Veteran Voices

There are over 40,000 veteran service organizations currently in existence. The number of resources can be frankly overwhelming. That's why Drew Stamp and the Donovan and Bank Foundation have leaned in to provide the Active Duty SOF community access to the VSO's that will serve them best. Listen in as Drew talks about his experience and the ethos behind his mission. 

Our guest speaker, Mike Refuerzo, discusses building an authentic LinkedIn presence alongside COMMIT's Meagan Thrift and Mike Greenwood add their insight on personal branding in digital environments.

Matt Kress is the Chief Strategy Officer at Headstrong. As a Marine Corps Veteran and former emergency responder, Matt has incredible insight into the complex world of PTSD and mental health services. The work Headstrong continues to do in the veteran and military space is game-changing.If you or someone you love is in need of stigma-free, evidence-based, no-cost mental health support, go to www.getheadstrong.org !

Zachary Collett, a former Navy submariner, knew he wanted his values to guide his post-service life. After connecting with COMMIT, he felt motivated to pursue his dream of owning a small business in a small town. Reggie Mills and Mike Greenwood provided the encouragement and push he needed to take the leap of faith in starting his own unique business.Zach's business began as a love of classic cars, good beer, and great times. Tap Truck Kansas offers a fully restored 1949 Chevy Thriftmaster panel truck that has been converted into a mobile bar. Listen in on how he navigated this process and got to a place where he is living his post-service life design. 

Amy Taft, Sr. Director of Education at COMMIT, military spouse, and leader of COMMIT's Family Transition Program hosts an in-depth discussion with three military spouses from different walks of life. Julie Hintz, a Marine Corps spouse, homeschool teacher, and freelance writer talks through her decision to step away from paid work and pivot to a caretaking role, enriching the lives of her daughters through homeschooling. Sarah Holley, a Marketing Executive, 12-year military spouse, and veteran advocate,  speaks to making strategic decisions while approaching major moves and life changes. Tricia Summers, a Navy spouse for over 20 years, Realtor and avid volunteer provides insight on fostering a strong partnership in transition with her spouse. This conversation is rich and full of solid advice for families in transition. 

Jason Roncoroni is an esteemed member of the COMMIT Coaching Team and the Founder of Ordinary Hero Coaching. Today, we talk about his story and how he came to COMMIT, and the wisdom he has to share with others going through the challenges of transitioning from active duty service.

In this episode, Reggie Mills, our Sr. Director of Veteran Services will interview three transition experts on what it means to prepare your mindset for transition.COMMIT has an incredible track record in helping service recipients decrease their stress as they design their post-service life. This would be impossible without our coaches and alumni and this conversation proves it!Guests:Alison Carroll is a Washington DC-based former linguist turned executive coach. She was the very first coach to join COMMIT. Alison founded her coaching practice, The Hidden Narrative, over a decade ago. She partners with clients in different stages of life and career to find fulfillment in whatever path they design.Lance Harrell is a retired Sgt Major and combat veteran with 30 years of service in the Marine Corps. He served as a Military Police Officer and honed his leadership skills as a senior enlisted advisor in some extremely austere and high-op tempo environments. He was hand-selected to be the Sgt Major of Officer Candidate School and for the Inspector General of the Marine Corps. He transitioned out of service over a year ago and is now an Operations Manager for Verizon Fios. Jason Roncoroni is a West Point graduate and 20-year aviation veteran. He is now a certified executive coach and valued member of the COMMIT coaching team. As the founder and president of Ordinary Hero Coaching, Jason works with current and future leaders to uncover their values and find their purpose. 

World-class Consultant, Executive Coach, Neurobiology Student, Trusted Advisor, Cancer Survivor, Peace Corps Volunteer, Llama Farmer, Veteran Advocate, Bad-a** Fairy Godmother - these are just a few titles Sandy Travis has donned in her incredible professional journey. Listen in as we discuss her coaching ethos here at COMMIT and her mastery of life-pivots. 

On this episode, Michele Olive of COMMIT interviews entrepreneurs, Blake Hogan, CEO of Bunker Labs, Veronica Briggins, Founder of Soldier Source Solutions, and Andrew Holycross, CEO of The Aristotle Group. Collectively (and even individually), their insight and advice is invaluable for any veteran looking at a future in entrepreneurship. 

Amy Taft and Julie French have lived the military spouse lifestyle and been through the transition out of active duty life. Now, they take their lessons learned and funnel all their wisdom and insight into a truly transformative program for military spouses: COMMIT's Family Transition Program. The key elements to the program are in creating a sense of community while mindfully addressing the almost automated responses unique to the military spouse population. 

With our expert panel, Kelly Boone Swaintek, Ryan Ordway, and Brandon Young, we will dive into their unique experiences and see what starting a career in consulting looks like for transitioning service members.

Saul Gomez is a COMMIT alumn with an incredible background in military service and a commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. After experiencing a particularly high operational tempo throughout his career, Saul felt he had a lot to offer in the civilian sector. However, he heard pushback along his journey and decided not to let anyone bring him down.Saul has now landed a job he loves and one that he felt really aligned with what he sketched up during the Pursue Your Purpose program with COMMIT. 

In this episode, COMMIT's first executive coach, Alison Carroll talks about her experience with The COMMIT Foundation and helping veterans navigate transition. Over the last 10 years, Alison has helped shape COMMIT's coaching philosophy and has coached hundreds of veterans including Co-Founder Anne Meree Craig's husband, COMMIT Coach Court Whitman, and COMMIT's current CEO Alex Krongard.Alison's unique perspective on finding your hidden narrative and aligning your values with your actions is transferable to all people in transition; a very timely philosophy given the current state of the world!She is authentic, insightful, and inspiring: listen in! 

Join COMMIT Chief Executive Officer Alex Krongard, MSD Partners Chief Operating Officer Brendan Rogers, and Schonfeld Strategic Advisors' Lead Diversity and Inclusion Recruiter, Jennifer Kaplan for a discussion on Veterans in Finance. Through each of their individual experiences as veterans or veteran advocates in the financial sector, they candidly share advice and insight to help transitioning service members and veterans navigate this sprawling industry. 

After serving 21 years in the Navy, Kelly Harrison became an expert planner. However, when it came to transitioning out of service, she did not have a plan. That's when she found The COMMIT Foundation and leveraged a network of support services with the help of Director of Veteran Services, Meagan Thrift and Executive Coach, Lacey Sladky. Join us as we talk through Kelly's transition journey and the exciting prospects she has ahead.

Stephanie's story is unlike any other. Her experience as a child prodigy turned champion wrestler and boxer then combat arms Marine Corps Officer brought her to The COMMIT Foundation, looking to transition mindfully out of service and pursue her calling outside of active duty.

Panelists BackgroundsLora Donaldson is a former Navy officer, Navy spouse, and mother of three. When we  spoke with Lora earlier this month she painted a really interesting picture of the similarities and differences between her own transition from active duty and the transition she is experiencing as her husband leaves active duty. Sue has been in the intel field for years working with the Department of Defense in DC. She met her husband in 2013 and they married in 2019 while both were working at the Pentagon. Sue decided that she would love to transition into something else while her husband transitions out of the Navy. So she and her husband are looking at shifting careers and locations. I think Sue will have some insight to offer as to COMMIT services as she has worked with one of our executive coaches, Sandy Travis, completed PYP, and very much enjoyed a book we offer to all of our service recipients, Designing Your Life by Bill Burnett and Dave Evans. Carol Lee is a further into her transition and is be able to share a bit about what she found helpful as well as where there might have been a few bumps in the road. When she became a mother and moved across the country for her husband’s military orders, volunteerism and stay-at-home motherhood became her mainstay. As her husband left active duty she jumped at the opportunity to influence her own transition and ultimately launched a career with a commercial real estate company. 

In this episode, we find commonality between a first year RN, a Physicians Assistant, a Hospital Administrator and a Licenced Psychologist who all bring their skills from their experience with and in the military to make enormous impacts in the world of healthcare during a global pandemic. Panelist Bios:Isabella Taft, RNBella is the daughter of retired Senior Chief Petty Officer Ward Taft who served as a Navy Corpsman for 20 years. Ward was severely injured during a deployment and Bella became the youngest member of his care team at home. Her experience as a child caregiver for a wounded warrior lead Bella to pursue nursing and just this year she graduated from Western Carolina University with a Bachelor of Nursing. She recently became an ICU nurse in Florida. Growing up with a father who had a brain injury was not easy, but it made her who she is today. She is eager to share all she has learned from her experiences and point of view as a child caregiver. Johnnie Gilpen, PAInspired by his family’s military legacy, Johnnie first served as a helicopter crew chief in the Oklahoma National Guard, then as a U.S. Navy Fleet Marine Force Hospital Corpsman. Through these experiences, he came to appreciate what it means to be part of a team, dedicated to a purpose much large than one’s self. As a Corpsman, he found his passion in medicine. His experiences providing medical care for Marines, Sailors, and locals during deployments made him realize the need for more primary care providers. After leaving the Navy, he set his sights on becoming a PA, while continuing to serve his country as a disaster response epidemiologist and medic at the local, state, national, and international levels. He is now a physicians assistant at OU Health in Oklahoma, working in the ER dealing directly with Covid Response. Ron Fitch, Chief Adminisrative OfficerRon is the Chief Administrative Officer UCHealth Pikes Peak Regional Hospital, dedicating his time and experience to leadership in the healthcare field. With twenty-three years of executive and transformational leadership gained as a military veteran of the US Army Special Forces, Ron specializes in strategic and operational planning. He is deeply engaged in his local community as a Non-Profit Board Member and leader for the YMCA, the Colorado Springs Conservatory and TESSA. Dr. Wendy Rassmussen, Director of Clinical EngagementDr. Rasmussen is a licensed clinical psychologist by training, and currently Director of Clinical Engagement at SonderMind. Dr. Rasmussen earned a Counseling Psychology PhD at the University of Iowa, and commissioned in the US Navy in 2013. Upon leaving active duty service, she sought roles that would support her passion for making mental and behavioral healthcare more accessible through innovation and technology. Dr. Rasmussen joined SonderMind in 2020, driving clinical engagement strategy across client and provider journeys to ensure the enablement and delivery of high quality care. Currently, her work is focused on standing up high quality care for veterans, and creating more access through medical-behavioral integration.