As we approach Memorial Day, we take a moment to remember and honor the fallen.

I’m thinking of those that have passed on, but also the many people I’ve had the immense privilege of getting to know through VOB Network—veterans and allies whose hearts are full of service and honor. The kind of people who don’t just speak gratitude…they live it, quietly, consistently, and with conviction.

That’s also why VOB Network exists. I’ve watched veterans and allies come together with a shared purpose: to help veteran entrepreneurs move from idea to action. We connect veterans with the resources, and support they’ve earned — and we walk beside them every step of the way. 

The Pineapple Creed is the heartbeat of how we show up:
Tough on the outside. Solid at the core. Grown to lead.
Grit in the armor. Gold in the heart. 

To those we remember this weekend: thank you. We won’t forget.
And to the people still serving—through business, through community, through showing up for others—thank you for carrying the mission forward.

#MemorialDay #Veterans #Service #VeteranOwned #VOBNetwork

Hi everyone,

Thanks for showing up for this week’s VOB Roundtable. I love how these calls keep bouncing between “real life” and “real resources” — and somehow we end up with practical next steps every time.

We started out getting to know Frank DiBartolomeo (retired U.S. Air Force Lt Col; public speaking coach for technical professionals at Speak Lead and Succeed / DiBartolomeo Consulting International). Frank shared he’s based in the Charleston, SC area, spent decades as an engineer + Toastmaster, and now helps technical people advance their careers through better public speaking — including 1:1 coaching, group courses, and conference talks. He also mentioned his book, “Speak Well and Prosper,” which he pulled together from years of presentation-focused blogs.

That opened the door for a quick author-to-author moment with Bill Haase (founder of Money Mindset Media; financial literacy educator, author, and podcast host), who noted he’s building a publishing footprint and offered encouragement around spreading your message. Alex Snyder (Army veteran; financial professional with New York Life in the Greater Boston area) was also in the mix early and gave a quick “yes” as the conversation flowed.

From there we shifted into a really meaningful thread Deb Plennert (Gold Star widow; founder of Precision with Honor Bookkeeping — supporting military families, veterans, first responders, and their family-owned businesses) brought to the group: VA education benefits updates and how we can help transitioning vets not fall through the cracks. Deb shared that her 27-year-old son was approved “yesterday” for Fry-related education benefits (something they didn’t think was possible), and that she’s been following changes closely while connecting dots between groups like Honor Box / Patriot Fund / Company Dogs Inc / Sierra Delta (all referenced in the call).

That led perfectly into Mike Hallopy (Director of the Service Dog Division + student coordinator/instructor at Highland Canine Training / School for Dog Trainers). Mike walked us through Highland Canine’s work across police/military canines, service dogs, and pet behavior/obedience — and then zoomed in on their 24-week Master Dog Trainer Program and the practical, hands-on nature of the training (including service-dog outings and bite-work practicals). Most importantly for this group: Mike confirmed Highland Canine is approved to accept VA education benefits for the program and outlined which chapters they’re currently working with. Lisa Bowers (Founder of Office Allies; executive-level admin support + remote bookkeeping) jumped in right there to reinforce what Chapter 35 is commonly used for, and Deb added detail on recent Chapter 35 changes for surviving spouses and children that may matter for vets and families exploring these paths.

Mike also made it clear he’s open to quick “what’s this all about?” phone calls with anyone considering the program, and he’s happy to be a resource for the veteran community. Deb and I also discussed syncing up with Highland Canine’s owner, Jason Ferguson to talk through partnership possibilities and how we can help get the right people into the right lanes.

Later in the call, Meade Kincke (veteran executive advisor; founder/CEO of Imperfektus and “The Recalibrator” speaker/coach) helped us think through podcast distribution and embedding. Meade suggested a simple solution: using a single YouTube playlist link so the site can display all episodes cleanly instead of embedding one at a time. That led into a bigger point: we’re building the member directory + community news + podcasts/resources area to create a sustainable engine that brings eyeballs (and opportunity) back to the VOB ecosystem.

From there, we welcomed back Nakisha Jolanda Gregory (U.S. Navy veteran; PR/relationship marketing + workforce development trainer; host/executive producer of Confidence On Command LIVE; also building community-driven brands like Baldie Brigade Apparel). Nakisha introduced herself as newly in Hawai?i (moved in December), with a heart for helping veterans build confidence and navigate the overwhelm of transition — “buffet style,” one plate at a time.

We also had a strong “Hawai?i thread” running through the call with Kelvin Ching (financial advisor in Hawai?i; Executive Managing Director at Mod Financial and lead at Kelvin Ching and Associates focusing on tax-free retirement strategies), Pete Tingstrom (retired U.S. Army LTC / Green Beret; co-owner of Aloha Oahu Weddings & Events on Kaneohe Bay), and Kevin M. Desler (U.S. Army veteran; cybersecurity specialist building the Cyber Wingman brand).

On the bookkeeping / tax side, Lisa reconnected with Dorothy Smith (Enrolled Agent; founder of DMS Bookkeeping Inc in Memphis; former Air Force financial management professional specializing in tax resolution and helping people respond to IRS letters). Dorothy is actively leaning toward taxes, Lisa is actively leaning away from taxes — which makes this a pretty natural partnership fit.

We then heard from Anitha L. Srinivasan (principal AI engineer; founder/leader behind UpThriveHQ — career trajectory intelligence for veteran transitions). Anitha shared how UpThriveHQ maps skills into viable “role clusters” and uses an AI + probability component to identify the top 20% skills that can drive 80% of the results needed for a target role. Nakisha immediately raised her hand to connect, especially with her capstone project coming up — and I reinforced that making introductions is part of what I do. 

Deb also gave a shout-out to Mike “Buzz” Mallon Jr. (U.S. Marine Corps veteran; founder/managing partner at Storyteller Promotions — branded merchandise + culture-driven recognition and event experiences), noting his veteran-heavy chapter community (“Tropic Thunder”) and the strong environment he’s built.

That opened the door to a very practical benefits + business conversation with Gb De Leon (independent insurance broker with USA Benefits Group; also building a regenerative ranching mission alongside his insurance work). Gb shared how he thinks about helping veterans and families leverage options like ChampVA and individualized plans — and then expanded the lens to small businesses, emphasizing that individualized insurance planning can create real cost savings and more flexibility for both employer and employee.

Before we wrapped, we got a quick slice of “where in the world are you” from Mark Spenelli (U.S. Army veteran; CDL-A driver and founder behind a veteran-centered rural property / tiny-home + RV campground model through Nature’s Edge Management). Mark shared he was out near Kentucky Lake / Tennessee River area at the moment.

JR Allan Rey Bilbes (U.S. Navy veteran; entrepreneur with trucking + real estate interests, including SUM DUM GUY LLC) then offered a time-sensitive heads-up: he’d seen news about funding for veterans pursuing a CDL, and he urged schools to apply for the grant before June 17, noting it’s connected to FMCSA and may help veterans avoid using GI Bill benefits for that training (details to be confirmed).

And finally, Chris Hunt (U.S. Navy veteran; President/CEO of Blue Prairie Synergy Solutions — program/project management, technical integration, risk management, and operational excellence) shared how BPSS supports both government and commercial clients — including “save-the-day” project management, auditing, data analysis and trend reporting, and strengthening security posture (identity access, continuity, disaster recovery, etc.). Chris also asked about the best way to share VOB through the Fort Worth Chamber network (where he’s plugged in), and he offered to help bring in people who can enrich the program.

Reminder: if you haven’t yet, go grab your free directory profile and post anything you want shared here under Community News — events, asks, offers, wins, partnerships, all of it.

See you on the next one,

Mahalo,

Kevin Jackson
Co-Founder & Executive Director