Nick Valentine Nonprofit Funding and DOD Skillbridge

In this episode of Nonprofit Architect, Travis talks with John “Nick” Valentine, the CEO and Founder of Operational Phantom Support. He was born at Great Lakes Naval Hospital in Chicago, grew up as a Navy Brat. At age 19, John joined the US Army.  John served 20 years in the US Army, making the Rank of Sergeant First Class, E-7. I deployed 6 times served in Bosnia, Kuwait, Afghanistan, and Iraq.  Travis and Nick talk about Phantom Support, an organization started in 2014 to support our Active-Duty Members, Honorable Veterans, First Responders, and their families.     Conversation Highlights:  {01:27}  What is Operation Phantom? {04:59} Stories from the food pantry support {10:52} Stories from the support programs in Ford Hood {12:48} Using your Skill bridge time in a program called Veterans to Employment {21:03} The Texas Workforce Commission’s program to help students   {25:23} What are the steps that a non-profit would have to do to become a partner? {38:01} The importance of transparency for non-profits.   Remarkable quotes:  Non-profit is the most satisfying thing I've done in my life, but it's also one of the hardest things. If you want to be in a non-profit and make a load of money, get into the medical world because their CEOs make between 12 and 25 million. If we make our own communities strong, people will want to come to our community and live here because our communities got stronger and healthier.   Resources:  https://www.phantomsupport.org/     Bio:   John “Nick” Valentine is the CEO and Founder of OPS. He was born at Great Lakes Naval Hospital in Chicago, grew up as a Navy Brat. At age 19, John joined the US Army.  John served 20 years in the US Army, making the Rank of Sergeant First Class, E-7. I deployed 6 times served in Bosnia, Kuwait, Afghanistan, and Iraq.     He is a huge Chicago Cubs and Chicago Bears Fan, and also a huge Iron Man fan. He is a big movie fan great way to spend some time with the family and laugh. ‍ John started OPS because he saw a need while serving to help my fellow soldiers but of course expanded that to Veterans and 1st Responders once he built out OPS to help more in need that has done or are doing so much for our country/community.       Nonprofit Architect Podcast Links   Website: http://nonprofitarchitect.org   Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/NonprofitArchitect