By Scott Mackes, USNA '01
4.9
3333 ratings
The podcast currently has 369 episodes available.
Are you a real estate investor in need of financing for your next investment property? If so, the Academy Fund has you covered! Whether you need short term financing for “fix-and-flip” projects, land development, or new construction or you need long term financing for single family or multi family rentals, we are your reliable financial partner. Our mission is to bridge the gaps often left by conventional banking institutions, making sure your real estate dreams become reality.
And for accredited investors looking to earn purpose driven passive income while supporting military veteran real estate investors, the Academy Fund is the perfect opportunity. Our short term loans are powered by capital from investors like you, who receive monthly distributions.
To learn more, visit AcademyFund.com.
Are you ready to connect, grow, and have some serious fun? Reserve your spot now for our upcoming event at The Tampa Club in Tampa, Florida, on January 28th. Space is limited to just 30 participants, so act fast to secure your place.
Join us for an unforgettable experience filled with camaraderie, inspiration, and personal growth alongside like-minded individuals who share your values and ambitions.
To learn more and reserve your spot, visit 10xvets.com/events.
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Nate Lamb is the Marketing Director at Joint Forces Roofing, a veteran-owned commercial roofing company dedicated to providing top-tier roofing solutions with integrity and excellence. The team, made up of veterans and industry experts, is committed to delivering superior service and quality workmanship. Honoring their military roots, they infuse discipline, commitment, and a strong work ethic into every aspect of their work. Nate is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Economics. He further enhanced his business acumen by completing an MBA at Johns Hopkins University's Carey Business School.
In this episode, we discuss:
Connect with Nate Lamb:
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Are you a real estate investor in need of financing for your next investment property? If so, the Academy Fund has you covered! Whether you need short term financing for “fix-and-flip” projects, land development, or new construction or you need long term financing for single family or multi family rentals, we are your reliable financial partner. Our mission is to bridge the gaps often left by conventional banking institutions, making sure your real estate dreams become reality.
And for accredited investors looking to earn purpose driven passive income while supporting military veteran real estate investors, the Academy Fund is the perfect opportunity. Our short term loans are powered by capital from investors like you, who receive monthly distributions.
To learn more, visit AcademyFund.com.
Are you ready to connect, grow, and have some serious fun? Reserve your spot now for our upcoming event at The Tampa Club in Tampa, Florida, on January 28th. Space is limited to just 30 participants, so act fast to secure your place.
Join us for an unforgettable experience filled with camaraderie, inspiration, and personal growth alongside like-minded individuals who share your values and ambitions.
To learn more and reserve your spot, visit 10xvets.com/events.
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“That's actually why I started calling myself ‘Iron’ Mike. It wasn't because of the boxing ring. It was suggestive. But it was really because I had to give myself a mental pep talk during COVID, when I had spent all this time building something, and to virtually see it go to zero overnight. Luckily, I was able to bounce back." –“Iron” Mike Steadman, USNA ‘10
"Iron" Mike Steadman is a dynamic entrepreneur, business coach, and brand builder who specializes in helping “underdogs” and “misfits” launch successful brands. A graduate of the United States Naval Academy and former Marine Corps infantry officer with deployments to Afghanistan, Japan, and the Philippines, Mike is also a three-time national boxing champion.
He is the founder of the nonprofit IRONBOUND Boxing as well as the business and consulting companies IRONBOUND Media, Flawless Acceleration, and The MisFits Branding & Design Co. Mike is also the author of Black Veteran Entrepreneur, and he’s working on his second book, Dog Whistle Branding. In addition, he hosts two podcasts.
Mike says he became “Iron” Mike during the COVID pandemic when he had to keep his newly opened boxing gym alive despite shutdowns and little support. As a Hoover Veteran Fellow at Stanford University and a mentor for Techstars, he’s made it his mission to support and empower underrepresented entrepreneurs. Mike's diverse experience and resilient spirit fuel his mission to "lift as he climbs," helping others overcome adversity and build impactful businesses and brands.
In this episode, we discuss:
Connect with Mike Steadman:
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Special thanks to Iron Mike for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
“Having served in the military, having that leadership experience, having gone to a service academy, I think that we can optimize things really well. We're relatively decent with technology. And so rather than having to invent a business, our skill sets work pretty well with – let's buy a Mom and Pop business and bring it into this century. Modernize things and make it work more efficiently.” –Carl Dieckmann
Carl Dieckmann is a commercial real estate broker at Emily Dieckmann Real Estate Team in Lago Vista, Texas, a firm he co-owns and runs with his wife Emily, which is one of the top producing brokerages in the Austin area. As a real estate investor, Carl has over a decade of experience flipping properties, managing buy-and-hold properties, and purchasing tax foreclosures. A serial entrepreneur, in 2020 Carl purchased Snowblaze Ski Shop in Angel Fire, New Mexico. In doing so, he acquired one of the most prime commercial property locations in Angel Fire along with additional land that’s earmarked for future development. In 2021, Carl teamed up with retired military veteran Ismael Reyna to start CJ Site Works, a tree clearing and dirt work business servicing Northwest Austin. Carl also leads a team of five in a syndication to develop a 120-pad RV park in New Braunfels, Texas. In addition to running his businesses, Carl is a part-time military reservist in the 701st COS supporting the Korean Theater.
In this episode, we discuss:
Carl Dieckmann's journey from Air Force pilot to multi-faceted entrepreneur highlights how seemingly simple “Mom and Pop” type local businesses can turn into big opportunities while diversifying your business interests. After a risky move from Las Vegas to the Austin area, Carl and his wife Emily transformed a struggling real estate brokerage into one of the top-producing firms in the area. Carl's entrepreneurial spirit led him to expand beyond real estate, acquiring Snowblaze Ski Shop in New Mexico and co-founding CJ Site Works, a land clearing business, with a fellow vet. His latest venture involves developing a 120-pad RV park, demonstrating his ability to identify new business trends.
Carl's story illustrates how embracing change, leveraging local opportunities, and filling skill gaps with expert help can lead to success in different niches. His experiences remind us that entrepreneurial growth often comes from being adaptable, taking calculated risks, and continuously exploring new business avenues while maintaining a strong foundation in core competencies.
Connect with Carl Dieckmann:
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Special thanks to Carl for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
“One of the things that the military really does well to prepare entrepreneurs is creating the ability to be comfortable in an environment with a lot of unknowns, that's highly dynamic, and rolling with the punches with whatever's thrown at you." -Zach Scheel, U.S. Navy Veteran
Zach Scheel is the CEO and Co-founder of Rhumbix, a mobile technology company that empowers construction workers to capture accurate, real-time data in the field while providing project managers with data-driven insights to dramatically improve site safety and labor productivity. Zach has led Rhumbix from its inception in 2014 to the company being recognized as the Forbes #8 Veteran Startup in the U.S. He holds a BSE in mechanical engineering and mathematics from Duke University and an MS/MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business. From 2006-2011, Zach served as a Civil Engineer Corps Officer in the U.S. Navy while stationed in the Republic of Djibouti and as an Assistant Public Works Officer and Assistant Resident Officer in the Greater Seattle Area. He is a California Board Certified Professional Engineer, an LEED Accredited Professional, and an active member of YPO. He is passionate about leveraging technology to improve construction efficiency and worker safety.
In this episode, we discuss:
Connect with Zach:
If you found this episode valuable, please share it with a friend or colleague. If you are a Service Academy graduate and want to take your business to the next level, you can join our supportive community and get started today.
Subscribe and help out the show:
Special thanks to Zach for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
“Do what you have to do in this industry to be successful, and what that usually entails is being uncomfortable and putting yourself out there… Every single time you put yourself out there, you're kind of shedding off a little bit of this ego." -Shawn Cleary
Shawn Cleary is a Realtor with Keller Williams Realty in the Charleston, South Carolina area. Prior to his career in real estate, he served in the U.S. Navy for over 11 years, rising to the rank of Lieutenant. During his naval career, Shawn served as a Submarine Officer and held various other positions including Shift Engineer at the Naval Prototype Training Unit and Naval Science Instructor at The Citadel. Shawn's educational background includes a bachelor of science in mechanical engineering from the U.S. Naval Academy, where he graduated in 2016. His diverse experience in naval operations and engineering provides a unique foundation for his current work in real estate.
In this episode, we discuss:
Shawn Cleary, a former Naval Submarine Officer turned successful Realtor, joins us in this podcast episode to share his remarkable journey from military service to being on track to become the #1 real estate agent in Charleston, South Carolina. Drawing from his experiences in naval operations and engineering, Shawn discusses how he leveraged his military training while letting go of his ego to excel in his new career. In our conversation, Shawn reveals the strategies that propelled his rapid success, including continuous learning, personal branding, and embracing discomfort. He also delves into the challenges of scaling a real estate business and building a team, offering valuable insights for aspiring agents, investors, and entrepreneurs. Additionally, Shawn shares his perspective on why Charleston is a thriving business and lifestyle hub. This episode is a must-listen for anyone in a career transition or who’s interested in real estate or working on personal development.
Connect with Shawn
Book and Podcast Recommendations
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Special thanks to Shawn for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
“I think people can't give their own personal agency away. I talk to a lot of veterans that kind of throw up their hands, ‘Oh, the VA isn't giving me the help that I need.’ Well, hey, man, take responsibility for your own life. You’ve got to figure this sh-t out. And we're here to help you.” –Scottie Schneider
Scottie Schneider is a military veteran, West Point graduate, and the founder of Waking Warrior, a community and support system for military veterans who are experiencing anxiety, depression, PTSD, substance abuse issues, and thoughts of suicide. Based in Medellín, Antioquia, Colombia, Scottie is adept at using traditional plant medicine, including hallucinogens, as part of the psychological healing process.
A West Point graduate with a bachelor's degree in environmental engineering and Russian language, Scottie served as an Army officer from 2005 to 2012, where he was stationed in Fairbanks, Alaska. Following his military service, Scottie embarked on a successful career in sales for a number of technology companies, where he mentored teams and developed an expertise in strategic relationships, key account management, sales operations, and revenue generation. Despite his business success, he also dealt with severe depression, substance abuse issues, and thoughts of suicide, which put him on a path of personal and spiritual exploration and, ultimately, healing.
In this episode, we discuss:
Scottie Schneider's journey from West Point graduate to founder of Waking Warrior, a community and support system for veterans, is a testament to the power of personal and spiritual transformation and the importance of addressing mental health in the veteran community.
After serving as an Army officer in Fairbanks, Alaska, Scottie faced his own battles with depression and alcoholism upon leaving the military. His struggle led him to explore alternative healing methods, including plant medicines and psychedelics, which played a crucial role in his personal recovery.
Drawing from his experiences and leveraging his diverse skill set – which spans from environmental engineering to sales and technology – Scottie founded Waking Warrior. This online community and support system aims to help military veterans grappling with anxiety, depression, PTSD, substance abuse, and suicidal thoughts.
Scottie's approach emphasizes the importance of authenticity, vulnerability, and personal growth. Waking Warrior encourages veterans to explore various healing modalities, from breathwork to meditation and other systems, recognizing that each individual's path to recovery is unique. By addressing the challenges of identity restructuring and promoting "skill stacking," Scottie and Waking Warrior are working to provide veterans with the tools they need to thrive in civilian life and rediscover their sense of purpose.
Connect with Scottie:
Scottie's book recommendations from the podcast:
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Special thanks to Scottie for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
“I talked to a lot of people, and it was really surprising to me – the low levels of service that are prevalent in this industry. And a lot of the way we will win is by simply doing what we say we're going to do… We think we can bring more value, especially for someone who's in the e-commerce space and looking to be multichannel…” –Eric Lobdell
Eric Lobdell is the founder of Thrive 3PL, Lonestar Trade, and Lobdell Capital, companies that offer warehousing, fulfillment, and logistics solutions to help launch and scale e-commerce businesses. Eric turned a career in commercial real estate and a side hustle selling supplements on Amazon into a collection of companies that help their clients focus on growing their businesses and achieving success in the competitive e-commerce market.
In this episode, we discuss:
Eric's journey from Amazon reseller to logistics innovator showcases the power of entrepreneurial adaptation. Eric explains how hurdles he faced in a side hustle selling supplements on Amazon led him to explore commercial real estate and warehousing as a tangible asset. This pivot unexpectedly paved the way for Thrive 3PL, a third-party logistics company born from the intersection of e-commerce expertise and real estate experience. By identifying the underserved needs of small to medium-sized e-commerce businesses, Eric and his team created a solution that combines warehouse management and fulfillment, cutting-edge software, and personalized service to help their customers thrive. Their story reminds us that entrepreneurial success often comes from leveraging past experiences to solve new problems and turning challenges into opportunities for innovation and growth.
Connect with Eric Lobdell:
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Special thanks to Eric and Robert for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
“Let us show you how competitive we can be, how well we service, how well we support your draw and your rehab and construction efforts and let that speak for itself. Words are one thing, but action... I put a lot more stock in that." -Jason Hutton
Jason Hutton is the Managing Director of Academy Fund, a gateway for military veteran real estate investors to obtain flexible and competitively-priced capital to support their projects. In turn, these loans generate attractive risk-adjusted returns and ongoing passive income for Academy Fund investors. With nearly 25 years of experience as a senior executive, Jason has led organizations across various industries, managed multi-million dollar P&Ls, and has been involved in over $28 billion in loans. His expertise spans leadership, negotiations, strategic planning, and relationship management. Jason is a West Point graduate (‘95) and he holds an MBA from NYU's Stern School of Business. He is committed to mentoring veterans and aspiring Academy graduates and helping them to achieve their financial goals.
In this episode, we discuss:
Jason Hutton is the Managing Director of Academy Fund. As a West Point graduate with an MBA from NYU's Stern School of Business and a former SVP and COO at Sherman Bridge, Jason brings nearly 25 years of senior executive experience to his role at Academy Fund. In this podcast interview with Service Academy founder Scott Mackes, Jason shares insights from his impressive career as well as his big goals to expand Academy Fund's team, improve its technology, and grow the business in the coming years, making it the premier lender for veteran and academy graduate real estate investors in the United States.
Connect with Jason:
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Special thanks to Jason for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
“We chose the name “Renting Freedom” because it's kind of like a play on words. But the whole goal is financial freedom. I'm sure that's a lot of people's goals. A way that you can do that is by having income-producing assets that you're renting out, and then that gives you freedom.” –Justin Artis
Justin Artis is a rising real estate investor and a naval submarine officer in the United States Navy. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 2018 with a degree in mechanical engineering, after attending the Naval Academy Preparatory School from 2013 to 2014. Following his graduation, Justin completed Nuclear Power School at the Naval Nuclear Power Training Command (NNPTC) in January of 2020, where he gained expertise in nuclear engineering and submarine operations.
Alongside his naval career, Justin's investment strategy includes buying and renovating properties, land development, and creative problem-solving to maximize returns. Justin co-invests with his mother, a licensed realtor, combining her people skills and relationship-building expertise with his analytical approach to deals and technical knowledge. As a passionate advocate for financial freedom through real estate, Justin shares his knowledge and experiences on his YouTube channel, "Renting Freedom." He aims to educate and inspire others to build wealth through real estate investing and create financial freedom. Justin's diverse skill set, spanning nuclear engineering, naval leadership, and real estate investing, positions him uniquely in the business world as he approaches the end of his naval service commitment.
In this episode, we discuss:
Connect with Justin Artis:
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Special thanks to Kris for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
“Most people will tell you, even myself at one time, ‘I don't like sales.’ But any business that you do is going to be rooted in sales. Understanding that process is so important… talking about investments or talking about how someone's looking to invest their money, and it’s still sales at the end of the day.” –Justin Loutfy, USAFA '16
Justin Loutfy is an investor, author, speaker, and self-proclaimed “Girl Dad” to his two young daughters. He is the managing partner of Onyx Peak Capital, a real estate and investing firm. In addition to his real estate ventures, Justin runs the DadVesters podcast and a YouTube channel where he shares his knowledge and experiences in real estate and investing. He aims to educate and inspire others to achieve financial freedom through investing. Before founding Onyx Peak Capital, Justin was the chief operating officer for Cherokee Wood Products. He was also an operations manager for Amazon and a fund analyst at Lion Creek Capital, LLC. In addition, Justin served as a special warfare officer/joint terminal attack controller (JTAC) for the U.S. Air Force.
In this episode, we discuss:
Justin Loutfy's journey from U.S. Air Force special warfare officer to successful investor illustrates the power of diverse experiences in shaping innovative business ventures.
After 9-5 roles in operations at Amazon and Cherokee Wood Products, Justin transitioned to entrepreneurship, exploring various business models including real estate wholesaling and course teaching. This period of experimentation led him to found Onyx Peak Capital, a real estate and investing firm where is managing partner.
One of Justin's standout ventures is his debt validation fund, which offers a 20% return for investors while helping individuals reduce their debt by half. With an ambitious goal to raise $50 million, the fund aims to help 25,000 people overcome debt. This innovative approach exemplifies Justin's ability to create solutions that benefit both investors and the broader community.
Beyond his investing activities, Justin is dedicated to education and sharing his knowledge. He runs a YouTube channel focused on real estate investing and hosts the "DadVestors" podcast, exploring the intersection of parenting and investing.
As a self-proclaimed "Girl Dad" to two young daughters, Justin's story demonstrates how embracing diverse experiences, rapid learning, and innovative problem-solving can lead to entrepreneurial success while maintaining a focus on family and community impact.
Connect with Justin Loutfy:
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Special thanks to Justin for joining me this week. Until next time!
-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01
The podcast currently has 369 episodes available.
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