Military Entrepreneur Magazine Spring 2021

YEAR OF THE MILITARY SPOUSE ENTREPRENEUR

#2021MILSPOUSEBIZ

This issue is dedicated to all the military spouse entrepreneurs out there! We hear you, we see youwe ARE you. The Silent Warriors who serve behind the scenes, doing what needs to be done no matter the personal cost. We are proud of our service members, our children, and our contribution to this great nation. We are a diverse, resilient, and fiercely talented tribe of men and women who are launching and growing businesses faster than any other segment in our country, and folks are taking notice

Since The Rosie Network began almost a decade ago, I’ ve watched the issue of milspouse unemployment expand from being solely traditional employment-focused options to include remote work, self-employment, and business ownership Spouses today are not waiting for the government or corporate America to create a ‘solution, ’ we are too busy trailblazing our own path to success! I could not be more proud or humbled to work alongside and play a small part in this powerful shift toward emotional and financial freedom.

So yes, while this past year has been a challenge for many small business owners, and our spouses are not exempt from the pandemic’ s impact, we will take this challenge as we have all others - together.

~ Stephanie

Photo by Trish Alegre-Smith

R. RIVETER

y T r i c i a R o s s

Two military spouse entrepreneurs are defying odds to prove a solid business venture can have staying power, even as others struggle to overcome the pandemic’s impact on small businesses.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics, 20% of small businesses fail within the first year and only 50% make it to five years By the decade mark, only 1/3 of businesses are able to sustain business operations What does it take to make it 10 years?

The co-founders of R. Riveter, Lisa Bradley and Cameron Cruse, found the secret sauce to achieve just that. In 2011, the pair of military wives found themselves searching for meaningful employment that they could take to whatever duty station military orders sent them They knew they wanted to create not just an opportunity for themselves but other military spouses

The journey began as a twowoman, small business operation in the attic of Cruse's home, with some leather, canvas, and a commercial sewing machine. The small business has now grown into a multi-milliondollar company that employs military spouses around the country, with "every stitch sewn into an R Riveter handbag provides a paycheck to a military family "

Bradley and Cruse's business model has never been about the bags, but more about the mission: to decrease the jobless rate among military spouses by allowing employees to work from anywhere.

Truly American made. During a Fox News feature a few years ago, Bradley made the statement, "We had a vision of a decentralized manufacturing network; now we are this national network of military spouses

B

F O U N D E R S R E F L E C T O N D E C A D EL O N G B U S I N E S S J O U R N E Y , L O O K A H E A D T O F U T U R E .

The beautiful thing about this manufacturing model is that it's completely made in America." This vision continues to rings true with every R. Riveter bag.

Each R. Riveter bag is created from pieces made by "remote riveters" who are scattered around the U S The pieces are individually cut, sewn, and stamped at home by the individual maker and then mailed to the company's headquarters in Southern Pines, North Carolina There, the pieces are assembled into finely-crafted handbags. Since all of the pieces are made by individuals all over the country, no two handbags are alike and each one has a unique story.

Bags are then sold online and in R. Riveter's flagship store.

The name. Named after Rosie the Riveter, a cultural icon of World War II representing the women who worked in factories and shipyards during the war, R Riveter adopted a company motto that reflects the connection between the iconic Rosie and the bond of military spouses.

We asked the duo about their fondest memory from the past 10 years of the R. Riveter journey, and they both agree that it came from a national television experience

In 2016, Bradley and Cruse appeared on ABC’s hit show “Shark Tank.” They made their pitch and landed three offers, which led to them accepting the offer from billionaire investor Mark Cuban, owner of the Dallas Mavericks.

Among the stories she hears, often includes that the bag was a gift or it is made to remind them of something or someone.

The future of R. Riveter

The

pandemic’s impact on R. Riveter

Since the early ideas of starting the company, the business model has always been portable Thanks to an already strong e-commerce sales platform, and existing remote working team, R. Riveter was able to maintain operations throughout the pandemic. The slow down created by COVID-19 allowed the company to reexamine its supply chain, processes, and selling channels, then improve each area This is why American manufacturing matters

Spotting an R. Riveter bag

Bradley talked about what it is like when she spots an R Riveter bag in an unexpected place.

"Every time I see a bag in ‘the wild,’ there is the phase of me where I just scope out the bag. They (the customers) are probably thinking I am going to steal their purse, but once we all get on the same page, we talk about the bag, and there is always a story; always a personal story," she explained

"We are going to keep doing what we're doing, because what we are doing is working and that will get us to the next level" said Cruse

This month is the 'Month of the Military Child.' To celebrate our resilient military kids around the globe, R Riveter is joining forces with the Military Child Education Coalition; learn more at https://www.rriveter.com/blogs/ame rican-women/how-you-can-supportmilitary-families pos=1& psq=emergent& ss=e& v=1.0

This May, on Military Spouse Appreciation Day, R Riveter is launching a grant program to help fellow military spouse entrepreneurs get their businesses off the ground Two recipients will be awarded an inaugural "Riveter Grant" after pitching their businesses through a "Shark Tankstyle" format via video due to both COVID-19 and the nature of military spouses being stationed all over the country and world as a nod to R. Riveter's big break.

To learn more about R. Riveter products and the upcoming grant applications, visit www rriveter com

DRESS RIGHT DRESS

By E'Beth Goad

Dressing professionally to fit your brand has always been a key factor in standing out in your business, but we have been presented with a whole new set of challenges thanks to the pandemic Now, more than ever, it’ s easy to trade our suits for sweats but is that a good idea, and how does it affect you and your business?

These days we're experiencing "Zoom Fatigue, " and it shows While this can be detrimental to some businesses, you also have the opportunity to outshine your competition with something as easy as looking put together on your calls. Looking put together sets you apart and without saying a word, you will be perceived as an expert and a leader in your field. This easily transcends into more opportunities, gaining more clients, equaling more money in your bank

Let's chat common "sense”. Vision is the dominant of our senses and is responsible for 80% of our nonverbal communication What this mumbo jumbo means is that we are visual resumes In this case, a video resume speaks to the person on the other side of our screen So how do we put our best foot forward when we're chatting above the keyboard?

Embrace color. While in a traditional setting, we might err on the side of caution by wearing classic neutrals for a professional gathering; however, it gets lost on the screen. Take a look at the other people on your next call. You may notice that those wearing color stand out the most while those wearing traditional neutrals like black, navy, tan, and grey do not

One of the most striking colors is cobalt or electric blue It's a universally flattering color, which is fancy talk for looks good on everyone and has a psychological effect that the person you speak to remembers you Ladies, make sure that you have adjusted your makeup for the camera and consider a bold lip to demonstrate confidence

Avoid "busy" designs I am all about different patterns to add depth and personality to a look, but small busy prints are a no-go on video! Think of patterns like houndstooth, checked prints, and a lot of paisley as distractions. The prints get distorted on your screen and is visually distracting - literally like watching a disco ball.

The whole point is that you want to be noticed for yourself and not what you are wearing.

Chin up. It goes both for positioning your body AND where the neckline falls on what you are wearing Both men and women should keep necklines from falling too far below the chin on camera for maximum impact

For instance, a dress shirt unbuttoned too far below the collar bone will give the person you are speaking with the impression that you are less trustworthy because they are not focusing on your face. When speaking on camera, you also want to make sure that you are looking directly at the camera

Double-check where your camera is located if using your smartphone Looking at yourself talk vs looking into the camera makes a huge difference

"

I believe that the key to your success is found in your closet. I live for that "aha" moment when my client looks in the mirror and sees their full potential in their reflection"

Personal Stylist and Owner of Ebethgoad.com

VETERAN PROFILE

Photo

MEET THE FOUNDERS OF TRIPLE NIKEL AN UNAPOLOGETIC LIFESTYLE BRAND

By Tricia Ross

A group of veterans launched an unapologetic lifestyle brand at a time when other businesses were shuttering, but at the precise moment Americans needed their message the most. The high-profile deaths of George Floyd and Ahmaud Arbery fueled these veterans to take action by amplifying a message of diversity and unity throughout the military community Ruben Ayala, Curtez Riggs, Rod Graham, and Christopher McPhee, founders of Triple Nikel Apparel, all served in the Army. Now, in their civilian lives, they have bonded over a common mission of making change.

When we look for an influential community organization that would inspire diversity inclusion, and when there wasn't one, we opted to create one, " said Riggs, who retired from the Army in 2018.

Take a peek into a day in the life of budding artist Stella Young, and how she improves her craft

With the success of other military apparel companies, Triple Nikel’ s founders knew there was a market for such products but also recognized a void that existed for a more inclusive brand

by Paul S. Stafford

From concept to launch, these individual entrepreneurs who had no background in fashion or apparel came together to open the virtual doors of this new venture in less than 90 days.

And every aspect of the business was built with meaning.

They chose the motto of "we served, too" to amplify the voices of all veterans The company ’ s moniker pays homage to the 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion (nicknamed the Triple Nickles), an all-black airborne unit in the Army during World War II The founders said it was fitting to create a company that elevated stories of those who came before them, so, with the blessing of the 555th Parachute Infantry Association, Triple Nikel became a reality

Though the brand is still in its infancy stage, its teambased business model has set the company up for success Its founders have leaned on many of the core values they gained from military service, including working as a cohesive unit to accomplish one mission Each founder has experience and knowledge in certain areas, and they trust in each other.

Ayala’ s Masters in Business Administration and experience in retail guided him to serve as CEO, CFO, and Founder, building a culture of change around the brand. Riggs, a known influencer and community builder, uses his relationship-building skills to establish brand awareness from coast to coast. Graham uses his logistical skills to lead operations, and McPhee’ s background in project management and media production gave him the cuttingedge know-how to get the brand exposure Triple Nikel is committed to changing culture, not just in the military apparel industry but throughout the military and veteran communities

The military is a big melting pot, and our community should be at the forefront of cultural change, ” Riggs said

Raising awareness and working to recognize all military service members as a unified force is the mark Triple Nikel intends to make on the military apparel industry.

Visit www.triplenikel.com to shop Triple Nikel’ s products, including the latest collection called UNITY

Photos by Chris McPhee

HOW TO CHANGE A NO INTO AN OPPORTUNITY

By: April Mitchell

NO. The dreaded word that so many of us entrepreneurs hear more often than we’d like, especially when we start out.

You may have received a No about your idea, received a No for funding, a No for the help you needed or requested, a No for the space you wanted to rent out, a No for the distribution your business required, a No for the PR you wanted, and the list goes on and on... it seems as if you have quickly become a No Collector and the No’s can feel like a hard rejection- a rejection of your product or business, resulting in the rejection of yourself and then the questions and the doubts set in.

Don’t let that feeling set in. We have to separate ourselves from the No’s and realize that a No can become much more in, I have experienced how a No does not have to be a dead-end; instead it can lead to opportunities.

A NO Can Mean

Not right now- try again in 6 months as situations and people change.

The door is now open to pitch new products/concepts in the future.

An opportunity to ask for feedback- ask, “What would work for your company?”

The beginning of a relationship and possibly a mentorship.

In the last few years, I have turned many No’s into opportunities. I have received valuable feedback, which has lead to licensing new concepts.

I have gained industry Mentors that I can call upon to run ideas by, and acquire feedback. I have opened doors and been able to established new relationships because people told me No

I hope you reflect on the No’s that you have received and invite you to see the opportunities that can come from the No’s.

When we as entrepreneurs look at things positively and from a place of learning and growth instead of rejection, we can see things more clearly.

My husband told me, “Never accept a No from a person who can’t give you a Yes.” He is unsure of where he heard this but passed it along to me during my frustrations of collecting No’s. This powerful quote has stayed with me throughout my years of trying to break down doors as an entrepreneur. When you get that No from someone, yet have the stamina to keep at it until the right opportunities arises for your or your company to turn that NO into a YES, you are on the right track.

APRIL MITCHELL PRODUCT DEVELOPER

I F A T F I R S T Y O U D O N ' T S U C C E E D

April's first product, The Towel Belt, did not make it to the retail market. However, she did not let that stop her from trying with her second product, the Right Height adjustable over the door hook- in fact, it fueled her to work even harder and learn more about the industry for her second product.

April has expanded her ideas beyond the home improvement realm and is currently pitching 12 products in the game and toy industry. Some of those products were designed with her four children the inspiration behind the business name 4 A's: Anthony, Alexander, Abraham, and Annabelle.

Mitchell Product Developer 4 A's Creations

The Right Height adjustable over the door hook is available at the Marine Corps Exchanges.

April

THREE BATTLE TESTED #GOLDEN GRENADES TO PIVOT INTO PROFITABILITY

Are you an aspiring, first-time, or seasoned entrepreneur who has been negatively impacted by the pandemic, political events, or social injustice incidents?

If so, it may be time to pivot, which could seem even more dramatic than requesting orders to PCS to a completely different geographical location because you hate your command. We have likely all been in that situation either as a service member, military spouse, or military family member

In this article I will give you profitable insights and learned lessons (#goldengrenades) that can be applied to just about any business model

Golden Grenade #1: Examine your business model from a place of long-term economic value to the market you are looking to serve.

In early 2020, we were wrapping up our third ever Ambitious VET Sprint, consulting local veteran owned small businesses, brokering deals amongst our community, and seeking sponsorships for our social media challenges. This was our business model However, what we found through tracking data is we generated 20-25 leads by word of mouth and existing users in our network only to convert one person into the Ambitious VET Sprint program that we were projecting to have 10+ customers

BUT just like life in the military when you try to control everything, there was always a surprise waiting for you wasn ’t there? In our case, we had to SWIFTLY COLUMN RIGHT IN OUR MARCHING to ensure we were serving all three of our avatars at the level we were committed to, which leads me into the next golden grenade.

Golden Grenade #2: Know your avatar like you knew your M-16 service rifle in the military. OR for my military spouses, like you knew what to do to prepare for another deployment.

One of the best writers I have found using military metaphors to drive concepts home is Carl Forsling, 20+ year Marine Corps aviator (CH-46 and MV-22 pilot) and contributor of Task & Purpose and Coffee or Die. What do I mean by the metaphors above? Well, for us it was being more user centric than ever before However, we were missing out on a great opportunity to discover what keeps our 10,000+ user base up at night and what they would buy if we actually created it. How we set out on this journey was partnering with national institutions to build out a team to execute on a qualitative research study that would result in over 300 ambitious vets in 3 countries and 31 states telling us what kept them up at night Know your avatar and you will know how to pivot into profitability.

Golden Grenade #3: Look at profitable assets right in front of you from a fresh perspective.

In mid 2020, we were finding profit margins decreasing dramatically and could see the writing on the wall that if we didn’t find ways to leverage what we have already created which was 5,000+ hours of on-demand content mostly through our award winning and rapidly growing podcast, then we were weeks away from turning this thing back into a hobby and going back to the corporate world At the time, we were not offering advertising within the podcast which was a poor move on my part as it was one of the fastest growing mediums during the pandemic.

By Chris Hoffmann

www.theambitiousvet.libsyn.com

"Be stubborn on vision but flexible on details " Jeff Bezos, Founder & CEO of Amazon

CEO AND FOUNDER, AMBITIOUS VET NETWORK

BHAG

.

Big. Hairy. Audacious. Goal.

By: David Chavez

I often go into companies that are struggling a bit or a little off course. And one of the things I notice right away is they do not have a long-term vision, or as I would say, they don't have a BHAG, a Big Hairy Audacious Goal. I help business owners understand the need to have that longterm vision because if they don't, the employees will decide where the company's going instead of going where the entrepreneur wants it to go.

There are three elements to the BHAG The first element is what am I deeply passionate aboutwhat is the purpose of my company, why are we here doing what we do? Simon Sinek did a Start with Why Ted Talk you can use to find your Why

The second element is what's my profit, over "X" ratio. So, I have the profit as the numerator; what is my denominator? Profit per product sold? Profit per sales receipt? Profit per client? Profit per project with a client? When you think about this, you want to think about the overarching KPI (Key Performance Indicator) that will tell you the overall health of your company For example, if I have a profit per receipt. If the ratio starts to move one way or another, it would tell you if you were starting to lose money or make money Also, it will give you a focus Subway used $5 footlongs to enhance their profit per receipt. Notice it is profit over "X, " not revenue over "X. " Too many entrepreneurs want to use revenue over "X, " but there is no cost in the number

DETAIL >

The third element is "What can I be the best in the world at?" When you think about this question, it is really interesting, because you have to think about your customer. Who is my core customer? This is the harder element to figure out When I talk to entrepreneurs about their core customers, they often miss the boat; they think their highest revenue clients are their core customers Switch your thinking to your Optimal profit customer, not the highest revenue What does this customer need, not want? Customers will need you to death We may be selling to them in small quantities but at a great profit. You'll need to look at the data inside your company to find the core customer. Once you learn their overarching need, you can become the best in the world, delivering their core needs

Core customers probably represent about 20% of your client base but providing 80% of your profit (not revenue)

If you email us, we will send you a few tools we use to start thinking about these three elements so you can discover your BHAG.

Now it is time to think about the Big Hairy Audacious Goal (BHAG). I want you to think about the three elements of a BHAG: purpose, profit/x, and what I can be the best in the world at The overlap of these three elements is where your BHAG lives Looking at the elements, ask yourself, where do I want my company to be in 10 to 30 years? The BHAG comes from Jim Collins Good to Great book, the most widely read business book in the world When Jim speaks about BHAG, he says it should be 10 to 30 years out, and it should scare the hell out of you. You should really have no idea how you're going to get there, but the goal itself drives you to get there

A few examples of B.H.A.G.

Let's say you have 100 customers right now, and you set a BHAG to serve over 100,000 people by 2035 (between 10 and 30 years) One hundred thousand people may seem impossible to you, so that is the scary part Jim Collins is talking about. I can't even imagine serving 100,000 people when I'm at 100 customers So, I need to figure out what I need to do to get this engine rolling toward 100,000; the BHAG will get me focused. I love to use Subway here because they've been so masterful with the BHAG Their first BHAG was to open 32 restaurants in the next ten years They opened those 32 restaurants in 6 ½ years STOP, and think about the focus that they had! If I open a sandwich shop and do not have a BHAG of 32 restaurants in 10 years, I will open one restaurant My daily activities will include making sandwiches and kissing babies or saying hello to the guests, and welcoming them to my sandwich shop. All these things are great, but they are not growing my business If I am subway and must open 32 restaurants in the next ten years,

David Chavez

APRIL

Month of the Military Child

This month we have teamed up with Kids Rank to highlight four businesses owned and operated by military kids.

A salute to our military kid entrepreneurs.

Kids Ranks Clubs called Prides, support the social and emotional well-being of military children through structured skill-building activities that encourage resilience Awarding “Ribbons” in recognition of members achievements will build and reinforce those lifelong skills they’ll need to meet life’s future challenges.

This year Kids Rank adapted their entrepreneur program to offer a 12week program: turning ideas into business

The young company owners identified a problem in their communities, identified their target markets, designed their logos, worked through costs and pricing and now are ready to offer their products and services to you!

Visit www.kidsrank.org to learn more.

Unique Masks was inspired to keep our community safe and healthy during COVID.

With each mask purchased, a mask is donated to an essential worker. Adult and Kid sized masks are available!

Shop at: www.kidsrank.org/online-store

Owners: Mady, Serenity, and Neomi

Unite4Life is a company that spreads positivity and the expression of our differences and our uniqueness

We are a group of teens that feel like the world has been a little crazy these past couple years so we decided that people should be united by a simple clothing piece. We really wanted to bring people together to make the world a better place.

Shop at: www.kidsrank.org/online-store

The owners of Mini-Moms are experienced big sisters and feel strongly that being able to give parents a break is a valuable service because they know how demanding life can be Services

ONLY available in Great Lakes, IL.

Pet Sitters Club is a military run children company made to help pet owners provide their pets with the attention and love their pets need.

Services ONLY available in Great Lakes, IL.

Owners: Eliza, Avery, Madison, Andrew

Owners: Ashlynne, Cheyenne, & Shyann

Owners: Vanessa, Annabella and Maddox

C E O L E A D E R S H I P

By Hema Crocket

CEOs are born and not made CEOs have huge personalities and are outgoing. CEOs have MBAs. These are just three of the many myths that exist about being a successful CEO What made a successful CEO five or ten years ago differs from what makes a successful CEO today. This shift is primarily due to the many internal and external pressures brought about by changes in technology, employee preferences, the way people work, and where work is done.

One thing that hasn’t changed is the need to have a strong CEO at the helm guiding the company in the right direction. You are that CEO.

Successful leaders, and incredibly successful CEOs, use their values as anchors to help drive decision-making and guide behaviors. If you haven’t spent time thinking about your values, set aside a few hours to do so It’ s important to be intentional about these values. While many words sound great, your values should be meaningful to you These values help shape the kind of culture you want For example, authenticity is very important for me. Within my company, we live this value by ensuring we bring our whole self to work each day – we create a human experience versus just an employee experience.

So, what exactly does successful CEO leadership look like? For starters, let your passion and purpose drive you. Think about why you became an entrepreneur in the first place What drove you to start your own business? Why is this what you ’ re passionate about? If you keep your WHY and your mission in mind as you build your business, then the decisions align with your purpose as well

Then, think about the kind of culture you want to create within your company Even if you don’t have any employees and don’t plan on hiring anyone in the near future, creating a culture that attracts the right type of customer will be essential. Keeping your purpose at the core, think about your core values

Next, gain perspective Often as CEOs, it can be easy to think we have all of the answers or think that our way is the only (and right) way. This kind of thinking is how CEOs slowly start to lose business and respect One way to gain perspective is to think about going to the balcony If you were watching yourself from a balcony, what would you think about your actions, behaviors, and words? Would they align with your core values?

This ability to take a step back and gain perspective is how strong leaders start to build their self-awareness. They are aware of how their actions affect others

Successful CEO's make decisions.

However, gaining perspective isn’t enough

Successful CEOs also challenge their view If you ’ re a team of one, you can still challenge your perspective by asking your board of advisors or the top two to three people closest to you their thoughts on a significant decision you need to make. Ultimately, you may decide to go with the decision you initially made, and that’ s okay The point here is to surround yourself with people who can offer different viewpoints and prevent confirmation bias.

Finally, successful CEOs make decisions

Throughout my career, I have come across countless CEOs who are unable to make a decision, whether due to analysis paralysis, fear, or something else The truth is, there are no ideal or perfect decision-making circumstances. As a leader, it is imperative you make timely decisions as accurately as possible with the information provided. A great CEO will decide, begin executing on the plan and make adjustments along the way based on results and new information as it becomes available This allows the company to continue moving forward and for employees or strategic partners to see that you can navigate challenging situations

While there are many attributes that make a successful CEO, these have been some of the most important for me when I coach entrepreneurs and other business leaders. Being a successful CEO is hard work. It requires you to take a look at your own actions and behaviors first, and it forces you to be intentional about how you show up every day for your employees and your clients. Ultimately, becoming a successful CEO is a journey that you will continue growing and learning The work is never done, but the rewards are pretty amazing!

MAD SCIENCE OF SAN DIEGO

Science presents numerous opportunities that can only be seized with the right preparation, determination, and with the utmost respect of its potential.

I come from a humble background I was born in Lima, Peru, to a singleparent home that presented numerous challenges.

Challenges that my mother had to face head-on while my grandmother taught me the way of my ancestors My mother made a very bold decision when I was five years old; she uprooted me from Peru and transplanted me to where I now call home; San Diego, CA.

She moved us here to give me more opportunities to make a difference, make a change, and give my best effort to make this a better planet.

Admittedly, science was not my favorite class due to my schools' limited resources.

I joined the workforce at a young age in customer service at a restaurant This was my first real exposure to customers' demands; this helped me focus on the details and the customer experience. Shortly after, a great opportunity presented itself at a jewelry store. I was exchanging a piece of jewelry for something else.

by Erika Garcia

While in the store, I had the store manager's attention, and inadvertently I was selling his piece of jewelry back to him. The store manager offered me a position (on the spot). He saw something in me that I still had not discovered. He saw what came naturally to me, passion, customer service, and determination (to get my way and exchange the piece)

Take a peek into a day in the life of budding artist Stella Young, and how she improves her craft

After a few months in his store, he sent me to get certified as a Diamontologist. Diamontology is a branch of Gemology, which is the Science of studying precious stones. Science was back in my life.

"THE MORE PEOPLE I CAN HELP, THE GREATER THE IMPACT I WILL MAKE ON THIS PLANET."

I continued my journey armed with newly acquired skills into my next role. This time I was going from business to business in downtown San Diego selling multifunction units (fancy word for copiers) I learned to refine my biggest skill during my time here Determination! I practiced this from sunup to sundown from office to office, receiving navigating thru the office hierarchy fo to the final approv game I played to w undefeated.

When I joined the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce as a Business Development Manager, I capitalized on the most significant opportunity being surrounded by high-profile community and local business leaders and entrepreneurs at various stages of success It lit a fire in my internal drive. This position was short-lived since I was recently married to a United States Navy Sailor and we received orders to relocate to Virginia Beach, VA. I was just getting a sense of what military life was like.

Once again uprooted, moving across the country, leaving everything and everyone I knew, to support my husband. This time, I was not afraid of starting over; I felt my pedigree was strong and I could take on any challenge

After three years, we were on our way back to San Diego, CA A place we were intimately familiar with, a place where friends and family were awaiting our return and an opportunity with Mad Science of San Diego presented itself.

I am determined to impact San Diego, by serving the countless military families that live here and sharing my love of all things science. I like to practice a concept presented by Aristotle, "We are what we repeatedly do Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit by consistently putting in the work when others may to." I am continuing bits even when no am staying true to ting to make an

Mad Science of San Diego has been providing science enrichment programs to kids for over 20 years. Working closely with the previous owners, I learned the business's intricacies and its impact on the community. The overall concept is to spark the imagination of kids through science to drive a student to STEM careers in the future. It is MIND BLOWING to think we have that much influence; the responsibility is huge and the reward overwhelming.

After a few years in this company, I took ownership of Mad Science of San Diego My goal is to continue to introduce our future generation to science. Without a doubt, I know I have all the tools in my toolbox to accept the journey head-on.

This quote alone has allowed Mad Science to pivot, adapt, and remain a constant presence in our community. Due to the unprecedented circumstance of COVID-19, we shifted from an in-person, hands-on, interactive environment to an online platform

We have managed to stay hands-on and interactive in our approach while adding the additional safety parameters of social distancing without compromising our future scientist experience.

On the path to my current success, I have learned many skills that have allowed me to seize opportunities and capitalize on them. I have come full circle like science; I can help the people I come across to usher our young generation into science careers and assist fellow entrepreneurs in achieving success

www.sandiego.madscience.org

Collins, Esquire CEO & Chair

CFO & Treasurer

Council for Military Spouse Clubs

By Candice McPhillips

Military spouse clubs around the world have a new global resource to turn to for expert guidance, community building, and support in growing resilient and related charitable nonprofits The Council for Military Spouse Clubs was formed early this year, after months of collaboration and planning The Council’ s mission is to educate, train, and provide resources to American military spouse clubs and their charitable nonprofits operating on military installations worldwide with the goal of preserving, perpetuating, and improving their governance and operations as nonprofit organizations

Launching a new nonprofit during COVID – and one that is spread across wildly different time zones – is ambitious, to say the least, but co-founders Bobbie Collins, Candice McPhillips, and Julie Taufa’ asau knew the time was now to launch the Council. In the current climate of ever-changing regulations and laws, military spouse clubs need guidance in operating as nonprofits.

The founding of the Council is the result of more than seven years of effort and spans continents After several years of working with military spouse clubs on a pro bono basis, military spouse tax attorney Bobbie Collins formed an initiative within the Military Spouse JD Network (MSJDN), a bar association for military spouse attorneys, to create legal information guides and a pro bono panel of attorneys for military spouse clubs Collins and fellow military spouse tax attorney Candice McPhillips began drafting a military spouse club legal reference guide

Once the guide was ready to launch plans took a surprising turn, further discussions led them to the conclusion that military spouse clubs would be better served through the creation of a more expansive independent nonprofit organization that focused on both governance and operational support, directed by professionals with subject matter expertise in a range of nonprofit issues.

Bobbie

Candice McPhillips, Esquire

Julie Taufa asau, Ed.D. Secretary

In August 2020, Collins and McPhillips re-connected with fellow military spouse attorney Ashley Cranford-Marshall Cranford-Marshall had launched a Facebook group, the “Military Spouse Club Leadership Forum, ” for clubs to share questions and ideas. Their conversation led them to connect with Julie Taufa’ asau, who holds a doctorate in leadership studies and has extensive military spouse club experience. By late October 2020, Collins, McPhillips, and Taufa’ asau were collaborating to launch the Council.

It’ s long past time for military spouse clubs to join forces and adapt to changes in the military lifestyle Long gone are the days of 1950s spouse clubs being formed for social purposes only Modern military spouse clubs are integrated, dynamic, often have significant commercial arms, and are run by military spouses who are not only stay-at-home parents but also well-qualified professionals, ” said Taufa’ asau, the Council’ s founding Secretary “It’ s only natural the Council assist military spouse clubs with the next generational transition ”

Historically, military spouse clubs have faced significant burdens to operating with good, nonprofit governance and operational practices. Given decades-old adherence to outdated governing principles and constant transitioning of board members. Many military spouse clubs recreate the wheel every couple of years and typically lean on the advice of commander spouses filling ex officio roles on boards but often lack formal nonprofit training. In addition, military spouse clubs are not part of an overarching national or global organization and usually have little to no support on military installations for legal or operational guidance as private organizations The impact of these challenges is stunted membership growth, inability to fulfill a charitable mission, or noncompliance with nonprofit and tax laws With proper support, military spouse clubs can flourish and make substantial charitable contributions to their communities

The Council will support military spouse clubs from all six branches of the United States Military and will open up membership to military spouse clubs in the Spring of 2021. Membership will be free in 2021 in an effort to conduct a census of military spouse clubs.

If you would like more information about the Council for Military Spouse Clubs visit www.CouncilforMSC.org.