreneur community that we’re part of is something that’s growing and thriving...we wanted to create a fund that addressed the veteran network because we know how veterans have this incredible ability to execute and get things done. They’ve served their country, they continue to serve when they take off that uniform, and want to continue to make that same difference. That’s really the catalyst behind Veteran Ventures Capital. We’ve developed it, we’ve grown it, we’ve had some challenges, but just like a typical veteran, we’ve adapted and overcome.”
- Derren Burrell
“We all know and believe that veterans make great entrepreneurs for a variety of reasons: leadership, teamwork skills, mission-focused, effectiveness, perseverance and grit...all those things contribute to making the founding principles of good business leaders. And yet, even though we have those data points and even though we see that veterans are overrepresented in the CEO S&P 500...you still have this funding gap. It’s 30% more difficult to get venture capital backing as a veteran. That’s crazy...how do you fix that and how do you make sure the money is betting on the best horse? That’s really our founding rationale and when I heard about what Derren is doing, I said I’ve got to get involved with this.”
- Joshua Weed (USAFA ‘01)
Derren Burrell is Founder, President & Managing Partner of Veteran Ventures Capital and a Retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel. After a 21-year military career that included five deployments, Derren started Veteran Ventures Capital, a company that funds military veteran entrepreneurs. Joshua Weed (USAFA ‘01) is a Senior Director at Veterans Venture Capital and also a former Air Force financial management officer. Derren and Josh met while serving in the U.S. Air Force and “financing the fight” in 2005. They’ve been working together at Veteran Ventures Capital since Josh joined the team in 2020.
In this episode, we discuss:
- Why Derren started Veteran Ventures Capital
- How Josh transitioned into venture capital
- What military veteran company profiles attract venture capital funding
- How Veteran Ventures Capital facilitates access to both network and capital
- Why military veteran business partnerships are often very successful
We also discuss why military veterans excel as entrepreneurs and what types of military veteran-owned businesses attract investors. Derren and Josh also share how Veteran Ventures Capital multiplies investment power while reducing risk at the same time. The guys also share why they invest in post-revenue stage businesses and how they advise pre-revenue companies. We enjoyed hearing how Derren and Josh connected while serving in the U.S. Air Force and learning more about their experiences of working together.
Connect with Josh and Derren:
- Joshua Weed
- Derren Burrell
- Veteran Ventures Capital
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Derren and Josh for joining me this week. Until next time!
- Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
“When starting a business, subject matter expertise makes all the difference and it gives you credibility.”
- Simone Zacharias, USAFA ‘12
Simone Zacharias is an Acquisitions Officer in the U.S. Space Force and COO and Co-Founder of GoBeagle, Inc, a company that helps business owners conquer corporate compliance by helping them keep all their legal entities in good standing. She graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 2012 and obtained her MBA from UCLA Anderson School of Business Management this year. Simone excels at problem-solving and thrives in her job roles at GoBeagle, Inc. and in the U.S. Space Force. We learned a lot from talking to Simone and we’re honored to be her first podcast appearance.
In this episode, we discuss:
- What Go Beagle does and why Simone started the company
- Why legal entity management is important to every business
- The ramifications of falling behind with corporate compliance
- Why business owners need to take responsibility for legal entity management
- How the U.S. Air Force Academy contributed to Simone’s success
Simone also shares the story behind the name of GoBeagle, Inc. and tells us why real estate investors, lawyers, accountants and paralegals are her top clients. She also explains how businesses can become non-compliant without realizing it, why you can’t afford not to maintain your legal entities, and shares some of her favourite client success stories. We loved hearing how motherhood connected Simone to her business partner and enjoyed learning more about her job in the U.S. Space Force. We’re inspired by her story and hope it empowers you too!
Connect with Simone:
- GoBeagle, Inc.
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Simone for joining me this week. Until next time!
- Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
“I am extremely happy...waking up and going to work everyday is fun. The "Sunday Scaries," those feelings you get before going back to work on Monday, are gone. It’s fantastic.”
-Beth Sutey (USMA ‘07)
Before leaving active duty military service, Beth Sutey served in Italy, Afghanistan and Iraq. Following active duty, Beth worked for Amazon.com in Transportation Execution and joined the U.S. Army Reserves in a Training Support Battalion. After working for Amazon, Beth held managerial positions at other companies of varying sizes and industries before mobilizing to Fort Bliss with her Reserve unit. After over three years in operations and contracting with the Army Corps of Engineers, the video production company she owns with her husband grew to where she was needed there full-time as a producer. Eligo (el-eh-go) Inc. is a full-service video production company with two branches Eligo Studios and Eligo Video, and is focused on commercial and corporate video content with an emphasis on digital marketing.
In this episode, we discuss:
- How Beth and her husband run Eligo, Inc. and key clients they’ve worked with
- Why video is paramount to successful marketing campaigns
- How small businesses can create effective videos without big production budgets
- The benefits of pursuing your passion full-time and how Beth navigated this transition
Beth also shares her short-term goal of “one big client” and long-term goal of “three big clients,” talks about the challenges of growing Eligo, Inc. and how she and her husband are overcoming obstacles to success. We enjoyed hearing about unexpected opportunities and connections Beth has made since transitioning to her role as full-time Video Producer and relate to her reflections on the challenges that come with the freedom of running and owning your own business. In this episode, you’ll also hear the story behind the name Eligo and how the U.S. Army’s Military Decision Making Process is actually helping Beth and her husband discover effective business solutions.
We loved talking with Beth and hope her story inspires you to utilize video in your digital marketing strategy.
Connect with Beth:
- Eligo Studios
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Beth for joining me this week. Until next time!
- Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
“I always struggled to fit into a mold...people in Africa didn’t want to fit me into a mold, they wanted to know who I was. There was no mold to fill and I really held onto that. I saw the impacts of having genuine conversations with people with no expectations or knowledge on either side of who the other person was or who they were in the past. Those interactions are liberating and we’re trying to create and encourage these types of interactions at the farm.”
- Gerardo Martinez (USNA ‘11)
We’re delighted to welcome Gerardo Martinez back to the SABM podcast. The last time we spoke, Gerardo told us about his role as CEO of Triple Leadership Direct, a company he founded that provides experiential leadership development training utilizing the outdoors. Gerardo is still CEO of Triple Direct Leadership, but a lot has changed since then! After an experience in Africa inspired him to invest in a farm, Gerardo is now creating a business and community enterprise centered around human interaction with a goal to improve mental health, regenerate agriculture and impact people’s lives for the better.
In this episode, we discuss:
- How Covid-19 launched the explosive success of his new business, Wild Kid Acres, LLC
- Why his experience in Africa inspired him to transform his life and career
- What exciting revenue streams he’s created and why they have been successful so far
- Why mental health is at the forefront of Wild Kid Acres
We also discuss how Gerardo is partnering with a fellow military veteran to grow the business and his current fundraising campaign to build a multi-storey community barn that will better service demand and improve visitor facilities. We loved listening to Gerardo’s stories from the farm including how he successfully demolished, designed and built a house all by himself, how a county fine turned into a county grant, and how one incredible woman sparked the idea behind Wild Kid Acres. Gerardo is truly revolutionising his community and we’re so excited to share his story with you.
Connect with Gerardo:
- Wild Kid Acres
- Barn Build GoFundMe
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Gerardo for joining me this week. Until next time!
- Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
“For me, the greater the challenge, the more fun it will be.”
- Scott Chesson
Scott Chesson (USNA ‘84) is a highly experienced finance executive with over 20 years of experience as the CFO of several small to medium-sized businesses. After graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy with a mathematics degree, Scott served as a Surface Warfare Officer and got a masters degree in accounting. In 2020, Scott founded CFO 4Vets, where he currently specializes in liberating small business owners’ time from financial entanglement while helping their businesses grow revenue, profits, and value. His services offer entrepreneurs a wealth of on-demand financial wisdom at a fraction of the cost of hiring a full-time CFO.
In this episode, we discuss:
- How and why Scott became a CFO
- The benefits of finding and having a specialty
- Scott’s first few jobs after serving in the military and how he became a business owner
- What triggered Scott to found CFO 4Vets and the rewards of his current role
- Tips on how to recognize when your business needs a CFO
Scott also shares how he discovered he wanted to work for small companies in order to have a bigger impact, tells us what CFO 4Vets does and talks about his exciting new qualification in business valuation. He describes his ideal customer profile, successful workflows he’s established with his clients, and the importance of his collaborations with other military veteran-owned companies including Freedom Makers Virtual Assistant Services and Brand Alive. We really value Scott’s financial expertise and love hearing how his creative solutions save entrepreneurs time and money and help them achieve their goals faster.
Connect with Scott:
- Chess Solutions, LLC
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Scott for joining me this week. Until next time!
- Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
“We work with people who are unwilling to accept that life is going to be boring...people who want to go out and grow together, to be excited, to make things an adventure, to look at the next challenge as a mountain to climb rather than a drudgery to push through. We’re looking for people who want to be better leaders, who want to show up more authentically and more intentionally as leaders, and who want to learn how to do that by canoeing or rock climbing or climbing mountains or backpacking and exploring.”
-Knight Campbell
Knight Campbell is Outdoor Guide, Leadership Coach and CEO of Cairn Leadership Strategies. His outdoor leadership programs fuse rigorous leadership study with gritty outdoor adventures designed to transform the lives and work environments of emerging leaders, business owners, and company executives. Before Cairn Leadership Strategies, Knight served as a U.S. Navy helicopter pilot, managed crucial military air operations, and taught leadership courses for the U.S. Naval Academy.
In this episode, we discuss:
- How the outdoors facilitates team building and breaks down barriers
- Why checking in with colleagues outside of the office is so important
- How Knight plans adventures and structures outdoor leadership curricula
- How stepping outside of your comfort zone can accelerate your success
Knight also talks about the health benefits of spending time outdoors and why three day-long breaks are essential to obtaining a healthy balance between work and life. We also asked Knight about his favorite adventures so far and what his business goals for Cairn Leadership are over the coming months. Recording this episode made us want to shut down the computer and get some fresh air! We hope it inspires you to get outside and explore the outdoors however you can.
Connect with Knight:
- Cairn Leadership Strategies
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Knight for joining me this week. Until next time!
- Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
“What would you do if you knew you would not fail? Fail as many times as you need to be successful. You only fail when you quit.” - Randy Wimmer (USNA ‘91)
We’re so excited to have Randy Wimmer (USNA ‘91) on the SABM podcast today. After 10 years of active duty military service, Randy launched his first Federal Government contracting company from his home after his kids went to bed and later sold it for 8-figures. With nearly thirty years either in or supporting the Federal Government, Randy is the ultimate “industry insider,” having owned multiple successful contracting companies. In 2018, he launched the Government Contracting Academy to mentor, coach and train aspiring entrepreneurs to achieve financial success in the Federal Government contracting market.
In this episode, we discuss:
- What led Randy into the government contracting industry
- Why Randy launched the Government Contacting Academy
- How the Government Contracting Academy works
- What makes military veterans the most highly qualified individuals for government contracting work
- How the $3.5 trillion reconciliation package will impact government contracting
We also discuss how a career in government contracting can begin as a successful side hustle, why quitting your day job isn’t always necessary or advisable when getting started, why government contract work is a long term commitment rather than a get rich quick scheme, and the value of learning how to pace yourself.
Randy also shares how he navigated the transition from an active duty military service member to a self-employed government contractor and reveals valuable lessons he learned along the way. We could talk to Randy for hours! His advice is timely, relevant and practical and we hope it inspires you to get your line in the water of government contracting.
Randy is offering a Government Contracting Academy services discount to all SABM-ers! It’s a generous offer and we encourage you to make the most of this exciting opportunity.
Connect with Randy:
- Government Contracting Academy
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Randy for joining me this week. Until next time!
– Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
“Instead of thinking about re-growing hair, we’re helping men to embrace and accept hair loss. Our mission is to empower the bald and balding to live their best lives through our online community and we’ve created a skincare routine around that...I struggled with losing my hair and created MANTL,Inc. to help men through that process.”
-Pete Ricci (USMA ‘02)
Pete Ricci is CEO and Co-Founder of MANTL, Inc., a company that specializes in empowering the bald and balding through community and a line of specialized skincare products. He brings over 17 years of experience and expertise in sales, sales operations, strategy, and leadership development to the business. Prior to his business career, Pete served as an officer in the US Army, which included two tours of duty in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
In this episode, we discuss:
- What his company MANTL, Inc. does and why he started it
- How MANTL, Inc. is filling a gap in the men’s skincare market
- How Pete built the MANTL, Inc. online community and why it’s so important
- The importance of purpose and passion to brand success
- Expert tips on marketing and PR
Pete also shares why it’s important for men to embrace going bald and walks us through five stages of grief in the balding process and why it’s important to acknowledge them. We’re inspired by the powerful diversity of the online community he’s helped to build and fascinated to hear why Pete’s experiences working for the Honest Company were so valuable. Beyond balding, we talked about his unique direct to consumer business structure and strategies, how he is growing the company through various retail channels, and the unexpected channels that have skyrocketed the company’s success. Pete and his team are making huge strides with MANTL, Inc. and we’re inspired by the sense of purpose and groundbreaking strategies that drive its success.
Connect with Pete:
- MANTL, Inc.
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Pete for joining me this week. Until next time!
- Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
“Nothing will ever feel as good as striking someone out in front of 40,000 people, but helping new clients realize what they can accomplish for their families with the financial resources they have and seeing the look of relief and amazement on their faces comes pretty close.”
- Mitchell Harris (USNA ‘08)
In this episode, we discuss:
- How Mitch balanced military service and a professional baseball career
- How the U.S. Naval Academy helped him realize his dream
- Transitioning between military service, professional baseball and a career in finance
- Why Mitch is passionate about being a financial advisor
We also discuss Mitch’s deployments with the U.S. Navy as a Surface Warfare Officer, how pitch practice on the flight deck made him a more accurate player, and how Mitch got back into baseball shape following his military service. We loved talking to Mitch about how he managed multiple career transitions and why he decided to become a financial advisor. It’s awesome to hear how he is leveraging the skills he gained in the military and professional baseball to help his clients succeed.
Connect with Mitch:
- Merrill Lynch
- Mitch’s MLB debut
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Mitch for joining me this week. Until next time!
- Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
“It’s a specialty field, but if you can find and understand the risk, you can find the potential value to capture on a real estate purchase...I heard it described as a bond investment wrapped in real estate and I resonate with that. There’s consistent cash flow securitized by the credit of the company and there’s a lot of value in that because there aren’t tons of players in that space right now.”
- Neil Wahlgren (USAFA ’04)
Neil Wahlgren (USAFA ‘04) is COO of MAG Capital Partners, a commercial real estate firm specializing in industrial sale leaseback structured investment and development, which creates value through institutional leases and long-term alignment with proven tenants. The firm’s dedicated in-house credit analysis, construction management, asset management and investor support staff contribute to their growing success. Prior to working at MAG Capital Partners, Neil served as a C-130 Hercules pilot for the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy.
In this episode, we discuss:
- How MAG Capital Partners find tenants
- What makes a good commercial real estate tenant
- Why military checklist discipline and risk analysis apply to real estate investing
- How commercial real estate transactions work
Neil also talks about his day-to-day roles and responsibilities as COO, what led him to his current role, and what it’s like to work with his brother at the firm. We enjoyed hearing Neil describe the excitement he experiences when launching new deals and we’re impressed to hear how MAG Capitals significantly grew their deal flow. We really enjoyed learning more about commercial real estate investing from Neil and we hope you benefit from listening to his insights and experiences as much as we did.
Connect with Neil:
- MAG Capital Partners
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Neil for joining me this week. Until next time!
- Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
“Sometimes old rules are the best...be nice to your friends, treat people well, and if there’s someone you want to meet, provide them with value."
- Jason Williscroft (USNA '95)
Jason Williscroft is a U.S. Navy veteran and Founder and CEO of Tribify, LLC, an enterprise-grade, AI-enhanced data management system that leverages the power of social networking to help businesses find future customers, capture their attention, and engage with them at scale. As a software engineer with a streak for mathematics, Jason focuses on the design and implementation of Master Data Management and Data Quality systems and the development of software tools to empower Data Governance Organizations and the engineers who serve them.
In this episode, we discuss:
- Why Jason built Tribify, LLC
- How Tribify helps business owners identify and connect with their best customers
- Best practices for connecting and networking with potential customers on LinkedIn
- Why thoughtful, approachable business owners attract good customers
Jason also tells us about Ringknocker, a military veteran community he founded, and shares his personal and professional goals for the next few years. Jason’s success reveals the riches are definitely in the niches and we’re excited to see how Tribify, LLC continues to grow.
Connect with Jason:
- Tribify, LLC
- Ringknocker
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Jason for joining me this week. Until next time!
- Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Joe is a financial attorney and co-owner of ASR Alternative Investments with over 20 years of experience in both the legal and financial industries. After graduating with a degree in Electrical Engineering from the United States Air Force Academy, Joe was commissioned and served as an A-10A Thunderbolt II fighter pilot and was stationed in the United Kingdom and West Germany. Joe also received his Masters of Science in Business Administration from Boston University and his JD from the University of Texas School of Law. If that’s not impressive enough, he also worked as a commercial airline pilot!
In this episode, we discuss:
- How Joe made the transition from fighter pilot to financial attorney
- How and why he co-founded ASR Alternative Investments
- Why his company pivoted to the debt industry
- Current trends in the debt market
- Tips for raising capital and the importance of finding your market
Joe also talks about the unique structure of his company’s funds and trusts, the difference between Regulation D Rule 506(c) vs. Rule 506(b), the advantages of working with accredited investors and some of the challenges he’s working to overcome. Just in case you’re wondering, we also discuss airplanes! Joe is a fount of knowledge. His straightforward methods for helping individuals understand the complexities of investing are inspiring and illuminating.
Connect with Joe:
- ASR Alternative Investments
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Joe for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Hersh Rai and Nick Vu (USNA ‘19) have set the record for the youngest Academy grads on the podcast! Hersch and Nick are both active duty in the Navy, stationed in Hawaii and Florida, and are partners in RaiVu Capital, a real estate investment firm that invests in multifamily real estate and mobile home parks.
In this episode, we discuss:
- How they got started in real estate investing and how they landed their first deal
- How connections in the veteran community helped jump start their business
- Their best tips for starting a real estate side-hustle
Connect with Hersh and Nick:
- Hersh Rai
- Nick Vu
- RaiVu Capital
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Hersh and Nick for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Click here to register for the Real Estate Investing Accelerator 2.0 Discovery Webinar on Saturday, September 18th!
“People love the content, the fact that it’s military and action-based...I care about helping people get closer to their goal of financial freedom. That’s it. The results people have attained has skyrocketed because of how the course is structured. We all sharpen each other. The network grows more powerful with each course we complete. We’re about helping military veterans create financial freedom so they can unleash their talents on the world. We’re a coalition and a family.”
-Buddy (Edward) Rushing (USNA ‘04)
Nearly 200 people have graduated from the Real Estate Investing Accelerator led by Buddy Rushing (USNA ‘04) and his team at White Feather Investments. We’re excited to announce the launch of Real Estate Accelerator 2.0 in January 2022! A Discovery Webinar is scheduled for Saturday, September 18th and we’d love you to join the call if you want to learn more. Ten people are already signed up and we’re excited for you to hear more about it!
In this episode, we discuss:
- How the Real Estate Investing Accelerator began
- Why Buddy is taking our Real Estate Investing Accelerator the the next level
- What enabled Buddy to step up the Real Estate Accelerator
- How U.S. Service Academy grads’ success stories shaped the new course
- Key themes of real estate success
We also discuss the value of rental properties as a first step towards financial freedom, VA loan hacks, ground-breaking Accelerator Member case studies, and how Buddy structured Real Estate Investing Accelerator 2.0 around interests and strategies developed and honed by military vets and U.S. Service Academy grads.
Learn more about Real Estate Accelerator 2.0:
- Real Estate Investing Accelerator
Click here to register for the Real Estate Investing Accelerator 2.0 Discovery Webinar on Saturday, September 18th!
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Buddy for joining me this week. Until next time!
- Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
“I’m really passionate about understanding as much as possible and sharing as much as possible on what it takes to be successful as a small B2B business owner...whether you’re a client or not. It’s a tough job and we’re here to guide B2B business owners through the process.”
-David Wuensch (USMA ‘77)
Following graduation from West Point, David served as an Artillery Officer in the U.S. Army. He went on to become a successful sales executive and now has over 25 years of experience in sales and marketing and over 15 years of experience leading sales teams. David is currently President and Founder of Epoch Sales Management Solutions and also leads the B2B Circle in our 10X Vets program where he focuses on helping small B2B Business owners achieve sustainable revenue growth. His knowledge and experience when it comes to sales is second to none and he’s passionate about sharing this wisdom with others.
In this episode, we discuss:
- How to hire a good sales representative
- Tips for leading and managing top sales reps
- How to identify sales issues and set realistic goals
- What makes or breaks a sales team
- B2B sales tools including LinkedIn, LeadiQ, Pipedrive and more
Connect with David:
- Epoch Sales Management Solutions
David and I also discuss how his company, Epoch Sales Management Solutions, operates and how 10X Vets is helping him achieve his company goals. We also talk about B2B managers as a target market, the value of putting strong sales processes and procedures in place, and why grit and resilience are essential to building a strong sales team. David believes leadership and culture are as important as sales when it comes to company success and we couldn’t agree more. In addition to developing and growing businesses, David also loves cycling, general physical fitness and supporting his Chicago Sports Teams (Bears, Bulls and Cubs).
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to David for joining me this week. Until next time!
- Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
“If you can get the right tools behind you and understand where your vision will take you, there are no limits to what you can do.”
- Greg Martin (USAFA ‘98)
Greg Martin (USAFA ‘98) is a Principal at The Enginuity Group in Charlotte, North Carolina where he provides boutique M&A services including buy-side advising, sell-side advising, business scaling, and other M&A services. Greg’s military service established a foundation of integrity, service, and excellence, which informs every relationship that he builds and every transaction he advises. Greg is also an accounting professor. His primary research interest in financial accounting includes earnings management, fundamental analysis, audit quality, and financial reporting quality.
In this episode, we discuss:
- Greg’s background and what led to his career in M&A
- What The Enginuity Group does and who they work with
- Expert insights into company valuation and buyer profiles
- Financing strategies for military veteran entrepreneurs and business owners
- Why riches are in the niches and why it’s important to have a vision
Greg and I also discuss why it’s essential to establish realistic goals and strategies, the importance of marketing, and the differentiation between value and price. Greg also talks about some of his goals for the future and how his military service informs all aspects of his work.
Connect with Greg:
- Greg Martin
- The Enginuity Group
Greg is also the guest speaker at our next Career Night in August. Register to attend here.
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Greg for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
I want to share our story. Our goal is to help you figure out what your next step is. I’d love to hear from you and connect, not only with the real estate side of things, but also if you’re interested in RV living, mountain biking, or traveling around America the Beautiful.”
- Victor Thompson (USAFA ‘07)
Victor Thompson (USAFA ‘07) is a lifestyle entrepreneur, real estate investor, and military veteran. His successful real estate investing business, Zero Gravity REI serves the South Carolina and Georgia markets and is focused on single family and small multi-family properties. Victor is focused on becoming a master communicator and solution provider. He’s passionate about building meaningful relationships and helping others exceed their potential. He believes that if you want to go far, go together. His goal is to help provide safe, clean, and affordable housing, to make his investors money, and to continue to grow his business partnership.
In this episode, we discuss:
- How Victor became interested in real estate
- Why he started Zero Gravity REI, how it operates, and what his focus markets are
- The impact and unique opportunities presented by the Covid-19 pandemic
- How fellow veterans and cross country travels are helping him develop the business
- How 10X Vets is helping his business grow
Victor also shares what his big-picture company goals are, where in the USA he’s visiting now, why he loves RV life, and the connections he’s made that are expanding the reach of his mission. We loved hearing about all the interesting people he’s met and hope his story inspires you to connect with other like-minded individuals and turn your dream into reality.
Connect with Victor:
- Zero Gravity REI
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Victor for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
David Duncavage (USMA ‘75) joins us on the podcast with a background very different from many of our previous guests. David was a linebacker on the West Point football team and an infantry officer before he became a Trappist monk. He then joined the corporate world, working in companies that developed cutting edge technologies. David is now an executive coach and founder of Monk Coach where he helps executives live richer lives through mindfulness and meditation.
In this episode, we discuss:
- How meditation and mindfulness fit into the business world and how David helps his clients integrate mindfulness into their professional lives
- His personal journey to stillness and the “aha” moment in his meditation practice
- How mindfulness and mediation can help you live a richer life
Connect with David:
- David Duncavage
- MonkCoach
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to David for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
“This deal reinvigorated me. Being part of the Real Estate Accelerator gave me a new focus where I applied what I learned to go after what I wanted.”
- Jeff Quinn (USAFA ‘93)
“This is the best deal I’ve ever been part of. Action is the number one thing that separates the dream from reality...seize control of your fear and plow forward.”
- Buddy Rushing (USNA ‘04)
“Money moves at the speed of trust. This deal exceeded my expectations for the Academy Fund.”
- Bill Militello (USNA ‘92)
We’re so excited about this episode! Jeff Quinn (USAFA ‘93), is a leader in data management and analytics and a recent alumnus of our Real Estate Investing Accelerator. He joins SABM podcast regulars Buddy Rushing (USNA ‘04) and Bill Militello (USNA ‘92) to discuss a groundbreaking Academy Fund-ed real estate deal he recently made with Buddy and the White Feather Investments team. The multi-million dollar deal’s success is an absolute game-changer and the most significant we’ve ever seen a Real Estate Investing Accelerator member take down.
In this episode, we discuss:
- The deal, how it came to fruition and why it’s incredibly groundbreaking
- How the deal made several life-changing impacts
- Why the deal set major precedent for White Feather Investments and the Academy Fund
- How the veteran network made this deal possible and extended the reach of its success
- Tips on how to handle “fear of the deal” with highly effective strategies and insights from Jeff, Buddy and Bill
Bill and Scott also share how the Academy Fund began just over one year ago, why this deal exceeded everyone’s expectations, and why we just can’t stop talking about it! We hope it inspires you to connect with your fellow Academy grads and military vets and encourages you on your journey!
Connect with Jeff, Bill and Buddy:
- Jeff Quinn
- Buddy Rushing
- Bill Millitello
Learn more about the Academy Fund.
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Jeff, Buddy and Bill for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Ty Rose (USNA ‘06) is a Managing Director at Oaklins Capital Alliance, a leading international mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and financial advisory firm. In his role as Managing Director, Ty focuses on working with business owners to capitalize on acquisition opportunities.
In this episode, we discuss:
- The typical process Oaklins walks business owners through to achieve a successful sale
- Common problems that need to be fixed in order to prepare a business for acquisition
- The importance of understanding a seller’s motivation and how Oaklins works to find sellers while maintaining confidentiality
Connect with Ty:
- Ty Rose
- Oaklins Capital Alliance
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Ty for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
John Schwartz (USMA ‘86) is the Founder and President of the Center For Combating Elder Financial Abuse. His Center is focused on reducing elder financial abuse by providing innovative detection and prevention solutions. Prior to establishing the Center, John served his country for over three decades in the Army and FBI.
In this episode, we discuss:
- His best tips for preventing elderly financial abuse for our listeners and their loved ones
- His personal connection to the Center’s mission
- The experiences from West Point and the FBI that are helping him pursue his new mission
Connect with John:
- John Schwartz
- Center For Combating Elder Financial Abuse
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to John for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Dan Yokoyama (USMA ‘05) is a commercial insurance broker with Clarke & Sampson, a company focused on helping business owners mitigate risk. Although Dan never dreamed of being in the insurance field, he has become very passionate about helping business owners protect their businesses with commercial insurance.
In this episode, we discuss:
- His tips for the type of insurance coverage every business owner should have
- His process for helping customers determine the coverage they need
- The biggest mistakes business owners make as it relates to insurance
- The Clarke & Sampson 4Vets program which delivers first-rate insurance services to veteran-led companies while supporting veteran charities
Connect with Dan:
- Dan Yokoyama
- Clarke & Sampson
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Dan for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Chase Hobby (USNA ‘07) is the Co-Founder of VRB Labs, a CBD company focused on optimizing physical and cognitive performance. Coming off active duty, Chase and his business partner Evan Seale (USMA ‘10) joined forces while at Wharton Business School to create a company focused on creating a clean, safe, and effective CBD product for elite military veterans.
In this episode, we discuss:
- His personal story of how CBD helped him sleep better which made him a believer in the product
- How a shared background and value system with a fellow Academy grad resulted in a strong business partnership
- A special discount code for the SABM community for 20% off VRB products
Connect with Chase:
- Chase Hobby
- VRB Labs
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Chase for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Brendan Aronson (USNA ‘12) is the Co-Founder and CFO of Paintru, a company that turns photos into custom paintings. Through their network of artists, Paintru makes it easy to turn your most cherished moments and memories into a work of art.
In this episode, we discuss:
- His moment of clarity that led him to bet on himself as an entrepreneur
- How Paintru can turn your photos into custom paintings that make amazing gifts
- The biggest lessons he learned from the Naval Academy and the Marine Corps that are helping him as an entrepreneur
Connect with Brendan:
- Brendan Aronson
- Paintru
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Brendan for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Barry Lingelbach (USMA ‘99) is the Co-Founder of BlackGreyGold and Slides Wizard, two companies that he started with his West Point classmate, Matthew Hargrove. Matt and Barry started BlackGreyGold to help small to medium-sized companies shorten the path to success and they started Slides Wizard to help people create winning pitch decks.
In this episode, we discuss:
- Why he decided to go into business with a USMA classmate
- How Barry and Matt founded their companies based on their shared values and passion for helping small businesses succeed
- The 3 main objectives a pitch deck should accomplish and the common mistakes to avoid when creating a pitch deck
Connect with Barry:
- Barry Lingelbach
- BlackGreyGold
- Slides Wizard
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Barry for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Ricky Waters (USNA ‘06) is a professional engineer and Principal with Bowman Consulting leading the Charleston, SC and Charlotte, NC offices. At Bowman, Ricky works with a broad range of clients on real estate development projects such as large commercial development and master-planned communities. Ricky also plays an important role in our 10X Vets program as the leader of the 10X Vets Real Estate Development Circle.
In this episode, we discuss:
- His passion for finding the highest and best use for real estate
- His vision for the 10X Vets Real Estate Development Circle
- His goal for Academy grads and veterans to team up on real estate projects across the country
Connect with Ricky:
- Ricky Waters
- Bowman Consulting
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Ricky for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Jordan Foley (USNA ‘12) is the Founder and CEO of Chow, a community-focused nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide active vocational food truck training to veterans and military spouses. Chow seeks to provide its fellows with a “Food Truck MBA” and offers everything from food safety and culinary instruction to marketing and business training.
In this episode, we discuss:
- Why Jordan wanted to start a nonprofit hyper-focused on food trucks
- Chow’s “Service Above Self” ethos and its charitable mission
- His advice on starting a nonprofit and the biggest challenges he’s faced
Connect with Jordan:
- Jordan Foley
- Chow
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Jordan for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Josi Heron (USCGA '00) is the Founder and CEO of Waypoints Equity, a company that empowers like-minded real estate investors to reach financial freedom through passive income with tax benefits. They buy, renovate and operate multifamily properties with teams and partners in growing U.S. markets. She is a graduate of Real Estate Accelerator class 2020-1.
In this episode, we discuss:
- How Josi is using her military experience to structure deals and manage her real estate projects
- Her experience purchasing a 24-unit property and her goal to complete a $10M deal
- How the Real Estate Accelerator helped her transition into real estate investing as a full-time career
Connect with Josi Heron:
- Josi on LinkedIn
- Waypoints Equity
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and would like to learn more about our Real Estate Accelerator, please visit: https://sabmgroup.com/realestate/
Join our Upcoming Webinar
On Wednesday, June 2nd we are hosting a zoom call to discuss our upcoming Real Estate Accelerator starting in June. If you would like to join us on the call, please register here.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Josi Heron and Buddy Rushing for the amazing interview. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Michael Cashman (USMA ‘91) is an estate planning and business attorney. He served as an infantry officer and Airborne Ranger before attending law school. Michael runs his own firm based in California and Hawaii in addition to serving as a lawyer for the Hawaiian Air Guard. He is the recipient of Lawyer's Weekly Leadership in Law Award and has been recognized for two consecutive years as a rising star in Business Litigation. In addition, he is currently on the 2020 Super Lawyer list, an honor reserved for only 5% of attorneys.
In this episode, we discuss:
- His path to becoming an attorney after his service in the Army
- The different components of an estate plan and why you need each of them
- The new Academy networking group he started in Hawaii
Connect with Michael:
- Michel Cashman
- Cashman Law
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Michael for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Jim Collison, an Army veteran, is the CliftonStrengths Community Manager for Gallup. The Clifton Strengths Assessment is an online talent assessment that helps you discover what you naturally do best and has been taken by more than 25 million people. The Assessment helps individuals learn about their own strengths and provides managers with the tools and framework to have their teams work well together.
In this episode, we discuss:
- An overview of CliftonStrengths and how you can use it to find your passion
- How Jim has used his natural talents to craft his job within Gallup that allows him to do what he does best
- How the Assessment can help entrepreneurs just starting out as well as those in large corporations
- And, as a bonus, his best tips for starting a podcast
Connect with Tim and learn more about the CliftonStrengths Assessment:
- Jim Collison
- Gallup's Strength Coaching Webcasts
- CliftonStrengths Assessment
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Jim for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Today we welcome Todd Waldemar (USNA ‘89) back to the podcast (he first joined us on Episode #110). Todd is the founder of ChowCall and recently went through the 757 Accelerate program. He joins us today along with Evans McMillion, 757 Accelerate’s Executive Director, to share how the program helped ChowCall grow. 757 Accelerate is a nonprofit startup accelerator program focused on founders and their growth.
In this episode, we discuss:
- ChowCall’s exciting growth and their newest offering, grocery delivery from base commissaries
- 757 Accelerate’s focus and how it works with founders to grow their businesses
- The type of founders 757 Accelerate focuses on supporting, specifically military and underrepresented founders
Connect with Todd and Evans:
- Todd Waldemar
- ChowCall
- Evans McMillion
- 757 Accelerate
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to both Todd and Evans for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Marques Hardin (USAFA ‘03) is an art buyer and advisor and the cofounder of Artgence, an agency focused on connecting art collectors with artists. Artgence offers personal art shopping services, hosts virtual art galleries and offers premium 3D virtual art fair experiences.
In this episode, Marques and I discuss:
- The career pivot that brought him from the corporate world to the art world
- How he uses technology to share art with his clients
- The skills he gained during his time in the Air Force and at the Air Force Academy that helped him build his own business
Connect with Marques:
- Marques Hardin
- Artgence
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Marques for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Ed Henkler (USNA ‘78) is the Founder of The Blind Guide, a company that helps people who have lost their vision shift their goals from surviving to thriving by offering employment initiatives, assistive technologies, and other resources.
In this episode, Ed and I discuss:
- A career shift in his 50s that led him to pursue his passion to help the blind community
- The networking mistakes he made early in his career and his belief that networking is about giving back to others
- How the lessons he learned at the Naval Academy and during his time in the Navy are helping him today in the business world
Connect with Ed:
- Ed Henkler
- The Blind Guide
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Ed for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Dave Jesurun (USAFA ‘96) is the Founder, CEO, and Chief Pilot at High Country Air Service, an aviation services firm. High Country Air Service offers turnkey flight services to its customers including aircraft acquisition, aircraft/fleet management, aircraft ferrying, maintenance, and pilot contracting.
In this episode, Dave and I discuss:
- How his master’s thesis at Naval Postgraduate School led him to start High Country Air Service
- The high level of attention to detail that High Country Air Service offers its customers, inspired by his career as an Air Force pilot
- The exciting next step he is hoping to take with High Country Air Service
Connect with Dave:
- Dave Jesurun
- High Country Air Service
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Dave for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Barbara Ashe is the Director and Founder of the Veteran Institute for Procurement (VIP), a nonprofit focused on training veteran-owned and service-disabled veteran-owned businesses on how to compete, comply and perform in the federal marketplace. VIP offers four different curriculums to connect veteran-owned businesses with the information and resources they need to grow in the federal market at no cost to participants.
In this episode, Barbara and I discuss:
- The tremendous growth companies experience after going through VIP’s programs and the community VIP fosters
- How VIP’s mission and focus remains the same since its inception almost 12 years ago
- VIP's exciting new marketplace platform that is keyword searchable for industry and government
Connect with Barbara:
- Barbara Ashe
- National VIP
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Barbara for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Joshua McCarver (USMA ‘07) is the founder of Academy Politics, a nonprofit focused on recruiting, educating, and connecting Service Academy graduates who want to transition into politics. Academy Politics focuses on improving the bipartisan problem-solving nature of government while working to put more veterans into public office at the local, state, and national levels.
In this episode, Josh and I discuss:
- Why it is important to get more veterans into public office
- How his organization started with a Facebook group in 2018
- Academy Politics’ training partners and the network that supports Service Academy graduates interested in running for office
- The lessons he learned at West Point and during his military career that are helping him grow the Academy Politics community
Connect with Josh:
- Joshua McCarver
- Academy Politics
- The Academy Politics Facebook group
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Josh for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Michael Cygan (USMA '01) is a Director at Alix Partners where he helps clients manage their supply chain by focusing on the intersection of consumer products and procurement. He is also a graduate of the Real Estate Accelerator class 2019-1.
In this episode, we discuss:
- Why Michael decided to join the Real Estate Accelerator after a career transition in 2018
- How he climbed his way out of credit card debt and put his family on an exciting new path
- How his extreme discipline combined with accountability and mentoring from the Accelerator team has changed the trajectory of his financial future
Connect with Michael Cygan on LinkedIn.
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and would like to learn more about our Real Estate Accelerator, please visit: https://sabmgroup.com/realestate/
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Michael Cygan and Buddy Rushing for the amazing interview. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Alex Pederson (USAFA ‘08) is the co-founder and Chief Technology Officer at Polco, an online platform that supports community engagement in local government. Alex and his partner built Polco because they found that government officials, specifically those at the local level, have difficulty getting real-time and reliable input from their communities.
In this episode, Alex and I discuss:
- How direct feedback from a city manager led to a pivot in his business
- A success story with a small town 90-year old constituent that illustrates how Polco gives community members a chance to share their voices
- Why he thinks working with another Academy graduate or military veteran makes for a strong business partnership
- The key skills and lessons learned from his time at the Air Force Academy and in the Air Force that are helping him today as an entrepreneur
Connect with Alex:
- Alex Pederson
- Polco
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Alex for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Tracey Moys (USNA ‘96) is a Color Consultant with House of Colour in West Cornwall, England. Tracey has a master’s degree in meteorology and oceanography but, after becoming a mother and experiencing loss, she shifted careers to focus on helping others discover their best selves.
In this episode, Tracey and I discuss:
- How your image and style can impact your self-confidence and how she pushes her clients to be more authentic
- How she found her passion as a color consultant
- The lessons she learned at the Naval Academy and as a Naval Officer that are helping her run her business, especially during the pandemic
Connect with Tracey:
- Tracey Moys
- House of Colour West Cornwall
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Tracey for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Dr. Theresa Larson, a USMC veteran, and Jon Macaskill (USNA ‘01), a retired Navy SEAL, are partners working to bring mindfulness and movement into workplaces with their M2Rx Seminar for Employees. Theresa is the president of Movement Rx whose mission is to empower people with the knowledge and tools to achieve a lifetime of physical freedom, and Jon is a mindfulness teacher. Through their seminar, Theresa and Jon introduce self-care techniques to employees so that they can be healthy and present to do their best work while simultaneously improving their physical and emotional health.
In this episode, Jon, Theresa, and I discuss:
- How their seminars give participants mindfulness and movement tools to increase their productivity and improve workplace culture
- The timeliness of their offering as everyone’s stress is at an all-time high and movement is at an all-time low because of the global pandemic
- Their personal stories of how what they are teaching has helped them overcome personal and professional challenges
- Some stress and movement tips for our community to be happier, healthier, and more productive
Connect with Jon and Theresa:
- Jon Macaskill
- Theresa Larson
- Mindfulness & Movement Rx Seminar for Employees
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Jon and Theresa for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Justin Nassiri (USNA ‘02) is the host of Beyond the Uniform, the iTunes #1 rated podcast for military veteran career advice, and is the CEO of Captivate, a platform that helps brands connect with their customers through micro content. The Captivate team turns webinars and podcasts into 50-100 pieces of micro content that can be published on any social media channel to drive sales and customer engagement.
In this episode, Justin and I discuss:
- What makes a successful podcast and his best advice for anyone wanting to start a podcast
- How Captivate uses technology to identify the most timely pieces of content to publish
- The most important lessons he learned at the Naval Academy that have helped him as an entrepreneur
Connect with Justin:
- Justin Nassiri
- Captivate.ai
- Beyond the Uniform
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Justin for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Christian Espinosa (USAFA ‘93) is the founder of Alpine Security, a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Cyber Security business that he recently sold to a publicly-traded company. Christian’s latest venture, The Smartest Person in the Room: The Root Cause and New Solution for Cybersecurity, is a new book that helps technical-minded individuals become thriving leaders.
In this episode, Christian and I discuss:
- The process of selling a company and what’s next for him in business
- The framework he shares in his book that transforms great technical-minded individuals into great leaders
- How the discipline and persistence he learned at the USAFA and in the Air Force have helped him as an entrepreneur
Connect with Christian:
- Christian Espinosa
- Christian Espinosa.com
- The Smartest Person in the Room
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Christian for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
In today’s podcast, I am excited to welcome Bill Militello (USNA ‘92) back to the show to talk about 10X Vets. The 10X Vets program at SABM is for military veteran entrepreneurs who want to grow their business to a 10X level through new learning, collaboration, and connections. Bill has been part of 10X Vets since its inception in June of 2020 and has helped grow it to over 50 members in the past six months.
In this episode, Bill and I discuss:
- The inside story of what’s been happening in the 10X Vets program since we launched last June
- Success stories and how the program has helped expand the knowledge, network and net-worth of the members
- The 10X Challenge, a new framework we are developing to help our members 10X an aspect of their business or personal life
Learn more about 10X Vets: https://sabmgroup.com/10x/
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Bill for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
This podcast episode is dedicated to Andy Froistad, USNA '04 who passed away on January 28th. Andy was my teammate on the baseball team and probably one of the funniest people I have ever met. He had the magic gift of making people smile. He leaves behind his wife and three children. Please visit this Go Fund Me page to support his family during this difficult time: https://www.gofundme.com/f/andy-froistad-memorial-our-love-and-support
Michael Sipe (USNA ‘92) is an independent business consultant and coach with Sipe Consulting. Mike’s coaching program is based on energy leadership and he considers himself a Business Vitality Catalyst working with leaders to create a strategy and framework for a responsive and productive workforce.
In this episode, Mike and I discuss:
- What the Energy Leadership Index Assessment is, how it works, and how he uses it as a tool with his clients
- Why he moved away from working in corporate America and the advice he has for others hoping to start their own business
- An opportunity for listeners to take an energy level assessment and talk through the results with him
Connect with Michael:
- Michael Sipe
- Michael Sipe Consulting
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Mike for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Ray Garfield (USNA ‘66) is the Chairman of Garfield Public Private (GPP), a national real estate development firm that focuses on developing essential buildings for public entities. Ray founded GPP in 1997 in Dallas, Texas after an extensive career in commercial real estate, real estate development, and investment banking. Ray’s projects include the Durham Performing Arts Center, University of Akron Football Stadium, Westin at the Oregon Convention Center, and many more.
In this episode, Ray and I discuss:
- How GPP thinks creatively about structuring the financing on their projects
- Why GPP decided to focus on building in the public sector
- The key experiences Ray had as a midshipman and a Naval officer that helped him as an entrepreneur
- Two job opportunities for the SABM Community
Connect with Ray:
- Raymond Garfield
- Garfield Public Private
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Ray for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Jerry Pilewski (USNA ‘97) is a business coach and trainer with FocalPoint Coaching. FocalPoint Coaches work with entrepreneurs, business owners, and executives to help them grow and realize their potential. Jerry believes that small to mid-sized businesses are the engine room of a sustainable society and he joined FocalPoint to be of service to business owners and their surrounding communities.
In this episode, Jerry and I discuss:
- The strength of the FocalPoint coaches' network and it’s content library
- How he has helped other Academy grads start their own Focal Point franchises
- How the Naval Academy and his time in the Navy equipped Jerry to succeed in business and prepared him to serve others
Connect with Jerry:
- Jerry Pilewski
- FocalPoint
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Jerry for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
David Garza (USMA ‘87) is the managing director and CEO of Compass Human Capital Advisors, a consulting practice that assists growing businesses scale and optimize their workforce. David started Compass Human Capital Advisors after 25 years as an HR executive and honed his practice after he noticed that small business owners often struggle with hiring and developing their employees’ talents.
In this episode, David and I discuss:
- The four things businesses must address to successfully scale their workforce
- How he helps business owners define and nurture their companies’ cultures
- His best tips for hiring
- How a “just step forward” mentality garnered from West Point helped him grow his business
Connect with David:
- David Garza
- Compass Human Capital Advisors
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to David for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Charlie Felker (USMA ‘06) is the co-founder of Free-2-Grow which provides back-office support to service-based companies, allowing the owners and operators to focus on their customers and growing their businesses. Free-2-Grow offers its customers the services of a full-time office manager at half of what it would cost to hire someone full-time and provides team support with its cross-trained staff.
In this episode, Charlie and I discuss:
- How he built a product and a company around a pain point from his last business
- The creative ways he finds new clients
- The skills that he learned in the Army and at West Point that have helped him succeed as an entrepreneur
- His best tips for creating a successful business partnership
Connect with Charlie:
- Charlie Felker
- Free-2-Grow
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Charlie for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Mike Nemeth (USMA ’04) is best known across the Service Academy community for his hilarious pranks that capture the spirit of the Army/Navy rivalry. In addition to his role as the community prankster, he’s also a very successful entrepreneur who has built a 7-figure apparel business from the ground up.
In this episode, Mike and I discuss:
- His apparel company that has grown to over 7-figures in sales in the last three years
- His marketing pivot during COVID that helped him target the clients he loves serving
- His latest pranks which include the Navy Tears of Sadness Candle and one surprise
Connect with Mike:
- Mike on LinkedIn
- Emblem Athletic
- Mike’s book: Discipline the Annapolis Way
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Mike for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Christian White (USMA ‘09) is the managing director and co-founder of risk3sixty, an information security advisory firm that helps companies build, manage, and certify their information security, privacy, and compliance programs. Christian always knew that he wanted to start a business and, although he had no background in information security, he was able to grow risk3sixty through successful team building and his willingness to learn the business from the ground up.
In this episode, we discuss:
- The five core values that frame every aspect of risk3sixty’s business
- How risk3sixty’s success came from Christian and his partner’s willingness to fail and get back up
- The importance of having big, audacious goals
- The three lessons Christian learned from the Army and West Point that helped him grow his business
Connect with Christian and the team at risk3sixty:
- Christian White
- risk3sixty
- risk3sixty on YouTube
- The Virtual CISO - risk3sixty’s podcast
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Christian for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Tom Connally (USNA ’83) is the founder of Connally Consulting where he helps leaders and organizations improve their performance and success professionally, personally, spiritually, and physically. He is also a graduate of Real Estate Accelerator class 2019-2.
In this episode, we discuss:
- Why Tom decided to join the Real Estate Accelerator after 5+ years into retirement
- Tom’s path to purchasing five properties in less than a year
- The tax savings strategy that Tom used to save over $20,000 in taxes
Connect with Tom Connally:
- Tom on LinkedIn
- Connally Consulting
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Tom Connally and Buddy Rushing for the amazing interview. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Jim Mulford (USAFA ’70) is the President and CEO at acQyr eXchange, the first public exchange to track and manage the digital assets you acquire online so you can redeem them for money. Their initial market will be mobile and online gaming where gamers will be able to monitor, manage, and redeem their gaming rewards on the exchange with a mobile app.
In this episode, we discuss:
- How their product supports the $2.7B gaming industry
- Their value proposition for gamers and game publishers
- How they can acquire users from the game publishers to grow their network
Connect with Jim Mulford:
- Jim on LinkedIn
- acQyr eXchange
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Jim for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
On today’s podcast, I am excited to launch the Traffic Circle at 10X Vets. The 10X Vets program at SABM is for military veterans who want to grow their business to a 10X level through new learning, collaboration, and connections. The Traffic Circle is led by Jimmy Weeks, Air Force Veteran and founder of Internet Strategy Labs and Veteran Stats. The Traffic Circle is for 10X Vets members who want to increase website traffic, improve website performance, and generate more leads.
In this episode, we discuss:
- The vision for the Traffic Circle and how it helps members grow their businesses
- Jimmy’s internet marketing experience and how he uses website analytics as a starting point for helping his clients optimize their marketing
- The Veteran Stats analytics platform which helps military veteran business owners understand their website analytics so they can make strategic marketing decisions
Connect with Jimmy Weeks:
- Jimmy on LinkedIn
- Veteran Stats
Join about 10X Vets: https://sabmgroup.com/10x/
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Jimmy Weeks for joining me on the podcast this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Shawn Ikpa (USNA ’05) is the Founder of Castletop Logistics, an Amazon Delivery Service Provider who has built his delivery team to 95 drivers in the Buffalo, NY market. Shawn was also a member of the very first Real Estate Accelerator class when we launched the program in 2018. In this episode, Shawn shares his experience from the Real Estate Accelerator and how he has recently changed careers and is now a full-time business owner in partnership with Amazon.
In this episode, we discuss:
- How his Amazon delivery business has grown to delivering 200,000 packages per month in less than a year
- What he enjoys about being an Amazon Deliver Service Partner
- How the Real Estate Accelerator shaped his mindset which allowed him to pursue a career in entrepreneurship
- How he is growing his real estate portfolio to build long term wealth for his family
Connect with Shawn Ikpa:
- Shawn on LinkedIn
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Shawn Ikpa and Buddy Rushing for the amazing interview. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Zach Peyton (USMA ‘04) is the Co-Founder of Superior Fence & Rail, the nation’s only fencing franchise. Superior Fence & Rail currently has 19 locations across the country that fabricate and install fence products. After graduating from West Point and serving as an Army intelligence officer, Zach was searching for his purpose in corporate America and a phone call from a West Point classmate led him to North Florida and his future in the home services industry.
In this episode, we discuss:
- The three pillars of Zach’s approach to business success
- How Zach applied the lessons he learned at West Point and as an Army officer to the operational side of his small business
- The advantages of joining a franchise model in small business ownership
- A job opportunity for the SABM community
Connect with Zach:
- Zach Peyton
- Superior Fence & Rail
- Superior Fence & Rail Franchising
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Play, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Zach for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Jimmy Vreeland (USMA '03) is the principal of Vreeland Capital and the Co-Founder of Cash Flow Tactics. After graduating from West Point where he played football for the Black Knights, Jimmy spent five years serving in the Army through three deployments with his last as a Captain with the Ranger Regiment. He worked in medical sales for eight years following the Army before starting a turnkey real estate company that provides investment opportunities for members of Cash Flow Tactics, a business community that helps individuals achieve financial freedom in 10 years or less regardless of age, income, or experience.
In this episode, Jimmy and I discuss:
- Their 4-step process that helps people achieve financial freedom in 10 years or less
- His personal goal to invest in 1000+ properties
- His favorite success stories from students in the Cash Flow Tactics community
Connect with Jimmy Vreeland:
- Jimmy on Linkedin
- Cash Flow Tactics
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Play, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Jimmy for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Jeff Zeunik (USMA ’95) is a B2B CFO® Partner who helps the owners of privately-held businesses reach their goals, both personal and business. He provides consulting services on an as-needed long-term basis. This helps privately-held businesses benefit from a CFO, without the fully loaded cost of hiring a full-time employee.
In this episode, we discuss:
- How he helps busy business owners improve their cash-flow
- The types of clients who benefit most from his services
- The most important lessons he learned in the Army that have helped him as a business owner
Connect with Jeff:
- Jeff on LinkedIn
- B2B CFO
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Play, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Jeff for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
The fund described is open to “accredited investors” only, through an offering made in accordance with Regulation D, Rule 506(c) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. In purchasing securities through a 506(c) offering, we are obligated to verify any participating investor’s status as an “accredited investor” in accordance with Rule 501 of Regulation D. Investors should consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of the fund carefully before investing.
Today, we are excited to launch the Academy Fund! The Academy Fund is a private real estate fund that invests in military veteran real estate operators. The Academy Fund leverages relationships among Investors, Advisors, and Operators to facilitate the valuable “trust capital."
In this episode, we discuss:
- How the Academy Fund is the first fund of its kind to lend capital to military veteran real estate operators
- How the Fund is set up for investors and those seeking capital
- How the Academy Fund will create an ecosystem for real estate investors and operators
Connect:
- Bill Militello
- Brian Whitten
- Academy Fund on LocalVest
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Play, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Brian and Bill for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Today we welcome Marissa Limsiaco (USMA ’05) back to the podcast. We first talked in 2018 and she joins us now to share how her entrepreneurial journey has developed. Marissa is the President and Co-founder of Otso, an online platform that guarantees financial security to landlords while eliminating the need for cash from tenants in commercial leases. Otso is an offshoot of Marissa’s other commercial real estate endeavor, Tenavox, and the two companies share the same mission – to make commercial real estate leasing easy and to be a source of truth for the industry.
In this episode, we discuss:
- The biggest lesson Marissa learned after launching her first business that helped her develop Otso
- How Marissa and her partner pivoted and launched a new business at the start of the COVID pandemic
- How Otso creates a win/win for landlords and tenants
Connect with Marissa:
- Marissa Limsiaco
- Otso
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Play, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Marissa for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Mark Mhley started Re4ormed after almost 22 years as a Naval Aviator. Re4ormed is a place for veteran and military spouse entrepreneurs to connect to a community and find high-quality business services bundled at lower prices. In 2019 Mark was selected to participate in The Global Good Fund’s veteran fellowship program and credits the leadership coaching and executive mentorship with Re4ormed’s growth and expansion.
The Global Good Fund believes that investing in leadership is the best way to make an impact on a community and do global good. Through its yearlong fellowship program, The Global Good Fund helps social entrepreneurs grow their leadership capabilities through coaching and funding.
In this episode, we discuss:
- How Mark pivoted Re4ormed with the help of The Global Good Fund’s leadership coaching
- How The Global Good Fund’s 360° leadership assessment and development plan makes Global Good Fund entrepreneurs accountable to each other and themselves
- What sets The Global Good Fund Veteran Fellowship program apart from all other veteran entrepreneur support programs
- The Global Good Fund’s leadership services beyond their fellowship program
Connect with Mark and the team at The Global Good Fund:
- Mark Mhley
- Re4ormed
- The Global Good Fund
- Manolo from The Global Good Fund
- Brenda from The Global Good Fund
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Play, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Mark, Manolo, and Brenda for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Buddy Rushing (USNA ’04) is the founder of White Feather Investments and the leader of the Real Estate Accelerator, a six-month course for Service Academy graduates and military veterans who want to achieve financial freedom through real estate investing. Since his first appearance on the podcast in 2018, Buddy has built multiple businesses and will be transitioning out of the Marine Corps in a few weeks (after 16 years of service!) to pursue his business endeavors full time.
In this episode, Buddy and I discuss:
- How the Real Estate Accelerator grew from just an idea to a powerhouse community of 100+ real estate investors
- Time management strategies for managing multiple businesses in your spare time and the financial risk he took to pull it off
- His favorite success stories from Accelerator members over the last two years
Connect with Buddy Rushing:
- Buddy on LinkedIn
- White Feather Investments
- Real Estate Accelerator
Join our upcoming call on Saturday, September 26th to meet the team and learn about the Real Estate Accelerator course starting in January: Real Estate Investing Accelerator - Mid-Course Meeting!
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Play, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Buddy for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
On today's podcast episode, I am excited to announce the launch of our new program called 10X Vets. 10X Vets is a business mastermind group for military veterans who want to grow their businesses to a new level through new learning, collaboration and connections. The program has been underway for a couple of months and we are already up to 40 members.
In this episode, we discuss:
- The 10X Vets Capital Circle that helps real estate investors, fund managers and startups grow their network and net worth
- The 10X Vets B2B Circle that helps small business owners and high caliber sales reps grow their businesses through trusted referrals
- Our plans to launch additional circles including a Government Contracting, Healthcare, and Non-Profit circles
- How the entire community connects each month through a monthly zoom meeting and slack channel
Connect with the team:
- Learn about 10X Vets: https://sabmgroup.com/10x/
- Guests on today's show: Bill Militello, David Wuensch and Mark Mhley
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Play, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to the 10X Vets team for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Jesse Iwuji (USNA '10) is an officer in the U.S. Navy Reserve and a professional NASCAR driver. He is currently the only driver in all of NASCAR at the national levels to serve in the military. Jesse was also a free safety on the Navy football team and is the founder of The Red List Group, a trucking and logistics company based in Southern California.
In this episode, Jesse and I discuss:
- His path to becoming a NASCAR driver
- His unique goal-setting process that helps him turn a vision into a reality
- The skills he learned at the Naval Academy that are helping him on the racetrack
Connect with Jesse Iwuji:
- JesseIwuji.com
- Jesse on LinkedIn
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Play, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Jesse for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Lionel Hines (USNA '94) is a partner with Payment Lock, an all-in-one solution for both in-store retail transactions and online payments. Their platform is designed for speed and built on military-grade encryption. I am also joined by Ryan Smith, the founder of Payment Lock and a former professional football player.
In this episode, we discuss:
- Their payment processing platform that saves business owners on expensive credit card fees
- Their favorite client success story
- How their experience as athletes has helped them as entrepreneurs
Connect with Lionel and Ryan:
- Lionel Hines on LinkedIn
- Ryan Smith on LinkedIn
- Payment Lock
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Play, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Lionel for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Tim Mobley (USMA '93) is the Founder of Connext Global Solutions, a staffing company that provides companies with talented offshore professionals, work tools, and operating facilities that support their profitable growth.
In this episode, Tim and I discuss:
- The most popular tasks that companies outsource to them
- Their capability to build out entire teams for their clients
- How they are different from other outsourcing companies
Connect with Tim Mobley:
- Tim on Linkedin
- Connext Global Solutions
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Play, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Tim for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Thomas Schwab (USNA '87) is the Founder of Interview Valet, a company that helps business owners turn listeners into leads and leads into customers by talking directly to ideal customers with Podcast Interview Marketing. In this age of Social Distancing, the most effective way to market your business is through Podcast Interview Marketing where you're interviewed as the expert guest on podcasts that your potential customers already listen to. You get a long-term return on investment (ROI) that beats blogging, advertising, and social media postings.
In this episode, Tom and I discuss:
- Tom’s experience from being a guest on 1,000+ podcasts
- His white-glove service that helps business owners get booked on popular podcasts
- His best advice for someone wanting to start a podcast
Connect with Thomas Schwab:
- Tom on Linkedin
- Interview Valet
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Play, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Tom for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Chris Hsu (USMA '92) is is the CEO and Co-Founder of Zibo, a digital financial services platform that provides individual landlords banking, insurance, and payment services solutions. Zibo helps landlords save time and hassle by automating monthly rent collection and accepting multiple forms of payment from tenants, including debit card, credit card, and ACH bank transfers. Prior to starting Zibo, Chris was the Chief Operating Officer of Hewlett Packard Enterprise and the CEO of a publicly-traded enterprise software company.
In this episode, we discuss:
- How his app optimizes efficiencies for small independent landlords
- His best lessons learned on raising capital and building his team from the ground up
- How his experience at West Point has helped him as an entrepreneur
Connect with Chris Hsu:
- Chris on LinkedIn
- Zibo
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Play, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Chris for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Raymond Bednar (USMA '84) is the President and Founder of Hyperion Marketing Returns where he optimizes strategies for investments in marketing channels with an emphasis on return on investment (ROI) and return on business objectives (ROO or ROBO). His sub-specialty within marketing departments is sports sponsorships where he has extensive relationships at the top sponsorship entities in the world including NFL, MLB, NBA, and PGA.
In this episode, we discuss:
- How to negotiate sponsorship opportunities based on business goals
- How to obtain the most essential sponsorship benefits without paying for unproductive frills
- Why “skybox tickets” might not yield the highest ROI for your business
Connect with Raymond Bednar:
- Raymond on LinkedIn
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Play, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Raymond for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Russell Long (USAFA '12) is the Founder of Long Capture, a team of Military Veterans and Spouses who support small businesses with exciting new technology ideas by helping them find and capture contracts through the SBIR (Small Business Innovation Research) Program and other funding opportunities.
In this episode, Russ and I discuss:
- How he has helped companies win 90M+ in SBIR awards
- The competitive advantage he offers companies in the SBIR application process
- His goal to help companies achieve multi-million dollar government contracts
Connect with Russell Long:
- Long Capture
- Russell on Linkedin
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Play, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Russ for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Trevor Benitone (USAFA '95) and Joe Ruzicka (USNA '96) are leaders at Adams Keegan, a national and privately held HR services firm based in Memphis, TN. Their services include payroll, HR management, benefits administration, compliance support, and recruiting. James Keegan (USMA graduate) was an early investor in Adams Keegan and currently serves on the Board of Directors.
In this episode, we discuss:
- How their company has grown over the last 33 years and the new geographic markets they have their sites on
- How they help small and mid-size businesses avoid HR land mines
- The personalized support they offer to help entrepreneurs at every stage of their business
Connect with Trevor and Joe:
- Trevor on LinkedIn
- Joe on LinkedIn
- Adams Keegan
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Play, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Trevor and Joe for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Jason Schwab (USMA '05) is the co-founder of Glove Box, an e-commerce company that curates and distributes premium car care products to automotive enthusiasts across the United States and Canada. They launched in 2018 and have shipped over 20,000 products to date.
In this episode, we discuss:
- Their path from 0 to 20,000+ products sold
- How they source products and their value proposition to their members
- The most important skills he learned in the Army that have helped him as an entrepreneur
Connect with Jason Schwab:
- Glove Box
- Jason on LinkedIn
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Play, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Jason for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Dean Wegner (USMA '93) is the founder of Authentically American, an iconic American brand that sells products that are truly American Made. His expertise in the apparel industry, coupled with his passion for America, provided all the incentive he needed to create a brand that aims to set the universally accepted standard for premium American made merchandise while delivering a significant impact on US job creation.
In this episode, Dean and I discuss:
- His flagship Sweat Tee that celebrates the Army/Navy rivalry
- The Authentically American podcast that has featured world-class athletes and business leaders
- His goal to create a $1 Billion brand
Connect with Dean Wegner:
- Dean on LinkedIn
- Authentically American
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Play, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Dean for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Jason Van Camp (USMA '01) is the Founder of Mission 6 Zero, a leadership assessment and development company created by United States Special Forces Operators (Green Berets, Delta Force, Navy SEALs, CIA, FBI), refined through scientifically proven methods developed by their human performance and sports psychologist PhDs, and reinforced through their cadre of wounded warriors.
In this episode, Jason and I discuss:
- How he scored the New York Jets as his first client
- His new book Deliberate Discomfort and why he wrote it
- Best practices for overcoming fear and unlocking your potential
Connect with Jason Van Camp:
- Jason on LinkedIn
- Mission 6 Zero
- Warrior Rising Foundation
- Buy the Deliberate Discomfort book
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Play, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Jason for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Larry Gast (USAFA '85) is the founder of LEG Ventures, a company that supplies capital and services to business and commercial real estate firms. His firm recently created a private group purchasing organization (GPO) with select strategic partner firms for qualifying businesses. His GPO can save businesses $1,000 to $100,000+ annually plus they’ll receive better service through their negotiated volume pricing.
In this episode, Larry and I discuss:
- How he got started down the entrepreneurial path after his service in the Air Force
- How he can help veteran business owners save money through his GPO
- His short- and long-term goals for LEG Ventures
Connect with Larry Gast:
- Larry on LinkedIn
- LEG Ventures
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Play, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Larry for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Sean Cleveland (USMA '92) is a founding partner at nxtU, a company that offers concierge and workshop-level training, support, mentorship, and coaching to help high students and transitioning military members achieve their professional goals and aspirations. Sean's work with nxtU draws upon 28 years of leadership experience and 16 years in different capacities in higher education. He has served as an academic success coach in a PAC-12 intercollegiate athletics department, as an instructor and advisor in an alternative admissions program at a Big-12 university, and as a junior and senior rotating faculty member at West Point, where he also served as the Associate Director of the Mounger Writing Center and Writing Fellows Program.
In this episode, Sean and I discuss:
- His coaching process that helps individuals get accepted to a top-tier university
- How he helps student-athletes achieve peak academic performance
- His best advice for parents to help their kids prepare for college
Connect with Sean Cleveland:
- Sean on LinkedIn
- nxtU website
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Play, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Sean for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Joshua Emison (USNA '14) is the owner of Tracer Consulting, a company that specializes in helping military veterans find the right franchise opportunity. As a Franchise Consultant, Josh assists those in a career transition to decide if franchising is right for them. His free services will teach you what franchising is, help you discover your funding options, and ultimately help you find the right franchise that is the perfect fit for you.
In this episode, Josh and I discuss:
- How he got started as a Franchise Consultant
- The best ways to finance a franchise and discounts available to military veterans
- Franchise concepts that are thriving in the new economy
Connect with Josh Emison:
- Josh on LinkedIn
- Tracer Consulting
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Josh for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
John Graham (USMA '87) is the CEO at Campfire Capital, an investment banking team that has nearly a century of collective strategic advisory and financial services experience. In today’s episode, we discuss their efforts to build out ThayerGate.Ai, a Business Accelerator program located outside the gates of West Point. ThayerGate.Ai provides below-market occupancy costs, workforce training, mentoring programs, easy access to experienced professionals, and a host of other resources for business owners. I am also joined on this episode by John Vermeesch (USMA '90) and Peter Goudet (USMA '91), President of Campfire Capital.
In this episode, we discuss:
- The special support they are offering business owners who are located at their facility
- Their mission to support the revitalization and improvement of the Greater West Point-Highland Falls Community
- The most important skills they learned at West Point that have helped them as entrepreneurs
Connect with the team:
- John Graham on LinkedIn
- John Vermeesch on LinkedIn
- Peter Goudet on LinkedIn
- ThayerGate.ai
- Campfire Capital
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Play, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to John for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Stuart Grazier (USNA '02) is an active-duty Navy pilot who has served 17 years in the military. Over the last 11 years, he has purchased approximately $600,000 in performing mortgage notes, 4 single-family rental properties, an RV park, is a part-owner in an apartment complex and mobile home park syndication, and has recently started a turnkey real estate company with his best friend and USNA roommate where they are providing rehabbed, cash flowing rental properties to their network of military/veteran and patriot investors. Starting in June of 2018, his company Storehouse 3:10 Ventures has acquired and sold approximately 35 turnkey rental properties, averaging 2-3 properties per month. Stuart is also the President of the Military Investor Network, which aims to network, educate, and connect other military/veteran service members that are interested in real estate investing.
In this episode, Stu and I discuss:
- How to purchase and analyze a turnkey rental property and the returns they offer investors
- Their favorite real estate markets
- His upcoming virtual conference for real estate investors
Connect with Stuart Grazier:
- Stu on LinkedIn
- Storehouse 3:10 Turnkey
- Military Investor Network
- Veterans Live Conference
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Play, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Stu for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Paul Huszar (USMA '90) is the President and CEO of VetCor, a restoration company that solves water and mold damage problems and provides other related services to commercial and residential property owners. VetCor is staffed by military veterans and is currently seeking new franchisees as they expand across the U.S.
In this episode, Paul and I discuss:
- His goal to become the #1 private employer of military veterans
- The steps to take if you want to become a franchisee
- The markets they are expanding into across the U.S.
Connect with Paul Huszar:
- Paul on LinkedIn
- VetCor Franchising
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Play, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Paul for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Peter Joukov (USNA '05) is the co-founder of Inq Tattoos, a company that is disrupting the tattoo industry with high-end boutiques that focus on clean design, transparency, and a customer-first philosophy. Their sole focus is to ensure that customers feel welcome, safe, and walk away with an amazing tattoo that they absolutely love.
In this episode, Peter and I discuss:
- Why he decided to open tattoo boutiques and revolutionize the customer experience
- Franchising opportunities they have available across the country
- The most important skills he learned at the Naval Academy that have helped him as an entrepreneur
Connect with Peter Joukov:
- Peter on LinkedIn
- Inq Tattoos
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Play, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Peter for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Todd Waldemar (USNA ’89) is the founder of ChowCall, a Marine Veteran owned, 3rd party food delivery business, unlike anything you have ever seen. With a tap on your phone, ChowCall delivers food from your favorite restaurants right to your barracks, home, or office. Armed with the latest technology, experienced local delivery professionals, and a commitment for service, ChowCall brings food delivery to a new level.
In this episode, Todd and I discuss:
- His explosive sales growth since launching the company in 2019
- His unique competitive advantage (military bases!) that allows him to capture market share from the big guys
- His goal to expand to 9 locations in the next 18 months
"Chowcall's unique ability to serve base customers gives us a competitive advantage larger delivery companies can't provide." -Tim Sollars, Director of Ops. Dixon Foods dba McDonalds
Connect with Todd Waldemar:
- Todd on LinkedIn
- ChowCall
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Play, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Todd for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Anthony Pinto (USNA '14) is an active duty submarine officer and owner of Pinto Capital Investments, a Commercial Real Estate Investment company based in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Anthony is building his real estate portfolio and plans to achieve financial freedom before he completes his military obligation.
In this episode, Anthony and I discuss:
- His goal to reach financial freedom before he completes his military service obligation
- Lessons learned from his first real estate investments and how he has scaled up to larger properties
- His favorite real estate books and courses
Connect with Anthony Pinto:
- Anthony on LinkedIn
- Pinto Capital Investments
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Play, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Anthony for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Tim Parlatore (USNA '02) is the Founder of Parlatore Law Group, a cloud-based law firm that eliminates all the unnecessary overhead expenses associated with traditional law firms while providing the highest quality legal services. By trimming all the excess expenses and passing those savings on to clients, Parlatore Law Group’s attorneys can devote their full efforts to solving problems and working together as a cohesive team without the necessity of working in a physical office.
In this episode, Tim and I discuss:
- The #1 reason why his teammates and clients love the cloud-based business model
- His firm’s current job openings
- The most important skills he learned at the Naval Academy that have helped him as an entrepreneur
Connect with Tim Parlatore:
- Tim on LinkedIn
- Parlatore Law Group
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Play, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Tim for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Grant Demaree (USMA '13) is the Co-Founder of Onebrief, a collaborative platform that facilitates rapid executive decision-making for businesses and military planning. Onebrief supports large-scale collaboration on the Joint Planning Process and automates the outputs, such as OPLANs, OPORDs, sync matrices, and maps. Onebrief is being used in exercises in the Army and Air Force, including the Army War College and is backed by AFWERX and by Alchemist Accelerator.
In this episode, Grant and I discuss:
- His company’s goals to become the interoperability standard for all joint planning across the US military and our allies
- How he connected with his co-founder and the story of how they brought their product to market
- His best lessons learned from the Alchemist Accelerator and the AFWERX application process
Connect with Grant Demaree:
- Grant on LinkedIn
- Onebrief
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Play, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Grant for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Stephen Semmelroth (USMA '11) is a veteran-focused cybersecurity recruiter where he develops Cyber Vets and finds them jobs. As a cybersecurity recruiter, he matches the nation's best Cyber Veterans (any Federal alumni, clearance holder, or military spouse) with tech jobs across the country.
In this episode, Stephen and I discuss:
- The explosive growth of the cybersecurity industry
- Current job openings he has available
- The ups and downs of starting a business and how he has persevered
Connect with Stephen Semmelroth:
- Stephen on LinkedIn
- StrataCore Website
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Play, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Stephen for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
On today’s podcast I’m joined by Bill Militello (USNA ’92) who shares how an “abundance mindset” and a simple shift in thinking can help us navigate successfully through uncertain times.
Bill is the CEO of Militello Capital and LocalVest.com. Militello Capital is a team of veteran entrepreneurs who invest capital in joint ventures with a select group of highly successful private equity and real estate operators. LocalVest is an exclusive community for accredited investors to discover, research, and discuss private investments with knowledgeable investment professionals.
In this episode, Bill and I discuss:
- How he uses vision boards and mind movies to create a life of abundance
- How your feelings attract abundance (or scarcity) into your life
- Why Academy grads will persevere through this crisis and create more value than ever before
Connect with Bill Militello:
- Bill on LinkedIn
- Militello Capital
- LocalVest
*Special thanks to Ginni Guiton (USMA) from GGHypnosis.com for providing the intention to start the podcast.
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Play, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Bill for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Mike Foster (USNA ’13) is a real estate investor and entrepreneur who serves as the Director of Education and Podcast Host for Active Duty Passive Income. While active duty, Mike was fortunate enough to have several remarkable mentors that taught him the importance of credit-building, creative financing techniques, and wealth-building strategies. Mike has acquired multiple real estate investments, he owns several businesses, and has the passion and drive to mentor thousands of veterans around the world.
In this episode, Mike and I discuss:
- The ADPI podcast, course, and Facebook group that helps veterans with real estate investing
- Their new lead generation program for real estate agents
- A new service they created to connect investors with real estate agents and lenders across the country
Connect with Mike Foster:
- Mike on LinkedIn
- Active Duty Passive Income
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Play, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Mike for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Fred Stuvek Jr. graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1974 after lettering three years as quarterback for the Midshipmen. After serving as a Naval Officer, he transitioned to the business world where he has held senior leadership positions in private and public companies, both domestically and internationally. Key successes include an international medical imaging start-up that led to a successful IPO and forming a private medical services company, which he subsequently sold. He’s the author of the book, It Starts With You which is a complete training manual to develop the operative mindset, habits, and skills for succeeding at any endeavor.
In this episode, Fred and I discuss:
- Why he chose to attend USNA and his favorite experiences from playing on the football team
- His experiences from building businesses and the best lessons he learned along the way
- His best tips for writing a book
Connect with Fred Stuvek:
- Fred on LinkedIn
- It Starts With You
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Play, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Fred for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Carly DaCosta (USMA '04) and her husband Jered own DaCosta Real Estate Investments, an investment company focused on buying high-quality short-term rentals leveraging Airbnb and apartment complexes through syndication. In 2018, Carly left her full-time job to purchase a $2MM multifamily apartment building in San Francisco. In March 2019, Jered joined Carly on her real estate adventure, and they relocated their family to Jacksonville, FL to build out their real estate portfolio.
I am also joined in this episode by Buddy Rushing (USNA '04), Founder of White Feather Investments and the fearless leader of our Real Estate Investing Accelerator.
In this episode, we discuss:
- Carly’s decision to relocate her family and start a real estate business in Jacksonville, FL
- How the Real Estate Accelerator has impacted both her life and business
- Her goal to achieve financial freedom this year through real estate investing
Connect with Carly DaCosta:
- Carly on LinkedIn
Join our upcoming Zoom call on March 7th to learn more about the Real Estate Accelerator.
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Play, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Carly for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Rachael Jackson is a West Point graduate with a degree in Physics and Nuclear Engineering, former Army Captain and Apache Attack Helicopter pilot. As an Army officer, she saw first-hand the importance of taking care of soldiers and their families. As CEO of TRIBAL, she has seen first-hand the power of story and the necessity for relationships to change hearts and drive action. Her life’s work is to connect people to a greater sense of meaning through stories, resources, and relationships. TRIBAL is a relationship and community-building platform that helps leaders connect with, grow and inspire their people.
In this episode, Rachael and I discuss:
- How her mobile app helps employees create conversations and build stronger relationships
- How she brought her idea to market and got her first customers
- Her best tips for overcoming fear when launching a new business
Connect with Rachael Jackson:
- Rachael on Linkedin
- TRIBAL
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Play, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Rachael for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Today is the 100th episode of the SABM podcast. In today’s episode I share the story of SABM, where the idea came from and how it has evolved over the past three years. Since launching the community in 2017, we have grown immensely thanks to all the amazing grads who have contributed their time, talent and ideas.
In today’s episode, I share:
- How the idea for SABM started with a coffee mug business and the need to be surrounded by like-minded people
- The story and mindset shift of transitioning from a side-hustle to a full-time business
- Overcoming fear and procrastination when launching a new business (or any creative project)
Special thanks for Ginni Guiton (USMA) for joining me on today’s podcast. And thank you to all our podcast listeners, meetup attendees, real estate accelerator members, investor group members, and mastermind members. Without you, there wouldn’t be an SABM. The face of SABM will always be the community of academy grads who make our tribe so special.
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Play, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Ginni for joining me on the 100th episode. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
France Hoang (USMA '95) has developed a patent-pending artificial intelligence engine to help organizations predict who in a new list of people are most like the original list using hundreds of data points. Their predictive models help nonprofit fundraisers find new donors (boodle.ai), help political candidates raise contributions (adjutant.ai), and help companies find new clients that match the profile of their existing clients (guidon.ai).
In this episode, we discuss:
- How their AI tool can find potential clients from an existing list of prospects
- How they help companies reduce marketing cost through their predictive models
- The most important skills he learned in the Army that have helped him as an entrepreneur
Connect with France Hoang:
- France on LinkedIn
- Boodle.ai for non-profits
- Adjutant.ai for politicians
- Guidon.ai for companies
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Play, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to France for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Bo Bergstrom (USNA '03) is the CEO of Humanly, a company that offers co-working spaces to help therapists and other private practitioners transition into their own private practice. In addition to flexible office space, they also provide their members with an active and supportive community along with business classes to help them thrive.
In this episode, we discuss:
- His company’s goal to grow to 500 locations in the next five years
- How they are planning to grow using the franchising model
- His personal story from serving as a Marine that attracted him to this business
Connect with Bo Bergstrom:
- Humanly
- Bo on LinkedIn
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Play, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Bo for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Claude Burns is the Founder of Office Libations, a corporate beverage and snack service delivering to offices in the San Francisco Bay area. They offer craft and local brands of coffee, tea, snacks, beer, wine, and spirits. In 2019, Office Libations was ranked as the #2 fastest growing business in Oakland by the Inc 5000.
In this episode, Claude and I discuss:
- His journey from the Navy into the snack & beverage delivery business
- How business school helped him formulate his idea
- His growing team and an open position he has at his company
Connect with Claude:
- Office Libations
- Claude on LinkedIn
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Play, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Claude for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Brad Artery (USNA '95) is the CEO of MOCingbird, an innovative online platform for healthcare professionals to monitor certification and educational requirements. The platform allows users to track and store MOCs, CMEs and state licenses in a secure vault in order to stay up-to-date and compliant. In the Navy, Brad was a submarine officer, doing tours on two Los Angeles class fast attack submarines.
In this episode, Brad and I discuss:
- His journey from the Navy into the healthcare business
- The value proposition of his platform to healthcare professionals
- His lessons learned getting the product to market
Connect with Brad:
- MOCingbird
- Brad on LinkedIn
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Play, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Brad for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Chris Prentice (USMA '92) has over 20 years of medical device experience in both large strategic healthcare companies and in successful startup companies. Most recently he was Vice President of Commercial Integration at Medtronic. Prior to his position at Medtronic, he was CEO of Mazor Robotics, which was acquired by Medtronic in December 2018 for $1.6B.
In this episode, Chris and I discuss:
- His journey from the Army into the medical device industry
- How he grew a company that sold for $1.6B
- His new robotics company that is revolutionizing upper extremity rehabilitation
Connect with Christopher:
- Harmonic Bionics
- Chris on LinkedIn
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Play, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Chris for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Charles Mullenger (USMA ’10) is the owner of Ethos Evacuation Strategies, a leading partner in emergency preparedness and an American-made manufacturer of cost-effective evacuation solutions, including its flagship product, the Med Sled®. Since 2004, Med Sled has been developing products to support disaster preparedness and emergency evacuation to ensure that non-ambulatory individuals are transported safely in an emergency.
In this episode, Charles and I discuss:
- His path into business ownership through a search fund
- The 3 different types of search funds and the benefits of each
- His short- and long-term goals for Ethos Evacuation Strategies
Connect with Charles:
- Ethos Evacuation Strategies
- Charles on LinkedIn
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Play, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Charles for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Ben Allen (USNA '07) is the Chief Operations Officer at Beachly, a subscription-based premium apparel company inspired by the coastal lifestyle. I’m also joined by Kevin Tighe, Co-Founder & CEO at Beachly.
In this episode, we discuss:
- Why they chose a subscription model to sell their coastal themed clothing
- How they attracted their first customers and how they are getting new customers today
- Valuable lessons learned on hiring and building a business from the ground up
Connect with Ben & Kevin:
- Ben on LinkedIn
- Kevin on LinkedIn
- Beachly website
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Play, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Ben and Kevin for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
David Chepauskas (USMA '77) is a Senior Wealth Planner at Summit Financial, an independent wealth management firm located in Parsippany, New Jersey. David has over 28 years of experience specializing in solving problems and maximizing opportunities for senior Wall Street professionals, business owners, executives, and retirees.
In this episode, David and I discuss:
- How to minimize capital gains tax through charitable giving
- How a charitable giving strategy creates a sense of purpose during retirement
- How his firm has helped some of the most financially successful Academy graduates in the U.S.
Connect with David:
- David on LinkedIn
- Summit Financial, LLC
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Play, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to David for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Mike Nemeth (USMA '04) is best known across the Service Academy community for his hilarious pranks that capture the spirit of the Army/Navy rivalry. In addition to his role as the community prankster, he’s also a very successful entrepreneur who has built a 7-figure apparel business from the ground up.
In this episode, Mike and I discuss:
- His apparel company that has grown to over 7-figures in sales in the last two years
- His marketing pivot that helped him target the clients he loves serving
- His recent prank that included a press release saying the Navy named a new destroyer after Army’s football coach
Connect with Mike:
- Mike on LinkedIn
- Emblem Athletic
- Mike’s book: Discipline the Annapolis Way
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Play, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Mike for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA '01
Alex Chehansky (USNA '95) is the CFO and Partner at Notorious Wines, a wine company that has achieved national distribution through its great tasting wine and winning team. Their flagship wine, Notorious Pink, is an award-winning rosé made from 100% Grenache.
In this episode, Alex and I discuss:
- How they got their first customers and have grown sales to 50,000+ cases per year
- Best practices and lessons learned from growing their team
- Advice for Academy grads working in a start-up environment
Connect with Alex:
- Alex on LinkedIn
- Notorious Wines
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Play, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Alex for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA '01
Bryan Rodriguez is a real estate investor who has built a portfolio of real estate investments while serving on active duty in the U.S. Army. Part of his investment strategy involves renting his properties on Airbnb. In addition to real estate investing, Brian and his wife, Lana, run a real estate agency where they ranked in the top 10% of agents in the Colorado market.
In this episode, Bryan and I discuss:
- His best tips for renting investment properties on Airbnb
- Important metrics to consider when listing a property on Airbnb
- Utilizing a VA loan to purchase an investment property
Connect with Bryan Rodriguez:
- Bryan on LinkedIn
- The Lana Rodriguez Group
Jim “Bart” Bartelloni (USNA '90) is a Naval Academy graduate and former Rugby player. He cut his teeth in the military as a Naval Aviator, flying F-14s and graduating from the US Navy Fighter Weapons School (Top Gun). The opportunity to relocate to San Diego brought the chance to learn stand up paddle (SUP) surfing. After attending a SUP ‘n’ Surf retreat he made the decision to bring this opportunity to veterans with the hope they enjoy the same unique experience as he did.
In this episode, Jim and I discuss:
- How SUP boarding can help military veterans with PTSD
- Lessons learned from starting a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization
- Pro tips for catching a wave on a SUP board 😊
Connect with Jim Bartelloni:
- Jim on LinkedIn
- The SUP Vets Organization
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Play, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Jim for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Caroline Johnson graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 2009 and is a former F/A-18 Super Hornet Weapons System Operator. She was one of the first women to fly a combat mission over Iraq since 2011, and she was the first woman to drop bombs on ISIS.
Transitioning to the private sector, Caroline co-authored Jet Girl and has become a professional speaker. She has spoken at international banks, Fortune 100 tech companies, hedge funds, industry events, leading higher education institutions, high schools, retirement communities, and her following is growing.
In this episode, Caroline and I discuss:
- Her favorite stories from flying missions on a F/A-18 Super Hornet
- The challenges she faced to write a book and become a professional speaker
- Her mission to inspire young women to take risks and achieve their goals
Connect with Caroline Johnson:
- Caroline on LinkedIn
- Jet Girl Website
- Buy Jet Girl on Amazon
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Play, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Caroline for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Dan Lesniak (USNA ‘02) is a billion-dollar real estate agent, best-selling author, investor, developer and coach. He began his career in real estate in 2012 after having successful careers both as a Naval submarine officer and defense contractor. His HyperLocal strategy led to one of the fastest starts in real estate with over $22 million in sales in his first year.
In this episode, we discuss:
- How he and his wife Keri grew their team to 65 agents and $400M in annual sales
- A strategic marketing shift that has attracted hundreds of new leads
- His new coaching and real estate development businesses
Connect with Dan Lesniak:
- Dan on LinkedIn
- HyperFast Agent Coaching
- Orange Line Living Real Estate Team
- Buy Dan’s book
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Play, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Dan for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Episode link: https://www.sabmgroup.com/intellispex
Blake Ratcliff (USNA '84) is the founder of IntelliSpeX, a company that is revolutionizing how the construction industry handles time and workforce management. IntelliSpeX’s patent-pending site-performance technology captures Evidence of Performance and other high-value data to increase productivity on the job site. We are also joined on the podcast by Scott Kushino (USNA '84), Head of Corporate Development, and Dion Rudnicki, CEO.
In this episode, we discuss:
- How their mobile app is saving construction managers tons of time and money
- Initial feedback they have received from their customers
- Their short- and long-term goals for IntelliSpeX
Connect with the team:
- IntelliSpeX website
- Blake on LinkedIn
- Scott on LinkedIn
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Play, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Blake, Scott, and Dion for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Barry Gittleman is a 1989 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, retired submarine service Commander, and a 2003 graduate of Harvard Business School. After a few years doing strategic consulting with Boston Consulting Group, Barry got into the home building industry just as the Great Recession was beginning. Ten years later, Barry moved from Atlanta to Salt Lake City for the opportunity to become an owner of Hamlet Homes, a private company with a founder seeking a succession plan.
At Hamlet Homes, Barry and his team are committed to providing home buyers with quality homes in attractively designed neighborhoods in Northern Utah. Hamlet Homes will celebrate its 25th year in 2020, and has built over 3,600 homes in 62 neighborhoods. Hamlet Homes recently was named the Salt Lake Chamber’s Veteran Owned Business of the Year for 2019, won Best of State 2019 for Real Estate Development, Best of the West for both Real Estate Services and Architecture and recently was acknowledged on Professional Builder’s Housing Giants list for 2019.
In this episode, Barry and I discuss:
- His path to becoming on owner of a successful home building business
- Short- and long-term goals for Hamlet Homes and the help they need from the Service Academy community
- The most important skill he learned in the Navy that has helped him as a business owner
Connect with Barry Gittleman:
- Barry on LinkedIn
- Hamlet Homes
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Play, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Barry for joining me this week. Until next time!
Tom Coyle (USMA ‘97) is the co-founder of Adventures in Leadership and the author of the book, Leadership Lessons from the Battle of Gettysburg. He has written many articles and appeared on many video blogs about leadership. He gets students and clients out of their comfort zone and working together through hands-on experiential leadership exercises. His goal is to pass on lessons from his military service to future generations of leaders.
In this episode, Tom and I discuss:
- How he sold 4,000+ books on Amazon without any promotion
- His book writing process that enables him to write books quickly
- How he landed an $18,000 client from a video he posted on LinkedIn
Connect with Tom Coyle:
- Tom on LinkedIn
- Adventures in Leadership
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Play, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Tom for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Episode link: https://www.sabmgroup.com/chandra-adusei/
Chandra Adusei is the Founder of Veteran Wealth Partners, a financial services company whose mission is to serve Entrepreneurs and Small Business Owners by providing innovative and alternative solutions to the traditional model of planning, scaling, and protecting a business. Chandra was a Surface Warfare Officer in the U.S. Navy and served onboard the USS Bunker Hill and USS John L Hall.
In this episode, we discuss:
- How she utilized captive insurance to help a $5M client save on taxes
- How she found her niche and how that has helped her attract more clients
- Her key takeaway from the Naval Academy that has helped her succeed as an entrepreneur
Connect with Chandra Adusei:
- Chandra on LinkedIn
- Veteran Wealth Partners
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Play, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Chandra for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Webinar Registration (Oct 12th): https://zoom.us/meeting/register/12e863c3d8d1efb0c5b9141539e44ee6
Set up a call with the team: https://form.jotform.com/91924547858170
The Real Estate Investing Accelerator is a six month course for service academy graduates and their family members who are serious about creating financial freedom for themselves and building a legacy of generational wealth through real estate investing. Since launching the course in 2018 we’ve had over 75 grads enroll in the course. The results have been amazing and it’s always fun to share success stories from the course on our podcast.
In this episode, we discuss:
- Exciting wins happening in our current Accelerator class including stories of family members working together to tackle deals
- What I learned in the course that enabled me to invest in 4 deals this year & save $6000/year in taxes
- The 45 year age difference between our oldest student and our youngest student (Class of ’72 & ’17)!
- How you can register for our next Accelerator class starting in January (already half full!)
Our next Accelerator class kicks off in January! We are hosting a Zoom call on Saturday, October 12th to discuss the details of the course and answer your questions. We will also be joined by current and past students.
Please register here: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/12e863c3d8d1efb0c5b9141539e44ee6
Subscribe to the podcast and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Play, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Buddy for joining me on the podcast this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Episode link: https://www.sabmgroup.com/chip-neidigh/
Chip Neidigh (USNA '93) is the Founder of Kairos Consulting, a leadership development company that sparks personal transformation and shifts organizational culture. His career has included consulting, teaching, coaching, and leadership roles in the U.S. Marine Corps and the private sector. Chip combines logic and intuition to help leaders build a better future.
In this episode, Chip and I discuss:
- The Enneagram assessment and how it determines your personality type so you can thrive as a leader
- His Box Chart framework and how it sparks personal transformation
- Other innovative tools his team uses to help organizations shift their culture
Connect with Chip Neidigh:
- Chip on LinkedIn
- Kairos Consulting
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Play, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Chip for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Apply here: https://globalgoodfund.org/programs/veterans/
The Global Good Fund supports United States Veterans through its partnership with the Smithfield Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Smithfield Foods, Inc. Through a $400,000 capital investment from Smithfield, The Global Good Fund can provide its flagship year-long leadership development program to veteran entrepreneurs. These innovators are focused on giving back to their communities, creating sustainable jobs, and supporting veterans and their families.
The Global Good Fund develops the leadership skills of veteran innovators by pairing them with professional leadership coaches and business executive mentors, along with leadership assessment resources, a global peer network, sector expertise and $10,000 in targeted funding.
In this episode, we discuss:
- What the program entails and how to join the next cohort
- A Naval Academy graduate’s experience who is currently enrolled in the program
- The great impact the Global Good fund is having on veteran led businesses
Connect with the Global Good Fund team:
- Brenda Dilts on LinkedIn
- Gary Slyman on LinkedIn
- Mark Mhley on LinkedIn
- Apply to the 2020 Fellowship!
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague!
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Play, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to the Global Good Fund team for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Sean Drake (USMA ‘90) is the Founder of Stony Lonesome Group, a boutique merchant bank that focuses on early-stage seed capital investing encompassing Stony Lonesome Advisors and the Stony Lonesome Capital funds. Founded in 2011, Stony Lonesome Group is a pioneer and thought leader in the Vetrepreneurship ecosystem with a commitment to investing in Veteran founded and Service Disabled Veteran led companies. Stony Lonesome Group has invested $8m across 30 portfolio companies and is currently investing in Military Medicine, Healthcare, Veteran Care, Cybersecurity and Big Data. The Honorable Patrick Murphy is the Former Acting Secretary of the Army and a General Partner at Stony Lonesome Group.
In this episode, we discuss:
- Their investment philosophy and why they invest in Veteran led companies
- Their favorite market sectors to invest
- Their best advice for military veteran entrepreneurs who are seeking capital
Connect with Sean & Patrick:
- Stony Lonesome Group
- Sean on LinkedIn
- Patrick on LinkedIn
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Play, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Sean for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Neal Gouck (USMA '98) is the Founder of Freedom Wind Tunnel, an indoor skydiving facility that will be located at Patriot Place, near Gillette Stadium, the home of the New England Patriots in Foxboro, MA. The three-floor building will be highlighted by a wind tunnel that will allow customers to feel like they are skydiving. It will also include a virtual parachuting simulator which will allow guests to simulate a landing in a location of their choice. The facility will open in the Fall of 2020.
In this episode, Neal and I discuss:
- The amazing indoor skydiving experience he will offer his customers
- Why Foxboro, MA is a prime location for an indoor skydiving facility
- The help he needs from the community to complete construction and be open for business
Connect with Neal Gouck:
- Neal on LinkedIn
- Freedom Wind Tunnel on Facebook
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Play, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Neal for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Layne Kasper (USAFA '92 ) is the Managing Partner of Kasper & Associates, a Mergers & Acquisitions firm specializing in facilitating the sale of medium-sized manufacturing, distribution, and service businesses with annual sales revenue from $1 to 70 million. They provide current market data and professional advice to assist owners in making decisions regarding their company and personal plans. With over 300 transactions to date, they have a unique expertise and market knowledge to assist in facilitating successful deals.
In this episode, Layne and I discuss:
- The types of businesses his firm represents and how they find potential buyers
- An opportunity they are representing that might be a great fit for a Service Academy graduate
- The most important skills he learned in the Air Force that have helped him as an entrepreneur
Connect with Layne Kasper:
- Layne on LinkedIn
- Kasper & Associates
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Play, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Layne for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Female craft beer drinkers are growing twice as fast as the industry itself, yet breweries are not effectively targeting this group. As two passionate homebrewers working in the beer industry, LeAnn Darland (USNA ‘08) & co-founder Tara Hankinson are seizing this opportunity. Design-forward packaging, an elevated taproom experience, flavor-first beers, and an engaging, empowering brand will make TALEA Beer Co. the first female-forward beer brand in the US.
In this episode, we discuss how they:
- Have sold over 100 barrels of beer in less than three months
- Got their beer in all the Whole Foods across NYC
- Secured over 85 accounts across NYC, including some of the best beer bars in the city
Connect with Tara & LeAnn:
- LeAnn on LinkedIn
- Tara on LinkedIn
- Talea Beer Company
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Play, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Tara and LeAnn for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
The Military Influencer Conference (MIC) is a dynamic three-day event; connecting entrepreneurs, business executives, and brands with the influencers who shape and support the military community. In 2019, MIC will convene in Washington, DC from 8-10 September, where 750+ service members, veterans, military spouses, and civilians will gather to network, explore ideas, be inspired, find solutions and make a difference. On this episode, I’m joined by special guest Curtez Riggs, an Army veteran and Founder of MIC.
In this episode, Curtez and I discuss:
- The exciting lineup of guests, breakout sessions, and pitch competitions for this year’s event
- How he landed Jim Koch, Founder of Sam Adams as a guest speaker at last year’s event
- How he’s nearly tripled attendance since launching the conference in 2017
Register for the conference:
- Register on Eventbrite (Get 25% SABM discount through this link)
- Military Influencer Conference website
Connect with Curtez Riggs:
- Curtez on LinkedIn
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Play, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Curtez for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Episode link: https://www.sabmgroup.com/gary-griffiths/ Gary Griffiths (USNA '72) is the co-founder and managing director of Wisdom LLP. A 35-year veteran of the high-tech industry, Griffiths has led some of the web’s most innovative companies. Prior to co-founding Wisdom LLP, Griffiths was CEO of iPass (NASDAQ: IPAS), a leader in global Wi-Fi technology and services, which was acquired by Pareteum, Inc (NASDAQ: TEUM) in February 2019. He was also president of products and operations at WebEx, acquired for $3B by Cisco Systems, Inc. Griffiths was also co-founder and CEO of Everdream Corporation, a SaaS company, from 1999 to 2005, acquired by Dell, and co-founder/CEO at HEAT.net from 1996 until its acquisition by Sega, Inc. in 1999.
Patricia Hume is a co-founder and managing partner at Wisdom LLP and has been named CEO of Canvas GFX. Wisdom LLP has invested in Canvas to fuel its growth strategy. Prior to Canvas, Patricia was chief operations officer of iPass, Inc., which was acquired in February 2019.
In this episode, we discuss:
- Their exciting new opportunity with Canvas GFX, an all-in-one software to create digital illustrations and images
- How Gary and Patricia will work as a team to maximize this opportunity in a $75B market
- Gary’s favorite investments over the years which include and angel investment in Zoom.us which went public in April 2019 and is currently valued at $25B
Connect with Gary and Patricia:
- Gary on LinkedIn
- Patricia on LinkedIn
- Canvas GFX
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Play, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Gary and Patricia for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Episode link: https://www.sabmgroup.com/lewis-baker
Lewis Baker (USMA ’91) is the owner of Rock Creek Wealth Advisors in Washington D.C. and his wife Melissa is a broker with Transworld Business Advisors. Together, they match buyers and sellers of small businesses and navigate them successfully through the process.
In this episode, we discuss:
- Their trusted process for helping business owners buy and sell a business and how to overcome the common roadblocks people encounter
- The most popular businesses to invest in right now
- Best practices for running a business with your spouse 😊
Connect with Lew and Melissa:
- Lew on LinkedIn
- Melissa on LinkedIn
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Play, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Lew and Melissa for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Episode link: https://www.sabmgroup.com/bill-militello-92/
Bill Militello (USNA '92) is the Founder of Militello Capital and LocalVest. Militello Capital is a team of veteran entrepreneurs who invest capital in joint ventures with a select group of highly successful private equity and real estate operators. LocalVest.com is an exclusive community for accredited investors to discover, research, and discuss private investments with knowledgeable investment professionals.
In this episode, we discuss:
- How mindset and visualization can attract massive wealth
- Bill’s due diligence process and how he structures a $30M deal
- Why he likes the Tampa, FL market
Connect with Bill Militello:
- Bill on LinkedIn
- Militello Capital
- LocalVest.com
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Play, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Bill for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Episode link: https://www.sabmgroup.com/scott-sanders/
Scott Sanders (USNA '80) is the owner of Tobacco Barn Distillery, a true ground-to-glass distillery bringing the best whiskies, bourbons and rums to the Maryland area. Their signature “Constellation Rum” is fermented, double-distilled, and sealed in four bourbon barrels for an embarkation aboard the U.S.S. Constellation in Baltimore, Maryland. Pretty cool story!
In this episode, Scott and I discuss:
- How they grew the business to sell their products in over 20 liquor stores in the Maryland area and their plan to expand into other states
- How their farm uses a combination of solar, geothermal, and heat recovery systems as part of their commitment to protect Southern Maryland’s environment
- Fun stories about how he used bourbon as a bargaining chip with foreign officers while serving in the Navy
Connect with Scott Sanders:
- Scott on LinkedIn
- Tobacco Barn Distillery
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Play, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Scott for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Episode link: https://www.sabmgroup.com/lane-beene/
Lane Beene (USAFA '91) is the Founder of Pilot-Legacy Private Equity Group, an experienced team with over 100 years of combined subject matter expertise in the areas of investing, leadership, syndicating, project development, construction, operations, and management. The objective of Pilot-Legacy is to deliver outstanding investment results through the focused efforts of their team members in the execution of their four-stage investment strategy.
In this episode, Lane and I discuss:
- His lessons learned from 18+ years of real estate investing
- His latest offering of a 320-unit apartment building located in an opportunity zone
- The tax benefits of investing in an opportunity zone
Connect with Lane Beene:
- Lane on LinkedIn
- Pilot-Legacy Private Equity Group
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Play, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Lane for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Episode link: https://www.sabmgroup.com/jaden-risner/
Jaden Risner (USNA '07) is the Founder of Family Proud, a company that connects patients and families to the technological resources necessary to effectively maximize their quality of care. Their mission was founded on the principle idea that no patient under any circumstances should be afforded less support then the next. Jaden is dedicated to helping those in need with an effort to make the largest possible positive impacts through this company. As a Navy Reserve pilot and startup CEO, Jaden proudly continues to serve both his country and community.
In this episode, Jaden and I discuss:
- How programs like Think Tank Incubator and Bunker Labs have helped him formulate his business plan
- The strategies and resources he found helpful when building his team
- How business school provided him with a solid foundation and connected him with his co-founder
Connect with Jaden Risner:
- Jaden on LinkedIn
- Family Proud
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Play, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Jaden for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Website link: https://www.sabmgroup.com/trung-tran/
Trung Tran (USAFA '95) is the Co-Founder of Amplio, a company that combines the power of AI, the data of consumer wearables, and the wisdom of human expertise to enhance a person’s ability to maximize their potential. Trung has over 17 years of experience designing and bringing 72 products to market with $2.2B in total revenue.
In this episode, Trung and I discuss:
- How his company is leveraging AI to optimize health and fitness
- How his product shaved 10% of a football player’s 40-yard dash time
- His biggest lessons learned from the Air Force Academy and Wharton Business School that have shaped him as an entrepreneur
Connect with Trung Tran:
- Trung on LinkedIn
- Amplio
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Play, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Trung for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Episode link: https://www.sabmgroup.com/mark-mooney
Mark Mooney (USNA ’74) is the owner and operator of multiple wellness and home health care businesses under the Massage Envy and BrightStar Care franchise brands. His vast experience in franchising includes building a market from scratch along with buying and selling existing franchise businesses.
In this episode, Mark and I discuss:
- His strict criteria for investing in a franchise concept
- Important due diligence questions you should ask the franchisor before making an investment
- The franchise concepts he believes have the greatest potential
Connect with Mark Mooney:
- Mark on LinkedIn
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Play, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Mark for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Real Estate Accelerator: https://www.sabmgroup.com/realestate/
Erin Helle (USMA '09) is a former Engineer who served in both Iraq and Afghanistan. After serving in the U.S. Army for 12 years, she embarked on a career as a Real Estate Investor and fell in love with everything about it! As a top performer in our Real Estate Investing Accelerator, she recently purchased a 10-Plex in Fort Campbell that will set her on the path to financial freedom.
I am also joined on this episode by Buddy Rushing (USNA '04), Founder of White Feather Investments and the fearless leader of our Real Estate Investing Accelerator.
In this episode, we discuss:
- Erin’s recent acquisition of a 10-plex investment property
- Her key takeaways from the Accelerator and how the course has sharpened her focus
- Her best tips for building a business with a growing family
- How she is conquering the fear and anxiety of entrepreneurship
We also discuss the details of our next Accelerator which kicks off on June 29th.
Connect with Erin Helle:
- Erin on LinkedIn
Apply for our next Accelerator class: https://www.sabmgroup.com/realestate/
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Also available on Google Play, Spotify & Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Erin for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Episode link: https://www.sabmgroup.com/tom-kent/
Tom Kent (USMA '95) is the Founder of Career Nerds, a career coaching company for successful professionals who want great jobs. After graduating from West Point in 1995, he served as an Army Intelligence Officer for several years. After the Army, he was hired to work in over 10 cities on 3 continents for large companies like IBM and Expedia as well as for several startups. While mastering the "Art of Career Transition", he has helped many people get new jobs and careers. Today, he coaches people who are transitioning to a new job or career on how to find their ideal job and get hired.
In this episode, Tom and I discuss:
- His 3-step process for connecting with decision makers on LinkedIn
- His best tips for focusing your job search and his “flood the zone” framework for networking
- His biggest lessons learned from starting his career coaching business
Connect with Tom Kent:
- Tom on LinkedIn
- Career Nerds
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on iTunes
- Subscribe on Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Tom for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Episode link: https://www.sabmgroup.com/john-oliver/
John Oliver (USMA '89) is the Investment and Operations Manager at Battle Monument Partners, a private commercial real-estate fund that recently was named by RVA BizSense as the 2018 Fastest Growing Company in Richmond, Virginia. He is a 1989 graduate of West Point, and a 1995 graduate of Yale School of Management.
In this episode, John and I discuss:
- How their real estate portfolio has doubled in size to 30 commercial properties in the last 18 months
- Why he invests in commercial properties leased by discount retailers in the Southeast
- The surprising skill that he learned in the Army that has helped him as an entrepreneur
Connect with John Oliver:
- John on LinkedIn
- Battle Monument Partners
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
- Subscribe on Google Play
- Subscribe on Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to John for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Episode link: https://www.sabmgroup.com/bruce-cleveland/
Bruce Cleveland attended the United States Military Academy and is a Founding Partner at Wildcat Venture Partners, a venture firm that invests in market disruptors and category leaders. Their differentiation as an early stage B2B and B2B2C venture firm is based upon the fact that each Wildcat general partner has been an entrepreneur, a member of a founding team, and/or an investor in a startup that has gone from ideation to a $B+ outcome. Based upon their significant and sustained performance, they have been independently ranked as one of the top early stage B2B investment teams in the venture industry.
In this episode, Bruce and I discuss:
- His experience as a founding member of companies that have achieved $B+ successes
- What he looks for from an entrepreneur when making an investment
- Why he invests primarily in B2B enterprise companies involved in making digital transformations
Connect with Bruce Cleveland:
- Bruce on LinkedIn
- Wildcat Venture Partners
- Buy Bruce's New Book!
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on iTunes
- Subscribe on Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Bruce for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Episode link: https://www.sabmgroup.com/eric-johnson
Eric Johnson (USNA '08) is the Founder of Trident Coffee, home of America’s finest cold brew. Using their signature blend, they handcraft their cold brew coffee for 18 hours then infuse it with nitrogen in a ready-to-go can. The result is the smoothest, creamiest cold brew coffee on the market with a sweet chocolate and caramel flavor. At Trident Coffee, their mission is to continually create a community experience and connect people over a cup (or can!) of coffee.
In this episode, Eric and I discuss:
- The story behind why he crafted his best-selling cold brew
- How he landed his first customer and grew his business through distribution
- The funny story about why he decided to start a business after attending a career conference
Connect with Eric Johnson:
- Eric on LinkedIn
- Trident Coffee
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on iTunes
- Subscribe on Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Eric for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Episode link: https://www.sabmgroup.com/ronald-steptoe/
Ronald Steptoe (USMA ’87) started Warrior Centric Health to bring healthcare advocacy, curriculum development and training to the federal and commercial sector marketplaces. As CEO, Ron has established innovative partnerships with leading national medical organizations, to provide “medically-accredited military culture, cultural competency, and patient-provider communication” educational training programs for health and service support providers and systems.
In this episode, Ron and I discuss:
- His journey starting Warrior Centric Health and his discovery of a $300B industry
- A key partnership he just secured with Vizient
- The military history of his family dating back to the American Revolutionary War and his experience as a basketball player at West Point competing against David Robinson from Navy 😊
Connect with Ron Steptoe:
- Ron on LinkedIn
- Warrior Centric Health
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on iTunes
- Subscribe on Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Ron for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Episode link: https://www.sabmgroup.com/gerardo-martinez/
Gerardo Martinez (USNA '11) is the Founder of Triple Direct Leadership LLC, a company that provides high end leadership development to organizations by customizing the experience to the participant's mission and vision. Whether its rock climbing with the board of directors, an expedition with a department head or kayaking with the whole team, their experiences are unforgettable and results driven.
In this episode, Gerardo and I discuss:
- His customized outdoor team building experiences that get results
- Why he doesn’t deliver any training by PowerPoint or in conference rooms
- What it was like leaving his day job to start his own company
Connect with Gerardo Martinez:
- Gerardo on LinkedIn
- Triple Direct Leadership
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on iTunes
- Subscribe on Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Gerardo for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Episode link: https://www.sabmgroup.com/victor-wiggins/
Victor Wiggins (USMA '07) is the Founder of CozyBee, an innovative company that creates contemporary products for the modern family that don't force you to compromise style for function. Vic started CozyBee after becoming a new parent and recognizing that brands for new parents were very limited. His flagship product, a baby changing pad, combines style and function and is the only changing pad on the market that includes a diaper wipes pocket for easy changing on the go.
In this episode, Vic and I discuss:
- The exact steps he took to create a physical product and sell it on Amazon
- How he connected with a manufacturer that helped him make a custom product
- The tools he used to analyze the sales opportunity on Amazon
Connect with Vic Wiggins:
- Vic on LinkedIn
- CozyBee on Amazon
- CozyBee on Facebook
- CozyBee on Instagram
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on iTunes
- Subscribe on Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Vic for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Episode link: https://www.sabmgroup.com/kris-yagel/
Kris Yagel (USMA '99) is the Founder of Diligent Plans whose mission is to build leaders and optimize the performance of teams across all industries, primarily through consulting, training, and motivational events. They offer robust, fully customizable programs and services ranging from in-depth analysis, to immersive team building, to cutting edge training, to motivational speaking, and beyond.
In this episode, Kris and I discuss:
- His innovative team building exercises that get results
- Opportunities to join his team as a speaker
- How he got started in the leadership training business and how he got his first clients
Connect with Kris Yagel:
- Kris on LinkedIn
- Diligent Plans
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on iTunes
- Subscribe on Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Kris for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Website link: https://www.sabmgroup.com/pete-canalichio
Pete Canalichio (USNA '81), the global authority on brand expansion, is on a mission to help brands become more alive in the hearts of those that experience them. He does that by helping them write a better story through compelling content, inspiring platform talks, in-depth consulting and workshops, and practical tools. Pete considers it a privilege to use his experience in global brand licensing and expansion at admired organizations such as Coca-Cola and Newell Rubbermaid to help his clients and their organizations reach their full potential.
In this episode, Pete and I discuss:
- How he helps companies create licensing agreements to expand the impact of their brand
- His proprietary LASSO framework that helps companies expand their brand globally
- His experience from writing a book and how it has helped him win more client engagements
Connect with Pete:
- Pete on Linkedin
- PeteCanalichio.com
- Buy Pete’s book: Expand, Grow, Thrive
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on iTunes
- Subscribe on Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Pete for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Episode link: https://www.sabmgroup.com/jeff-sgro
Jeff Sgro (USMA '84) Founder of Boss Logistics LLC, an integrated B2B, B2C, and Omni-Channel fulfillment solution that provides a deep range of services for clients ranging from Fortune 500 to start-up companies. Their biggest advantage is providing all the fulfillment services their clients need “under one roof,” saving time and money and freeing their clients to focus on building their businesses.
In this episode, Jeff and I discuss:
- How he helps e-commerce companies ship product more efficiently, saving them time and money
- His lucky break that landed him a great deal on warehouse space
- How he got started in the fulfillment business and how his experience at West Point and in the Army has helped him
Connect with Jeff:
- Jeff on Linkedin
- Boss Logistics LLC
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on iTunes
- Subscribe on Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Jeff for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
On today’s podcast, I am joined by special guest Buddy Rushing (USNA '04). Buddy is the CEO of White Feather Investments and the fearless leader of SABM’s Real Estate Investing Accelerator.
Over the past 10 years Buddy and his team have flipped houses, wholesaled, invested in trust deeds, structured seller financed transactions using Roth IRA funds, purchased an apartment complex, executed multiple 1031 exchanges, and much more. In the past eighteen months, White Feather Investments has purchased 80+ rental properties, added $10MM+ worth of real estate to their collective portfolios, and established over $70k+ in monthly rental income.
Buddy’s course is one of the most popular at SABM! Here are some of the exciting wins we discuss in today’s podcast:
- Success stories from the 25 members in the 19-1 Accelerator
- How he helps Accelerator members find and fulfill their purpose (it’s not all about real estate!)
- The massive action the Accelerator members have taken in the first two months of the course
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on iTunes
- Subscribe on Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Buddy for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Link to article: https://www.sabmgroup.com/john-ware/
John Ware (USCGA ’73) is the owner of Antifragile Business Resolutions. Throughout his career, he has accumulated over 40 years of global experience and expertise within all types of business management disciplines. He has lived and worked in over 30 countries, either as a top executive with multinational manufacturing companies, or as the owner of his own multi-million dollar companies. He specializes in difficult start-up and turnaround operations – those most in need of profit enhancement, cost controls, process overhaul and continuous improvement.
In this episode, John and I discuss:
- His favorite stories from his involvement in over 150 turnaround situations;
- How he helped build the supply chains for major manufacturing and distribution companies giving them a global presence; and
- Why he keeps going and never plans to retire.
Connect with John:
- Antifragile Business Resolutions
- John on LinkedIn
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on iTunes
- Subscribe on Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to John for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Investors Group Link: https://www.sabmgroup.com/invest/
In today’s podcast, we are excited to launch the Service Academy Investors Group! This is a group of Academy graduates who are building wealth through investing in private equity, real estate, and operating businesses. I am joined by special guest Bill Militello (USNA '92), Founder of Militello Capital. Bill’s team created an online platform called Local Vest where our Investors Group will be hosted.
In this episode, Bill and I discuss how the platform will allow you to:
- Access exclusive investment opportunities
- Build your professional network
- Share your investment opportunities and experience with the group
- Learn from experts who specialize in various types of investments
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on iTunes
- Subscribe on Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Bill for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Episode link: https://www.sabmgroup.com/at-branch
A.T. Branch (USMA ’10) is a former Army Captain and an up and coming performing artist in Nashville, TN. Fresh off his completion of 8 years of active duty service, he is working diligently to release his introductory EP to the world this Summer. He recently completed a successful Kickstarter campaign raising over $10,000 for his new album.
In this episode, A. T. and I discuss:
- His decision to pursue a singing career after completing his military service;
- His strategy behind raising over $10,000 on Kickstarter for his new album; and
- A behind the scenes look on what it takes to create a music album.
Connect with A. T. Branch:
- ATBranch.com
- A. T. on LinkedIn
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on iTunes
- Subscribe on Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to A.T. for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Website link: https://www.sabmgroup.com/mike-steadman
Mike Steadman (USNA ’10) is the Founder and CEO of IRONBOUND Unlimited, a veteran owned social enterprise that runs on-site corporate boxing classes for forward-thinking companies. IRONBOUND Boxing strives to strengthen community, relieve stress, and promote physical fitness as a way of life. Proceeds from the corporate classes power the IRONBOUND Boxing Academy, IRONBOUND’s nonprofit boxing gym. The Academy provides free recreation to youth and young adults in Newark, NJ.
In this episode, Mike and I discuss:
- How he found his passion in boxing and became a three-time national champion.
- How the Bunker Labs program helped him go from “idea to invoice.”
- His experience at Stanford Ignite and how it opened his eyes to entrepreneurship.
Connect with Mike:
- IRONBOUND
- Mike on LinkedIn
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on iTunes
- Subscribe on Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Mike for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Episode link: https://www.sabmgroup.com/jeanne-woodfin/
Jeanné Woodfin (USNA ’94) is the Founder of XenaTech, a business that is changing the way companies track and manage their fleets of vehicles. XenaTech leverages the Internet of Things (IoT) to provide intelligent transportation solutions through web-based and mobile applications development and hardware integration to improve efficiencies of fleet management.
In this episode, Jeanné and I discuss:
- How she improves fleet efficiency with her innovative software
- Her journey as an entrepreneur and how she overcame the fear and uncertainty of starting her own business
- What she learned at the Naval Academy that has helped her as an entrepreneur
Connect with Jeanné:
- XenaTech
- Jeanné on LinkedIn
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on iTunes
- Subscribe on Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Jeanné for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Website link: https://www.sabmgroup.com/brian-retherford/
Brian Retherford (USMA '04) is an Army Officer and the Founder of Claudine Wines, an online wine company that sells high-end wines at affordable prices. Claudine Wines buys excess barrels from fine wine producers and bottles it under their own label. By cutting out unnecessary expenses and streamlining the production and ordering process, they can bring top-flight wine to their customers for a fraction of the price.
In this episode, Brian and I discuss:
- How he connected with a winery and got his first customers
- Why he sells his wine exclusively online
- The biggest lessons learned from his entrepreneurial journey
Connect with Brian
- Claudine Wines
- Brian on LinkedIn
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on iTunes
- Subscribe on Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Brian for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Episode link: https://www.sabmgroup.com/big-news
In this episode, I talk with Bill Watkins (USMA '77) our Founder & CEO Accelerator Coach. We discuss the explosive growth of SABM in 2018 and some of the exciting goals we have in 2019.
Bill is known as the “CEO Whisperer.” He speaks the language of high performance and accelerated results to CEOs, founders, and entrepreneurs. Using tools gleaned and created from his own experience and the experience of others, Bill shows business owners how to get more—more money, more results, more happiness, more time, and more done—so they can add jet fuel to their business success and lead extraordinary lives at home at the same time. He founded his coaching company, The Lion’s Pride, after selling his 8-figure business and deciding he wanted to help business owners avoid some of the mistakes that he made so they can achieve their goals much faster. He is the Founder & CEO Accelerator coach at SABM.
We also discuss:
- Bill’s live events and the possibility of a SABM summit in the future
- Success stories from the Founder & CEO Accelerator
- A brand-new course we are launching at SABM for start-up entrepreneurs (we want your feedback!)
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on iTunes
- Subscribe on Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Bill for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
SABM Link: https://www.sabmgroup.com/robert-shaye/
Robert Shaye (USCGA ’04) is the Founder of Fireside Finances, a financial education company that delivers financial education through online courses and in-person workshops. After opening his first IRA at age 15 with earnings from mowing lawns and babysitting, Rob has never stopped learning about personal finance and investing. Rob holds an MBA from the UC Berkeley Haas School of Business and is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™.
In this episode, Robert and I discuss:
- His path from the Coast Guard to financial planning
- Why he chose to educate clients vs. manage their assets
- His innovative marketing strategy for getting new clients
Connect with Robert:
- Fireside Finances
- Robert on LinkendIn
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on iTunes
- Subscribe on Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Robert for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Episode link: https://www.sabmgroup.com/success-stories/
Buddy Rushing (USNA '04) is the CEO of White Feather Investment and the fearless leader of SABM's Real Estate Investing Accelerator.
Over the past 10 years Buddy and his team have flipped houses, wholesaled, invested in trust deeds, structured seller financed transactions using Roth IRA funds, purchased an apartment complex, executed multiple 1031 exchanges, and much more.
In the past eighteen months, White Feather Investments has purchased 80+ rental properties, added $10MM+ worth of real estate to their collective portfolios, and established $70k+ in monthly rental income.
Buddy’s course is one of the most popular at SABM! Here are some of the wins our members have achieved over the last six months:
- $19,100+ In Monthly Rental Income Created
- $1.68M+ Worth of Real Estate Value Purchased
- Tens of Thousands in Taxes SAVED
- 11 Successful Real Estate Investment Deals
We also discuss how you can register for the next course kicking off in January!
REGISTER HERE for the informational webinar we are having on December 15th @ 10am EST where we will share the details of how to join the Real Estate Investing Accelerator.
Connect with Buddy Rushing:
- Buddy on LinkedIn
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on iTunes
- Subscribe on Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Buddy for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Episode link: https://www.sabmgroup.com/jim-stallings
Jim Stallings (USNA ’78) is a globally recognized business leader with extensive experience transforming companies and teams for sales and profit growth. He is the managing partner of PS 27 Ventures, a private investment company focused on innovations in the expanding wellness and sustainable living market. He has held top leadership roles in several Fortune 25 companies and been involved in numerous startups. He serves on the boards of Fidelity National Information Services Corporation, Seaside National Bank and Trust Company, and the World Affairs Council of Florida.
In this episode, Jim and I discuss:
- His framework and selection process for investing in startups
- Success stories of companies who have gone through his program
- The #1 thing he looks for when investing in an entrepreneur
Connect with Jim:
- Jim on LinkedIn
- PS27 Ventures
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on iTunes
- Subscribe on Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Jim for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Robert Mixon (USMA ’74) is a retired U.S. Army Major General, former President of a manufacturing company, EVP of a diverse, innovative not for profit company, and Leadership Consultant. As the Founder of Level Five Associates, he’s worked with hundreds of senior executives and high-level managers since beginning Level Five Associates. Robert inspires audiences, motivates teams, builds better leaders, and creates cultures of excellence.
In this episode, Robert and I discuss:
- How he leverages his military experience to serve his clients and the most common problems he helps them solve
- What the military to civilian transition is like for a flag officer and how he connected with his first opportunity
- What it was like starting a business from scratch and the key lessons he learned along the way
Connect with Robert:
- Robert on LinkedIn
- Level Five Associates
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on iTunes
- Subscribe on Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Robert for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
www.sabmgroup.com
Ginni Guiton graduated from the United States Military Academy – in one of the first classes that accepted women – where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Engineering and went on to earn a Master of Science in Developmental Psychology from the University of Georgia. In 2017, Ginni graduated from Grace Space Hypnotherapy School and it was an interaction with Grace’s hypnotherapy skills that led Ginni to know the magnitude of what is possible through hypnosis. Being a hypnotherapist and high ranking Army Officer may not seem related, but they are more alike than most realize. Ginni seeks to change others’ lives by creating lasting change.
Grace Smith is a world-renowned hypnotherapist and founder of both Grace Space, “Your Virtual Hypnotherapist,” and Grace Method Hypnotherapy School. Grace’s private clients include celebrities, CEOs, professional athletes, and government officials; her keynote speeches and workshops have taken her to OZY Fest with Hillary Clinton, Proctor & Gamble, Summit.Live, Women Empowerment Expo, Ritz Carlton, PSE&G, Soul Camp and Verizon.
In this episode, we discuss:
- Ginni’s path from Army Officer to Hypnotherapist
- Her mentor Grace Smith and how Grace built a following of 70,000+
- How hypnotherapy has impacted their lives and how it can help you reach your most desirable goals
Connect with Ginni & Grace:
- Ginni on LinkedIn
- Ginni on Grace Space
- Grace on Grace Space
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on iTunes
- Subscribe on Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Ginny and Grace for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Nick Karnaze (USNA '04) is the Founder of Stubble & Stache, an online retailer of men’s grooming products. From hydrating your handsome face to reducing beard itch, their award-winning skincare products answer your grooming needs regardless of facial hair length, complexion or skin type.
Prior to starting Stubble & Stache, Nick served over seven years as an officer in the United States Marine Corps. First as an intelligence officer, then in 2007 joining the Corps' newly formed elite special operations unit: MARSOC aka the Marine Raiders. He was a member of the 2nd Raider Battalion until leaving the Marine Corps in late 2011.
In this episode, Nick and I discuss:
- His story about creating the company in honor of a friend he lost in combat
- His flagship product that helps people who have an itchy beard
- How he got his first customers and the story behind his breakthrough moment
Connect with Nick:
- Stubble & Stache
- Nick on LinkedIn
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on iTunes
- Subscribe on Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Nick for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Andy Mazeika (USMA ’08) is an entrepreneur who is passionate about creating games that people love. His latest release “Cartel: A Card Game" is Euro Styled game where players run their own cartels by raising as much cryptocurrency as possible.
In this episode, Andy and I discuss:
- His story about creating a card game and his goal to become a filmmaker
- How he connected with the right people that brought his game to life
- His Kickstarter campaign and how you can support it
Connect with Andy:
- Andy's Kickstarter campaign
- Andy's website
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on iTunes
- Subscribe on Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Andy for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Scottie Schneider (USMA ’09) is the Co-Founder of FollowupEdge, a tool that automates lead follow up with remote voicemails, emails, and texts. All the messages are personalized and intelligently respond to how the client reacts.
In this episode, Scottie and I discuss:
- How his company has generated over 20,000 leads for businesses
- His automated follow-up system that generates a 42% response rate
- His low point as an entrepreneur and how he overcame it to build a prospering business
Connect with Scottie Schneider:
- Scottie on LinkedIn
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on iTunes
- Subscribe on Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Scottie for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Brian Olivier (USNA '02) is the Founder of Gluconfidence, a company that enables people with diabetes to pursue an active, healthy and fulfilling lifestyle. In 2005, while serving in the United States Navy as a Helicopter Pilot, Brian was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes and told he could no longer serve as a Pilot in the U.S. Navy. After living with Type 1 Diabetes for over 13 years, and seeing the need for a concentrated, convenient source of Glucose… he created Gluconfidence!
Also, Brian just launched a CROWDFUNDING CAMPAIGN for Gluconfidence!
Support his campaign here: https://www.sabmgroup.com/brian
(And share the link with anyone you know with Diabetes!)
In this episode, Brian and I discuss:
- His game-changing product that helps diabetics maintain the right glucose levels
- His struggle with Type 1 diabetes and why he created GluConfidence
- His Indiegogo campaign goal to raise $25,000 for his first production run
Connect with Brian Olivier
- Support his Indiegogo campaign
- Brian on LinkedIn
- Gluconfidence Website
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on iTunes
- Subscribe on Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Brian for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Luke Hutchison (USMA ’13) is the Founder of Perfect Venue, a website where you can find the perfect venue for your next event. Perfect Venue has won two Techstars sponsored pitch competitions and has generated thousands of dollars in revenue for venues in Colorado Springs, a small step into the $300B+ mid-size event industry. Luke is a former Army Infantry Officer and often found himself planning events for 20-800 people in between deployments to Afghanistan.
In this episode, Luke and I discuss:
- How his company makes booking venues for events more efficient
- His vision to become the Airbnb for booking venues
- How he utilized the veteran community to get his first customers
- Military to civilian transition tips and why he chose entrepreneurship
Connect with Luke Hutchison:
- Perfect Venue.com
- Luke on LinkedIn
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on iTunes
- Subscribe on Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Luke for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Gary Slyman (USNA '81) is a leadership coach and Mentor at the Global Good Fund. The Global Good Fund is a leadership development enterprise built by and for social entrepreneurs. Their Veterans Leadership Program is a year-long program supporting the leadership development of entrepreneurs who are military veterans. They invest in these innovators by pairing them with executives who serve as Mentors, and by providing leadership assessment resources, a network of peers, sector expertise, and targeted financial capital.
In this episode, Gary and I (along with Devon Sanford and Brenda Dilts from the Global Good Fund) discuss:
- Their fellowship program that offers personalized leadership development, executive mentoring and $10,000 in targeted capital to invigorate the leadership growth of veteran entrepreneurs
- Their 360 leadership assessment tool, specifically designed for entrepreneurs
- How to apply to their program that has only 10 spots available for military veterans
Apply to the Program & Connect with Gary Slyman
- Apply to the Veterans Leadership Program (Deadline August 31st!)
- Connect with Gary Slyman on LinkedIn
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on iTunes
- Subscribe on Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Gary and the Global Good Fund team for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
On this episode of the SABM podcast we discuss how a side hustle can help you:
- Improve your skillset
- Build new relationships
- And make more money!
Side Hustlers are near and dear to my heart, mostly because I am one. I built both StrengthsMugs.com and the Service Academy Business Mastermind in my spare time. Both projects have been very rewarding, and not just financially; they have provided me with the extra confidence, capabilities, connections and capital to fund future projects.
Learn more about the Side Hustle Sales Accelerator:
https://www.sabmgroup.com/hustle/
Enjoy!
Justus Getty (USNA '04) is an attorney with Duane Morris LLP, an AmLaw100 firm with more than 800 attorneys in offices across the globe. His work is primarily focused on the acquisition, enforcement, and licensing of patents and trademarks. His practice is also focused on startups, entrepreneurs, and early stage companies. He is an adjunct professor at Georgetown University Law Center, where he teaches "Intellectual Property for Startups." He has worked with more than 40 startup companies to protect their Intellectual Property to position them more competitively in the marketplace.
In this episode, Justus and I discuss:
- How to apply for a patent and how the process works
- How to protect your brand with a trademark
- All the ways his firm helps business owners with legal issues
Connect with Justus Getty
- Justus @ Duane Morris
- Justus on LinkedIn
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on iTunes
- Subscribe on Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Justus for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Adam Hardage (USAFA '97) is the CEO of Remote Health Solutions, a world leader in the advancement of telehealth solutions, leveraging "virtual exam room" (VER) technology to connect patients anywhere in the world with a Physician or Specialist in real time, providing complete remote diagnostics with high definition video. His mission is to bring expert medical care to those in need anywhere on the globe.
In this episode, Adam and I discuss:
- His game-changing technology that is digitizing the health care industry
- How his medical technology is helping the military
- How a random encounter led to huge business opportunity
Connect with Adam Hardage
- Remote Health Solutions
- Adam on LinkedIn
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on iTunes
- Subscribe on Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Adam for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Preston Pysh (USMA '03) is the Co-Founder of the Investor’s Podcast, a popular podcast on value investing that gets 50,000 downloads per day. The Investor’s Podcast was ranked as the #1 podcast by Entrepreneur Magazine in 2017 and as the #1 investing podcast by CNBC in 2016. Preston is also the Founder of The Pylon Holding Company. Pylon’s mission is to conservatively grow equity through the acquisition of private or public companies. Preston is also a contributor on Forbes.com.
In this episode, Preston and I discuss:
- How he built a podcast that is ranked #1 by Entrepreneur Magazine and CNBC
- His best tips for growing a massive audience
- How his podcast connects him with influential people
Connect with Preston Pysh
- Investor's Podcast
- Preston on LinkedIn
- Preston's column on Forbes
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on iTunes
- Subscribe on Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Preston for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Jeff Payne (USNA '04) is a Founding Partner at Greyfeather Capital and the Founder of Squared Away – The Pocket Square Movement. At Squared Away, Jeff has completely re-imagined the traditional pocket square with an innovative design which makes it super easy to wear a pocket square in your suit pocket. Today, we’ll discuss the launch of Squared Away and his crowdfunding campaign that you can support!
In this episode, Jeff and I discuss:
- His completely re-imagined pocket square system that will make you look awesome in your suit!
- How he found a manufacturer and launched his business on Amazon
- His upcoming crowdfunding campaign that you can support!
Connect with Jeff Payne:
- Support Jeff's crowdfunding campaign!
- Jeff on LinkedIn
People mentioned in the episode:
- Justus Getty (Patent Attorney and USNA '04 grad)
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Subscribe on iTunes
- Subscribe on Stitcher
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Jeff for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Bill Militello (USNA ’92) is the CEO of Militello Capital and Mil Advisor. Militello Capital is a team of veteran entrepreneurs who invest capital in joint ventures with a select group of highly successful private equity and real estate operators. Mil Advisor is an exclusive community for accredited investors to discover, research, and discuss private investments with knowledgeable investment professionals.
In this episode, Bill and I discuss:
- His entrepreneurial background and how he got started in private equity
- His online platform that connects entrepreneurs with capital
- The skills he learned at the Naval Academy that have helped him as an entrepreneur
Connect with Bill Militello
- Bill on LinkedIn
- Militello Capital
- Mil Advisor
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
- Leave us a 5-star review!
Special thanks to Bill for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
On this episode of the Service Academy Business Mastermind podcast, we discuss our recent live event! The event was hosted by our 10X Accelerator coach Bill Watkins, USMA ’77.
In this episode, Bill and I discuss:
- $100k+ insights from the attendees of the event
- Why live events are an important part of Bill’s 10X Accelerator program
- Life-changing partnerships between Academy grads that resulted from the live event
- How you can join this amazing group!
**Click here to learn about Bill’s 10X Accelerator program
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Buddy Rushing (USNA '04) is the CEO of White Feather Investments, a real estate investing company. Over the past ten years Buddy and his team have flipped houses, wholesaled, invested in trust deeds, structured seller financed transactions using Roth IRA funds, purchased an apartment complex, executed multiple 1031 exchanges, and much more. In the past ten months, the White Feather Investor's group has purchased 45 rental properties, added $6MM+ worth of real estate to their collective portfolios, and established $51,450 in monthly rental income.
In this episode, Buddy and I discuss:
- How his team closed 45 deals in the last 11 months
- How he converted his Roth IRA into 5 unit apartment complex earning a 300% return
- How he helps investors buy 2-7 rental properties that cashflow from the day they close escrow
- How to sign up for his Real Estate Investing Accelerator course exclusive to Service Academy Grads
Sign up for the webinar to learn about the Real Estate Investing Accelerator: REGISTER FOR WEBINAR
Connect with Buddy Rushing
- White Feather Investments
- Buddy on LinkedIn
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
To help out the show:
- Leave a review on iTunes. This is a brand new show and your ratings and reviews really help, I read each one.
- Subscribe on iTunes
Special thanks to Buddy for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
"In the first year I went from speaking for an Amazon gift card to a year later earning $5000 per keynote speech." -Dave Swanson, USMA '02
Dave Swanson (USMA '02) is a keynote speaker, mentor, and the author of The Dot on the Left. As a motivational speaker, he was a platoon leader that engaged in over 100 firefights while deployed to Sadr City, Iraq. Dave is a consummate leader that speaks and coaches with a sense of humor that reminds us that we all have the resiliency to overcome and do our absolute best.
In this episode, Dave and I discuss:
- Why he got started in public speaking and how he got his first clients
- His #1 tip for overcoming fear and delivering a great speech
- How he uses stories about failure to connect with his audience
Connect with Dave Swanson
- Dave Swanson Speaks
- Dave on LinkedIn
- Buy Dave's Book on Amazon
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
To help out the show:
- Leave a review on iTunes. This is a brand new show and your ratings and reviews really help, I read each one.
- Subscribe on iTunes
Special thanks to Dave for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
Emmanuel Eleyae (USMA '04) is an e-commerce entrepreneur. After serving as an Army officer, Emmanuel managed a distribution warehouse for Amazon and then set out on his own to build an e-commerce business (satinlinedcaps.com) to 7-Figures. Emmanuel has advised multiple successful 6, 7, and 8 figure e-commerce companies that were acquired or built from scratch. He also leads SABM's E-Commerce Sales Accelerator.
In this episode, Emmanuel and I discuss:
- How he built a 7-Figure E-Commerce business from scratch
- How he uses his experience from working at Amazon to optimize business operations
- His paid advertising strategy that helped him reach his first million in sales
- His e-commerce mastermind group that is available to Service Academy graduates
Connect with Emmanuel Eleyae
- Emmanuel on LinkedIn
- Join his E-Commerce Sales Accelerator
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
To help out the show:
- Leave a review on iTunes. This is a brand new show and your ratings and reviews really help, I read each one.
- Subscribe on iTunes
Special thanks to Emmanuel for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
"I really love investing. If you're intellectually curious it's a great profession to be in because you learn about different types of companies and industries." -Joe Sroka, USMA '88
Joe Sroka (USMA '88) is the Co-Founder and Chief Investment Officer of Nova Point Capital, a Registered Investment Advisory firm based in Atlanta. Joe’s team manages investment portfolios for high net worth individuals, family offices, corporations, pensions, endowments and foundations.
In this episode, Joe and I discuss:
- His path into Financial Services and why he started his own firm
- His strategy for getting new clients
- How he helps business owners build wealth and maximize financial opportunities
Connect with Joe Sroka
- Nova Point Capital
- Joe on LinkedIn
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
To help out the show:
- Leave a review on iTunes. This is a brand new show and your ratings and reviews really help, I read each one.
- Subscribe on iTunes
Special thanks to Joe for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
"West Point really helped me get good solid habits to execute and get things done. Getting out into the entrepreneurial world and trying out my entrepreneurial wings helped me to become more creative and go after things. I felt like I could make a difference in people's lives around money." -Gary Klaben, USMA '79
Gary Klaben (USMA '79) is the President of Coyle Financial Council, an innovative wealth management firm that uses mind maps to help clients gain clarity on their finances. Gary is the author of Changing the Conversation, The Wealth Sanctuary and co-author of The Business Battlefield. He’s also a coach at Strategic Coach, the #1 business coaching program in the world for entrepreneurs.
In this episode, Gary and I discuss:
- His patented process for using mind maps to simplify and visually communicate wealth strategies for his clients
- His path into financial services and growing his company to $1B under management
- Mind mapping software and tools that can help you create powerful mind maps
Enjoy!
"Tenavox is a commercial real estate site built to empower, educate, and connect businesses with the best information, tools, and resources for their lease." -Marissa Limsiaco, USMA '05
Marissa Limsiaco (USMA '05) is the co-founder of Tenavox, an innovative company that helps commercial tenants make the best lease decision possible. Tenavox is the commercial real estate industry's only platform built for tenants.
In this episode, Marissa and I discuss:
- How her company connects commercial tenants with property owners
- How her database of property reviews helps tenants make smarter decisions
- Her company's goal to become the “Zillow” of commercial real estate
Connect with Marissa Limsiaco
- Tenavox
- Marissa on LinkedIn
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
"It started very intimately with a couple of Marines I deployed with and we thought there was value in the lessons we had learned in a place as unforgiving as Fallujah." -Jason Brezler, USNA '00
Jason Brezler (USNA '00) is the Founder of Leadership Under Fire, a leadership training company that develops leaders and prepares organizations for the moral, physical and mental rigors critical to optimal performance in highly-competitive settings by developing strength of mind, body, character and critical thought.
In this episode, Jason and I discuss:
- How he built a leadership training company serving first responders, Fortune 500 companies, and professional sports teams
- How he trains teams to excel in highly competitive and stressful situations
- How to sign up for his national conference that includes many high profile speakers
Enjoy!
“If you want to teach people a new way of thinking, don’t bother trying to teach them. Instead, give them a tool, the use of which will lead to new ways of thinking.” -Verne Harnish
In this episode of the Service Academy Business Mastermind podcast, Bill Watkins (USMA '77 and 10X Accelerator Coach) and I discuss how to create a "One-Page" Strategic Plan.
In this episode, you'll learn:
- A 6-step approach for creating your One-Page Strategic Plan
- How to align individual goals with organizational goals for maximum impact
- A framework for creating a brand that people love
Download the One-Page Strategic Plan<<
Register for the One-Page Strategic Plan Workshop with Bill Watkins<< (FREE but limited to 20 attendees)
"One of the most exciting things that's happened with Battle Monument Partners is getting calls from existing investors saying 'hey, can I put in more capital?' It's a real testament to the satisfaction and trust people have gained by being in the fund." -Mike Brumagin, USMA '89
Mike Brumagin, USMA '89, is General Partner at Battle Monument Partners, a real estate investment fund with a focus on veterans. Mike is also the President of Integrity Management Group, where he has twenty years of operational leadership and investment experience with Quick Service, Fast Casual and Full Service Restaurants.
In this episode, Mike and I discuss:
- How to invest in his real estate investment fund
- The strategy he uses to maximize return and minimize risk
- How he got started in the real estate business
- His journey as an entrepreneur which started as a franchisee in the restaurant business
Enjoy!
"When I was in the Army, I started building websites and a lot of them failed. But I learned as I was failing. I finally did a few collaborative projects that took off and it was proof to me that I could make money online." -Tom Morkes, USMA '08
Tom Morkes, U.S. Military Academy '08, is a serial entrepreneur who helps SaaS companies, e-commerce brands and book authors implement and grow high-volume and high-margin affiliate programs. Tom has worked with personal brands like Neil Patel, John Lee Dumas of Entrepreneur On Fire, Joseph Michael of Easy Course Creation, and Dan Norris of The 7 Day Startup, and companies like Teachable, Ultimate-Bundles, and many others to organize and run massive influencer and affiliate marketing campaigns to generate leads and sales for their products and services.
In this episode, Tom and I discuss:
- How he helps authors with large scale book launches
- Choosing the right target market for a product or service
- How he creates scalable affiliate programs for e-commerce and software companies
- His path into entrepreneurship and how he tripled his income while still on active duty
Enjoy!
“We bring in the right candidates, equip them with right hard skills, and deliver them to companies that can develop them into successful Account Executives.” -Justin Ossola, USNA ‘06
Nick Breedlove graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in ’01 and Justin Ossola graduated in ’06 and together they founded Tech Qualled, an innovative sales training and recruiting company for military veterans. Tech Qualled works with over 80 leading technology companies that are committed to their mission of hiring Veterans. Through a competitive, immersive and intense training program, Tech Qualled helps motivated Veterans achieve new levels professional potential in the Technology sector.
In this episode, Nick and Justin discuss:
- How their company screens candidates and finds the perfect sales reps
- Their individual paths into entrepreneurship and why they took the leap
- A new sales training platform they created for technology companies
- How they grew the team from four founding members into thirteen rock-star employees
Enjoy!
Today, I'm excited to launch our brand new SABM Accelerator Program! Our Accelerator Program is a world-class coaching program for Service Academy graduates who are building businesses.
The Accelerator will consist of individual mastermind groups, each led by a proven coach. I'm assembling the "dream team" of business coaches to lead these groups. The coaches are all Academy grads who are crushing it!
You get:
- Expertise. Each coach is proven at the level they coach!
- Trust. We are all Academy grads!
- Community. Coaching is delivered in a group format - you're not in this alone!
Here's the link to check out the groups and sign up: https://www.sabmgroup.com/coaching/
We are capping the membership for the first two groups at eight, so if you're interested please let me know.
This will be so much fun!! I'm so excited for the success stories that will come from this!! I might have to change my podcast schedule to daily!! :-)
-Scott Mackes, USNA '01
“I’ve always had an obsession with jumping. So what spurred the idea for this was my interest in entrepreneurship and my love of fitness and specifically jumping.” -Dave Hunt, USNA '04
Dave Hunt graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 2004 and is the founder of Crossrope, a company that sells an innovative jump rope system that helps people stay fit. The Wall Street Journal recently published an article about how Crossrope helped a business executive lose over thirty pounds.
In this episode, Dave and I discuss:
- How downtime from an injury sparked his idea for Crossrope
- How his team built a 20,000-member online fitness community in a year and a half
- His journey from idea to making his first sale
- How he connected with a manufacturer to mass-produce his product
Enjoy!
“I wasn’t the biggest academic at school. But I truly valued the people around me. I became friends with as many people as I could because I knew every one of my classmates would become successful.” -Chris McKinley, USMA ‘14
Chris McKinley graduated from West Point in 2014 and is the founder of Toes To Barbell, an apparel company serving the fitness community. He’s also the founder of Catch Your World, an innovative app that serves as a virtual time capsule allowing you to create incredible memories with your friends and family, and then to decide when those memories should be shared.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- How to bootstrap a business in your spare time
- A quick way to launch an online shop and sell your products
- How a side-hustle can improve your skill-set and increase your value at your day job
Enjoy!
“What I slowly realized over time through West Point, my military service and corporate America was that I needed to be on the tip of the spear. And I think entrepreneurial ventures are the tip of the spear.” -Bill Watkins, USMA ‘77
Bill Watkins graduated from West Point in '77 and is the co-founder of The Lion’s Pride, a coaching program that helps entrepreneurs grow their businesses without losing sight of what’s most important to them. Bill is a decorated Army officer, world class athlete, corporate executive, and entrepreneur who built an 8-figure business out of his garage.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- How to grow your business 10X without neglecting your health or relationships
- Tools for discovering your unique ability as an entrepreneur
- A goal-setting framework you can use for the rest of your life
Enjoy!
“When you have a great partner, it’s unbelievable. It’s worth its weight in gold. You’re much stronger with somebody else.” -Terry MacGregor, USNA ‘00
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- How Terry’s team uses data analytics to predict energy markets
- Tips for choosing the right business partner
- Tips for improving team communication
Terry graduated from USNA in 2000 and is the founder of Byte Lion and Law IQ. At Byte Lion, Terry’s team works with innovators in the startup and corporate world to create disruptive products and services. And at Law IQ, Terry’s team uses predictive data analytics to turn energy infrastructure events into actionable insights which help customers navigate the complexities of the energy regulatory landscape.
I hope you enjoy this episode of the Service Academy Business Mastermind podcast!
“We’re seeing that there is this huge gap where big agencies don’t want to help the business owner on the ground who is local. So we crafted a solution that helps them. So far it’s been amazing.”-Trevor Shirk, USMA '08
Trevor Shirk graduated from West Point in 2008 and is the founder of Targeted Laser SEO (TLS), an online marketing company based in Denver, CO. TLS provides SEO and cutting edge digital marketing strategies to growth-minded entrepreneurs and business owners. Whether it's Facebook advertising, Pay-per-click, Conversion Rate Optimization, or Search Engine Optimization, Trevor’s team looks for ways to help business owners grow exponentially.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- How to get your business ranked #1 in Google Maps
- How to create profitable Facebook ads that work
- A special strategy for generating qualified leads on LinkedIn
Enjoy!
Scott Mackes, USNA '01
"I started off with a very narrow focus. I wasn't trying to be everything to everybody." -Dan Lesniak, USNA '02
Dan Lesniak graduated from the Naval Academy in 2002 and is the founder of the Orange Line Living Team, a real estate company based in Arlington, VA. He began his career in real estate in 2012 after having successful careers both as a Naval Submarine Officer and Defense Contractor. His hyper-local strategy led to one of the fastest starts in real estate with over $22 million in sales in his first year. Since then, Dan’s team has become one of the top 35 teams in the nation and number one in Virginia as ranked by Real Trends. Dan is the author of the book, The HyperLocal HyperFast Real Estate Agent.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- How to use the Segmentation, Targeting and Positioning (STP) framework to identify potential markets
- How to hire the right people for your real estate team
- Why you shouldn’t target friends and family when starting out
- How to use Craigslist to create demand for properties to get new listings
Enjoy!
"Part of the reason I'm not in the corporate world is because of the culture where being busy is good and being busy is successful. I don't really subscribe to that. I really try and build systems in my business where I don't have to do as much to accomplish the same amount." Laura Renner, USAFA '01
Laura Renner graduated from the Air Force Academy in 2001 and is the managing director at Freedom Makers. At Freedom Makers, Laura provides freedom for small business owners by providing virtual assistance. Their assistants are military spouses who also gain freedom because they can keep working no matter when or where the military moves their family.
In this episode, you'll learn:
- How to outsource tasks and become less busy
- Delegation strategies to increase productivity
- Tips for overcoming fear when starting a business
Enjoy!
-Scott, USNA '01
“I’ve always had the bug to invent and I’ve always rattled around ideas. I didn’t want to be the guy with regret, saying I had all these ideas and I never did anything about them.” -Mike Mazzocco, USMA ‘93
Mike Mazzocco graduated from West Point in 1993 and is the Founder of the MazzTech Group. The MazzTech Group is comprised of creative engineers and personnel that invent innovative products to solve common problems. They develop functional products and bring them to market using a repeatable and scalable manufacturing process. One of their latest inventions is the Stake Rake, a rake with innovative technology that deploys a stake with the flick of a wrist and effortlessly stands the rake upright. The Stake Rake decreases back strain and significantly reduces the risk of losing, tripping or stepping on the rake by not having to bend over to pick it up.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- How to patent your idea
- How to find a manufacturer for your product idea
- How to know when to invest in your idea and when to walk away
- Networks you can join to connect with other inventors
I hope you enjoy this episode!
-Scott, USNA '01
Ben Arneberg graduated from the Air Force Academy in 2012 and is the Co-Founder of Willow and Everett, an e-commerce company that sells high-end kitchen products on Amazon. Ben is also the Co-Founder of CubeFit and Product Fuel. CubeFit is a company that creates ergonomic products that empower people to be healthy and Product Fuel is an online accelerator for innovative physical products. At Product Fuel, Ben helps e-commerce entrepreneurs at various stages, from validating product ideas, to crowdfunding, to increasing online sales.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- How to sell your products using Fulfillment by Amazon
- How to build your very own branded Amazon store
- How to identify niche products that will sell on Amazon
- Tips for product sourcing that will save you time and money
Words of Wisdom
Ben started Willow and Everett with only a single product - a copper Moscow Mule mug. After the product was successful and sales were rolling in, he expanded his product line. Also, his company only sells high-end products that stand out from the competition and sell at higher profit margins.
Enjoy!
Sonny Tosco graduated from West Point in 2006 and is the Co-Founder of Ronin Dev, a full-stack development team that can build a minimum viable product for your web or mobile app.
In his episode, you'll learn:
- How to build a mobile app your customers will love
- How to turn your vision into a minimum viable product that customers will buy
- How to leverage your time with a virtual assistant
- How to say no more often and get more done
Words of Wisdom
While growing his business, Sonny recognized that his most valuable time is spent prospecting and talking to potential clients. In order to focus more on this, he hired a Virtual Assistant (VA) to help with administrative tasks. He also started saying "no" more often so he could spend time on what is most important.
Enjoy!
Michael Kim graduated from West Point in 2010 and is the Co-Founder of KPOP Foods. KPOP's mission is to bring people together and uplift spirits by sharing Korean food and flavors with America. Mike recently completed a successful Kickstarter campaign raising over $37,000 for his business.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- How to get a Kickstarter campaign funded in record time
- A proven pre-launch strategy that will attract lots of backers
- How to find a manufacturer for your products
- How to find a co-packer to ship your products so you can scale your business
Enjoy!
Michael Bradley graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in ’01 and is the founder of M3S Networking and the Navy Nuclear Power Officer Career Conference, the only career conference connecting nuclear power officers with the country’s best companies and schools. Mike has attracted companies such as Apple and Blue Origin (Jeff Bezos’ company) along with colleges such as Wharton Business School to his career conference.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- How to turn your talent and passion into a sustainable business
- How to host a conference and market your event to maximize attendance
- How to attract top-tier attendees to your conference
- How to use “meet-ups” to generate new leads for your business
Enjoy!
Scott Mackes, USNA '01
www.sabmgroup.com
David Marquet graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in ’81 and led a distinguished career in the United States' Submarine Force, culminating in command of the nuclear-powered fast-attack submarine USS Santa Fe. In command of Santa Fe, Captain Marquet completely turned around the submarine, which went from being "worst to first." Noted author Dr. Stephen Covey rode USS Santa Fe and discusses one of Captain Marquet's leadership practices in his book, The 8th Habit. David currently runs the leadership program he founded, "Turn the Ship Around!"
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- Unconventional practices that will help you write a book faster
- How to build a team to support you through the writing process
- How to leverage a book to grow a speaking and consulting business
- How to find clients you love to serve
Enjoy!
-Scott Mackes, USNA '01
Ryan Cook graduated from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in 1994 with a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering. Ryan has worked for numerous defense and private engineering companies in CT, MA and CA, specializing in multi-level secure mobile and on-the-move networks across multiple frequencies and platforms. He was also part of the Redback Networks engineering team that introduced broadband aggregate routing to the market in 1998.
In 2010, after years of working in every facet of engineering, Ryan left his career as an engineer due to exhaustive travel and burnout and entered into real estate. Since then, Ryan has consistently been in the top 10% of all MA agents. He opened his own brokerage in 2013 (First Class Realty Group) and his own construction company in 2016 (On The Level Construction). He specializes in new construction homes and renovation work for seniors and their families.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- How to identify a niche in the real estate market to get tons of clients
- How to automate your marketing to attract people you love to serve
- How to get organized and plan your day when you work for yourself
- How to fast track your learning to position yourself as an expert in your field
Enjoy!
Bill Sandvig graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 2002 and served for seven years as a Nuclear Submarine Officer. After his Naval service was complete, Bill ventured into the Mortgage Banking Industry. Representing Movement Mortgage as the South Carolina Coast Market Leader, Bill built the largest residential purchase mortgage branch in the state claiming #1 in purchase market share in just over two years.
In 2016, Bill founded the Collective Force Foundation located in Charleston, SC. Collective Force’s mission is to ignite the charitable spirit of every community served through voluntary service and financial support of local non-profits. Bill and his team expands the reach of thousands of local community non-profit organizations across the nation each month through community awareness, community service, and community giving.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- How to utilize the freelancing community to find valuable team members when you're on a tight budget
- Unconventional sales tips that will help you get more business and create more opportunity
- Tips for taking the leap from a safe and secure job to a business start-up
I hope you enjoy the episode!
Tyler Merritt graduated from West Point in 2006 and served in the Army for 11 years as an Apache Helicopter Pilot. During his service, he deployed multiple times to Iraq, Afghanistan, the Arabian Peninsula, and South America in support of special operations. He earned the bronze star and numerous air medals for his actions in combat.
In 2012, Tyler founded Nine Line Apparel, an online clothing store that represents the grit and commitment of all Patriotic Americans. In 2016, Nine Line Apparel was ranked #31 on the Inc. 5000 list of fastest growing companies in America.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- How to identify a profitable niche and scale a business to reach the masses
- Best practices for maintaining strong relationships in a family business
- Time-management tips for building a business in your spare time
- How to build a business that gives back and serves a larger purpose
I hope you enjoy this episode of The Service Academy Business Mastermind Podcast!