Service Academy Business Mastermind

Larry Gast (USAFA '85) is the founder of LEG Ventures, a company that supplies capital and services to business and commercial real estate firms. His firm recently created a private group purchasing organization (GPO) with select strategic partner firms for qualifying businesses. His GPO can save businesses $1,000 to $100,000+ annually plus they'll receive better service through their negotiated volume pricing.

In this episode, Larry and I discuss:

• How he got started down the entrepreneurial path after his service in the Air Force
• How he can help veteran business owners save money through his GPO
• His short- and long-term goals for LEG Ventures

Connect with Larry Gast:

• Larry on LinkedIn
• LEG Ventures

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 Play, Spotify & Stitcher
• Leave us a 5-star review!

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

-Scott Mackes, USNA '01

Sean Cleveland (USMA '92) is a founding partner at nxtU, a company that offers concierge and workshop-level training, support, mentorship, and coaching to help high students and transitioning military members achieve their professional goals and aspirations. Sean's work with nxtU draws upon 28 years of leadership experience and 16 years in different capacities in higher education. He has served as an academic success coach in a PAC-12 intercollegiate athletics department, as an instructor and advisor in an alternative admissions program at a Big-12 university, and as a junior and senior rotating faculty member at West Point, where he also served as the Associate Director of the Mounger Writing Center and Writing Fellows Program.

In this episode, Sean and I discuss:

• His coaching process that helps individuals get accepted to a top-tier university
• How he helps student-athletes achieve peak academic performance
• His best advice for parents to help their kids prepare for college

Connect with Sean Cleveland:

• Sean on LinkedIn
• nxtU website

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 Play, Spotify & Stitcher
• Leave us a 5-star review!

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

-Scott Mackes, USNA '01

Joshua Emison (USNA '14) is the owner of Tracer Consulting, a company that specializes in helping military veterans find the right franchise opportunity. As a Franchise Consultant, Josh assists those in a career transition to decide if franchising is right for them. His free services will teach you what franchising is, help you discover your funding options, and ultimately help you find the right franchise that is the perfect fit for you.

In this episode, Josh and I discuss:

• How he got started as a Franchise Consultant
• The best ways to finance a franchise and discounts available to military veterans
• Franchise concepts that are thriving in the new economy

Connect with Josh Emison:

• Josh on LinkedIn
• Tracer Consulting

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 Josh for joining me this week. Until next time!

-Scott Mackes, USNA '01

John Graham (USMA '87) is the CEO at Campfire Capital, an investment banking team that has nearly a century of collective strategic advisory and financial services experience. In today's episode, we discuss their efforts to build out ThayerGate.Ai, a Business Accelerator program located outside the gates of West Point. ThayerGate.Ai provides below-market occupancy costs, workforce training, mentoring programs, easy access to experienced professionals, and a host of other resources for business owners. I am also joined on this episode by John Vermeesch (USMA '90) and Peter Goudet (USMA '91), President of Campfire Capital.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The special support they are offering business owners who are located at their facility
• Their mission to support the revitalization and improvement of the Greater West Point-Highland Falls Community
• The most important skills they learned at West Point that have helped them as entrepreneurs

Connect with the team:

• John Graham on LinkedIn
• John Vermeesch on LinkedIn
• Peter Goudet on LinkedIn
• ThayerGate.ai
• Campfire 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 Play, Spotify & Stitcher
• Leave us a 5-star review!

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

-Scott Mackes, USNA '01

Stuart Grazier (USNA '02) is an active-duty Navy pilot who has served 17 years in the military. Over the last 11 years, he has purchased approximately $600,000 in performing mortgage notes, 4 single-family rental properties, an RV park, is a part-owner in an apartment complex and mobile home park syndication, and has recently started a turnkey real estate company with his best friend and USNA roommate where they are providing rehabbed, cash flowing rental properties to their network of military/veteran and patriot investors. Starting in June of 2018, his company Storehouse 3:10 Ventures has acquired and sold approximately 35 turnkey rental properties, averaging 2-3 properties per month. Stuart is also the President of the Military Investor Network, which aims to network, educate, and connect other military/veteran service members that are interested in real estate investing.

In this episode, Stu and I discuss:

• How to purchase and analyze a turnkey rental property and the returns they offer investors
• Their favorite real estate markets
• His upcoming virtual conference for real estate investors

Connect with Stuart Grazier:

• Stu on LinkedIn
• Storehouse 3:10 Turnkey
• Military Investor Network
• Veterans Live Conference

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 Play, Spotify & Stitcher
• Leave us a 5-star review!

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

-Scott Mackes, USNA '01

Paul Huszar (USMA '90) is the President and CEO of VetCor, a restoration company that solves water and mold damage problems and provides other related services to commercial and residential property owners. VetCor is staffed by military veterans and is currently seeking new franchisees as they expand across the U.S.

In this episode, Paul and I discuss:

• His goal to become the #1 private employer of military veterans
• The steps to take if you want to become a franchisee
• The markets they are expanding into across the U.S.

Connect with Paul Huszar:

• Paul on LinkedIn
• VetCor Franchising

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 Play, Spotify & Stitcher
• Leave us a 5-star review!

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

-Scott Mackes, USNA '01

Peter Joukov (USNA '05) is the co-founder of Inq Tattoos, a company that is disrupting the tattoo industry with high-end boutiques that focus on clean design, transparency, and a customer-first philosophy. Their sole focus is to ensure that customers feel welcome, safe, and walk away with an amazing tattoo that they absolutely love.

In this episode, Peter and I discuss:

• Why he decided to open tattoo boutiques and revolutionize the customer experience
• Franchising opportunities they have available across the country
• The most important skills he learned at the Naval Academy that have helped him as an entrepreneur

Connect with Peter Joukov:

• Peter on LinkedIn
• Inq Tattoos

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 Play, Spotify & Stitcher
• Leave us a 5-star review!

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

-Scott Mackes, USNA '01

Todd Waldemar (USNA '89) is the founder of ChowCall, a Marine Veteran owned, 3rd party food delivery business, unlike anything you have ever seen. With a tap on your phone, ChowCall delivers food from your favorite restaurants right to your barracks, home, or office. Armed with the latest technology, experienced local delivery professionals, and a commitment for service, ChowCall brings food delivery to a new level.

In this episode, Todd and I discuss:

• His explosive sales growth since launching the company in 2019
• His unique competitive advantage (military bases!) that allows him to capture market share from the big guys
• His goal to expand to 9 locations in the next 18 months

"Chowcall's unique ability to serve base customers gives us a competitive advantage larger delivery companies can't provide." -Tim Sollars, Director of Ops. Dixon Foods dba McDonalds

Connect with Todd Waldemar:

• Todd on LinkedIn
• ChowCall

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 Play, Spotify & Stitcher
• Leave us a 5-star review!

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

-Scott Mackes, USNA '01

Anthony Pinto (USNA '14) is an active duty submarine officer and owner of Pinto Capital Investments, a Commercial Real Estate Investment company based in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Anthony is building his real estate portfolio and plans to achieve financial freedom before he completes his military obligation.

In this episode, Anthony and I discuss:

• His goal to reach financial freedom before he completes his military service obligation
• Lessons learned from his first real estate investments and how he has scaled up to larger properties
• His favorite real estate books and courses

Connect with Anthony Pinto:

• Anthony on LinkedIn
• Pinto Capital 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 Play, Spotify & Stitcher
• Leave us a 5-star review!

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

-Scott Mackes, USNA '01

Tim Parlatore (USNA '02) is the Founder of Parlatore Law Group, a cloud-based law firm that eliminates all the unnecessary overhead expenses associated with traditional law firms while providing the highest quality legal services. By trimming all the excess expenses and passing those savings on to clients, Parlatore Law Group's attorneys can devote their full efforts to solving problems and working together as a cohesive team without the necessity of working in a physical office.

In this episode, Tim and I discuss:

• The #1 reason why his teammates and clients love the cloud-based business model
• His firm's current job openings
• The most important skills he learned at the Naval Academy that have helped him as an entrepreneur

Connect with Tim Parlatore:

• Tim on LinkedIn
• Parlatore Law Group

Subscribe and help out the show:

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

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

-Scott Mackes, USNA '01