VET S.O.S. Presents Operation Startup

On this episode of the VET S.O.S. Network’s Veteran Entrepreneur Spotlight , host Maurice Murphy welcomes Michael Dermer , founder of The Lonely Entrepreneur and creator of the Veteran Entrepreneur Initiative (VEI) . Michael shares how he went from a successful corporate lawyer in New York City to launching the first company that rewarded people for healthy behavior—then nearly lost everything dur...

On this episode of the VET S.O.S. Veteran Entrepreneur Spotlight , host Maurice Murphy welcomes Brian Pultro , U.S. Navy Reserve Commander and co-owner of Pultro Financial Management , to share his powerful story of service, transition, and entrepreneurship. Brian opens up about the challenges of translating military experience into civilian success, the discipline it takes to build a business fro...

The VET S.O.S. Network’s Veteran Entrepreneur Spotlight welcomes Kate Hufnagel , founder of Digital Wrangler . With a 25-year career in the intelligence community and big tech, Kate now channels her skills into helping families and small business owners organize critical digital information—from passwords and documents to legacy planning—ensuring continuity and peace of mind when it matters most....

On this episode of the Veteran Entrepreneur Spotlight , part of the VET S.O.S. Network , host Maurice Murphy welcomes Jake Dyal , CEO and co-founder of Certis Core . Jake combines a distinguished military career with expertise in defense technology, building AI-driven solutions that are transforming how the Department of Defense uses robotics, data, and automation. Jake shares candid insights on:...

Guest: Jenna Griffith — military & first-responder spouse, author of Service & Soul , speaker, and workshop leader. Episode in a Sentence: Transition isn’t “back to normal”—it’s a whole new mission. Jenna shares how spouses can navigate identity shifts, heal past wounds, and rediscover purpose through community, faith, and practical tools. What We Cover Honest look at spouse-side transitio...

Army veteran Angeletha Long turned decades of logistics and operations into a thriving group-travel and retreat business. In this VET S.O.S. Veteran Entrepreneur Spotlight, Angeletha explains how she plans “door-to-destination” experiences with military-grade precision—coordinating accessibility, dietary needs, and excursions that reinforce a team’s goals. She also opens up about the hardest parts...

In this powerful episode of the VET S.O.S. Veteran Entrepreneur Spotlight , we welcome Rich Holley , a retired Navy air traffic controller turned financial literacy advocate. Rich is the creator of The Adventures of Buck Dollar —a children's book series and animated educational tool designed to teach kids how to save, invest, and build wealth from an early age. Rich shares his personal journey...

In this episode of the VET S.O.S. Veteran Entrepreneur Spotlight , we speak with Nicole (Pompei) Zettlemoyer—Marine and Air Force veteran, mom, and founder of Wreaths by Nicole P . What began as a creative way to repurpose an old uniform became a viral business now featured on major platforms like Fox News and CBS. Nicole discusses her dual-military transition, the inspiration behind her first wre...

In this episode of the VET S.O.S. Veteran Entrepreneur Spotlight , host Maurice Murphy sits down with retired Marine Corps Lieutenant Colonel Jason West, founder of Officers Eat Last . Jason opens up about his transition journey, the unpredictability of entrepreneurship, and the life-changing impact of servant leadership. Discover how he turned setbacks into strategy and how his consulting firm no...

Renea Jones-Hudson, U.S. Army veteran and founder of Beyond the Uniform , joins the Veteran Entrepreneur Spotlight to share her story of purpose-driven entrepreneurship. Discover how Renea transformed her military transition into a mission to help women veterans rediscover their voice, reframe their identity, and reintegrate with power and purpose. From personal training to leadership coaching, Re...

U.S. Army veteran Sepi Browning joins Maurice Murphy on the VET S.O.S. Veteran Entrepreneur Spotlight to share her journey from military medic to founder of Brighthour HIT Consulting Corporation , a veteran-owned healthcare IT consulting firm. Sepi explains how her military service shaped her entrepreneurial mindset, the challenges she faced entering the civilian workforce, and how she’s now leadi...

Career counselor and veteran advocate Leora Opstelten joins host Maurice Murphy for a powerful conversation on navigating military transition through career clarity and purpose. Leora discusses building her remote business, the emotional impact of her late husband’s transition, and how she helps veterans translate military experience into fulfilling civilian careers. Hear how Career Counseling by...

Join Maurice Murphy on the VET S.O.S. Veteran Entrepreneur Spotlight as he interviews Dr. Jeffrey Schwartz, a Marine Corps veteran and founder of Strategic Safety and Security Group. From CPR and AED training to large-scale school safety solutions, Dr. Schwartz brings his military and law enforcement experience to the civilian world—empowering others to do the same. This episode covers: The lesson...

In this powerful episode of the VET S.O.S. Veteran Entrepreneurial Spotlight, host Maurice Murphy sits down with U.S. Army combat veteran Philip T. Ayles, founder of Ayles Solutions LLC. From a rocky post-military transition to creating a mission-driven consulting company in Jacksonville, FL, Philip shares how emotional intelligence, veteran advocacy, and holistic coaching became his compass for i...

Todd Bigney, retired Air Force veteran and franchise coach with The Entrepreneur Source, joins us on the Veteran Entrepreneurial Spotlight to share his veteran entrepreneur journey. From floundering in the civilian workforce to discovering his purpose in coaching, Todd’s story is one of resilience, clarity, and service. He opens up about his early transition struggles, how assessments revealed his...

Child care shouldn’t be the reason a veteran can’t work, attend therapy, or go back to school. Yet for many, that’s the reality. In this Veteran Entrepreneur Spotlight episode, Kayla Corbitt , founder of Operation Child Care Project, talks with host Shawn Welsh about the invisible crisis of veteran child care access . From her own journey as a military spouse to launching a nonprofit that serves f...

Shannon Huffman Polson—one of the first female Apache pilots and founder of The GRIT Institute—joins the VET S.O.S. Veteran Entrepreneurial Spotlight to share her powerful story of transition, authorship, and purpose-driven leadership. In this episode, we discuss: Shannon’s military transition and reinvention How her writing evolved into a thriving business The GRIT Institute’s origin and holistic...

Jeremy Walker, retired Army SFC and founder of Helmets to Boots, joins the VET S.O.S. Veteran Entrepreneur Spotlight to discuss his journey from military intelligence to veteran advocacy. After a challenging transition, Jeremy launched a three-tiered platform that now supports veteran-owned businesses, educates corporations on military culture, and empowers families with vital resources. Jeremy sh...

On this episode of VET S.O.S. Veteran Entrepreneurial Spotlight , retired naval officer Maurice Murphy shares his inspiring transition story—from 24 years in the Navy to founding a successful real estate career and investment company in Northeast Florida. Maurice discusses the emotional ups and downs of leaving service, his decision to skip the GS route, and how entrepreneurship gave him freedom,...

Justin Henderson, Marine Corps veteran and founder of Veteran Hiring Solutions (VHS), joins the VET S.O.S. Veteran Entrepreneur Spotlight to discuss how VHS is changing the game in recruitment. By integrating video-based job descriptions, VHS brings authenticity, leadership, and emotional connection into the hiring process—empowering veterans to visualize their future roles and employers to unders...

Cole Samaroo, Marine Corps veteran and founder of Senior Tech Connect, joins the VET S.O.S. Veteran Entrepreneur Spotlight to share his powerful journey from military service to tech-based community impact. What started as a tribute to his late grandfather has become a nationwide movement empowering seniors through digital literacy, cybersecurity training, and AI-enabled support. Tune in to hear:...

Join VET S.O.S. as we spotlight Ryan Crittenden , Army Veteran and Certified Strengths Coach, who is transforming how leaders grow through authenticity and strengths-based coaching. Ryan discusses: His military transition and journey into entrepreneurship Building XL Coaching & Development Certifications in CliftonStrengths, Working Genius, and the John Maxwell Team The highs and lows of veter...

In this episode of the VET S.O.S. Veteran Entrepreneur Spotlight , we sit down with Dr. Anthony Randall , founder and president of Vanguard XXI and a retired Army Lieutenant Colonel with decades of leadership experience. Dr. Randall opens up about his personal journey into veteran entrepreneurship —starting with a paper route in Denver and culminating in launching a thriving coaching and leadershi...

🐾 Lazy Dog Training That Works! Meet Brittney Howard , an Air Force veteran and the force behind Dawg Boss , where she teaches dog owners how to train their pups without making it a full-time job . On this episode of VET S.O.S. – Veteran Entrepreneurial Spotlight , Brittney shares how she turned her passion for dogs into a thriving business, the surprising truth about separation anxiety , and why...

🎙️ Jewelry with a Mission: Wendy Hively on Empowering Military Families & Entrepreneurship In this episode of VET S.O.S. Veteran Entrepreneurial Spotlight , we sit down with Wendy Hively , a veteran Navy spouse, career scientist, and founder of CharlieMadison Originals . More than just a jewelry brand, CharlieMadison Originals is dedicated to fostering military community connections and giving...