Mission Oriented

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.  

Valerie Lavin - Retired Army First Sergeant & CEO of Luminary Global An epiphany while watching Private Benjamin originally led Valerie to enlist in the Army.  Little did she know it would turn into a 21 year career. Retiring as a first sergeant, the Army taught her many life lessons and helped her become the entrepreneur she is today. Upon leaving the Army the transition was hard, it was through the struggle that Valerie started working with many organizations that help veteran entrepreneurs.  Valerie's passion led to to co-founding Action Zone, an organization that provides education and advocacy for Veteran entrepreneurs. It doesn't end there, Valerie also works with Bunker Labs, another organization that helps military businesses grow and thrive. Though all of that she started her own entrepreneurial journey with Luminary Global. Luminary Global Luminary Global was founded in 2016 because Valerie saw a need and wanted to continue to serve those that serve. Its mission is "to provide Emergency Medical Service (EMS), Fire Law Enforcement, Military personnel and Citizens with the equipment and supplies they need to save lives at home and abroad". They provide emergency tactical gear, prepper gear and more to law enforcement, first responders, military and everyday people. Their specialty is in customized kits. Learn More LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/valerieellis7/ https://luminaryglobal.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.      

Don Bentley - From Apache Helicopter Pilot to NY Times Best Selling Author Don Bentley has loved writing since he was a little kid. He started working on his first book in 3rd grade. In high school, his English teacher told him he had talent, but he wasn't quite ready to pursue writing full-time. Instead he landed himself at Ohio State working on an Electrical Engineering degree. Winning an Army ROTC scholarship, Don commissioned and became an Army Apache helicopter pilot, following his family's legacy of serving.  This was just the first of many careers. Following his time in the military Don worked as an FBI Special Agent and eventually was a member of the Dallas Office Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team. After law enforcement Don continued to work with several companies that develop technology for the U.S. Special Operations Community.  Author Don's entire career helped shape and mold him into the writer he is today. His characters are born out of his own experiences and those he served with. He is the author of the Matt Drake thriller series, including Without Sanction and The Outside Man. Two more Matt Drake books are in the works. Don was also asked to write a Tom Clancy Jr. book, Target Acquired landing himself on the New York Times best selling list. Writing full-time now, you can expect many more books coming from Don. Learn More Twitter: https://twitter.com/bentleydonb FB:https://www.facebook.com/bentleydonb https://donbentleybooks.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.      

John Payne - Retired Army, Vietnam Veteran & Mystery Author John Payne was originally set to go to medical school, but decided to commission into the Army Medical Corps. His 20 year career took him all over the world, including serving in Vietnam. He has done many things, including teaching as an adjunct professor in business at several universities, working in the field of health care administration, running three small businesses and before deciding to write. It was during his recovery in a Veterans Affairs hospital from agent orange that he started writing with the encouragement of his wife. Books John has written eight books, two series. He has primarily written mystery books and has used his medical background as a backdrop for many of them. He has also written a historical romance novel, "In Defense of Patch Schubert". This particular book took many hours of research to accurately depict the Civil War time period set in Texas.  He is currently working on re-editing some previous books to give them new life. Learn More Website: https://www.johncpayne.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.        

George Wallace - Retired Navy Commander & National Best-Selling Author George Wallace served 22 years in the Navy as an officer on nuclear submarines. It was his time in the service that led him to become a National best-selling author, taking his knowledge and experience to craft submarine stories. During his time in the Navy he commanded the Los Angeles class attack submarine, the USS Houston, working exclusively with the SEAL community. A few years after retirement in 1999, George teamed up with Don Keith to begin writing the Hunter Killer Series. He has written seven books in this series, with more in the works, and independently authored Operation Golden Dawn. Hunter Killer Series The first of the series, Final Bearing became a best-selling novel. It was their next book, Firing Point, that was used to produce the major motion picture, Hunter Killer, staring Gerard Butler and Gary Oldman. There are now six books published in this series, with the seventh, Silent Running coming in 2022, which is currently available for pre-order. Learn More Website:  https://wallace-keith.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WallaceandKeith/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgeawallace/ 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.      

Chris Anthony - Army Veteran, Founder & CEO TeamWorx Security Chris Anthony grew up in Texas. He started out as a successful business executive but knew he wanted something different. At the age of 23 he decided to enlist in the Army and attend Ranger School. After 12 years as a communicator and later an analyst in the Army he was medically retired. He started working for the Department of Defense and was later recruited by John Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab. In this job Chris "developed solutions to improve our nation's ability to defend itself from advanced cyber threats". It was this experience that laid the groundwork for launching, TeamWorx Security. TeamWorx Security It was founded in 2016 by a team that met at the Applied Physics Lab. "TeamWorx Security is a commercial software and technology business helping to integrate people, processes, and technology. We currently work with defense cyber, intelligence, healthcare, and critical infrastructure industries. Simply put, we help organizations streamline their processes, data, tasks, and projects while reducing the cost of your enterprise. We bridge the gap between decision makers at all levels of the organization all at the speed of need." Check out who else has stepped into the Veteran Crowd Spotlight.  Learn More Website: https://www.teamworxsecurity.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/teamworx-security/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/teamworxsec 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.