Episodes

  • Michael Parks | Daystar Photography

    Michael Parks | Daystar Photography
    May 12 2026
    MilCom Founders Podcast — Episode 42: From K-9 Handler to Capturing Stories That Matter with Michael ParksJoin host Rod Loges and guest Michael Parks as he shares his journey from Air Force K-9 handler and retired Supervisory Federal Air Marshal to founder of Daystar Photography, a veteran-owned photography, videography, and drone services company serving clients nationwide.In this episode:How growing up with an active duty Army father gave Michael the foundation to pursue military serviceHis path from Air Force K-9 handler to Secret Service bomb dog detail to Federal Air MarshalThe moment on a glass-bottom boat in Destin, Florida that sparked his love of photographyHow his mom saw the spark before he did and gave him his first camera for ChristmasWhy he treats every client like family instead of a transaction, a lesson he learned from his working dogsThe story of Captain Johns, who refused to leave Michael's side during an explosive detection alert in KuwaitHow he founded Vet Fest, a free festival celebrating veterans that has grown from 300 attendees to 550 and is expanding to multiple citiesHis advice on balancing the entrepreneurial drive with personal time and familyKey takeaways:The loyalty and focus of a working dog taught Michael how to serve clients: show up fully, earn trust, and give everything to the relationshipDon't treat people as transactions. Treat them as familyGod places people in your life to support you when it matters most, whether it's a captain in a war zone or a mom who notices what lights you upThe military teaches pride and excellence, but entrepreneurs also need to learn when to step away and give themselves graceLearn to have a work-life balance. The business isn't going anywhere, but you can never get back the time you've been givenGuest: Michael Parks, Owner and CEO of Daystar Photography LLC, US Air Force veteran (12+ years, K-9 Handler/Security Forces), retired Supervisory Federal Air Marshal (22 years, Department of Homeland Security)LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/professionalphotopgraher-recruiter-law-enforcement-advisor/Website: www.daystarphoto.comMichael Parks is the Owner and CEO of Daystar Photography LLC, a Veteran-Owned professional photography, videography, and drone services company serving Atlanta, Tampa, and Orlando. Through Daystar Photography, Michael captures powerful visual stories that spotlight leadership, service, and impact. He is the official photographer for Syracuse University's D'Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) and proudly serves as a Brand Ambassador for IVMF's Ambassador program. Throughout his career, Michael has traveled nationwide documenting major veteran and corporate events, working with nationally recognized organizations including Wounded Warrior Project, Walmart, Fiserv, USAA, JPMorgan Chase, and Amazon. Michael is also a retired Supervisory Federal Air Marshal with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Air Marshal Service (FAMS), serving honorably from January 2002 to November 2023. Over his 22-year career, he held numerous leadership and operational roles, including Federal Air Marshal, Primary Watch Officer, FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) Task Force Supervisor, Program Manager and International Planner for the Middle East & Africa, and ultimately retiring as a Supervisory Federal Air Marshal. His service took him to more than 50 countries and over 350 destinations worldwide, supporting national security and international operations. In addition to his primary duties, Michael was entrusted with several critical collateral roles, including Law Enforcement Chaplain, Certified Peer & Grief Counselor, EEO Counselor & Investigator, Counter-UAS/Drone Supervisor, and Lead Recruiter & Hiring Specialist. Prior to his federal service, Michael served over 12 years in the United States Air Force, where he built deep expertise as a K-9 Handler (Explosive & Narcotics) and Program Manager. His Air Force career included progressive leadership roles as Kennel Master, Trainer, and Security Forces K-9 Handler. He is also the founder of Vet Fest, a growing annual festival celebrating veterans and connecting them with resources across the country.The MilCom Founders Podcast champions and celebrates military community business owners. Each episode brings practical insights and lessons learned from veteran entrepreneurs.Sponsored by One Degree Financial www.onedegreefinancial.comWant to support veteran entrepreneurs? Donate to the Dick Loges Veteran Entrepreneur Scholarship Fund: https://bold.org/funds/dick-loges-veteran-entrepreneur-fund/
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    42 mins
  • Michael Segal | Eagle Law Group

    Michael Segal | Eagle Law Group
    May 5 2026

    MILCOM Founders Podcast, Episode 41: From F-15 Fighter Pilot to Founder of Eagle Law Group with Michael Segal

    Join host Rod Loges and guest Michael Segal as he shares his path from flying F-15s in the United States Air Force to founding Eagle Law Group, P.C., a law firm in Los Angeles that serves the aerospace and defense industry. Michael also discusses building BizVets LA, a nonprofit connecting veteran professionals across the city.

    In this episode:

    • Michael's journey from the Air Force Academy to F-15 pilot training, Big Law at Loeb & Loeb, and eventually starting his own firm
    • How his 22-year Air Force career, including combat operations and managing billions in DoD resources, prepared him to lead a legal practice
    • The leadership lessons he took from his first fighter squadron commander at Kadena Air Base in Okinawa
    • Why he founded BizVets LA, a nonprofit that has grown to 92 paid members in its first year and a half
    • The legal mistakes startup founders make most often, from loose contracts to unclear equity structures
    • How AI is changing the legal profession and why the billable hour model may be on borrowed time

    Key takeaways:

    • Contracts exist for a reason, and shortcuts with legal documents work until they don't
    • Founders should figure out their organizational structure, equity splits, and decision-making processes before going to an attorney
    • Litigation is expensive in every way: financially, emotionally, and operationally
    • Veterans naturally trust and want to do business with each other, and that instinct is worth building on
    • AI is making legal work faster, but interpersonal skills and client trust are becoming more important as a result

    Guest: Michael Segal, Founder, Eagle Law Group, P.C., USAF F-15 Fighter Pilot (retired Major, 22 years of service)

    • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-segal-f15/
    • Business Website: https://eagle.law/

    Michael Segal is a former USAF F-15 fighter pilot who served 22 years in the Air Force, including time at the Air Force Academy, active duty flying F-15Cs and Es, and Reserve service. He earned his MBA during his military career and later attended UCLA School of Law. After working at Loeb & Loeb and several smaller firms, he founded Eagle Law Group in November 2023, focusing on complex commercial litigation and transactional work for aerospace, defense, and technology companies. He also founded BizVets LA, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that connects veteran professionals in Los Angeles through monthly meetings, business education, and networking. Michael retired from the Air Force Reserves as a Major in August 2024.

    The MILCOM Founders Podcast champions and celebrates military community business owners. Each episode brings practical insights and lessons learned from veteran entrepreneurs.

    Sponsored by One Degree Financial www.onedegreefinancial.com

    Want to support veteran entrepreneurs? Learn about the Dick Loges Veteran Entrepreneur Scholarship Fund at https://www.milcomfounders.com/

    For each podcast guest, One Degree Financial donates $100 to the Dick Loges Veteran Entrepreneur Scholarship Fund.
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    40 mins
  • Dr. Lori Smith | Acu-Elligent

    Dr. Lori Smith | Acu-Elligent
    Apr 28 2026
    MILCOM Founders Podcast, Episode 40: Dr. Lori A. Smith, Founder of Acu-Elligent LLC and Sowing Our Seeds EmpowermentJoin host Rod Loges as he sits down with Dr. Lori A. Smith, a retired federal contracting officer, US Air Force veteran, and one of the most authoritative voices in government contracting today. Over a career spanning decades across military and federal service, Dr. Smith exercised direct oversight of more than $143 billion in federal contracts, including the $128 billion Community Care Network at the Department of Veterans Affairs, the single largest healthcare contract portfolio in the federal government.In this episode:How a high school job at Robins Air Force Base planted the seed for a career in military service and contractingThe buddy program that took Dr. Smith from the Air Force Reserves to 22 years of active duty across six bases on four continentsA leadership lesson from Master Sergeant Karen Armstrong that shaped Dr. Smith's entire careerBuilding a dual-engine ecosystem with Acu-Elligent (government contracting strategy) and Sowing Our Seeds Empowerment (nonprofit focused on closing gaps for underresourced entrepreneurs)Why readiness, not hustle, is what separates sustainable businesses from struggling onesThe role of AI in government contracting and why the human element still matters more than the toolKey takeaways:The seat you sit in was never designed for you alone; your job as a leader is to prepare the person who comes after youHustle is not a business model; it may be a short-term emergency posture, but it should never be the standardWhen proposals lack a real human story, evaluators notice; your response needs authenticity and feeling, not a recycled promptCoachability is the only way to get value from any investment in coaching or consultingAI can make you more efficient, but you still need to teach it your story and hold it accountable for accuracySoft skills training belongs inside every business development program, not alongside itGuest: Dr. Lori A. Smith, Founder, Acu-Elligent LLC and Sowing Our Seeds EmpowermentLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/acuelligent/Website: https://acuelligent.com/Podcast: GovCon ClarityDr. Lori A. Smith is a retired federal Contracting Officer, U.S. Air Force veteran, and one of the most authoritative voices in government contracting today. Over a career spanning decades across military and federal service, she exercised direct oversight of more than $143 billion in federal contracts — including the $128 billion Community Care Network at the Department of Veterans Affairs, the single largest healthcare contract portfolio in the federal government, delivering care across 49 states.Dr. Smith's career began at age 16, working as a clerk at Robins Air Force Base near her hometown of Macon, Georgia. She went on to serve 22 years of active duty in the U.S. Air Force across six bases on four continents — from Italy and Japan to Turkey and Honduras. She managed disaster recovery contracting for nine hurricanes at FEMA, directed contracting operations at Fort Belvoir Community Hospital, and was hand-selected by name for the most critical acquisition assignments at the Department of Veterans Affairs. Her contracting officer response to a vendor protest on a $27.5 billion contract was so thorough that the vendor withdrew entirely.Today, Dr. Smith leads a dual-engine ecosystem built to serve women-, veteran-, and minority-owned businesses. Acu-Elligent LLC is the economic engine — providing government contracting strategy, the VETR Framework for AI-powered proposal management, The Readiness Room membership community, and certification training including the Narrative Blueprint Workshop. Sowing Our Seeds Empowerment is the empowerment engine — a nonprofit that runs the SOS Convergence, a structured 4-day business intervention addressing funding access, network gaps, and the systemic barriers that keep capable entrepreneurs underresourced and overextended.Dr. Smith is a published author of Winning Business Proposal Strategies for Success and is currently writing a memoir tracing her journey from a single-parent home in Macon, Georgia to the table where $128 billion in decisions were made. She hosts GovCon Clarity, a podcast and video series focused on the readiness gap in federal contracting.Her recognitions include Black Impact Magazine's 100 Entrepreneurs to Know in 2025, the 2024 IMPACT Award, the FORUM Women in Leadership 2024 Award, Georgia Woman Veteran of the Year nominee, the Department of Veterans Affairs Outstanding Career Award, the Army Commander's Award for Civilian Service, and multiple Meritorious Service Medals. She holds a Doctorate in Business Administration from National University, serves as a Women in Leadership Program Advisor at the University of North Georgia, and is certified in NLP, Time Line Therapy, and Hypnotherapy."I've sat on every side of the table — and I've read every line of the contract."Looking ahead...
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    45 mins
  • Jary Jackson | Thurion Capital

    Jary Jackson | Thurion Capital
    Apr 14 2026

    MilCom Founders Podcast — Episode 39: From Special Forces to Independent Sponsor with Jary Jackson

    Join host Rod Loges and guest Jary Jackson as he shares his journey from Army infantry to firefighter to 22-year Special Forces career to entrepreneur acquiring and scaling lower-middle-market businesses through entrepreneurship through acquisition.

    In this episode:

    • How Jary left the Army after four years, became a firefighter, and then re-enlisted post-9/11 and made it through Special Forces selection
    • The rejection he faced after retirement, including being told he was "too old at 42" and "unproven" by a veteran recruiter
    • How he discovered the search fund and ETA model, and acquired an $8M company with $35K out of pocket
    • Why he founded Intrepid Prosperity the day after realizing his own company was bad at recruiting
    • How he's building Thurion Capital as an independent sponsor focused on dual-use services and defense technology

    Key takeaways:

    • Talent is what drives outcomes, and resumes are mostly noise. Hire for the attributes that make someone successful and train the rest
    • The military runs the most developed leadership development program in the world, and that translates directly into running a business
    • News doesn't get better with time. The first time you think someone needs to go is usually the right time
    • You have to remove the self-limiting factors. The only person telling you to wait five years is usually you
    • After the military, you have to find a new tribe. Other veteran business owners get it in a way nobody else can

    Guest: Jary Jackson, Founder of Thurion Capital, CEO of TCS, Founder of Intrepid Prosperity, retired US Army Special Forces veteran (22 years)

    • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jarytjackson78/
    • Thurion Capital: https://www.thurioncapital.com/
    • Intrepid Prosperity: https://www.intrepidprosperity.com/
    • TCS: https://www.tcsgovcon.com/

    Jary Jackson is a retired Special Forces veteran, entrepreneur, and independent sponsor focused on building mission-critical businesses that create lasting value. He leads Thurion Capital (founded Aug 2025), where he acquires and scales lower-middle-market companies across logistics, sustainment, technical services, and other dual-use sectors serving both commercial and government markets.

    Through TCS (CEO since Mar 2024), his defense platform, he delivers integrated logistics and sustainment solutions for public sector clients requiring world-class engineering, logistics, and management solutions. He also founded Intrepid Prosperity (Apr 2015), a talent management and human capital platform dedicated to placing high-performing veterans and elite operators into roles where they can make a meaningful impact. The firm provides affordable, scalable talent solutions for small businesses, M&A, and defense contractors.

    The MilCom Founders Podcast champions and celebrates military community business owners. Each episode brings practical insights and lessons learned from successful veteran entrepreneurs.

    Sponsored by One Degree Financial www.onedegreefinancial.com

    Want to support veteran entrepreneurs? Learn about the Dick Loges Veteran Entrepreneur Scholarship Fund at https://www.milcomfounders.com/
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    38 mins
  • Ryan Patrick Hunt | Tenth Mountain Recruiting & the Veteran Social Summit

    Ryan Patrick Hunt | Tenth Mountain Recruiting & the Veteran Social Summit
    Mar 31 2026

    MilCom Founders Podcast – Episode 38: Ryan Patrick Hunt, Founder of Tenth Mountain Recruiting and the Veteran Social Summit

    Join host Rod Loges as he sits down with Ryan Patrick Hunt, founder of Tenth Mountain Recruiting and the Veteran Social Summit. Ryan is a retired U.S. Army officer who went from accidental e-commerce entrepreneur to boutique recruiting firm founder, and he's spent the last decade building platforms and community infrastructure for veteran entrepreneurs.

    In this episode:

    • How growing up as a son of an entrepreneur and visiting 30+ countries before age 11 shaped who Ryan became
    • Why Ryan left the Army as Sergeant Hunt in 2001, only to return to ROTC after 9/11 with a calling to lead soldiers into combat
    • The Army pilot program that made Ryan one of the only active duty recruiters coordinating across 274 ROTC battalions nationwide
    • How a $5 joke about stickers turned into 5,000 orders and launched his first business
    • The difference between top line and bottom line, and why his first million-dollar year still taught him hard lessons
    • Why his ideal client starts with value alignment, and what happens when it's missing
    • The IVMF story: why Ryan turned down the program for years, and what finally changed his mind
    • What "planning is everything, the plan is nothing" really means for entrepreneurs

    Key takeaways:

    • Soft skills like leadership and communication are not secondary, they are the foundation that carries everything else
    • Mission command works in business: give your team the vision and intent, then trust them to execute
    • You have to be receptive before you can receive the network, mentorship, and collaboration that will change your trajectory
    • Veterans who treat their business like Gollum treats the ring will limit what they can build
    • 98% of everything is mindset, and consistent action beats a perfect plan every time
    • Niching down does not mean turning away opportunity; it means knowing where to aim first

    Guest: Ryan Patrick Hunt, Founder, Tenth Mountain Recruiting and the Veteran Social Summit

    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanpatrickhunt/
    Tenth Mountain Recruiting: www.tenthmountainrecruiting.com
    Veteran Social Summit: www.veteransocialsummit.com

    Ryan Patrick Hunt is a retired U.S. Army officer and seasoned talent acquisition leader with over two decades of experience building high-performing teams across multiple industries. As the founder of Tenth Mountain Recruiting and Rally Point HR, he specializes in sourcing top talent and creating scalable recruiting solutions for growing organizations. Ryan is deeply embedded in the veteran entrepreneurship ecosystem, serving as an IVMF Ambassador and the driving force behind the Veteran Social Summit and the evolving "Forged by Service" platform.

    In 2025, he was named Military Friendly's Illinois Vetrepreneur of the Year, awarded the IVMF Ambassador Ecosystem Synergy Award, and recognized as one of Military Entrepreneur Magazine's Top 25 Military Changemakers. Known for his leadership, execution, and ability to connect people, Ryan continues to build platforms that drive opportunity, collaboration, and long-term success.

    Looking ahead: Ryan's Veteran Social Summit returns September 9-10 with a free virtual conference bringing together voices from across the military entrepreneurship community. The Forged by Service platform continues to evolve as a resource for veteran founders.

    The MilCom Founders Podcast champions and celebrates military community business founders. Each episode brings practical insights from successful veteran entrepreneurs.

    Sponsored by One Degree Financial www.onedegreefinancial.com

    Want to support veteran entrepreneurs? Learn about the Dick Loges Veteran Entrepreneur Scholarship Fund at milcomfounders.com
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    44 mins
  • Moniek James | Renegade Creative Media Group

    Moniek James | Renegade Creative Media Group
    Mar 17 2026

    MilCom Founders Podcast — Episode 37: From Army Intel to AI-Powered Marketing Strategist with Moniek James

    Join host Rod Loges and guest Moniek James as she shares her journey from US Army Intelligence veteran to founder of Renegade Creative Media Group, where she helps growing brands cut through marketing confusion and build trust at scale.

    In this episode:

    • How a pay inequity conversation at a corporate job pushed Moniek to start her first business
    • Her path from event planning to social media education to AI-powered marketing consulting
    • How her Army Intelligence training shaped the way she thinks about AI governance and data strategy
    • Why she shifted from social media management to marketing strategy and consulting
    • How she helps small businesses, nonprofits, and government-adjacent organizations build AI workflows and use policies

    Key takeaways:

    • The military teaches you how to see the pieces and plan backwards from a goal, and that skill transfers directly to business strategy
    • Clarity is the foundation of confidence, whether you're building a brand, managing social media, or implementing AI
    • You have to lead the tool. Technology follows the human, not the other way around
    • Think of AI like a multitool: get curious, explore what's available, and match the right tool to the right problem
    • Leadership and soft skills matter more than ever in an AI-powered world, because the tool doesn't challenge you or collaborate with you

    Guest: Moniek James, Founder of Renegade Creative Media Group, US Army veteran (8 years, Intelligence)

    • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/moniekj/
    • Website: www.moniekjames.com

    Moniek James is an Army veteran and entrepreneur with 14 years in business. She founded Renegade Creative Media Group after recognizing a recurring gap in the market: businesses were creating content without a clear strategy behind it. That insight led her to build a consulting practice focused on marketing strategy, and when AI tools arrived on the scene, she jumped in immediately. Drawing on her Army Intelligence background, she developed frameworks for AI governance and workflow integration that she now deploys with small to medium businesses, nonprofits, and government-associated organizations. She also publishes a weekly newsletter, Creative Marketing Strategist, on LinkedIn.

    The MilCom Founders Podcast champions and celebrates military community business owners. Each episode brings practical insights and lessons learned from successful veteran entrepreneurs.

    Sponsored by One Degree Financial www.onedegreefinancial.com

    Want to support veteran entrepreneurs? Learn about the Dick Loges Veteran Entrepreneur Scholarship Fund at https://www.milcomfounders.com/
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    41 mins
  • Joshua Himan | Business Valuation Advisors Inc.

    Joshua Himan | Business Valuation Advisors Inc.
    Mar 3 2026
    MILCOM Founders Podcast - Episode 36: Josh Himan, Marine Veteran Helping Business Owners Know What Their Companies Are WorthShow NotesJoin host Rod Loges and guest Joshua Himan as he shares his journey from Northern Virginia athlete to Marine Corps machine gunner to founding two businesses that help people regain independence and understand the true value of what they've built.In this episode:Josh's path from growing up in an athletic family near Quantico to enlisting in the Marine Corps at the height of the Iraq War after a chance encounter with a Marine Corps GeneralHis decision to go infantry and become a 0331 Machine Gunner because he wanted to be "all in"Deploying to Afghanistan as part of Operation Strike of the Sword, the largest Marine offensive since the Battle of Fallujah, and being one of the first units on the ground for the surgeThe IED strike on September 29, 2009 that left him paralyzed from the chest down during the last month of deploymentHow a Marine Colonel's hospital visit changed his entire outlook: "You can still do business. These are not going to be taken away from you."Co-founding the Driving Rehabilitation Center of Excellence (DRCE) with Tammy Phipps, who had helped 400 combat-injured service members get back to driving at Walter ReedWhy he became obsessed with business valuation after trying to acquire small businesses and realizing nobody could properly explain the numbersBuilding Business Valuation Advisors into a firm that values 100+ private companies per yearKey takeaways:Get an independent, unbiased valuation of your business. Brokers and others who are incentivized differently may not give you the full picture.Formatting your financial statements properly is about as close to a free lunch as you'll get. It's low-hanging fruit that can add enormous value to your company.Each business is unique. Two owners in the same industry with the same revenue can have very different valuations based on owner involvement, operations, and risk.The most precious thing is time. When evaluating any business opportunity, weigh the economics against how much of your time it will take.Good trees produce good fruit. The businesses rooted in the right purpose, where the client comes first, are the ones that succeed long-term.Integrity is the pillar. In small business, trust and integrity are everything.Guest: Joshua Himan, MSF, MSAE, CVA, CBA, CMEA, FMVA, CTA, ASBC, PGE - Founder and Principal of Business Valuation Advisors, Inc., U.S. Marine Corps VeteranBusiness Website: valuationadvisor.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuahiman/Joshua Himan is a Business Valuation Expert, Transaction Advisor, and Chief Financial Officer with over 15 years of experience advising private lower-middle market business owners, private equity firms, and acquisition entrepreneurs. He specializes in business valuation, transaction advisory, financial modeling, and value creation strategy.Josh earned his B.B.A. in Finance from Radford University (Dean's List), followed by a Master of Science in Finance from George Washington University and a Master of Science in Applied Economics from Johns Hopkins University. He also holds advanced certificates in Real Estate Finance & Investments (NYU) and Forecasting in Organizations (Johns Hopkins).After beginning his career in business, Josh felt called to serve his country and enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in January 2008. He trained at Parris Island and completed Infantry School as a 0331 Machine Gunner. In May 2009, he deployed to Afghanistan as part of Operation Strike of the Sword — the largest Marine offensive since the Battle of Fallujah and the largest airlift of Marines since the Vietnam War. His unit was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation during Operation Enduring Freedom.On September 29, 2009, the Humvee Josh was riding in struck an improvised explosive device (IED), resulting in multiple spinal cord injuries that left him paralyzed from the chest down. For his service and sacrifice, he was awarded the Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal, Afghan Campaign Medal, and Presidential Unit Citation.Prior to founding Business Valuation Advisors Inc., Josh was the Co-Founder and Chief Financial Officer of Driving Rehabilitation Center of Excellence (DRCE), a specialized healthcare organization focused on restoring mobility and independence for individuals with medical and neurological challenges. Today, DRCE has helped thousands of people with disabilities return to driving and get their independence back.Today, Josh is the Founder and Principal of Business Valuation Advisors, Inc., a boutique valuation and transaction advisory firm serving lower middle-market business owners, private equity groups, attorneys, and institutional clients nationwide. Through BVA, he provides certified business valuations, quality of earnings analysis, transaction advisory, and strategic value enhancement consulting across a broad range of ...
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    50 mins
  • Hillary Boyce | BAFO Services, LLC

    Hillary Boyce | BAFO Services, LLC
    Feb 17 2026
    MILCOM Founders Podcast – Episode 35: Hillary Boyce, Army Veteran and Military Spouse Building a Government Contracting PowerhouseJoin host Rod Loges and guest Hillary Boyce as she shares her journey from small-town North Carolina to leading BAFO Services, a firm helping over 150 clients win government contracts.In this episode:Hillary's path from Taylorsville, North Carolina (population: tiny) to joining Navy ROTC in high school and enlisting in the Army National Guard before her senior yearHow she went to basic training at Fort Leonard Wood before 12th grade and bought her first car with her military paycheckHer transition from National Guard engineer to active duty with the 3rd Infantry Division, where she worked directly with senior officers as an E-4The story of starting her first company after a few glasses of wine, with no business plan and no investorsHow she grew to 85 employees in two years while Ubering on nights and weekends because she couldn't pay herselfSelling her first company and launching BAFO Services, which now employs 50+ staff serving 150+ clientsWhy she takes her Army gear to every Army-Navy game (where her Navy husband has to sit on the Army side)Key takeaways:Write your plan in pencil, not permanent marker. You never know who you'll meet in an elevator tomorrow.The cost of money is real. Before you're two years into business with tax returns to show, SBA won't talk to you. Plan for that.Take care of your staff first. A leader isn't a leader if they're not mentoring and giving back.No hero behavior. Nobody should be a single point of failure on your team.Stay flexible. Don't pigeonhole yourself or your company when you don't know what revenue stream might walk through the door.Guest: Hillary Boyce, Founder and CEO of BAFO Services, U.S. Army Veteran, Military SpouseLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hillary-boyce-14537814/Business Website: https://bafoservices.com/Mrs. Hillary Boyce is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of BAFO Services, LLC, bringing more than 20 years of proven expertise in the procurement, execution, and management of U.S. government contracts. Her career includes owning and acquiring her own successful small government contracting business, through which she earned numerous federal service-related awards. She also holds a Master in Business Development certification from MBDi.A proud U.S. Army veteran, Mrs. Boyce served as an Engineer in the Army National Guard before transitioning to active duty with the 3rd Infantry Division. She is also a dedicated military spouse, supporting her husband, an active-duty Naval Officer. Her academic background includes Business Administration studies at the University of Maryland (Europe and Asia Divisions), a Certification in Acquisition and Procurement from Tidewater Community College (TCC), and legal studies at Regent University.Mrs. Boyce spent many years providing essential services and support to wounded soldiers, survivors, and military families through her roles within the U.S. Army Casualty and Mortuary Affairs Operations and the U.S. Army Physical Disability Agency. Her work focused on operational management and oversight of mission-critical tasks directly impacting service members and their families.In addition to her work supporting the military community, Mrs. Boyce is deeply committed to global humanitarian service. She engages in yearly mission work in Kenya, contributing her time and leadership to support underserved communities, expand educational and economic opportunities, and help strengthen local support networks. Her experiences abroad continue to inspire her passion for service and community empowerment.Deeply committed to community and professional service, she volunteers locally and serves on several boards, including the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association (AFCEA) Hampton Roads chapter and Women in Defense (WID). She is also a business coach for The Honor Foundation (THF), supporting transitioning Navy SEALs and U.S. Special Operations personnel, and serves on the AFCEA International Small Business Committee.Mrs. Boyce has been widely recognized for her leadership, business acumen, and service. Her awards include:Virginia Small Business Veteran of the Year, Virginia SBDC (2025)100 Successful Women in Business Award, Global Trade Chamber (2025)Veteran & Military Spouse Owned Small Business of the Year, Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce (2025)AFCEA International Leadership Award (2025)Military Spouse Awards – Heroes at Home Finalist, militarynews.com (2025)AFCEA International Medal of Merit (2023)AFCEA International Small Business Person of the Year (2021)AFCEA Women's Appreciation Award (2021)Distinguished Service Awards Finalist, Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce (2019)AFCEA Top 40 Under 40 – National (2019)Top 40 Under 40 of Hampton Roads, Inside Business (2017)Additionally, she received the Emerging Star Award (2016) and Stellar Award (2017) from the U.S. ...
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    40 mins