Service Academy Business Mastermind

Neal Gouck (USMA '98) is the Founder of Freedom Wind Tunnel, an indoor skydiving facility that will be located at Patriot Place, near Gillette Stadium, the home of the New England Patriots in Foxboro, MA.  The three-floor building will be highlighted by a wind tunnel that will allow customers to feel like they are skydiving.  It will also include a virtual parachuting simulator which will allow guests to simulate a landing in a location of their choice. The facility will open in the Fall of 2020. In this episode, Neal and I discuss: The amazing indoor skydiving experience he will offer his customers Why Foxboro, MA is a prime location for an indoor skydiving facility The help he needs from the community to complete construction and be open for business Connect with Neal Gouck: Neal on LinkedIn Freedom Wind Tunnel on Facebook If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join ou

Layne Kasper (USAFA '92 ) is the Managing Partner of Kasper & Associates, a Mergers & Acquisitions firm specializing in facilitating the sale of medium-sized manufacturing, distribution, and service businesses with annual sales revenue from $1 to 70 million.  They provide current market data and professional advice to assist owners in making decisions regarding their company and personal plans.  With over 300 transactions to date, they have a unique expertise and market knowledge to assist in facilitating successful deals. In this episode, Layne and I discuss: The types of businesses his firm represents and how they find potential buyers An opportunity they are representing that might be a great fit for a Service Academy graduate The most important skills he learned in the Air Force that have helped him as an entrepreneur Connect with Layne Kasper: Layne on LinkedIn Kasper & Associates Subscribe and help out the show: Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Also available on Google Play, Spotify & St

Female craft beer drinkers are growing twice as fast as the industry itself, yet breweries are not effectively targeting this group. As two passionate homebrewers working in the beer industry, LeAnn Darland (USNA ‘08) & co-founder Tara Hankinson are seizing this opportunity. Design-forward packaging, an elevated taproom experience, flavor-first beers, and an engaging, empowering brand will make TALEA Beer Co. the first female-forward beer brand in the US. In this episode, we discuss how they: Have sold over 100 barrels of beer in less than three months Got their beer in all the Whole Foods across NYC Secured over 85 accounts across NYC, including some of the best beer bars in the city Connect with Tara & LeAnn: LeAnn on LinkedIn Tara on LinkedIn Talea Beer Company If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today. Subscrib

The Military Influencer Conference (MIC) is a dynamic three-day event; connecting entrepreneurs, business executives, and brands with the influencers who shape and support the military community.   In 2019, MIC will convene in Washington, DC from 8-10 September, where 750+ service members, veterans, military spouses, and civilians will gather to network, explore ideas, be inspired, find solutions and make a difference.  On this episode, I’m joined by special guest Curtez Riggs, an Army veteran and Founder of MIC. In this episode, Curtez and I discuss: The exciting lineup of guests, breakout sessions, and pitch competitions for this year’s event How he landed Jim Koch, Founder of Sam Adams as a guest speaker at last year’s event How he’s nearly tripled attendance since launching the conference in 2017 Register for the conference: Register on Eventbrite (Get 25% SABM discount through this link) Military Influencer Conference website Connect with Curtez Riggs: Curtez on LinkedIn If you found this episode v

Episode link: https://www.sabmgroup.com/gary-griffiths/ Gary Griffiths (USNA '72) is the co-founder and managing director of Wisdom LLP. A 35-year veteran of the high-tech industry, Griffiths has led some of the web’s most innovative companies. Prior to co-founding Wisdom LLP, Griffiths was CEO of iPass (NASDAQ: IPAS), a leader in global Wi-Fi technology and services, which was acquired by Pareteum, Inc (NASDAQ: TEUM) in February 2019. He was also president of products and operations at WebEx, acquired for $3B by Cisco Systems, Inc. Griffiths was also co-founder and CEO of Everdream Corporation, a SaaS company, from 1999 to 2005, acquired by Dell, and co-founder/CEO at HEAT.net from 1996 until its acquisition by Sega, Inc. in 1999. Patricia Hume is a co-founder and managing partner at Wisdom LLP and has been named CEO of Canvas GFX. Wisdom LLP has invested in Canvas to fuel its growth strategy.  Prior to Canvas, Patricia was chief operations officer of iPass, Inc., which was acquired in February 2019. In this

Episode link:  https://www.sabmgroup.com/lewis-baker Lewis Baker (USMA ’91) is the owner of Rock Creek Wealth Advisors in Washington D.C. and his wife Melissa is a broker with Transworld Business Advisors.  Together, they match buyers and sellers of small businesses and navigate them successfully through the process. In this episode, we discuss: Their trusted process for helping business owners buy and sell a business and how to overcome the common roadblocks people encounter The most popular businesses to invest in right now Best practices for running a business with your spouse

Episode link: https://www.sabmgroup.com/bill-militello-92/ Bill Militello (USNA '92) is the Founder of Militello Capital and LocalVest.  Militello Capital is a team of veteran entrepreneurs who invest capital in joint ventures with a select group of highly successful private equity and real estate operators.  LocalVest.com is an exclusive community for accredited investors to discover, research, and discuss private investments with knowledgeable investment professionals. In this episode, we discuss: How mindset and visualization can attract massive wealth Bill’s due diligence process and how he structures a $30M deal Why he likes the Tampa, FL market Connect with Bill Militello: Bill on LinkedIn Militello Capital LocalVest.com If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today. Subscribe and help out the show: Subscribe on Apple P

Episode link: https://www.sabmgroup.com/scott-sanders/ Scott Sanders (USNA '80) is the owner of Tobacco Barn Distillery, a true ground-to-glass distillery bringing the best whiskies, bourbons and rums to the Maryland area.  Their signature “Constellation Rum” is fermented, double-distilled, and sealed in four bourbon barrels for an embarkation aboard the U.S.S. Constellation in Baltimore, Maryland. Pretty cool story! In this episode, Scott and I discuss: How they grew the business to sell their products in over 20 liquor stores in the Maryland area and their plan to expand into other states How their farm uses a combination of solar, geothermal, and heat recovery systems as part of their commitment to protect Southern Maryland’s environment Fun stories about how he used bourbon as a bargaining chip with foreign officers while serving in the Navy Connect with Scott Sanders: Scott on LinkedIn Tobacco Barn Distillery If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a

Episode link: https://www.sabmgroup.com/lane-beene/ Lane Beene (USAFA '91) is the Founder of Pilot-Legacy Private Equity Group, an experienced team with over 100 years of combined subject matter expertise in the areas of investing, leadership, syndicating, project development, construction, operations, and management. The objective of Pilot-Legacy is to deliver outstanding investment results through the focused efforts of their team members in the execution of their four-stage investment strategy. In this episode, Lane and I discuss: His lessons learned from 18+ years of real estate investing His latest offering of a 320-unit apartment building located in an opportunity zone The tax benefits of investing in an opportunity zone Connect with Lane Beene: Lane on LinkedIn Pilot-Legacy Private Equity Group If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community a

Episode link:  https://www.sabmgroup.com/jaden-risner/ Jaden Risner (USNA '07) is the Founder of Family Proud, a company that connects patients and families to the technological resources necessary to effectively maximize their quality of care.  Their mission was founded on the principle idea that no patient under any circumstances should be afforded less support then the next.  Jaden is dedicated to helping those in need with an effort to make the largest possible positive impacts through this company. As a Navy Reserve pilot and startup CEO, Jaden proudly continues to serve both his country and community. In this episode, Jaden and I discuss: How programs like Think Tank Incubator and Bunker Labs have helped him formulate his business plan The strategies and resources he found helpful when building his team How business school provided him with a solid foundation and connected him with his co-founder Connect with Jaden Risner: Jaden on LinkedIn Family Proud If you found this episode valuable, please sha

Website link:  https://www.sabmgroup.com/trung-tran/ Trung Tran (USAFA '95) is the Co-Founder of Amplio, a company that combines the power of AI, the data of consumer wearables, and the wisdom of human expertise to enhance a person’s ability to maximize their potential. Trung has over 17 years of experience designing and bringing 72 products to market with $2.2B in total revenue. In this episode, Trung and I discuss: How his company is leveraging AI to optimize health and fitness How his product shaved 10% of a football player’s 40-yard dash time His biggest lessons learned from the Air Force Academy and Wharton Business School that have shaped him as an entrepreneur Connect with Trung Tran: Trung on LinkedIn Amplio If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today. Subscribe and help out the show: Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Als

Episode link: https://www.sabmgroup.com/mark-mooney Mark Mooney (USNA ’74) is the owner and operator of multiple wellness and home health care businesses under the Massage Envy and BrightStar Care franchise brands.  His vast experience in franchising includes building a market from scratch along with buying and selling existing franchise businesses. In this episode, Mark and I discuss: His strict criteria for investing in a franchise concept Important due diligence questions you should ask the franchisor before making an investment The franchise concepts he believes have the greatest potential Connect with Mark Mooney: Mark on LinkedIn If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today. Subscribe and help out the show: Subscribe on Apple Podcasts Also available on Google Play, Spotify & Stitcher Leave us a 5-star review! Spec

Real Estate Accelerator: https://www.sabmgroup.com/realestate/ Erin Helle (USMA '09) is a former Engineer who served in both Iraq and Afghanistan.  After serving in the U.S. Army for 12 years, she embarked on a career as a Real Estate Investor and fell in love with everything about it!  As a top performer in our Real Estate Investing Accelerator, she recently purchased a 10-Plex in Fort Campbell that will set her on the path to financial freedom. I am also joined on this episode by Buddy Rushing (USNA '04), Founder of White Feather Investments and the fearless leader of our Real Estate Investing Accelerator. In this episode, we discuss: Erin’s recent acquisition of a 10-plex investment property Her key takeaways from the Accelerator and how the course has sharpened her focus Her best tips for building a business with a growing family How she is conquering the fear and anxiety of entrepreneurship We also discuss the details of our next Accelerator which kicks off on June 29th. Connect with Erin Helle: Erin

Episode link: https://www.sabmgroup.com/tom-kent/ Tom Kent (USMA '95) is the Founder of Career Nerds, a career coaching company for successful professionals who want great jobs.  After graduating from West Point in 1995, he served as an Army Intelligence Officer for several years. After the Army, he was hired to work in over 10 cities on 3 continents for large companies like IBM and Expedia as well as for several startups. While mastering the "Art of Career Transition", he has helped many people get new jobs and careers.  Today, he coaches people who are transitioning to a new job or career on how to find their ideal job and get hired. In this episode, Tom and I discuss: His 3-step process for connecting with decision makers on LinkedIn His best tips for focusing your job search and his “flood the zone” framework for networking His biggest lessons learned from starting his career coaching business Connect with Tom Kent: Tom on LinkedIn Career Nerds If you found this episode valuable, please share it with

Episode link: https://www.sabmgroup.com/john-oliver/ John Oliver (USMA '89) is the Investment and Operations Manager at Battle Monument Partners, a private commercial real-estate fund that recently was named by RVA BizSense as the 2018 Fastest Growing Company in Richmond, Virginia.  He is a 1989 graduate of West Point, and a 1995 graduate of Yale School of Management. In this episode, John and I discuss: How their real estate portfolio has doubled in size to 30 commercial properties in the last 18 months Why he invests in commercial properties leased by discount retailers in the Southeast The surprising skill that he learned in the Army that has helped him as an entrepreneur Connect with John Oliver: John on LinkedIn Battle Monument Partners If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today. Subscribe and help out the show: Subsc

Episode link: https://www.sabmgroup.com/bruce-cleveland/ Bruce Cleveland attended the United States Military Academy and is a Founding Partner at Wildcat Venture Partners, a venture firm that invests in market disruptors and category leaders. Their differentiation as an early stage B2B and B2B2C venture firm is based upon the fact that each Wildcat general partner has been an entrepreneur, a member of a founding team, and/or an investor in a startup that has gone from ideation to a $B+ outcome.  Based upon their significant and sustained performance, they have been independently ranked as one of the top early stage B2B investment teams in the venture industry. In this episode, Bruce and I discuss: His experience as a founding member of companies that have achieved $B+ successes What he looks for from an entrepreneur when making an investment Why he invests primarily in B2B enterprise companies involved in making digital transformations Connect with Bruce Cleveland: Bruce on LinkedIn Wildcat Venture Partner

Episode link: https://www.sabmgroup.com/eric-johnson Eric Johnson (USNA '08) is the Founder of Trident Coffee, home of America’s finest cold brew.  Using their signature blend, they handcraft their cold brew coffee for 18 hours then infuse it with nitrogen in a ready-to-go can. The result is the smoothest, creamiest cold brew coffee on the market with a sweet chocolate and caramel flavor.  At Trident Coffee, their mission is to continually create a community experience and connect people over a cup (or can!) of coffee. In this episode, Eric and I discuss: The story behind why he crafted his best-selling cold brew How he landed his first customer and grew his business through distribution The funny story about why he decided to start a business after attending a career conference Connect with Eric Johnson: Eric on LinkedIn Trident Coffee If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you

Episode link:  https://www.sabmgroup.com/ronald-steptoe/  Ronald Steptoe (USMA ’87) started Warrior Centric Health to bring healthcare advocacy, curriculum development and training to the federal and commercial sector marketplaces. As CEO, Ron has established innovative partnerships with leading national medical organizations, to provide “medically-accredited military culture, cultural competency, and patient-provider communication” educational training programs for health and service support providers and systems. In this episode, Ron and I discuss: His journey starting Warrior Centric Health and his discovery of a $300B industry  A key partnership he just secured with Vizient The military history of his family dating back to the American Revolutionary War and his experience as a basketball player at West Point competing against David Robinson from Navy

Episode link:  https://www.sabmgroup.com/gerardo-martinez/ Gerardo Martinez (USNA '11) is the Founder of Triple Direct Leadership LLC, a company that provides high end leadership development to organizations by customizing the experience to the participant's mission and vision.  Whether its rock climbing with the board of directors, an expedition with a department head or kayaking with the whole team, their experiences are unforgettable and results driven. In this episode, Gerardo and I discuss: His customized outdoor team building experiences that get results Why he doesn’t deliver any training by PowerPoint or in conference rooms What it was like leaving his day job to start his own company Connect with Gerardo Martinez: Gerardo on LinkedIn Triple Direct Leadership If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today. Subscribe and

Episode link: https://www.sabmgroup.com/victor-wiggins/ Victor Wiggins (USMA '07) is the Founder of CozyBee, an innovative company that creates contemporary products for the modern family that don't force you to compromise style for function.  Vic started CozyBee after becoming a new parent and recognizing that brands for new parents were very limited. His flagship product, a baby changing pad, combines style and function and is the only changing pad on the market that includes a diaper wipes pocket for easy changing on the go. In this episode, Vic and I discuss: The exact steps he took to create a physical product and sell it on Amazon How he connected with a manufacturer that helped him make a custom product The tools he used to analyze the sales opportunity on Amazon Connect with Vic Wiggins: Vic on LinkedIn CozyBee on Amazon CozyBee on Facebook CozyBee on Instagram If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take you