Service Academy Business Mastermind

“The goal of this program is not to give you a checklist of things you have to do in ten days, the goal is to shift the way that you’re showing up so that your reflexive self becomes your best self...You can’t un-see the perspectives that you create as a result of what you do through Madefor. You’re going to see things a little bit differently and you’re going to see things in a way that is aligned with what works for you.” - Patrick Dossett   Patrick Dossett is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training, and the Wharton School of Business. Pat is currently CEO of Madefor, a science-backed step-by-step program designed to help individuals thrive by training them how to take control of their lives through developing simple and effective healthy habits. Of his time in uniform, he says, “I received far more than I gave and continue to be inspired by those I served alongside.” Pat believes in the power of small steps and is passionate about helping others realize their full po

“Networking is not what you can get, it's what you can give. If you’re willing to give and to give over time and to give without an ulterior motive, then more than likely if you need something it will be available in the network that you’ve established already because you gave first.” - Kymberli Speight (USAFA ‘87) Kymberli Speight (USAFA ‘87) is passionate about helping people build relationships. While completing a challenge to meet 100 people in 100 days, Kymberli learned how to be intentional about meeting and connecting with people, and her life has never been the same. Her book, I Need to Know You gives practical and applicable tips and “how-to” examples that help others improve personal and professional connections. While serving as a Contracting Officer in the U.S. Air Force, Kymberli made lots of connections and lived in places as far north and east as Maine, as far south as Texas, and as far west as Hawaii and Okinawa, Japan.  In this episode, we discuss: How Kymberli’s work with veterans in career

“Abandon the fantasy of, hey, I’m going to get to this level and have everything figured out. That’s a dangerous mindset to have because you should always be trying to get better and learn more and keep pushing yourself...don’t have the grass is greener mentality. The comparison game will kill you. It’s always a grind and I have utmost patience and respect for anybody putting themselves out there and trying to build something. It’s not easy and it takes support and it takes a whole team of people (peers, team members, family).” - Mike Nemeth (USMA ‘04)  Mike Nemeth (USMA ’04) is an SABM podcast regular, best known across the Service Academy community for his hilarious pranks that capture the spirit of the Army/Navy rivalry.  We’re excited to talk with him again this year during Army/Navy week. In addition to his role as the community prankster, Mike is also a very successful entrepreneur who has built Emblem Athletic, a very successful apparel business from the ground up. In this episode, we discuss: How Mik

“It’s great to get together with like-minded individuals to discuss the things that bring us together and certainly, the vetrepreneur community that we’re part of is something that’s growing and thriving...we wanted to create a fund that addressed the veteran network because we know how veterans have this incredible ability to execute and get things done. They’ve served their country, they continue to serve when they take off that uniform, and want to continue to make that same difference. That’s really the catalyst behind Veteran Ventures Capital. We’ve developed it, we’ve grown it, we’ve had some challenges, but just like a typical veteran, we’ve adapted and overcome.” - Derren Burrell   “We all know and believe that veterans make great entrepreneurs for a variety of reasons: leadership, teamwork skills, mission-focused, effectiveness, perseverance and grit...all those things contribute to making the founding principles of good business leaders. And yet, even though we have those data points and even though

“When starting a business, subject matter expertise makes all the difference and it gives you credibility.”  - Simone Zacharias, USAFA ‘12  Simone Zacharias is an Acquisitions Officer in the U.S. Space Force and COO and Co-Founder of GoBeagle, Inc, a company that helps business owners conquer corporate compliance by helping them keep all their legal entities in good standing. She graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 2012 and obtained her MBA from UCLA Anderson School of Business Management this year. Simone excels at problem-solving and thrives in her job roles at GoBeagle, Inc. and in the U.S. Space Force. We learned a lot from talking to Simone and we’re honored to be her first podcast appearance. In this episode, we discuss: What Go Beagle does and why Simone started the company Why legal entity management is important to every business The ramifications of falling behind with corporate compliance Why business owners need to take responsibility for legal entity management How the U.S. Air Force Ac

“I am extremely happy...waking up and going to work everyday is fun. The "Sunday Scaries," those feelings you get before going back to work on Monday, are gone. It’s fantastic.” -Beth Sutey (USMA ‘07) Before leaving active duty military service, Beth Sutey served in Italy, Afghanistan and Iraq. Following active duty, Beth worked for Amazon.com in Transportation Execution and joined the U.S. Army Reserves in a Training Support Battalion. After working for Amazon, Beth held managerial positions at other companies of varying sizes and industries before mobilizing to Fort Bliss with her Reserve unit. After over three years in operations and contracting with the Army Corps of Engineers, the video production company she owns with her husband grew to where she was needed there full-time as a producer. Eligo (el-eh-go) Inc. is a full-service video production company with two branches Eligo Studios and Eligo Video, and is focused on commercial and corporate video content with an emphasis on digital marketing.  In this

“I always struggled to fit into a mold...people in Africa didn’t want to fit me into a mold, they wanted to know who I was. There was no mold to fill and I really held onto that. I saw the impacts of having genuine conversations with people with no expectations or knowledge on either side of who the other person was or who they were in the past. Those interactions are liberating and we’re trying to create and encourage these types of interactions at the farm.”  - Gerardo Martinez (USNA ‘11) We’re delighted to welcome Gerardo Martinez back to the SABM podcast. The last time we spoke, Gerardo told us about his role as CEO of Triple Leadership Direct, a company he founded that provides experiential leadership development training utilizing the outdoors. Gerardo is still CEO of Triple Direct Leadership, but a lot has changed since then! After an experience in Africa inspired him to invest in a farm, Gerardo is now creating a business and community enterprise centered around human interaction with a goal to improv

“For me, the greater the challenge, the more fun it will be.” - Scott Chesson Scott Chesson (USNA ‘84) is a highly experienced finance executive with over 20 years of experience as the CFO of several small to medium-sized businesses. After graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy with a mathematics degree, Scott served as a Surface Warfare Officer and got a masters degree in accounting. In 2020, Scott founded CFO 4Vets, where he currently specializes in liberating small business owners’ time from financial entanglement while helping their businesses grow revenue, profits, and value. His services offer entrepreneurs a wealth of on-demand financial wisdom at a fraction of the cost of hiring a full-time CFO.  In this episode, we discuss: How and why Scott became a CFO The benefits of finding and having a specialty Scott’s first few jobs after serving in the military and how he became a business owner What triggered Scott to found CFO 4Vets and the rewards of his current role Tips on how to recognize when your bus

“We work with people who are unwilling to accept that life is going to be boring...people who want to go out and grow together, to be excited, to make things an adventure, to look at the next challenge as a mountain to climb rather than a drudgery to push through. We’re looking for people who want to be better leaders, who want to show up more authentically and more intentionally as leaders, and who want to learn how to do that by canoeing or rock climbing or climbing mountains or backpacking and exploring.” -Knight Campbell Knight Campbell is Outdoor Guide, Leadership Coach and CEO of Cairn Leadership Strategies. His outdoor leadership programs fuse rigorous leadership study with gritty outdoor adventures designed to transform the lives and work environments of emerging leaders, business owners, and company executives. Before Cairn Leadership Strategies, Knight served as a U.S. Navy helicopter pilot, managed crucial military air operations, and taught leadership courses for the U.S. Naval Academy. In this ep

“What would you do if you knew you would not fail? Fail as many times as you need to be successful. You only fail when you quit.” - Randy Wimmer (USNA ‘91) We’re so excited to have Randy Wimmer (USNA ‘91) on the SABM podcast today.  After 10 years of active duty military service, Randy launched his first Federal Government contracting company from his home after his kids went to bed and later sold it for 8-figures. With nearly thirty years either in or supporting the Federal Government, Randy is the ultimate “industry insider,” having owned multiple successful contracting companies. In 2018, he launched the Government Contracting Academy to mentor, coach and train aspiring entrepreneurs to achieve financial success in the Federal Government contracting market. In this episode, we discuss: What led Randy into the government contracting industry Why Randy launched the Government Contacting Academy How the Government Contracting Academy works What makes military veterans the most highly qualified individuals fo

“Instead of thinking about re-growing hair, we’re helping men to embrace and accept hair loss. Our mission is to empower the bald and balding to live their best lives through our online community and we’ve created a skincare routine around that...I struggled with losing my hair and created MANTL,Inc. to help men through that process.” -Pete Ricci (USMA ‘02)   Pete Ricci is CEO and Co-Founder of MANTL, Inc., a company that specializes in empowering the bald and balding through community and a line of specialized skincare products. He brings over 17 years of experience and expertise in sales, sales operations, strategy, and leadership development to the business. Prior to his business career, Pete served as an officer in the US Army, which included two tours of duty in Operation Iraqi Freedom. In this episode, we discuss: What his company MANTL, Inc. does and why he started it How MANTL, Inc. is filling a gap in the men’s skincare market How Pete built the MANTL, Inc. online community and why it’s so important

“Nothing will ever feel as good as striking someone out in front of 40,000 people, but helping new clients realize what they can accomplish for their families with the financial resources they have and seeing the look of relief and amazement on their faces comes pretty close.”  - Mitchell Harris (USNA ‘08) In this episode, we discuss: How Mitch balanced military service and a professional baseball career  How the U.S. Naval Academy helped him realize his dream Transitioning between military service, professional baseball and a career in finance Why Mitch is passionate about being a financial advisor We also discuss Mitch’s deployments with the U.S. Navy as a Surface Warfare Officer, how pitch practice on the flight deck made him a more accurate player, and how Mitch got back into baseball shape following his military service. We loved talking to Mitch about how he managed multiple career transitions and why he decided to become a financial advisor. It’s awesome to hear how he is leveraging the skills he gai

“It’s a specialty field, but if you can find and understand the risk, you can find the potential value to capture on a real estate purchase...I heard it described as a bond investment wrapped in real estate and I resonate with that. There’s consistent cash flow securitized by the credit of the company and there’s a lot of value in that because there aren’t tons of players in that space right now.” - Neil Wahlgren (USAFA ’04)   Neil Wahlgren (USAFA ‘04) is COO of MAG Capital Partners, a commercial real estate firm specializing in industrial sale leaseback structured investment and development, which creates value through institutional leases and long-term alignment with proven tenants. The firm’s dedicated in-house credit analysis, construction management, asset management and investor support staff contribute to their growing success. Prior to working at MAG Capital Partners, Neil served as a C-130 Hercules pilot for the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy. In this episode, we discuss: How MAG Capital Partners find

“Sometimes old rules are the best...be nice to your friends, treat people well, and if there’s someone you want to meet, provide them with value." - Jason Williscroft (USNA '95) Jason Williscroft is a U.S. Navy veteran and Founder and CEO of Tribify, LLC, an enterprise-grade, AI-enhanced data management system that leverages the power of social networking to help businesses find future customers, capture their attention, and engage with them at scale. As a software engineer with a streak for mathematics, Jason focuses on the design and implementation of Master Data Management and Data Quality systems and the development of software tools to empower Data Governance Organizations and the engineers who serve them.  In this episode, we discuss: Why Jason built Tribify, LLC How Tribify helps business owners identify and connect with their best customers Best practices for connecting and networking with potential customers on LinkedIn Why thoughtful, approachable business owners attract good customers Jason also

Joe is a financial attorney and co-owner of ASR Alternative Investments with over 20 years of experience in both the legal and financial industries. After graduating with a degree in Electrical Engineering from the United States Air Force Academy, Joe was commissioned and served as an A-10A Thunderbolt II fighter pilot and was stationed in the United Kingdom and West Germany. Joe also received his Masters of Science in Business Administration from Boston University and his JD from the University of Texas School of Law. If that’s not impressive enough, he also worked as a commercial airline pilot!  In this episode, we discuss: How Joe made the transition from fighter pilot to financial attorney How and why he co-founded ASR Alternative Investments Why his company pivoted to the debt industry  Current trends in the debt market  Tips for raising capital and the importance of finding your market  Joe also talks about the unique structure of his company’s funds and trusts, the difference between Regulation D Rul

Hersh Rai and Nick Vu (USNA ‘19) have set the record for the youngest Academy grads on the podcast!  Hersch and Nick are both active duty in the Navy, stationed in Hawaii and Florida, and are partners in RaiVu Capital, a real estate investment firm that invests in multifamily real estate and mobile home parks. In this episode, we discuss: How they got started in real estate investing and how they landed their first deal How connections in the veteran community helped jump start their business Their best tips for starting a real estate side-hustle   Connect with Hersh and Nick:  Hersh Rai Nick Vu RaiVu Capital   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 Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher Leave us a 5-star review! Special thanks to Her

Click here to register for the Real Estate Investing Accelerator 2.0 Discovery Webinar on Saturday, September 18th! “People love the content, the fact that it’s military and action-based...I care about helping people get closer to their goal of financial freedom. That’s it. The results people have attained has skyrocketed because of how the course is structured. We all sharpen each other. The network grows more powerful with each course we complete. We’re about helping military veterans create financial freedom so they can unleash their talents on the world. We’re a coalition and a family.” -Buddy (Edward) Rushing (USNA ‘04) Nearly 200 people have graduated from the Real Estate Investing Accelerator led by Buddy Rushing (USNA ‘04) and his team at White Feather Investments. We’re excited to announce the launch of Real Estate Accelerator 2.0 in January 2022! A Discovery Webinar is scheduled for Saturday, September 18th and we’d love you to join the call if you want to learn more. Ten people are already signed u

“I’m really passionate about understanding as much as possible and sharing as much as possible on what it takes to be successful as a small B2B business owner...whether you’re a client or not. It’s a tough job and we’re here to guide B2B business owners through the process.” -David Wuensch (USMA ‘77) Following graduation from West Point, David served as an Artillery Officer in the U.S. Army. He went on to become a successful sales executive and now has over 25 years of experience in sales and marketing and over 15 years of experience leading sales teams. David is currently President and Founder of Epoch Sales Management Solutions and also leads the B2B Circle in our 10X Vets program where he focuses on helping small B2B Business owners achieve sustainable revenue growth. His knowledge and experience when it comes to sales is second to none and he’s passionate about sharing this wisdom with others.  In this episode, we discuss: How to hire a good sales representative Tips for leading and managing top sales re

“If you can get the right tools behind you and understand where your vision will take you, there are no limits to what you can do.” - Greg Martin (USAFA ‘98)   Greg Martin (USAFA ‘98) is a Principal at The Enginuity Group in Charlotte, North Carolina where he provides boutique M&A services including buy-side advising, sell-side advising, business scaling, and other M&A services. Greg’s military service established a foundation of integrity, service, and excellence, which informs every relationship that he builds and every transaction he advises. Greg is also an accounting professor. His primary research interest in financial accounting includes earnings management, fundamental analysis, audit quality, and financial reporting quality.  In this episode, we discuss: Greg’s background and what led to his career in M&A What The Enginuity Group does and who they work with Expert insights into company valuation and buyer profiles Financing strategies for military veteran entrepreneurs and business owner

I want to share our story. Our goal is to help you figure out what your next step is. I’d love to hear from you and connect, not only with the real estate side of things, but also if you’re interested in RV living, mountain biking, or traveling around America the Beautiful.” - Victor Thompson (USAFA ‘07)   Victor Thompson (USAFA ‘07) is a lifestyle entrepreneur, real estate investor, and military veteran. His successful real estate investing business, Zero Gravity REI serves the South Carolina and Georgia markets and is focused on single family and small multi-family properties. Victor is focused on becoming a master communicator and solution provider. He’s passionate about building meaningful relationships and helping others exceed their potential. He believes that if you want to go far, go together. His goal is to help provide safe, clean, and affordable housing, to make his investors money, and to continue to grow his business partnership. In this episode, we discuss: How Victor became interested in real