Service Never Ends: Veterans to Watch in 2018
A service member becomes a veteran once their time in the military is over, yet many still continue to serve. Here are a few of the veterans who are still continuing to serve their communities in 2018.
Justine Evirs- This Navy Veteran and recent Stanford graduate’s mission aims at creating a space for new entrepreneurs to learn, network, and develop. She holds multiple leadership positions at organizations who are focused on progressing your veterans. She is the Executive Director of Bunker Labs Bay Area, The Global Regional Manager for Founder Institute and is the CEO and founder of Paradigm Shift, a NPO which provides financial support for prestigious skills and nontraditional education for vets and their spouses.
Eli Crane- The Navy Seal spent 13 years in the Navy and started his company, Bottle Breacher, with his wife, Jen, from a single car garage during his last 2 years in the service. Bottle Breacher flagship product, a recycled .50 cal shell fashioned into a bottle opener, helped the duo get onto Shark Tank where they became partners with Mark Cuban and Kevin O’leary. BB is now a multi-million dollar company that offers a wide selection of man-gifts that sells products created in the US, by veterans.
Matt Griffin (Griff) — Griff is a former Army Ranger officer with multiple deployments to Afghanistan as a Ranger and civilian working in defense. His experiences overseas has demonstrated the benefits of economic growth in confect areas. Griff has dedicated himself to manufacturing peace through trade while provided jobs to communities around the world who need it most through his company Combat Flip Flops.
Mark L. Rockefeller — As the CEO of Street Shares, Mark aims to breathe new life Into the American Dream and assist America’s small business, particular those owned by veterans, rise in a changing economy. He has served an an Army officer and has served as a finance lawyer before creating the platform that provided a space for small business owners to connect and network with potential investors.
Daniel Alarik — CEO of Grunt Style, the country’s largest veteran apparel company. In only a few years Dan has taken Grunt Style from a small venture operating from the trunk of his car to a $100M lifestyle brand that whose spans stretches across multiple industries including: fitness, motorsports, golf, outdoor products, media companies, and have recently entered the bourbon industry with their ‘Merica Bourbon brand. Grunt Style is veteran owned and employs hundreds of veterans.
Colin Wayne Erwin — Colin is an Alabama native, Army veteran, and CEO of Redline Steel. His company prides itself on making the best customized metal art in the country. Colin is known for his lively personality and has had a career as a fitness model. His products are 100% US made and manufactured in Alabama.
Derek Sisson — The former recon Marine first found success running a niche branding company that aimed to help veterans sell their product. After a successful pitch to Grunt Style CEO, Dan Alarik, Derek became co-founder of award winning ‘Merica Bourbon, the nation’s most American version of the American spirit, bourbon.
Jas Boothe — Jas Boothe is a Chicago Native, disabled Army veteran, cancer survivor, and author who gave over 16 years of service to this great nation. She founded Final Salute, Inc., in November 2010 as part of her commitment to “Never Leave a Fallen Comrade.” Final Salute, Inc., has assisted over 3600 women veterans and children in over 30 states and territories in finding resources that aid them in a time of need. Boothe is also the founder of Ms. Veteran America.
Curtez Riggs — Army vet and founder of MilBlog Media, a veteran owned company, empowering service members and spouses to transition into digital entrepreneurship. Curtez is also the organizer of the annual Military Influencer Conference, an exciting, dynamic event that brings together hundreds of spouses, community leaders, entrepreneurs, and influencers united by a passion for the military.
Travis McVey — Travis is a Marine Corps veteran and former presidential honor guard. After his service he started a company that would go on to win awards as the “Official Spirit of a Grateful Nation”. Heroes Vodka donates a portion of its earnings to AMVETS. In addition, Travis is also an author and a keynote speaker.
Bernard Edwards- Bernard retired from the Air Force and became a digital nomad. He founded Unconventional Veteran to coach transitioning veterans to pursue their passions after service. Bernard using his military experience to aid him in keynote speaking to organizations around the country.
Michael Kelly — Michael is an Air Force veteran who is currently the assistant vice president of military affairs at USAA. Michael manages collaborative engagements with key strategic military, non-profit and for-profit advocacy groups to ensure USAA is a leading corporate citizen serving the military community and delivering on our brand promise to “Go Above for Those Who Have Gone Beyond.”
Charlynda Scales- Charlynda is an Air Force Captain and a successful entrepreneur producing Mutt’s Sauce, a delicious all purpose sauce, that been in her family for decades. In 2016, she was 2nd runner up in Jas Boothe’s Miss Veteran America contest.
Cameron Cruse — Cameron is the COO and founder of R. Riveter, a company which produces quality handbags and purses, hand crafted by military spouses. Cameron’s small idea became a big realty when she and her milspouse partner got a spot on Shark Tank which left them with a partnership deal with investor Mark Cuban.
Molly Mae Potter — Army veteran and national spokeswoman for veterans with a passion for women’s veterans issues. She is a part of the Veterans Affairs Commission in Austin, She’s the co-founder and COO of Secure Logic, LLC, and was Miss Veteran America 2016.
Andy Williams — Andy is a US Marine and a passionate social entrepreneur with a mission to create change within his ranks while adding value to the real estate industry. He has effectively originated, underwritten, and closed over $250M in real estate transactions. He’s the founder of Recon Realty, a platform for post 9/11 veterans to identify the real estate industry as a viable option for his or her transition. He also co-hosts HGTV’s FLIP OR FLOP: FT WORTH with his wife Ashley.
Ashley Williams — Ashley is an army veteran and wife to Marine veteran Andy Williams. Like her husband, she is another veteran passionate about the real estate industry. Ashley co-hosts the show FLIP OR FLOP: FT WORTH on HGTV with her husband.
Anthony Anderson — Anderson is an Army veteran who has been named the most prominent stolen valor investigator in the country by CBS and is the founder of Guardians of Valor, an organization that pulls back the hood for those who impersonate the military. Also VP for Military Veteran Project which is a volunteer-driven charity committed to funding the most promising research to find cures for PTSD/TBI to assist with suicide prevention for veterans.
Ian Faison — Faison is an Oakland native, former Army Captain, West Point graduate and co-founder of VETCON, the largest conference for military veteran startups in Silicon Valley. Ian is the Chief Content Office of The Mission, a media company that creates and distributes stories that drive brand trust and ROI.
Marjorie K. Eastman — Marjorie K. Eastman is the award-winning author of, THE FRONTLINE GENERATION: HOW WE SERVED POST 9/11. She served in the US Army Reserve as an intelligence officer and commander, deployed twice, and was awarded the Bronze Star and Combat Action Badge. She has her masters in international security from the Josef Korbel School of International Studies; and her MBA from Owen Graduate School of Management, Vanderbilt University.
About the Author
Eric L. Mitchell is the founder of LifeFlip Media and is one of America’s leading advocates for veteran entrepreneurs.
Follow @ericlmitchell
