57 Michael Maniaci - West Point Grad, Ranger School, Infantry Officer, Pella Owner Operator

Michael Maniaci went from West Point and Ranger School to leading Soldiers across Eastern Europe, investment banking on Wall Street, and eventually acquiring a building-products business of his own.In Episode 57 of The Veterans Who Build Show, Michael shares the parts of that path that rarely make the résumé: nearly leaving West Point, losing 35 pounds during Ranger School, operating on little sleep, making mistakes as a 23-year-old Infantry Officer leading experienced Soldiers, and learning to listen to NCOs with multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.Michael later served with the 2nd Cavalry Regiment in Germany, supporting U.S. and NATO deterrence efforts across Eastern Europe. After leaving the Army, he earned his MBA from NYU Stern, entered investment banking at Credit Suisse and Raymond James, and eventually left the security of that career to pursue business ownership.In 2025, Michael and fellow former Army Officer Miles Kerwin acquired Pella Windows & Doors of Connecticut and New York after a self-funded search that included walking away from one deal, raising capital, securing financing, and completing multiple rounds of approval with Pella.This conversation is about what happens when leadership responsibility comes early, what the military can—and cannot—prepare you for, and how those experiences carried into entrepreneurship and the built environment.🎖️ Guest: Michael ManiaciU.S. Army Veteran | West Point Graduate | Ranger School GraduateOwner & Operator, Pella Windows & Doors of Connecticut and New York🎙️ Hosted by Adam Stark🤝 Supported by Jet.BuildFollow The Veterans Who Build Show:➡︎ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@veteranswhobuild➡︎ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2ZizGddgHgKA4oimoLkNRc➡︎ Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3Vt3rCE➡︎ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vwbshow/➡︎ X: https://twitter.com/TheVWBShow➡︎ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/veterans-who-build➡︎ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/veteranswhobuild/Support for The Veterans Who Build Show:➡︎ Jet.Build: https://jet.build/#Veterans #RangerSchool #WestPoint #Leadership #Construction➡︎ Jet.Build is THE central command for RE development and construction project management software. Solutions range from project finance to stakeholder collaboration, construction operations, and data reporting with AI. Jet.Build is the better way to buildTimecodesChapters00:00 Introduction and Background02:29 Bridging the Civilian-Military Gap06:04 Life Story: Early Years and Inspiration12:29 Applying to West Point17:53 Experiences at West Point29:00 Transition to the Army and Ranger School38:34 The Mountain Phase Challenge41:57 Leadership and Grit in Ranger School43:49 Experiencing Hallucinations and Exhaustion46:48 Preparing for Ranger School48:11 Transitioning to Airborne School49:02 Unique Assignment Journey51:46 Mission Focus: Russian Deterrence Operations55:58 Learning Leadership Lessons61:03 The Role of a Platoon Leader66:27 TAC PL Role and NATO Exercises70:59 Deciding to Transition to Civilian Life74:57 Transitioning from Military to Corporate Life81:03 Navigating Investment Banking95:46 The Journey to Entrepreneurship109:33 Translatable Skills from Military to Business#veteranswhobuild #realestatedevelopment #construction #aec #cre #veterans