VetFran: Leading the Way for Veterans to Reach the American Dream
During the 2022 International Franchise Association Convention in San Diego, VetFran hosted a seminar titled: “Winning the War for Talent.” Sponsored by USAA, this session brought together veterans, nonprofit leaders, and business owners.
Kicking off the panel was Mike Haynie, Air Force veteran and founder and executive director of the Institute for Veterans and Military Families at Syracuse University. Haynie dove into facts and figures exploring how veterans represent 13%-18% of all small-business owners. Haynie strongly believes that military service uniquely prepares someone to go out and run a small business, because of their ability to work within an environment of constrained resources.
Next was Navy veteran Eric Eversole, president of Hiring Our Heroes. Eversole explained that every person, veterans and business owners included, must tell their story. He said: “People want to be a part of something bigger than themselves. If you are not going to tell your story, someone else will, and you may not like it!” Veterans are drawn to a life of service, and that isn’t going to change when they take off the uniform.
Kathy Roth-Douquet is the CEO of Blue Star Families. Her pride in America was evident at the convention. In her opening statement, she said: “This is a great country that gives people opportunities to build a better future for themselves and their families.” She focused on the number of military spouses interested in owning their own small business, especially with unemployment among that group at 34%.
The fourth nonprofit leader on the panel was Art delaCruz, retired naval officer and CEO of Team Rubicon. One thing that delaCruz said, that struck him, was: “Across these communities… every opportunity you have to employ a veteran… to help not just tell their story but help write their story of success in their future will be an incredible contribution in communities across the country.”
I encourage you to listen to the entire conversation (available on the VetFran.org blog) and consider how you can do more with your business to hire veterans and military spouses.
Eric Johnson
As an experienced operations management professional with an extensive background in politics and organizational development, Eric Johnson’s mission as manager of VetFran is to connect veterans with business opportunities in the franchise world and create paths toward financial independence and personal achievement.