Hi everyone,
We had another strong VOB Roundtable this week, and I want to start by thanking Clay Hicks (Founder and CEO of H7 Network, VOB Vice Chair for Community & Network Development, and B2B networking strategist; clayton@h7network.com) for stepping up and leading the pace and format of the meeting. I was there, but Clay really helped guide the room, keep things moving, and make sure people had space to introduce themselves, share updates, and look for ways to help each other.
That set the tone for a good mix of introductions, updates, practical asks, and the kind of “who do you know?” connection-making that keeps this community moving.
Early in the call, Alexander “Alex” Snyder (Army veteran and Massachusetts-based financial professional with New York Life, focused on family financial planning, insurance, retirement, and veteran/first-responder communities; amsnyder@ft.newyorklife.com) connected with Clay. Alex had already heard that Clay was a “connection-making king,” and Clay shared a quick update on H7’s continued expansion, including Fort Mill, South Carolina.
Frank DiBartolomeo (retired U.S. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel, public speaking coach, author, and founder of DiBartolomeo Consulting International / Speak Lead and Succeed; frank@speakleadandsucceed.com) joined from the Charleston area and talked about the real challenge of networking: it’s not always the money, it’s the time. Later, Frank shared a great speaking lesson from a recent Tennessee Society of CPAs workshop where his slides failed visually, forcing him to rely on his presentation skills and carry the room anyway.
Bill Haase (founder of Money Mindset Media, author of “Our Mindset on Money,” and financial literacy educator; info@moneymindsetmedia.com) jumped in with a laugh about being told he needs to get on TikTok, while already feeling stretched thin.
Deb Plennert (Gold Star widow and founder of Precision with Honor Bookkeeping, serving military families, veterans, first responders, and mission-driven small businesses; deb@precisionwithhonorbookkeeping.com) said she wanted to feature Bill on her book talk and also gave a shout-out to Alicia Nordman (St. Augustine-based social media manager and short-form video specialist with Alicia’s Social Media; alicia.nordman@gmail.com) for the TikTok class Alicia had done previously.
Alicia later introduced herself more fully, sharing that she is not a veteran, but her daughter is a disabled veteran and her family has deep military and law enforcement ties. She gave practical advice for anyone trying to build social media momentum: work with the algorithm, do not just post commercials, and document the real human story behind the mission.
Kelvin Ching (Kaneohe, Hawaii-based financial advisor with Kelvin Ching and Associates / Mod Financial, focused on tax-free retirement strategies and financial efficiencies for families and businesses; kchingandassociates@gmail.com; kelvin@modfinancial.com) shared more about the employee wellness program he is working on with Wayne Murray. He is looking for introductions to employers, preferably CFOs, with U.S.-based W-2 employees. He described the program as creating value for employers, increasing employee pay by roughly 2.7% through reimbursement programs, and including identity theft protection and recovery across three generations.
David Kidd Jr. (Marine Corps veteran, IT leader, problem solver, and Foundation Board President at The Lighthouse for the Blind) davidkidd@outlook.com was only able to stay briefly, but he shared a big milestone: Outside Activities has its first client. That’s the kind of simple progress update we always want to catch and celebrate. Congrats David!!!?
Gilberto “Gb” De Leon (retired Army Armor/Cavalry officer, Airborne Ranger, independent insurance broker with USA Benefits Group, regenerative farmer, and founder of De León Valor & Virtue Legacy; gdeleon@usabg.net; usabg.com/gdeleon) shared that he and Alex are partnering, with Alex focused on financial strategy and GB focused on the health side. GB also talked about working with Ramese on the “Hero Complex,” where different veteran-support resources can be connected together, and he made the point that these partnerships came directly through the VOB Network.
Joel Elfman (founder of BodyMind Hypnotic, hypnotist, performance coach, NLP practitioner, and active super-connector through Dynamite Networking Group; althealth2jme@gmail.com) jumped back into the room after being away for a bit and offered to help people make connections. He also shared that he is working on messaging, branding with AI, a workshop, and scripts to support his own work and others.
We also talked through the VOB website and directory. I reminded everyone that members can create a profile on VOBNetwork.org, The larger point is that the directory, profiles, business listings, and future marketplace are all being built to make it easier for veterans and supporters to find each other, support each other, and do business together.
Jim Mills (Navy veteran, VOB board member, and co-owner of EnCompass Background Screening Solutions, providing background checks, drug screening, tenant screening, pre-hire assessments, and skills testing; jmills@encompass411.com) introduced his company and explained that a great referral for him is anyone saying, “We’re hiring.” EnCompass helps clients make well-informed decisions when hiring employees, renting property, bringing in volunteers, or working with people who will be around children, seniors, homes, or vehicles. Jim also shared that the business is in its 13th year and is now focused on building the processes needed for its next stage.
Joel immediately offered to connect Jim with a friend in business development at Willory, which does HR and payroll placement. Jim welcomed that introduction. Joel also mentioned he wants to get on more podcasts, and I told him we have several people in the ecosystem who host shows.
Mark Spenelli (U.S. Army veteran, CDL-A truck driver, and founder behind Nature’s Edge Management, building a veteran-centered rural property model combining tiny-home community, respite, and RV/glampground sustainability; natures.edge.glampground@gmail.com) shared that he and his wife are heading toward Tennessee/Kentucky Lake to make contacts and look for support. Mark is working on veteran housing communities, and the current need is not just marketing or workforce help — it is connections to people with funding, lending, commercial real estate, lines of credit, or property-acquisition capacity.
Alicia encouraged Mark to video the journey, the properties, and the mission, because “people helping people” is exactly the kind of story that can build momentum online. Joel also offered a possible connection through Garrett Lang and Veritas OS.
Mike “Buzz” Mallon Jr. (Marine Corps veteran and founder/managing partner of Storyteller Promotions, helping businesses turn their stories into branded merchandise and memorable event experiences; info@storytellerpromotions.com) was also part of the broader room and remains a strong veteran-business connection in the VOB ecosystem. Look for Mike’s Tropic Thunder group meetings on Thursdays!
Toward the end, I talked about why the VOB resource directories matter. Too many veterans search for help and run into disconnected phone numbers, dead websites, outdated programs, or organizations that no longer respond. VOB is building a trusted, vetted resource hub so veterans and supporters can find people and organizations that actually show up.
Action Items
- Send me veteran-serving organizations worth vetting for the VOB Veteran Organizations Directory.
- Kelvin is looking for introductions to employers/CFOs with U.S.-based W-2 employees..
- Keep Mark’s veteran housing community mission in mind for funding, lending, real estate, or property-acquisition connections.
- Mark should capture video of the Tennessee/Kentucky Lake outreach journey.
Big thanks to everyone who showed up, shared what they are building, and looked for ways to help somebody else move forward. That is exactly what makes this roundtable work.
Mahalo,
Kevin Jackson
Co-Founder & Executive Director
Veteran-Owned Business Network
