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Company Name: Saalex Corp
Company Website: www.saalex.com
Branch of Service: Navy
About:
Travis Mack is a distinguished entrepreneur, business leader, and the chairman & CEO of Saalex Corporation, a federal aerospace and defense contractor. With over 25 years of dedication to Saalex, he has played a pivotal role in driving success and growth. Saalex has flourished into a thriving organization, generating over $175 million in annual revenue and employing over 1,200 people nationwide, with the majority of those employees being veterans. Mr. Mack provides leadership and direction, developing strategies to ensure Saalex’s continued success while earning admiration among the company’s stakeholders and communities. Mr. Mack also gives back to veteran communities where Saalex has customers and employees. Notably, Saalex Corporation was awarded the prestigious Small Business of the Year award by the SBA Los Angeles in 2015. Mack has in-depth expertise in software applications services and defense acquisition contracting. Prior to his remarkable entrepreneurial journey, Travis Mack served in the US Navy for over seven years, demonstrating his unwavering dedication and earning recognition as a decorated service-disabled veteran.
Company Name: Greencastle Consulting
Company Website: www.greencastleconsulting.com
Branch of Service: Navy
About:
Under Joe's leadership since assuming the role of CEO and majority owner in 2019, Greencastle Consulting has experienced remarkable growth and success. Joe's strategic vision and unwavering dedication have propelled the company to achieve a 25% year-over-year growth rate, positioning Greencastle as a leader in the consulting industry. Joe's leadership has been instrumental in Greencastle's recognition as one of the Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Companies for three consecutive years. This achievement reflects Joe's ability to drive sustainable growth and foster a culture of innovation and excellence within the organization. Moreover, Joe's commitment to supporting veterans extends beyond the walls of Greencastle. As a Navy SEAL veteran himself, Joe is deeply passionate about giving back to the veteran community. He serves on the board of Team Foster and Patriot Fund, two veteran-owned non-profits dedicated to directly supporting veterans in need. Through Joe's leadership, Greencastle has not only prioritized hiring veterans but has also become an employer of choice for veterans, earning prestigious awards such as the ESGR Freedom Award, HIRE Vets Medallion, and Vets INDEXES awards. These accolades are a testament to Joe's commitment to creating a supportive and inclusive workplace environment for veterans. Furthermore, Joe's philanthropic efforts have had a significant impact on the veteran community. He has spearheaded initiatives to give back hundreds of thousands of dollars annually to veteran non-profits, including Ruff Ride, The Robert Irvine Foundation, Fort Freedom, and the Philadelphia Veterans Parade, among others. Joe's dedication to supporting veteran causes extends to the creation of VetFest, the largest veteran event on the East Coast, which showcases veteran-owned and operated businesses in the tristate area.
Company Name: AAAC Wildlife Removal
Company Website: https://wildlifefranchise.info
www.aaacwildliferemoval.com
Branch of Service: Army
About:
In the sprawling landscape of entrepreneurship, success stories often emerge from unexpected places, fueled by passion, dedication, and a desire to make a difference. Meet Brian and Josie Moss, the dynamic duo behind the remarkable journey of A All Animal Control turned AAAC Wildlife Removal. Their story is not just about business; it's a testament to the transformative power of vision and community. In 2008, after retiring from the Army, Brian and Josie embarked on their entrepreneurial voyage as franchisees of A All Animal Control. Armed with determination and a commitment to excellence, they meticulously built their local business, setting new standards of service and reliability. Their dedication didn't go unnoticed. Soon, they became the go-to training hub for all new franchisees, sharing their wisdom and expertise to foster success across the network. Driven by their belief in the franchise model and inspired by their own achievements, Brian and Josie began recommending franchising to friends and acquaintances. Their infectious enthusiasm, coupled with the undeniable proof of their own success, sparked a wave of interest.
Witnessing the exponential growth of their business and recognizing their pivotal role in shaping its trajectory, they set their sights higher. Enter corporate franchise. With unwavering determination, Brian and Josie seized the opportunity to acquire the corporate franchise, paving the way for a new chapter in their entrepreneurial journey. As franchisors, they embarked on a mission to revitalize the brand, ushering it into the 21st century under the banner of AAAC Wildlife Removal. But their vision didn't stop there. Fueled by a desire to empower others and expand their family of franchises, Brian and Josie charted a bold new course for growth. Leveraging the power of peer-to-peer recommendation, they propelled AAAC Wildlife Removal to over 20 locations, with overall sales that put AAAC Wildlife Removal into the top 100 “Pest Control Businesses” in the United States! Today, the Moss Family's legacy stands as a beacon of inspiration for aspiring entrepreneurs everywhere. Their journey from franchisees to franchisors exemplifies the transformative potential of hard work, innovation, and community building. At the end of 2023, 50% of the franchisees were veterans as well. AAAC Wildlife Removal attends military career fairs and shares the opportunity of entrepreneurship with as many veterans as they can.
Company Name: Offset Strategic Services, LLC
Company Website: https://www.theossteam.com
Branch of Service: Army
About:
TJ Wright is the founder and president of Offset Strategic Services, LLC (OSS), a Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) established in 2016 in Huntsville, Ala. OSS is dedicated to providing engineering and technical solutions to Department of Defense customers worldwide. We deliver reliable and cutting-edge solutions to meet unique requirements, while adhering to stringent quality and security standards.
TJ’s vision for OSS is based on his experiences as an operator and senior acquisition officer for our nation's Special Operation Forces (SOF), developing people, processes, and systems that work together as highly functional and effective teams. He leads the company’s mission to make a difference in the lives of our employees, customers, communities, the nation, and the men and women who protect it. Our company culture is modeled on the genuine care that TJ extends to each employee. With an open-door policy, he fosters a supportive environment where everyone is valued, and their needs are met through a strong support system and fantastic benefits. This was recognized when OSS was named "2023 Veteran Owned Business of the Year" by the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber. Veterans are the heart of OSS’s identity, values, and mission, and we ensure seamless integration for new veteran employees through professional development coaching and mentoring. With 45% veteran corporate staff, we understand their needs and offer comprehensive support for a successful transition. As a result, OSS has received the Department of Labor Hire Vets Platinum Medallion Award three years consecutively, 2021-2023.
The team actively engages in community support and participates in veteran organizations and nonprofits. In 2016, TJ founded the Huntsville SOF Network (HSV SOF) with a core mission to bring cutting-edge solutions to SOF across DoD/USSOCOM, National Intelligence Programs, and Interagency initiatives, while giving back to the community. One outstanding achievement of HSV SOF is raising nearly $500,000 for Still Serving Veterans (SSV). These funds directly support the nonprofit’s mission to honor and serve veterans and their families. They provide no-cost, nationwide services that empower veterans to find meaningful careers, benefits, and build strong futures. TJ joined SSV’s BOD in 2024 and is actively planning the next fundraiser in September 2024. Additional community impact includes supporting Habitat for Humanity’s affordable housing mission, the veteran Honor Flight program, and HEALS’ (Health Establishments At Local Schools) efforts to bring health services to underserved children. And on May 3, 2024, OSS presented a $100,000 donation to the Alabama School of Cyber Technology & Engineering (ASCTE), a unique public magnet high school with a diverse student body ranked in the top 1% of high schools nationally. This significant contribution goes beyond financial support; it's about leveling the playing field for these bright young minds by equipping them with the skills and knowledge necessary to navigate and excel in the rapidly evolving tech landscape. Guided by TJ Wright's dynamic leadership, dedication, and passion, OSS is poised for continued success and empowerment. Help us recognize his impact by selecting TJ as the 2024 Vetrepreneur of the Year!
Company Name: Red White and Que Smokehouse
Company Website: https://redwhiteandquesmokehouse.com
Branch of Service: Marine Corps
About:
Dan Miscura is so deserving of the 2024 Vetrepreneur® of the Year. I met Dan and his wife Katie while I was captain of Team RWB Northern NJ. They had started a small BBQ spot and were trying to start a veteran giveback. It started with the “Buy a Veteran a Meal” program. Patrons of the restaurant can purchase a meal and have it placed on a card. If a veteran in need came to the restaurant, they can take a card and the meal is paid for them. This program took off.
Dan and Katie took it a step further. When I approached them in 2017 to start hosting Thanksgiving dinner for the residents of the Alfred J. Thomas Transition House for Veterans in Garfield, NJ, they did not hesitate to say yes. Since 2017, we have hosted Thanksgiving dinner for the residents. A full meal, with a smoked turkey with all the fixings. We gather with friends and make the evening very special. That year, we also started our Christmas Wish List Program. We ask the residents to put together their Christmas list. The Wish List Program is where we honor their gifts and host Christmas dinner. Dan and Katie hold a gift card drive at the restaurant in order to purchase the gifts and host Christmas dinner. Since 2017, we have given 56 veterans from the AJT house Christmas gifts. For the last three years, we have partnered with the Community Hope’s Women residential programming, and have gifted the women veterans in transition housing with their wish list and Christmas lunch.
Dan and Katie have also personally touched my life. As a fellow veteran (US Army), they hired my middle son for his first job. They also assisted my eldest son with a job that turned into a management position and assisted him in obtaining his OSHA certification. Dan became a huge source of inspiration and support. Dan Miscura is so very deserving of this award. It would be such an incredible honor to him and his wife Katie.
Company Name: National Personal Training Institute Florida
Company Website: www.nptiflorida.edu
Branch of Service: Navy
About:
Born and raised in New York, Patrick always learned to hustle and work many jobs as a young youth. At the age of 12 Pat worked over 30 hours a week at a German restaurant and continued to work there until he joined the Navy at the age of 17. After an honorable discharge, Pat had the opportunity to work as a defense contractor during the Gulf War which required aggressive travel worldwide. Upon returning to the US Pat opened a fitness school that specializes in veterans transitioning into the civilian workforce as fitness professionals. Over the past 24 years we have helped thousands of veterans with rewarding career opportunities nationwide. We support many veteran foundations annually such as Wreaths Across America, Navy SEAL Foundation, and Wounded Warrior to name a few. As a licensed educational facility that offers many specific learning platforms based on our veteran's needs and rehabilitation requirements. We will continue to offer a "Military Trusted" ACCSC Accredited program heading into the future of fitness. We will continue to serve our veterans.
Company Name: The Edge Sports LLC dba D-BAT Virginia Beach
Company Website:www.dbatvirginiabeach.com
Branch of Service: Army
About:
This will be the first time I’ve nominated myself for one of these awards, but I believe it will empower me to have a larger impact in all aspects below. Thank you for the consideration. The goods and services my team and I offer the community are baseball and softball training, batting cages, pro-shop, camps and clinics, and special events. It’s a franchise, and I opened the first one in Virginia. We have become one of the highest performing franchises of the 160+ D-BAT locations. For this year, we are #1 in pro-shop sales of all locations. We’ve had double digit growth every year since we opened in February 2019 - even through a pandemic.
There are three aspects for which I’m most proud: customer experience, job creation, and community impact. Besides helping young athletes achieve their dreams, our customer experience has a Google rating of 4.9 over 142 reviews and Facebook 5.0 over 63 reviews. We have nearly 50 full and part-time employees in jobs that didn’t exist before we started. We are involved in countless initiatives designed to have a community impact across a diverse spectrum of needs. Last year alone, we spent over $47,000 on charitable contributions. For four years, we have sponsored and helped to grow special needs baseball in leagues throughout the area. For four years, we have been an ambassador of the American Cancer Society’s Men Wear Pink Campaign, raising over $10,000 for breast cancer awareness and prevention. For the second year, we are continuing a scholarship we started in honor Sam Allen, who played in the Negro Leagues. The scholarship is for African-American baseball and softball players to attend college. We’ve provided $7,000 over two years. For two years, we’ve supported the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater, including the Israel Fest. We’ve donated thousands of dollars in equipment and training to local parochial schools and churches. For years, we’ve incorporated education and literacy programs about Negro Leagues Baseball, veterans in baseball, and other important issues in our summer and holiday camps. Since the first day, we’ve offered free cage use for schools rained out of practices totaling at least tens of thousands over the years.
Finally, saving the best for last, I’m especially proud of what we’ve done and are starting to do for veterans. For years, we’ve held Vets BP to promote fellowship. Last year we raised over $20,000 in our inaugural Veterans Hit-a-Thon. We hit over 6,200 hits in three cages in eight hours to raise awareness for veterans suicide, and the $20,000 went to two local veterans charities. This year our Hit-a-Thon has already raised $10,000 in committed sponsorships (the goal is $45,000) for the Jones & Cabacoy Veterans Care Center in Virginia Beach. This year, I was appointed by the Virginia governor to the Veterans Services Board, which raises and oversees funds for the Virginia Department of Veterans Affairs funding shortfalls. We’ve donated over $3,500 to VVSF over the years. Recently, in partnership with the Hampton Roads Small Business Development Center, we are creating a Veterans Small Business Roundtable where Veteran Entrepreneurs can support each other and aspiring ones with TTPs and fellowship can be leveraging community support.
Company Name: FIOR Scotch Holdings Inc.
Company Website: www.fiorscotch.com
Branch of Service: Marine Corps
About:
Whether serving in combat overseas or in garrison stateside the military life is a hard one, often devoid of creature comforts. Service members are not only expected to make do with less, or thrive with less… after a while they are expected to enjoy less. Some individuals who recognize this offer their time to support those who happily make do with less. Operation Gratitude is one such organization that supports active duty, veterans and first responders. Operation Gratitude and its founder Carolyn Blashek have provided us significant support for over two decades. I developed a special relationship with Operation Gratitude and Carolyn Blashek as they have supported myself and my Marines for several deployments providing that attention, creature comforts and little “thank yous” that made those long, arduous deployments somewhat more bearable. As thanks for their support, I donated $10,000 to Operation Gratitude so they can continue to provide that support that always seems to make you find a little bit of enjoyment in the worst conditions.
Also, during my second round of investments family, friends and Marines contacted me about potentially investing in FIOR. Unfortunately, most did not have a strong financial base to meet the minimum investment. It was then that I realized that despite FIOR being a minority-owned (black) and US veteran-owned company that I did not have any minority or veteran investors as many black Americans and US veterans may not have the additional income set aside to meet the substantial minimum investment of any investment opportunity. I remembered from the 1980s the black-owned brand FUBU which stood for “For Us. By Us”. I asked myself how can I justify FIOR being a black- or veteran-owned company without one minority or veteran investment. I also remembered a saying, “You can’t make money without money,” which veritably is a barrier to those entrepreneurs with great ideas who lack the appropriate funding sources. Why not create a tier of lower minimum investments to give the average person the opportunity to invest and climb the socioeconomic ladder?
Approximately one hour after lowering the minimum investment I raised a significant amount of capital from Hispanic, southeast Indian, black American and veteran investors (family, friends, service members). Several days later we met our 2nd investment round goals. I believe that providing this opportunity to the communities that I represent is a significant demonstration of FIOR’s dedication to its communities.
Company Name: Dryer Vent Wizard of Raleigh, Carry, Durham, N.C.
Company Website: www.dryerventwizardofnenc.com/raleigh-north-carolina-dryer-vent-cleaning
Branch of Service: Marine Corps
About:
Matthew Sarkela served in the US Marine Corps from 1996 to 2001. During his time in the Marines, Matthew learned the importance of guidance and structure. Beyond being a veteran, Matthew has shown excellent prowess as a franchisee. He became a top performing franchisee for Mr. Appliance, and sold the business and planned to retire. However, this was not enough for Matthew. When it came time for Matthew to retire he decided to double up and scale another business with Dryer Vent Wizard in 2020. Matthew quickly scaled his business and became rookie franchisee of the year in 2021 and secured a spot in the top 10% of franchisees in the Dryer Vent Wizard system.
Company Name: Maier & Associates
Company Website: www.linkedin.com/in/curtmmaier
Branch of Service: Navy
About:
Curt deserves to be recognized as the 2024 Vetrepreneur of the Year through his vast experiences in the Navy, in the corporate setting, in purchasing and running his own businesses and in helping others to properly evaluate and purchase their own businesses/franchises. Curt has always given back to the veteran community and the community at large - he's been involved with a multitude of veteran and franchise organizations his whole career, he is extremely driven, he has astute business acumen and expertise which he shares to help others become successful enterpreneurs on their own. Curt is the most driven and hard-working person I have ever known. His thirst for knowledge is immense and he is a lifelong learner. I can't recommend him enough for this honor; he is the most deserving candidate.
Company Name: Sales Platoon
Company Website: mysalesplatoon.com
Branch of Service: Army
About:
I am pleased to nominate John Renken for the 2024 Vetrepreneur of the Year Award. For many years, John has shown a strong commitment to supporting service members and veterans, both during and after their military careers. His dedication to the community and his fellow veterans is commendable.
John's company is dedicated to helping service members transition into civilian life by providing careers in sales and other rewarding fields. His company recognizes the unique skills and experiences that veterans possess and works to ensure that these individuals have the support and resources they need to build successful careers.
In addition to his professional endeavors, John is actively involved in his local community. When a tornado devastated the Clarkesville neighborhood, John raised substantial funds to aid those affected by the disaster. His efforts contributed to rebuilding homes and restoring a sense of normalcy to the community during a difficult time. For 20 years, John has also been involved in a business that mentors, coaches, and prepares special operations soldiers for combat. His expertise and guidance have been valuable in ensuring that these soldiers are equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge to serve their country effectively. John's commitment to the well-being and success of these service members is noteworthy. In summary, John Renken is a strong candidate for the Vetrepreneur of the Year Award. His efforts to support veterans, his dedication to his community, and his long-standing commitment to mentoring and preparing service members for the challenges they face make him a worthy nominee for this recognition.
Company Name: Cappellos HR Solutions
Company Website: www.cappelloshr.com
Branch of Service: Navy
About:
From a client: "Kyle is the epitome of a service-above-self professional. Kyle started his company because he felt he couldn't help enough people in recruiting alone. He started his business to impact employment readiness for veterans, transitioning service members, military spouses, and military dependents. Kyle is completely trustworthy and a stellar person to work with. Kyle broke into HR on his own and any company can trust he will do what is in their best interest. Military community support regardless of the job or contract, is at the forefront of his clever solutions. Kyle is brilliant and can literally communicate with anyone. Hiring Kyle and his company to support any stage of HR help, ranging from organizations to individuals, will not be a mistake.”
Company Name: Rocky Mountain Providers, Inc.
Company Website: www.rockymountainproviders.com
Branch of Service: Air Force
About:
The ACA Business Club® is a private club dedicated to serving executives, professionals and business owners that value building solid relationships, growing professionally, and marketing their business. The Business Club also provides unique experiences and educational opportunities that assist members in connecting and collaborating in the spirit of community and trust. This is why Scott Behan is an asset towards the Colorado Springs community. His other business is RMP Cares. Rocky Mountain Providers cares about everyone attaining a pre-paid funeral plan whereby Scott assists you greatly in garnering the provided VA Benefits.
Company Name: Realty One Group Fox
Company Website: https://fox.myrealtyonegroup.com
Branch of Service: Marine Corps
About:
Ed Rapisarda is a life-long resident of Solano County. In 1995 after earning his bachelor's degree in business administration/finance from California State University of Sacramento, Ed was accepted into Officer Candidate School for the United States Marine Corps and was later commissioned a second lieutenant. During Ed's time in the Marines he commanded at the platoon and company levels and served on staffs at the battalion, regimental and headquarters Marine Corps level.
In 2008 Major Rapisarda was honorably discharged and came home to meet his wife and business partner Cara Fox. In 2010 Ed began his real estate career with the same drive and determination as he did with the Marines. Ed has developed a company culture of community giving which he instills by example in his agents. His business supports a multitude of community events and organizations through not only monetary giving but also through volunteerism. In 2022 Ed helped found the Vacaville Police Foundation (VPF), a 501c3 that partners with law enforcement agencies to enhance public safety and improve community relations. The VPF was built on a passion to provide moral and financial support to the hard-working men and women of the Vacaville Police Department in order to help sustain outstanding law enforcement services for the community.
Ed currently serves on the boards of the Vacaville Chamber of Commerce and the Vacaville Rotary Club. He is a past board member of the Vacaville Neighborhood Boys & Girls Club and the Downtown Vacaville Business Improvement District, as well as a current volunteer-at-large for the Travis Credit Union Foundation supporting economic empowerment for his community. He is a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Marine Corps League, and is a Certified Military Relocation Professional specialized in helping current military service members and veterans with their real estate needs.
Throughout Ed's professional life he has developed a passion for studying leadership and strategy. He is a proven leader adept at handling complex and chaotic situations in diverse environments. He embraces changing technologies to remain relevant in today and tomorrow's markets while also utilizing time-tested traditions of interpersonal communications. His strengths include sales management, building teams, connecting with others, strategic planning, continued learning, and everything family. Ed is the broker and owner of Realty ONE Group Fox and is responsible to the ROG Fox family for the overall health direction and leadership of the company and its partners. With his guidance the company has recently opened its second office location and grown to over 110+ agents.
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