Veteran On the Move

Ray Zinn, the longest-serving CEO in Silicon Valley history, joins the show to share the discipline required to lead a company for 37 years. From his roots as the oldest of 11 on a cattle ranch to inventing the Wafer Stepper and co-founding Micrel, Ray’s journey is a masterclass in grit. We discuss the "boot camp" phase of starting a business, the benefits of self-financing, and his "Tough Things...

In this episode, Joe talks with Christian LeFer, the Founder and CEO of Instant Nonprofit. Christian’s journey began as the son of a Navy veteran and through early involvement with the Special Olympics, giving him a front-row seat to the power of service. After experiencing the frustrations of the nonprofit application process firsthand, he dedicated his career to removing the 'red tape' for other...

In this episode of Veteran On the Move, Navy veteran Valentin Contreras and program lead Elly Dickerman discuss the challenges of transitioning from military service to the private sector. Despite his experience as a Hospital Corpsman, Valentin faced significant difficulty finding his footing, eventually applying to 46 jobs with little success before connecting with Spectrum’s Military Recruiting...

In this episode, Sam Alaimo, a former Navy SEAL and Co-founder of ZeroEyes, discusses his transition from elite military service to the forefront of AI-driven public safety. After completing his degree on active duty and navigating the shift from a final deployment to Columbia University, Sam found his true calling by co-founding ZeroEyes to combat gun violence through innovative gun-detection tec...

Air Force veteran and serial entrepreneur Michael "Buzz" Buzinski details his decade of military service and his post-transition path, which began with a recording studio before evolving into a 100% remote, strategy-first marketing firm. Buzz argues that businesses need to move past "random acts of marketing" and adopt a structured approach, focused on a clear strategy for predictable growth. His...

Veteran Ron Beckner, who served 24 years across the U.S. Navy, Coast Guard, and Naval Reserves, shares his unique story from a career as a pipe fitter to the founder of Peaks Integrity Wealth Management. Driven by his working-class background and military integrity, Ron emphasizes the critical need for financial education among working-class Americans, viewing money as a tool and stressing smarter...

This episode of Veteran On the Move features Navy Veteran Robert DeLaurentis, a successful real estate entrepreneur, two-time solo aviation circumnavigator, and the founder of the Citizen of the World for the World peace movement. In this episode, Robert details his transition from service, explaining how he applied military qualities like honesty, hard work, and relationships to successfully buil...

This week, we welcome Army veteran RJ Blake, Founder and CEO of Blake Willson Group (BWG), a technology-enabled CPA firm reshaping service to federal defense and civilian agencies. RJ details his unique 12-year journey from military service to achieving Big Four success, explaining how he applied his deep understanding of military operations to the federal audit space and ultimately founded BWG. H...

How do you transform a good company into a great one? We talk to Chris Hallberg, the Business Sergeant, who blends military discipline with modern strategy. As an Army National Guard veteran, serial entrepreneur, and scaling coach, Chris shares his no-nonsense approach to rapid growth. Listen in to learn the critical need for an Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS), how to get the "right people...

This episode is essential for veteran entrepreneurs who want to stop chasing bad leads and start building a high-value business ready for a profitable exit. Mark Osborne dives into why "sales is a process, not an event." He shows how founders can leverage their military discipline to implement predictable, scalable B2B revenue systems. He shares that the goal is to maximize your company's Enterpri...

On this episode of Veteran On the Move, host Joe Crane interviews a powerful father-son duo, Steven, a retired Army General, and Adam, an Army veteran. Together, they've channeled their military discipline into successful entrepreneurship as multi-unit owners of a PuroClean franchise. They discuss their journey from the military into the restoration industry, sharing why they chose the proven, sys...

In this episode, host Joe Crane talks with Tony DeMaio, founder of Helping Heroes USA. Tony shares his unique pivot from being a successful football coach and entrepreneur to leading a non-profit dedicated to suicide prevention for veterans, active-duty personnel, and first responders. Tony provides a crucial message for non-veteran allies: the most powerful action you can take is to simply listen...

This week on Veteran On the Move, we welcome Tony Crescenzo, a Marine Corps veteran whose incredible journey spans from counter-intelligence and working undercover for NIS (NCIS) to the technology C-suite. Tony shares his remarkable pivot from military life, including a wrongful court-martial that was later overturned, into becoming a sought-after "CEO for hire" for tech startups. He emphasizes th...

In this episode of Veteran On the Move, host Joe Crane sits down with Army veteran and financial advisor, Jeff Panik, the founder of Balance Wealth Partners. Jeff, who leveraged his military service to pay off college loans and build a 25-year career in finance, shares a unique perspective on the veteran transition and retirement planning. He discusses the crucial need for veterans to secure conne...

This episode of Veteran On the Move features Air Force retiree Nikki Allmann and her husband, Bobby Allmann, a 20-year law enforcement veteran, as they discuss their post-service pivot to wellness entrepreneurship. Nikki shares how a personal struggle with mental health during her transition led her to shift her career focus from military paralegal to health and wellness. Both Nikki and Bobby deta...

Host Joe Crane sits down with Army Veteran and business coach Cal Riley to explore a critical component of post-military success: compassion as a leadership system. Cal shares his journey from a high-stakes military career to unexpectedly running a family construction business, highlighting how the discipline of the Army mindset fuels entrepreneurial drive. He reveals the profound, personal traged...

On this episode of Veteran On the Move, Melissa Broughton, the founder of Busy Bee Advisors, shares her journey from corporate America to entrepreneurship. Melissa created The 1-Hour Bookkeeper, an online course designed to help veterans, military spouses, and stay-at-home parents launch their own bookkeeping businesses. She discusses her goal to impact 1,000 military families and the process of b...

In this episode of Veteran on the Move, we feature Dr. John J. Kaplan, a retired Air Force Officer and the Director of the VA Technology Transfer Program (TTP). Dr. Kaplan shares his journey from a successful military career to his civilian role, discussing his dedication to continued learning and his transition into law. We explore how his desire to give back to veterans led him to the VA. Dr. Ka...

In this episode, host Joe Crane is joined by franchise coach and author Giuseppe Grammatico. Giuseppe shares his personal journey to achieving time freedom through business ownership, which he found by leveraging the proven systems of franchising. He discusses why franchising is not a passive investment, the specific qualities that make veterans successful franchisees, and the importance of findin...

In this episode, host Joe Crane talks with Don Yurick, franchisee and the Northeast Area Representative for Hammer & Nails, a luxury men's grooming salon. Yurick discusses his journey from Silicon Valley to becoming a franchise owner, driven by the desire to be his own boss. He explains what makes Hammer & Nails different from traditional barbershops and highlights the support they offer new franc...

This episode features Marine Corps veteran Edgar Zavala, who shares his journey from a diesel mechanic to a successful entrepreneur. Zavala discusses the challenges of military transition, the feeling of unfulfillment despite a high-paying job as a wind turbine technician, and his decision to take a risk by going all in on a new business. As a Global Financial Impact business partner, he now helps...

This episode of Veteran On the Move features Chris Moore, Director of Veteran Services at the New York Film Academy (NYFA) and a retired Command Sergeant Major. Chris shares his personal journey and the challenges veterans face when transitioning to higher education. He explains his role in helping veterans adapt and succeed as students, discussing common struggles and misconceptions, and highligh...

This episode, we sit down with U.S. Army veteran and entrepreneur Chas Sampson. He's the founder of Seven Principles, a company that has helped veterans secure over $300 million in VA disability benefits. Chas shares his insights on navigating the VA claim process, including common mistakes veterans make, the four key elements of a successful claim, and the impact of the PACT Act. We also get an e...

Welcome back to the show, Aaron Quinonez, aka Sgt. Q. He's here to share his Marine Corps journey, including his personal struggle with mental health after transitioning to civilian life. Sgt. Q emphasizes why leaders must invest in their teams' mental well-being and the inspiration behind his QActual app. Episode Resources: QMissions QActual     About Our Guest Aaron Sgt Q Quinonez is a decorated...

Tune in to the 600th installment of Veteran On the Move as Joe Crane sits down with Coast Guard Veteran Donny Hackett. Our guest is the visionary co-creator behind VeriDeal, a groundbreaking platform launching August 18th that promises to transform the world of tech sales. Don't miss this insightful conversation about innovation and entrepreneurship! Episode Resources: VeriDeal.io | sales achievem...