We expected a lighter turnout heading into the holiday week, but the energy was as good as ever ? a mix of longtime faces and a couple of great new additions. Deb Plennert (founder, Precision With Honor Bookkeeping; deb@pwhbk.com) joined us fresh off a stop at Mead's pub, camera issues and all. She gave us an update on Sam Spam's new site, stage.com, launching its veteran section ? he's hosting Michelle Cleveland's Project 24/7 for free for at least a year, and also hosting Sentinel Veteran AI Solutions, a prediction-model tool that helps flag when a vet may be degrading so support can be offered proactively. Deb still needs to introduce Sam to QRF Up, which she's planning to bring into a partnership with the project.
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Gb De Leon (independent health & life insurance broker with USA Benefits Group; gdeleon@usabg.net) opened us up, working with business owners and 1099 contractors to build custom benefit strategies instead of one-size-fits-all group plans. He's still building his pipeline but is teaming up with Alexander Snyder (financial advisor with New York Life / Kaplan Family Financial; amsnyder@ft.newyorklife.com) to help protect veteran households. Alex shared a big week ? a new partnership with a well-known Massachusetts estate planning attorney and two booked speaking gigs, including one at MGM Springfield covering end-of-life financial and legal planning for families. He also dropped a great marketing story: handing out branded water bottles at concerts and tailgates until he became "the water bottle guy" around town.
That led into Bill Haase (founder, Money Mindset Media, author of Our Mindset on Money; info@moneymindsetmedia.com), who updated us on his financial literacy program for prison systems ? four pilot programs starting in Indiana in August, with nine more states already reaching out. He's also still chasing the dream of a signature event on the USS Missouri to spotlight the program, with live and virtual lead-up events planned before that.
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We welcomed Meghan Schmidt (operationv22@gmail.com), founder of Operation Valhalla 22, a Central Texas nonprofit getting veterans mental health support through therapy, life coaching, and movement modalities like jiu jitsu and muay thai. Great mission, and I connected her with Sara Vandenburg given the overlap.
Nikki Gianni (The Small Business Architect / GovCon Architect, USAF veteran; nikki.gianni@gmail.com) shared her work helping small businesses win government contracts, plus two things close to her heart: Sierra Delta's $3,500 service-dog training grants, and a book project collecting stories from veterans and their dogs ? reach out to her if you'd like to contribute.
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Bill Clement (energy broker, Wise Energy Solutions; bill@wisenergysolutions.com) explained how he helps businesses cut gas and electric bills 15?30% through supplier audits, plus a no-upfront-fee utility refund audit where he only gets paid out of money recovered.
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Mark Spenelli (owner, Nature's Edge Group, natures.edge.glampground@gmail.com), an Army veteran, shared his vision for an RV park split between a nonprofit side ? cabins and RV spots for active military, veterans, and first responders ? and a for-profit side funding it. He's actively searching for property, mostly in Kentucky.
That tied nicely into a conversation about veterans with land: I mentioned a vet who just closed escrow on 22 acres and is looking at harvesting timber to fund cabin construction. Between Mark's search, funding contacts, and folks with property already in hand, it's clear we should get a group conversation going.
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Frank DiBartolomeo (public speaking consultant, DiBartolomeo Consulting International, retired USAF Lt Col; frank@speakleadandsucceed.com) offered his interview coaching background to any veteran prepping for job interviews ? he's also a 36-year Toastmaster if anyone wants to sharpen their own speaking skills.
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Brian Davis (CEO, Stealth Tech Services, SDVOSB managed service provider; briand@stealth-tech-services.com) walked us through IT support, cybersecurity, and smart lighting solutions, including a good rundown on why EV charging stations quietly draw power even when nothing's plugged in.
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Jim Mills (co-owner, EnCompass Background Screening Solutions, 21-year Navy submarine veteran; jmills@encompass411.com) told us about a background-screening referral for a new Minnesota animal rescue, and later raised a good question on nonprofit fundraising fee structures ? flat fee vs. percentage-based ? that sparked a useful back-and-forth with Mark Salmon, EA (Mark's Tax Service, Atlanta; mark@marksalmon.tax), Mike "Buzz" Mallon, and myself on the ethics of it.
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Lisa Bowers (founder, Office Allies; lisa@officealliesllc.com) shared how her team gives business owners breathing room by handling everything from executive assistant to fractional COO work ? and notably, they intentionally hire military spouses so they can keep working wherever the military sends them.
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Mike "Buzz" Mallon (founder, Storyteller Promotions; info@storytellerpromotions.com), a Marine Corps veteran, talked branded merchandise and events, and is also president of Tropic Thunder, a veteran-centric networking group that meets Thursday mornings.
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Kelvin Ching (Kelvin Ching and Associates / Mod Financial; kchingandassociates@gmail.com) closed us out with a great resource for nonprofits and businesses sitting on idle cash ? a high-yield deposit account earning close to 3% with $50 million in FDIC coverage, well above standard limits.
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VOB Update: I'm now posting these recaps on the Community News page instead of the email list, which had grown to almost 200 people. If you've registered but haven't finished your profile yet, please complete it ? that's how people find and connect with each other on the site.
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Everyone is encouraged to complete their free VOB member profile. I can see that several people have registered but have not yet finished setting up their profiles. If anyone runs into difficulty completing their profile, adding a business listing, posting Community News, or navigating the site, please reach out ? I'm happy to help.
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Thanks again to everyone who joined, shared, asked, offered, and connected. This is exactly what we want the VOB Roundtable to be: veterans and supporters helping each other find the people, tools, services, and opportunities that move missions forward.
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And with the holiday landing on America's 250th birthday this year, happy 4th of July to everyone ? enjoy the milestone.
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Mahalo,
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?Kevin????
