Veteran Entrepreneurs

Merica Bourbon Founder Derek Sisson warns aspiring entrepreneurs “When you decide to make that leap into starting your own business, brace for impact.”  Nonetheless he has great advice to share in our latest Veteran Entrepreneur segment. Derek served five years as a Force Recon Marine and compares the Special Forces to the “entrepreneurs” of the military world. After leaving the Corps he was forced into entrepreneurship because he needed to make a living but “..there weren’t a lot of companies [...]

AZ Shooter's World CEO Phillip Roux thought they had a pretty diverse customer base – until the COVID Crisis hit. This Veteran Entrepreneur feature explores doing business in the time of crisis – in an industry that has seen a tremendous impact. Phil had a number of family members who served in the military so joining the Army reserves seemed a natural path. He volunteered for a special assignment supporting various agencies doing drug interdiction along the US-Mexico border. When [...]

Battle Bars was inspired out of a family tragedy. Now this Veteran owned and operated company is making waves in the protein bar industry and giving back to their communities along the way. Company co-founder and Chief Operations Officer Ian Sparks (Army Combat Engineer) and CEO Alex Witt (Navy Master-At-Arms) join us for a Veteran Entrepreneur feature. Like many entrepreneurial efforts, Battle Bars initially capitalized the company by going the “standard” route of talking to family and friends about their [...]

Break It Down Show producer and host Pete Turner refined his cultural skills in “some of the most harsh work environments possible” - Bosnia, Iraq and Afghanistan.  He served over 70 months in combat zones as a counterintelligence specialist for the Army, Department of Defense and State Department. Pete Turner at Work His primary job was to be outside the wire “..trying to figure out what was keeping us from winning.”  Because he was able to develop relationships [...]

Riton Optics Founder and CEO Brady Speth is featured in our Veteran Entrepreneur segment.  Brady is an Air Force Veteran and also a former member of the US Capital Police. BBG with Riton Optics CEO Brady Speth After serving as an air traffic controller, he returned to college to complete a business degree.  However, Brady missed the comradery he had in the military so when the opportunity to join the Capital Police came up he moved to DC. [...]

Jeff Bosley has faced tougher challenges than trying to make it big as an actor. He has served as a Green Beret medic and a firefighter so his “spectrum of suck” is probably wider that others in Hollywood. Like most of his generation, Jeff grew up playing with GI Joes and watching action films. He began his college career studying medicine and taking a few acting courses, but military service was always in the back of his mind. When 9/11 [...]

Heroes Media Group Founder and CEO Adam Bird is our featured Veteran Entrepreneur for this episode.  Adam founded Heroes Media Group (A digital media branding and publishing company) to give a voice to our community heroes and those who support them. Adam enlisted in the Army National Guard after high school. His entry into communications and media was by accident; he “cut his teeth” in radio at KFNX in Phoenix and then began podcasting. Originally, Heroes Media Group was to [...]

There is a critical distinction between the Martial Arts and Martial Sciences.  Today’s guests clarify the differences and teach us more about the science of protection. Johnny Linebarger is the CEO and Director of Training for KoSho Martial Training Institute. He spent 9 years in the US Air Force as a specialist in aerospace security. He is a three time All-American and holds nine world titles in sport karate competition. John Viol started training in martial sciences 1967. He was [...]

Peter Sherayko volunteered for the Air Force just as the Vietnam War was getting started.  He then volunteered to go to Vietnam. (L-R) Peter Sherayko, BBG, John Eslinger Upon returning home he continued his college education but was becoming disillusioned with his field of choice. Following a fluke conversation with a radio show, Peter decided he wanted to become a radio disc jockey. Coincidentally, the commander of the local Air National Guard squadron owned the local radio station. [...]

Hank Robinson, Hanro Studios Freedom Blues is Hank Robinson’s monument of honor to his fellow warfighters and Veterans. He is our first featured Veteran Entrepreneur story for 2018. Hank is a Veteran of three deployments himself; Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan. He joined right after the 9/11 attacks. During his 9/12 Army career he earned a Bronze Star with Valor and an Army Commendation Medal with Valor. But when he separated, he found himself unable to find work, getting [...]