#18 From Veteran to Business-owner with VETtoCEO

Today, we’re talking with the veterans of VETtoCEO, a nonprofit organization that supports veterans and transitioning military members to succeed in business ownership. We meet the co-founders, Michael Horn and John Panaccione, the First Executive Director, Monty Heath, and current Executive Director, Rob Campbell. Michael served as an Airborne Ranger for 21 years in the US Army, and also owns Brothers Body and Equipment, a specialty vehicle manufacturer in Galion, Ohio. John served 6 years on active duty as a US Army Officer, mostly as a Paratrooper and Jumpmaster in the 82nd airborne division. John is also the co-founder and CEO of LogicBay, working with leading companies to develop and implement strategies for scaling indirect sales channels, using a combination of services and technologies. Monty, the first Executive Director of VETtoCEO in 2017, is a veteran who served as a US Navy SEAL for over 10 years. Rob, VETtoCEO's current Executive Director, began his career in the Army as an Infantry Officer in 1990. He served in a variety of command and staff positions in a career spanning over 27 years. Rob has since written two books – At Ease and It’s Personal, Not Personnel – and found his calling as a business consultant. In this episode, we discuss VETtoCEO’s purpose and mission, advice for transitioning from military to entrepreneurial life, and the mindset shift necessary, as well as why manufacturing is sexy. Michael, John, Monty, and Rob highlight the importance of passion and share the opportunities and struggles with starting a veteran-owned business. They also outline some of their ideas for the future of the VETtoCEO curriculum, and tell listeners and potential investors how to support their cause, even in ways that aren’t monetary. Tune in to find out more about going from veteran to CEO! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices