Beyond the Uniform

J.J. Hollie is a Business Performance Advisor at Insperity, Army National Guard veteran, and former President and CEO of The Woodlands Area Chamber of Commerce. With a career spanning military service, telecommunications, chamber leadership, and business consulting, J.J. has dedicated his life to helping organizations grow through people-first leadership, strong relationships, and strategic busine...

Shane Shaltry is a U.S. Air Force veteran who served 15 years as a KC-135 crew chief and honor guard member, supporting missions around the world and honoring fellow service members through hundreds of military funerals. Raised in a large military family with 22 siblings, Shane followed a strong legacy of service alongside his father, […]

Jim Barnebee is the Founder and CEO of AIM-E (Artificial Intelligence Made Easy), a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business focused on helping organizations adopt AI with discipline, measurable ROI, and long-term architectural integrity. He holds 10 patents in Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Natural Language Processing, and has contributed to enterprise AI initiatives includin...

Parker Schaffel is a leadership coach, instructor, and team facilitator who specializes in working with high-performing teams who want to be even better. With more than a decade of experience, his client base spans the government, nonprofit, and corporate sectors, including supporting some of the largest companies in the United States. He has coached individuals […]

Andre Ankri is a visionary entrepreneur and technology strategist with more than a decade of experience spanning construction, security technology, and business development. As Founder and CEO of UTS Group, he leads the integration of advanced technologies and automation to create intelligent, secure, and scalable environments across Canada. In addition to UTS Group, Andre heads […]

Kevin Ruelas is an experienced international executive known for balancing hands-on leadership with high-level strategic vision. Equally comfortable rolling up his sleeves in operational environments or operating in the boardroom, Kevin brings a results-driven approach to scaling teams, strengthening performance, and charting sustainable growth paths for organizations. With multi-disciplined manag...

Mary McCorvey is a seven-time founder, U.S. military veteran, and creative powerhouse whose ventures span media, technology, and social impact. Her work lives at the intersection of innovation and storytelling, where she elevates bold ideas and brings them to life with purpose and heart. Most recently, Mary collaborated with Intuitive Machines, the pioneering Houston-based aerospace […]

Irene V. Glaeser, COL (Ret.) is a decorated U.S. Army Military Police veteran and the CEO of Spahr, a service-disabled, woman-owned small business delivering advanced IT solutions—including cybersecurity, software development, and cloud engineering—to federal and Department of Defense clients. Under her leadership, Spahr also manages two Small Business Administration Mentor-Protégé joint ventures...

Terron Sims is a combat veteran, national security expert, and graduate of West Point with over 30 years of leadership across the U.S. Army, Department of Defense, and federal government. He served in Iraq in 2003, where he helped establish local governance and worked alongside U.S. and international agencies. Terron has advised U.S. presidential candidates, […]

Derek Zahler is a former U.S. Army Special Forces soldier turned entrepreneur and strategist, currently serving as Managing Partner at Linden Brock Equity Partners and founder of C-SixB. With a background in high-stakes operations and a mindset honed by elite military training, Derek now brings that same clarity, adaptability, and executional rigor to the business […]

Darrin Glover is a seasoned human resources executive and U.S. Navy veteran with over 20 years of experience leading personnel, building systems, and driving organizational success. Throughout his decorated military career, Darrin specialized as a Yeoman, serving on four ships, completing seven combat deployments, and excelling in leadership roles, including military recruiting and joint assignmen...

Curtis Mohler is the Director of Strategic Operations & Integration at Crew Logistics, where he plays a key executive leadership role in driving strategy, growth, and operational excellence across the company’s public and private sector engagements. With 39 years of experience spanning the university, military, defense, and commercial sectors, Curtis brings unmatched expertise in federal...

James L. Castleberry is a retired U.S. military officer and the founder of Castleberry Coaching & Consulting and CEO of LeaderEI, a firm specializing in leadership development through emotional intelligence (EQ) strategies. With more than 25 years of leadership experience across the military, government, and private sectors, James helps organizations achieve measurable business results through...

Pardeep Singh is a U.S. military veteran and the co-founder of T3RA Logistics, a veteran-owned logistics firm dedicated to delivering precision-driven, technology-powered freight solutions. Founded in 2021, T3RA was built on the values of service, discipline, and adaptability—traits deeply rooted in Pardeep’s military background and translated into a thriving entrepreneurial journey. In his conver...

Dr. Tangela Harris is a Gulf War U.S. Army Veteran, transformation coach, international speaker, and author committed to helping others live by design—not by default. As the visionary behind God & I, Do… My Vow, she inspires people to reconnect with their faith, purpose, and personal power through daily intentional living. Her movement encourages self-care […]

Robert Danna brings over 50 years of diverse leadership experience across science, engineering, military service, technology, and human capital strategy. A former U.S. Navy Lieutenant Commander, physicist, consulting engineer, and executive at Deloitte, Bob’s journey reflects a “career lattice” shaped by his unwavering curiosity and adaptability. Now retired, he serves as a Fellow at the […]

Ryan Van Ornum is the founder and CEO of Cynergists, a company that delivers global talent and AI-powered customer service solutions to small businesses, with a focus on the trades and professional sports sectors. With a diverse background in technology, education, real estate, and business, Ryan is known for his innovative mindset, leadership, and unwavering […]

Amy Palmer is the President & CEO of Soldiers’ Angels, a national nonprofit dedicated to supporting service members, veterans, and their families. When she took the helm in 2013, the organization was on the brink of closure. Within two years, Amy led a powerful turnaround, transforming it into one of the most respected and efficient […]

Charles J Read is a CPA, U.S. Tax Court Practitioner, Vietnam Veteran, and Founder of GetPayroll, providing payroll and payroll tax services since 1991. With over 50 years of financial leadership, he’s the author of four books, including The Payroll Book, currently a top-ranked small business guide on Amazon. Trisha and Charles discussed the importance […]

Amy Reid is the Director of the Galveston County Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and a seasoned entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience in business ownership, human resources, marketing, and operations. Since 2010, she has successfully run her own business and has spent more than a decade coaching and advising fellow entrepreneurs. Passionate about […]

Raymond Giles, a seasoned travel advisor at REGal Luxury Travel based in Kingwood, TX, has turned a lifelong passion for exploration into a thriving career. Inspired by his father, a U.S. Navy veteran, Raymond followed in his footsteps, serving as a nuclear-trained machinist’s mate aboard the USS Miami. His time in the Navy fueled his […]

Lou Rosado Jr, a Southern New Jersey native with a Bachelor’s in Business Management, brings nearly two decades of leadership experience with a Fortune 50 company. He and his wife of 25 years have led meaningful community initiatives, including delivering relief supplies to Flint, Houston, and Puerto Rico during major crises. As Membership Director for […]

Uguanda Simpson, with Picture That Houston, is a retired Army veteran with over 28 years of military service. An Adjunct Professor and full-time serial entrepreneur. During her military career, Uguanda worked as an Information Systems Technology (IT) Professional, a field in which she continues to excel, bringing her clients the latest and greatest software developments […]

Amina Buric is the founder of Aeolus Group and a proud Navy veteran. At Aeolus Group, Amina and her team specialize in empowering solopreneurs and small to medium business owners by transforming their business visions into reality. They provide comprehensive consulting services that cover the full spectrum of business strategy, implementation, and execution. Many business […]

John Cacolice is an Army Veteran, veteran business owner, entrepreneur, devoted husband, father, and American patriot. As the Director of Business Mission for the Houston Regional Veterans Chamber of Commerce, John has always emphasized being a servant leader. He sees many great opportunities to support veterans and veteran-owned businesses in our community, aiming to provide […]