LIVE: Jerry & Tracy Flanagan, Founders, JDog Brands, New Reality Show "Operation Hidden Treasures" Jerry and Tracy Flanagan join Bob Louthan LIVE to chat about the debut of Operation Hidden Treasures. Jerry and Tracy are the founders of JDog Brands, the largest veteran franchise in the nation. Learn the beginnings of the reality show and the details of where to watch. Imagine American Pickers meets Storage Wars. You won't want to miss it.

Charlie Moyer - Coast Guard Veteran, Founder & CEO of Badass Beard Care Charlie Moyer went into the Coast Guard straight out of high school. It was an experience that ultimately helped him become an entrepreneur. He learned discipline and how to adapt to whatever job was put before him. This set the groundwork for, Badass Beard Care, founded in 2014 after being medically discharged from the Coast Guard. Charlie started growing his own beard and making beard products for himself. Soon he shared them with his friends while going to school and they quickly wanted more. A website was created and that was just the beginning. Badass Beard Care Badass Beard Care specializes in men’s grooming products. Their products use all-natural and organic ingredients. They offer oils, butters, waxes, washes and deodorants. Their mission is simple: “inspire men to unleash their inner Badass by providing inspiring content and premium products that promote healthy skin and beard hair growth.” Learn More Website: https://badassbeardcare.com/ Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/badassbeardcare/ Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/Badassbeardcare/ YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNUo9-b1t7Zk7TeWiMhSPrw VeteranCrowd Network Our "forever promise" is to build the veteran and military spouse community a place to connect and engage. VeteranCrowd is simply a national network of veterans, veteran led businesses and the resources they need to prosper. Subscribe to stay in touch, or consider if Individual or Corporate Membership in the Network is a fit for you.   About Your Host Bob Louthan is a VMI Graduate, Army veteran, and executive with over 25 years of experience in mergers, acquisitions and private capital formation. He founded the VeteranCrowd Network to bring veterans and veteran-led businesses together with each other and the resources they need to prosper.  

Matt “Griff” Griffin was a 2001 West Point graduate. Like many, his life quickly transformed after September 11th of that year. Little did he know it was that day that would give him the opportunity to later co-found Combat Flip Flops. Griff became an Army Ranger and spent four deployments in the Middle East. His time in Afghanistan really shaped his world-view. Eventually he wanted to take his lessons of teamwork and leadership to the entrepreneurial world. Combat Flip Flops A trip to a combat boot factory in Kabul is what compelled Griff to start Combat Flip Flops. He saw the impact that employment had on a community and wanted to continue to positively impact the country of Afghanistan. Eventually the footwear production had to be moved to Colombia, another war-torn country that could benefit from a manufacturing plant. It is this calling that keeps Combat Flip Flops going. A mission to manufacture products in conflict and post conflict areas, creating jobs, funding women’s education and ultimately improving people’s lives. Check out who else has stepped into the Veteran Crowd Spotlight.  Listen on Libsyn   Watch on YouTube     Learn More Combat Flip Flops:  https://www.combatflipflops.com Griff’s Thoughts on Afghanistan: https://www.combatflipflops.com/blogs/combat-flip-flops/written-in-taliban VeteranCrowd Network Our "forever promise" is to build the veteran and military spouse community a place to connect and engage. VeteranCrowd is simply a national network of veterans, veteran led businesses and the resources they need to prosper. Subscribe to stay in touch, or consider if Individual or Corporate Membership in the Network is a fit for you.   About Your Host Bob Louthan is a VMI Graduate, Army veteran, and executive with over 25 years of experience in mergers, acquisitions and private capital formation. He founded the VeteranCrowd Network to bring veterans and veteran-led businesses together with each other and the resources they need to prosper.          

Gretchen Pace - Former Army Intelligence Officer & Founder of Goose & Willow Gretchen Pace graduated from the University of Virginia and knew she wanted to serve. She joined the Army as an intelligence officer. She shares “The military changed the trajectory of my life. It was the most incredible thing I've ever done. I'm so glad that it just occurred to me that I needed to serve and, and pursue that for eight and a half”After her service Gretchen wanted to have more ownership in what she was spending her time on. Growing up in a family of entrepreneurs, she decided to make that career pivot. She is currently attending Darden Business School, upon graduation she will a be full-time entrepreneur. She founded Goose & Willow this past summer. It is a Americana-themed home goods startup. Gretchen has a passion for art and America and decided to put those together, taking her own art pieces along with others and printing them on home goods. Her grandmother helped her learn to sew to get started.  At Goose & Willow everything is made in the USA. Its purpose according to Gretchen is to “unify us in a very polarized society against something we can all stand behind. America is a place that we all love and it offers so much opportunity. And I just really want to celebrate the goodness that, that the country brings to so many people.” Learn More Gretchen’s LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/gretchen-pace/ Goose & Willow Coupon Code “America” for 10% off Website:  https://gooseandwillow.com/ Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/goose.and.willow/ Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/the.goose.and.willow VeteranCrowd Network Our "forever promise" is to build the veteran and military spouse community a place to connect and engage. VeteranCrowd is simply a national network of veterans, veteran led businesses and the resources they need to prosper. Subscribe to stay in touch, or consider if Individual or Corporate Membership in the Network is a fit for you.   About Your Host Bob Louthan is a VMI Graduate, Army veteran, and executive with over 25 years of experience in mergers, acquisitions and private capital formation. He founded the VeteranCrowd Network to bring veterans and veteran-led businesses together with each other and the resources they need to prosper.          

Jason Williscroft - Navy Veteran, Founder of Tribify & RingKnocker Jason Williscroft enlisted in the Marine Corps, but eventually attended the Naval Academy and served in the Navy for five years. His love of engineering developed over that time and set the trajectory for his career. Jason successfully began developing software for data management for global financial institutions. He used these skills to launch Tribify and Ringknocker. Tribify & Ringknocker Jason started a Facebook group to offer a place to mentor active duty Naval Officers transitioning out of the service. There was such overwhelming support to help, Ringknocker was born. It provides a network for active duty and former military officers.  Simultaneously Tribify, an “enterprise-grade, AI-enhanced data management system that leverages the power of the social network to find your future customers, capture their attention, and engage with them at scale” was launched. It helps you find the right people to connect with to build your customer base. Find out more below Learn More Ringknocker Thursday evenings 8:00pm EST 90 minutes of networking https://ringknocker.net/ Tribify https://tribify.me/ Robert Williscroft Podcast https://veterancrowdnetwork.com/2021/01/robert-g-williscroft-retired-submarine-officer-and-real-life-jack-ryan/   VeteranCrowd Network Our "forever promise" is to build the veteran and military spouse community a place to connect and engage. VeteranCrowd is simply a national network of veterans, veteran led businesses and the resources they need to prosper. Subscribe to stay in touch, or consider if Individual or Corporate Membership in the Network is a fit for you.   About Your Host Bob Louthan is a VMI Graduate, Army veteran, and executive with over 25 years of experience in mergers, acquisitions and private capital formation. He founded the VeteranCrowd Network to bring veterans and veteran-led businesses together with each other and the resources they need to prosper.        

Eli Crane - Navy Seal Veteran, Bottle Breacher CEO & Congressional Candidate Eli has five war time deployments, three of them to the Middle East with SEAL Team 3 and served our country for 13 years. Many of the lessons he learned in the service set him up for success in the entrepreneurial world. It all started when he decided to make a bottle opener out of a 50-caliber shell. As it gained popularity, Eli turned his garage into his studio. After making 500 of them in the garage the company was gaining traction and at a pivotal point. Eli and his wife pitched to Shark Tank and continue to grow, now a multi-million dollar company. Bottle Breacher Bottle Breacher is veteran owned and operated. “We aim to provide the best hand crafted, personalized man-gifts, groomsman gifts and corporate/promotional products on the market." Being a "Made in America" brand is important to Bottle Breacher. It creates local jobs and gives back to the community. Due to their success they donate to over 100 non-profits. Congress Eli now wants to take his veteran and entrepreneurial experience to capitol hill. He’s frustrated with the direction of this country and lack of leadership. He wants his kids to grow up with the same freedom and prosperity that he did. “I'm hoping that stepping up, stepping out and being willing to lead, encourages and gives others courage to go do the same thing.” Whether serving on the battlefield, running a business or now running for congress, nothing is done by yourself. Eli is looking for your support in this next election. Learn More Instagram: @EliCrane_CEO www.eliforarizona.com www.bottlebreacher.comt VeteranCrowd Network Our "forever promise" is to build the veteran and military spouse community a place to connect and engage. VeteranCrowd is simply a national network of veterans, veteran led businesses and the resources they need to prosper. Subscribe to stay in touch, or consider if Individual or Corporate Membership in the Network is a fit for you.   About Your Host Bob Louthan - VeteranCrowd[/caption] Bob Louthan is a VMI Graduate, Army veteran, and executive with over 25 years of experience in mergers, acquisitions and private capital formation. He founded the VeteranCrowd Network to bring veterans and veteran-led businesses together with each other and the resources they need to prosper.    

Jay Collins - Army Special Forces Combat Veteran & Congressional Candidate Jay Collins would say he’s an average guy that wants to make a difference. He has made that difference, spending more than 20 years of his life serving this nation. He is a highly decorated, purple heart recipient, Army Special Forces combat veteran. Even following the amputation of his leg, he continued to serve on active duty for five years. After the military he stepped into overseeing the distribution of millions of meals to veterans, first responders, and those in need. It was this non-profit work across the country that gave him a glimpse into the hearts of Americans. He saw most Americans want the same things: “they want their families to succeed, their children to have better lives than them, and to improve their communities.” Jay is ready to fight for those things, using his experience in the military and with non-profits to serve the constituents of Florida’s 14th district. Learn More Website:  https://www.jaycollinsforcongress.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jarrid-collins-b737aa58/ VeteranCrowd Network Our "forever promise" is to build the veteran and military spouse community a place to connect and engage. VeteranCrowd is simply a national network of veterans, veteran led businesses and the resources they need to prosper. Subscribe to stay in touch, or consider if Individual or Corporate Membership in the Network is a fit for you.   About Your Host Bob Louthan is a VMI Graduate, Army veteran, and executive with over 25 years of experience in mergers, acquisitions and private capital formation. He founded the VeteranCrowd Network to bring veterans and veteran-led businesses together with each other and the resources they need to prosper.    

Brian Castner - Former EOD Officer, Author and War Crimes Investigator Brian Castner wanted to be an astronaut in the Air Force but landed himself in the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) community. He said he would’t trade it for the world. His experience during his multiple deployments shaped him as the writer he is today. He has written two military books, one about his own combat experience in Iraq and the other about a friend who died in Afghanistan. After writing these books Brian wanted to write something different. He loves history and travel and pursued that genre with Disappointment River. A book about Alexander Mackenzie, a fur trader and his attempt to cross North America 14 years before Lewis and Clark. His most recent book, Stampede, gives a glimpse into the true realties of the history of the 1897 Klondike Gold Rush. In addition to an author, Brian is a War Crimes Investigator for Amnesty International. Spending recent time in Afghanistan to investigate civilian casualties. Brian continues to write in both avenues and is currently looking for ideas for his next book. Stay tuned for what’s to come. Learn More Website: https://briancastner.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/briancastnerwriter/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/brian_castner VeteranCrowd Network Our "forever promise" is to build the veteran and military spouse community a place to connect and engage. VeteranCrowd is simply a national network of veterans, veteran led businesses and the resources they need to prosper. Subscribe to stay in touch, or consider if Individual or Corporate Membership in the Network is a fit for you.   About Your Host Bob Louthan is a VMI Graduate, Army veteran, and executive with over 25 years of experience in mergers, acquisitions and private capital formation. He founded the VeteranCrowd Network to bring veterans and veteran-led businesses together with each other and the resources they need to prosper.    

Pete Fretwell & Taylor Kiland - Co-Authors of "Lessons from the Hanoi Hotel" Pete was doing a some work for his graduate class when he read Good to Great a business management book by James Collins. The book referenced Admiral James Stockdale and his imprisonment as a POW in the Hanoi Hilton. It wasn’t until 2005 that Pete saw a discussion panel on C-SPAN that included several POW’s and Taylor, a former naval officer and military history author of over 18 books. Pete contacted her and their project started. For seven years the pair researched to create the book; Lessons From the Hanoi Hilton: Six Characteristics of High Performance Teams. It took all that time to answer the question: "Why are so many of those that were imprisoned, abused, and tortured in the North Vietnamese prison camp so resilient and successful in subsequent years?" The answer would be Admiral James Stockdale and his example of leadership. Pete is looking to expand his research to include Stockdale's farming background as a foundation of leadership. Taylor is working on several writing projects. You’ll want to keep tabs on both of them for future books. Learn More Pete Fretwell pfretwell@gmail.com Taylor Kiland  LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/taylor-kiland-9b4a101/ Website: https://taylorkiland.com/ VeteranCrowd Network Our "forever promise" is to build the veteran and military spouse community a place to connect and engage. VeteranCrowd is simply a national network of veterans, veteran led businesses and the resources they need to prosper. Subscribe to stay in touch, or consider if Individual or Corporate Membership in the Network is a fit for you.   About Your Host Bob Louthan is a VMI Graduate, Army veteran, and executive with over 25 years of experience in mergers, acquisitions and private capital formation. He founded the VeteranCrowd Network to bring veterans and veteran-led businesses together with each other and the resources they need to prosper.      

Kim Mitchell - Navy Veteran & Nationally Recognized Veteran Advocate Kim would tell you it was her past that has defined her purpose in life. Rescued as a baby from an orphanage in Vietnam by a US Air Force Sergeant, she grew up in Wisconsin. This upbringing shaped Kim’s approach to life. She attended the Naval Academy and served 17 years as a Surface Warfare Officer. But her service didn’t stop there. She has incredible passion for veterans, military members and their families and has dedicated her entire career serving this community.  She is on the board of numerous nonprofit boards including the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund and Woody Williams Foundation. Kim is currently the Senior Vice President for Military Veteran and Government Affairs for National University. About National University Founded 50 years ago by a retired Navy captain who saw a need for a different model for higher education. He created a 30 day course, which allowed at the time for those deploying to Vietnam the ability to take a class prior to deploying. This is still the model followed today. “National University is among the largest, private, nonprofit universities in California. With more than 180,000 alumni, National University is dedicated to making lifelong learning opportunities accessible, challenging, and relevant to a diverse population of students.” Learn More LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberly-mitchell-306b0b2b/ National University: https://www.nu.edu/   VeteranCrowd Network Our "forever promise" is to build the veteran and military spouse community a place to connect and engage. VeteranCrowd is simply a national network of veterans, veteran led businesses and the resources they need to prosper. Subscribe to stay in touch, or consider if Individual or Corporate Membership in the Network is a fit for you. About Your Host Bob Louthan is a VMI Graduate, Army veteran, and executive with over 25 years of experience in mergers, acquisitions and private capital formation. He founded the VeteranCrowd Network to bring veterans and veteran-led businesses together with each other and the resources they need to prosper.