From Soldier to Puzzle-Making Pioneer

In this episode of Veteran Voices: SITREP, hosts Tom and Chris Faust sit down with veteran and lifelong "word nerd" Gail Marie Beckman—a trailblazing cruciverbalist who's been crafting custom crossword and word search puzzles since 1991.Gail shares her inspiring journey from enlisting in the Army to escaping the family construction business to building a one-of-a-kind puzzle business from scratch. Learn how a typo-filled cable company sparked her first custom crossword, how her puzzles have brought joy and healing to families and corporations alike, and why she believes puzzles offer mental clarity and therapeutic escape—especially for veterans.We also explore:Her service in Baumholder, Germany in the late '70sCreating puzzles for brands like Purina, Humana, and Johns HopkinsA special veteran-themed puzzle supporting suicide preventionHer heartfelt Betty White tribute puzzleAdvice for veterans looking to turn their passion into a businessPlus, don’t miss the exclusive word search puzzle Gail created for the Be The One campaign — available to download for free!🎁 Free Puzzle Download (Suicide Prevention & Veteran Support):👉 https://veteranvoices.us/be-the-one🛒 Check out Gail's puzzle books:Available via Barnes & Noble Print-on-Demand — titles include Mind, Body, Crosswords and More, Cannabis & Crosswords, and her upcoming Fur & Feathers puzzle collection!👉 http://veteranvoices.us/beckman-books💬 Connect with Gail:Find her on LinkedIn to inquire about custom puzzles for your next event, family celebration, or corporate training.👉 https://www.linkedin.com/in/gail-marie-beckman-638725309/———🪖 Veteran Voices: SITREP is your go-to podcast for real conversations that empower, uplift, and inform veterans transitioning from military to civilian life.🎧 Subscribe and follow for more inspiring veteran stories and resources.📢 Veteran Voices: SITREP — Where your voice matters.#VeteranVoices #CrosswordCreator #VeteranEntrepreneur #MilitaryToCivilian #PTSDSupport #PuzzleTherapy #WomenVeterans #BeTheOne #VeteranTransition #GailBeckman #SuicidePrevention #PodcastInterview👉 https://www.veteranvoices.us👉 Email Us: [email protected] us Fan MailSupport the showThanks for listening! Please consider supporting this podcast.Website: https://veteranvoices.usEmail: [email protected]: https://www.facebook.com/veteranvoicessitrep#VeteranVoices#SITREP