Service Academy Business Mastermind

"I always struggled to fit into a mold...people in Africa didn't want to fit me into a mold, they wanted to know who I was. There was no mold to fill and I really held onto that. I saw the impacts of having genuine conversations with people with no expectations or knowledge on either side of who the other person was or who they were in the past. Those interactions are liberating and we're trying to create and encourage these types of interactions at the farm."

- Gerardo Martinez (USNA '11)

We're delighted to welcome Gerardo Martinez back to the SABM podcast. The last time we spoke, Gerardo told us about his role as CEO of Triple Leadership Direct, a company he founded that provides experiential leadership development training utilizing the outdoors. Gerardo is still CEO of Triple Direct Leadership, but a lot has changed since then! After an experience in Africa inspired him to invest in a farm, Gerardo is now creating a business and community enterprise centered around human interaction with a goal to improve mental health, regenerate agriculture and impact people's lives for the better.

In this episode, we discuss:

• How Covid-19 launched the explosive success of his new business, Wild Kid Acres, LLC
• Why his experience in Africa inspired him to transform his life and career
• What exciting revenue streams he's created and why they have been successful so far
• Why mental health is at the forefront of Wild Kid Acres

We also discuss how Gerardo is partnering with a fellow military veteran to grow the business and his current fundraising campaign to build a multi-storey community barn that will better service demand and improve visitor facilities. We loved listening to Gerardo's stories from the farm including how he successfully demolished, designed and built a house all by himself, how a county fine turned into a county grant, and how one incredible woman sparked the idea behind Wild Kid Acres. Gerardo is truly revolutionising his community and we're so excited to share his story with you.

Connect with Gerardo:

• LinkedIn
• Wild Kid Acres
• Barn Build GoFundMe

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:

• Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
• Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
• Leave us a 5-star review!

Special thanks to Gerardo for joining me this week. Until next time!

- Scott Mackes, USNA '01

"For me, the greater the challenge, the more fun it will be."

- Scott Chesson

Scott Chesson (USNA '84) is a highly experienced finance executive with over 20 years of experience as the CFO of several small to medium-sized businesses. After graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy with a mathematics degree, Scott served as a Surface Warfare Officer and got a masters degree in accounting. In 2020, Scott founded CFO 4Vets, where he currently specializes in liberating small business owners' time from financial entanglement while helping their businesses grow revenue, profits, and value. His services offer entrepreneurs a wealth of on-demand financial wisdom at a fraction of the cost of hiring a full-time CFO.

In this episode, we discuss:

• How and why Scott became a CFO
• The benefits of finding and having a specialty
• Scott's first few jobs after serving in the military and how he became a business owner
• What triggered Scott to found CFO 4Vets and the rewards of his current role
• Tips on how to recognize when your business needs a CFO

Scott also shares how he discovered he wanted to work for small companies in order to have a bigger impact, tells us what CFO 4Vets does and talks about his exciting new qualification in business valuation. He describes his ideal customer profile, successful workflows he's established with his clients, and the importance of his collaborations with other military veteran-owned companies including Freedom Makers Virtual Assistant Services and Brand Alive. We really value Scott's financial expertise and love hearing how his creative solutions save entrepreneurs time and money and help them achieve their goals faster.

Connect with Scott:

• LinkedIn
• Chess Solutions, LLC

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:

• Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
• Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
• Leave us a 5-star review!

Special thanks to Scott for joining me this week. Until next time!

- Scott Mackes, USNA '01

"We work with people who are unwilling to accept that life is going to be boring...people who want to go out and grow together, to be excited, to make things an adventure, to look at the next challenge as a mountain to climb rather than a drudgery to push through. We're looking for people who want to be better leaders, who want to show up more authentically and more intentionally as leaders, and who want to learn how to do that by canoeing or rock climbing or climbing mountains or backpacking and exploring."

-Knight Campbell

Knight Campbell is Outdoor Guide, Leadership Coach and CEO of Cairn Leadership Strategies. His outdoor leadership programs fuse rigorous leadership study with gritty outdoor adventures designed to transform the lives and work environments of emerging leaders, business owners, and company executives. Before Cairn Leadership Strategies, Knight served as a U.S. Navy helicopter pilot, managed crucial military air operations, and taught leadership courses for the U.S. Naval Academy.

In this episode, we discuss:

• How the outdoors facilitates team building and breaks down barriers
• Why checking in with colleagues outside of the office is so important
• How Knight plans adventures and structures outdoor leadership curricula
• How stepping outside of your comfort zone can accelerate your success

Knight also talks about the health benefits of spending time outdoors and why three day-long breaks are essential to obtaining a healthy balance between work and life. We also asked Knight about his favorite adventures so far and what his business goals for Cairn Leadership are over the coming months. Recording this episode made us want to shut down the computer and get some fresh air! We hope it inspires you to get outside and explore the outdoors however you can.

Connect with Knight:

• LinkedIn
• Cairn Leadership Strategies

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:

• Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
• Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
• Leave us a 5-star review!

Special thanks to Knight for joining me this week. Until next time!

- Scott Mackes, USNA '01

"What would you do if you knew you would not fail? Fail as many times as you need to be successful. You only fail when you quit." - Randy Wimmer (USNA '91)

We're so excited to have Randy Wimmer (USNA '91) on the SABM podcast today. After 10 years of active duty military service, Randy launched his first Federal Government contracting company from his home after his kids went to bed and later sold it for 8-figures. With nearly thirty years either in or supporting the Federal Government, Randy is the ultimate "industry insider," having owned multiple successful contracting companies. In 2018, he launched the Government Contracting Academy to mentor, coach and train aspiring entrepreneurs to achieve financial success in the Federal Government contracting market.

In this episode, we discuss:

• What led Randy into the government contracting industry
• Why Randy launched the Government Contacting Academy
• How the Government Contracting Academy works
• What makes military veterans the most highly qualified individuals for government contracting work
• How the $3.5 trillion reconciliation package will impact government contracting

We also discuss how a career in government contracting can begin as a successful side hustle, why quitting your day job isn't always necessary or advisable when getting started, why government contract work is a long term commitment rather than a get rich quick scheme, and the value of learning how to pace yourself.

Randy also shares how he navigated the transition from an active duty military service member to a self-employed government contractor and reveals valuable lessons he learned along the way. We could talk to Randy for hours! His advice is timely, relevant and practical and we hope it inspires you to get your line in the water of government contracting.

Randy is offering a Government Contracting Academy services discount to all SABM-ers! It's a generous offer and we encourage you to make the most of this exciting opportunity.

Connect with Randy:

• LinkedIn
• Government Contracting Academy

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:

• Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
• Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
• Leave us a 5-star review!

Special thanks to Randy for joining me this week. Until next time!

– Scott Mackes, USNA '01

"Instead of thinking about re-growing hair, we're helping men to embrace and accept hair loss. Our mission is to empower the bald and balding to live their best lives through our online community and we've created a skincare routine around that...I struggled with losing my hair and created MANTL,Inc. to help men through that process."

-Pete Ricci (USMA '02)

Pete Ricci is CEO and Co-Founder of MANTL, Inc., a company that specializes in empowering the bald and balding through community and a line of specialized skincare products. He brings over 17 years of experience and expertise in sales, sales operations, strategy, and leadership development to the business. Prior to his business career, Pete served as an officer in the US Army, which included two tours of duty in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

In this episode, we discuss:

• What his company MANTL, Inc. does and why he started it
• How MANTL, Inc. is filling a gap in the men's skincare market
• How Pete built the MANTL, Inc. online community and why it's so important
• The importance of purpose and passion to brand success
• Expert tips on marketing and PR

Pete also shares why it's important for men to embrace going bald and walks us through five stages of grief in the balding process and why it's important to acknowledge them. We're inspired by the powerful diversity of the online community he's helped to build and fascinated to hear why Pete's experiences working for the Honest Company were so valuable. Beyond balding, we talked about his unique direct to consumer business structure and strategies, how he is growing the company through various retail channels, and the unexpected channels that have skyrocketed the company's success. Pete and his team are making huge strides with MANTL, Inc. and we're inspired by the sense of purpose and groundbreaking strategies that drive its success.

Connect with Pete:

• LinkedIn
• MANTL, Inc.

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:

• Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
• Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
• Leave us a 5-star review!

Special thanks to Pete for joining me this week. Until next time!

- Scott Mackes, USNA '01

"Nothing will ever feel as good as striking someone out in front of 40,000 people, but helping new clients realize what they can accomplish for their families with the financial resources they have and seeing the look of relief and amazement on their faces comes pretty close."

- Mitchell Harris (USNA '08)

In this episode, we discuss:

• How Mitch balanced military service and a professional baseball career
• How the U.S. Naval Academy helped him realize his dream
• Transitioning between military service, professional baseball and a career in finance
• Why Mitch is passionate about being a financial advisor

We also discuss Mitch's deployments with the U.S. Navy as a Surface Warfare Officer, how pitch practice on the flight deck made him a more accurate player, and how Mitch got back into baseball shape following his military service. We loved talking to Mitch about how he managed multiple career transitions and why he decided to become a financial advisor. It's awesome to hear how he is leveraging the skills he gained in the military and professional baseball to help his clients succeed.

Connect with Mitch:

• LinkedIn
• Merrill Lynch
• Instagram
• Twitter
• Mitch's MLB debut

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:

• Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
• Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
• Leave us a 5-star review!

Special thanks to Mitch for joining me this week. Until next time!

- Scott Mackes, USNA '01

"It's a specialty field, but if you can find and understand the risk, you can find the potential value to capture on a real estate purchase...I heard it described as a bond investment wrapped in real estate and I resonate with that. There's consistent cash flow securitized by the credit of the company and there's a lot of value in that because there aren't tons of players in that space right now."

- Neil Wahlgren (USAFA '04)

Neil Wahlgren (USAFA '04) is COO of MAG Capital Partners, a commercial real estate firm specializing in industrial sale leaseback structured investment and development, which creates value through institutional leases and long-term alignment with proven tenants. The firm's dedicated in-house credit analysis, construction management, asset management and investor support staff contribute to their growing success. Prior to working at MAG Capital Partners, Neil served as a C-130 Hercules pilot for the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy.

In this episode, we discuss:

• How MAG Capital Partners find tenants
• What makes a good commercial real estate tenant
• Why military checklist discipline and risk analysis apply to real estate investing
• How commercial real estate transactions work

Neil also talks about his day-to-day roles and responsibilities as COO, what led him to his current role, and what it's like to work with his brother at the firm. We enjoyed hearing Neil describe the excitement he experiences when launching new deals and we're impressed to hear how MAG Capitals significantly grew their deal flow. We really enjoyed learning more about commercial real estate investing from Neil and we hope you benefit from listening to his insights and experiences as much as we did.

Connect with Neil:

• LinkedIn
• MAG Capital Partners

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:

• Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
• Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
• Leave us a 5-star review!

Special thanks to Neil for joining me this week. Until next time!

- Scott Mackes, USNA '01

"Sometimes old rules are the best...be nice to your friends, treat people well, and if there's someone you want to meet, provide them with value."

- Jason Williscroft (USNA '95)

Jason Williscroft is a U.S. Navy veteran and Founder and CEO of Tribify, LLC, an enterprise-grade, AI-enhanced data management system that leverages the power of social networking to help businesses find future customers, capture their attention, and engage with them at scale. As a software engineer with a streak for mathematics, Jason focuses on the design and implementation of Master Data Management and Data Quality systems and the development of software tools to empower Data Governance Organizations and the engineers who serve them.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Why Jason built Tribify, LLC
• How Tribify helps business owners identify and connect with their best customers
• Best practices for connecting and networking with potential customers on LinkedIn
• Why thoughtful, approachable business owners attract good customers

Jason also tells us about Ringknocker, a military veteran community he founded, and shares his personal and professional goals for the next few years. Jason's success reveals the riches are definitely in the niches and we're excited to see how Tribify, LLC continues to grow.

Connect with Jason:

• LinkedIn
• Tribify, LLC
• Ringknocker

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:

• Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
• Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
• Leave us a 5-star review!

Special thanks to Jason for joining me this week. Until next time!

- Scott Mackes, USNA '01

Joe is a financial attorney and co-owner of ASR Alternative Investments with over 20 years of experience in both the legal and financial industries. After graduating with a degree in Electrical Engineering from the United States Air Force Academy, Joe was commissioned and served as an A-10A Thunderbolt II fighter pilot and was stationed in the United Kingdom and West Germany. Joe also received his Masters of Science in Business Administration from Boston University and his JD from the University of Texas School of Law. If that's not impressive enough, he also worked as a commercial airline pilot!

In this episode, we discuss:

• How Joe made the transition from fighter pilot to financial attorney
• How and why he co-founded ASR Alternative Investments
• Why his company pivoted to the debt industry
• Current trends in the debt market
• Tips for raising capital and the importance of finding your market

Joe also talks about the unique structure of his company's funds and trusts, the difference between Regulation D Rule 506(c) vs. Rule 506(b), the advantages of working with accredited investors and some of the challenges he's working to overcome. Just in case you're wondering, we also discuss airplanes! Joe is a fount of knowledge. His straightforward methods for helping individuals understand the complexities of investing are inspiring and illuminating.

Connect with Joe:

• LinkedIn
• ASR Alternative Investments

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:

• Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
• Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
• Leave us a 5-star review!

Special thanks to Joe for joining me this week. Until next time!

-Scott Mackes, USNA '01

Hersh Rai and Nick Vu (USNA '19) have set the record for the youngest Academy grads on the podcast! Hersch and Nick are both active duty in the Navy, stationed in Hawaii and Florida, and are partners in RaiVu Capital, a real estate investment firm that invests in multifamily real estate and mobile home parks.

In this episode, we discuss:

• How they got started in real estate investing and how they landed their first deal
• How connections in the veteran community helped jump start their business
• Their best tips for starting a real estate side-hustle

Connect with Hersh and Nick:

• Hersh Rai
• Nick Vu
• RaiVu Capital

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:

• Subscribe on Apple Podcasts
• Also available on Google Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
• Leave us a 5-star review!

Special thanks to Hersh and Nick for joining me this week. Until next time!

-Scott Mackes, USNA '01