Gold Star Father On Giving Back To Veterans

My father, Mark DeLuzio, talks about how he’s giving back to veterans through his organization B.R.A.V.E. (Business Reviews and Advisors to Veteran Entrepreneurs). B.R.A.V.E. is an organization, which helps veteran entrepreneurs get their businesses started. Links & Resources B.R.A.V.E. Danaher Business System Mark DeLuzio Lean Horizons Transcript Scott DeLuzio:    00:00    Hey everybody, this is the Drive On Podcast where we talk about issues affecting veterans after they get out of the military. I’m your host, Scott DeLuzio, and now let’s get on with the show. Scott DeLuzio:    00:13    Hey everyone, thanks for tuning into the Drive On Podcast. Today I have Mark DeLuzio who is not only my father, but also a Gold Star Father. We’re going to talk about a service that he’s providing to veterans who are aspiring entrepreneurs or looking for career advice. I briefly talk about this service in episode five, which if you haven’t listened to it yet, you might want to go give that a listen too.  So, Dad, before I go on too much about what you do, I’m going to let you introduce yourself and tell us a little bit about your background and how you got into this. Mark DeLuzio:    00:47    Thanks. My background, I have a pretty extensive business background in corporate America. I made it up to very high levels in the corporation. I started out in finance went into operations, general management. I was also the architect of something that we call the Danaher Business System, which is one of the most sought-after Lean Manufacturing or Lean Management systems in the country and perhaps in the world.  For the last 18 years, I’ve been in my own consulting business, actually consulting in that space and worked with all kinds of different companies, big companies, small companies, all kinds of different industries. So that’s what I do. So, I have a lot of business experience.  I know how to run a business and also a lot of entrepreneurial experience that I feel I can really offer to help others. So that’s kind of my background. I have an MBA in Operations Management. I have an Accounting degree, a Bachelor’s degree. I have a second Bachelor’s degree in Marketing and I’m certified in a number of different areas. So, that’s what I do. And that’s a real quick snap shot of my background. Scott DeLuzio:    02:02    So the service that we’re talking about today is called B.R.A.V.E., which stands for Business Reviews and Advice for Veteran Entrepreneurs. It’s basically a service that you provide to veterans who are looking to start up a business or looking for career advice. So, how did you get the idea to start B.R.A.V.E.? Mark DeLuzio:    02:24    Just a slight correction; It’s Business Reviews and Advisers to Veteran Entrepreneurs. Slight little change, but no big deal. How do I start? Well, you know, like most people I would say, and this is not a criticism, I think most Americans in general enjoy their life, enjoy the freedoms. Quite frankly, take their freedoms for granted. And I was one of those people, quite frankly until my two sons entered the military and then I get to see it firsthand. Well, maybe not firsthand, but I got to see a very close up picture of what you guys went through and other veterans as well as far as the sacrifice you make for the country.  As probably a lot of people know, we lost Steven, your brother, my son, in Afghanistan; he was a war hero, like you were. Mark DeLuzio:    03:14    You were lucky enough to come home. He didn’t.  I got to see and know a lot of his brothers in arms after they all got back from Afghanistan and I started seeing quite a bit of struggles that they went through because I reall...