Service Academy Business Mastermind

Neal Gouck (USMA '98) is the Founder of Freedom Wind Tunnel, an indoor skydiving facility that will be located at Patriot Place, near Gillette Stadium, the home of the New England Patriots in Foxboro, MA. The three-floor building will be highlighted by a wind tunnel that will allow customers to feel like they are skydiving. It will also include a virtual parachuting simulator which will allow guests to simulate a landing in a location of their choice. The facility will open in the Fall of 2020.

In this episode, Neal and I discuss:

• The amazing indoor skydiving experience he will offer his customers
• Why Foxboro, MA is a prime location for an indoor skydiving facility
• The help he needs from the community to complete construction and be open for business

Connect with Neal Gouck:

• Neal on LinkedIn
• Freedom Wind Tunnel on Facebook

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 Neal for joining me this week. Until next time!

-Scott Mackes, USNA '01

Layne Kasper (USAFA '92 ) is the Managing Partner of Kasper & Associates, a Mergers & Acquisitions firm specializing in facilitating the sale of medium-sized manufacturing, distribution, and service businesses with annual sales revenue from $1 to 70 million. They provide current market data and professional advice to assist owners in making decisions regarding their company and personal plans. With over 300 transactions to date, they have a unique expertise and market knowledge to assist in facilitating successful deals.

In this episode, Layne and I discuss:

• The types of businesses his firm represents and how they find potential buyers
• An opportunity they are representing that might be a great fit for a Service Academy graduate
• The most important skills he learned in the Air Force that have helped him as an entrepreneur

Connect with Layne Kasper:

• Layne on LinkedIn
• Kasper & Associates

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 Layne for joining me this week. Until next time!

-Scott Mackes, USNA '01

Female craft beer drinkers are growing twice as fast as the industry itself, yet breweries are not effectively targeting this group. As two passionate homebrewers working in the beer industry, LeAnn Darland (USNA '08) & co-founder Tara Hankinson are seizing this opportunity. Design-forward packaging, an elevated taproom experience, flavor-first beers, and an engaging, empowering brand will make TALEA Beer Co. the first female-forward beer brand in the US.

In this episode, we discuss how they:

• Have sold over 100 barrels of beer in less than three months
• Got their beer in all the Whole Foods across NYC
• Secured over 85 accounts across NYC, including some of the best beer bars in the city

Connect with Tara & LeAnn:

• LeAnn on LinkedIn
• Tara on LinkedIn
• Talea Beer Company

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 Tara and LeAnn for joining me this week. Until next time!

-Scott Mackes, USNA '01

The Military Influencer Conference (MIC) is a dynamic three-day event; connecting entrepreneurs, business executives, and brands with the influencers who shape and support the military community. In 2019, MIC will convene in Washington, DC from 8-10 September, where 750+ service members, veterans, military spouses, and civilians will gather to network, explore ideas, be inspired, find solutions and make a difference. On this episode, I'm joined by special guest Curtez Riggs, an Army veteran and Founder of MIC.

In this episode, Curtez and I discuss:

• The exciting lineup of guests, breakout sessions, and pitch competitions for this year's event
• How he landed Jim Koch, Founder of Sam Adams as a guest speaker at last year's event
• How he's nearly tripled attendance since launching the conference in 2017

Register for the conference:

• Register on Eventbrite (Get 25% SABM discount through this link)
• Military Influencer Conference website

Connect with Curtez Riggs:

• Curtez on LinkedIn

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 Curtez for joining me this week. Until next time!

-Scott Mackes, USNA '01

The Military Influencer Conference (MIC) is a dynamic three-day event; connecting entrepreneurs, business executives, and brands with the influencers who shape and support the military community.   In 2019, MIC will convene in Washington, DC from 8-10 September, where 750+ service members, veterans, military spouses, and civilians will gather to network, explore ideas, be inspired, find solutions and make a difference.  On this episode, I’m joined by special guest Curtez Riggs, an Army veteran and Founder of MIC.

In this episode, Curtez and I discuss:

• The exciting lineup of guests, breakout sessions, and pitch competitions for this year’s event
• How he landed Jim Koch, Founder of Sam Adams as a guest speaker at last year’s event
• How he’s nearly tripled attendance since launching the conference in 2017

Register for the conference:

• Register on Eventbrite (Get 25% SABM discount through this link)
• Military Influencer Conference website

Connect with Curtez Riggs:

• Curtez on LinkedIn

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 Curtez for joining me this week.  Until next time!

-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01

Gary Griffiths (USNA '72) is the co-founder and managing director of Wisdom LLP. A 35-year veteran of the high-tech industry, Griffiths has led some of the web's most innovative companies. Prior to co-founding Wisdom LLP, Griffiths was CEO of iPass (NASDAQ: IPAS), a leader in global Wi-Fi technology and services, which was acquired by Pareteum, Inc (NASDAQ: TEUM) in February 2019. He was also president of products and operations at WebEx, acquired for $3B by Cisco Systems, Inc. Griffiths was also co-founder and CEO of Everdream Corporation, a SaaS company, from 1999 to 2005, acquired by Dell, and co-founder/CEO at HEAT.net from 1996 until its acquisition by Sega, Inc. in 1999.

Patricia Hume is a co-founder and managing partner at Wisdom LLP and has been named CEO of Canvas GFX. Wisdom LLP has invested in Canvas to fuel its growth strategy. Prior to Canvas, Patricia was chief operations officer of iPass, Inc., which was acquired in February 2019.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Their exciting new opportunity with Canvas GFX, an all-in-one software to create digital illustrations and images
• How Gary and Patricia will work as a team to maximize this opportunity in a $75B market
• Gary's favorite investments over the years which include and angel investment in Zoom.us which went public in April 2019 and is currently valued at $25B

Connect with Gary and Patricia:

• Gary on LinkedIn
• Patricia on LinkedIn
• Canvas GFX

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 Gary and Patricia for joining me this week. Until next time!

-Scott Mackes, USNA '01

Episode link: https://www.sabmgroup.com/gary-griffiths/

Gary Griffiths (USNA '72) is the co-founder and managing director of Wisdom LLP. A 35-year veteran of the high-tech industry, Griffiths has led some of the web’s most innovative companies. Prior to co-founding Wisdom LLP, Griffiths was CEO of iPass (NASDAQ: IPAS), a leader in global Wi-Fi technology and services, which was acquired by Pareteum, Inc (NASDAQ: TEUM) in February 2019. He was also president of products and operations at WebEx, acquired for $3B by Cisco Systems, Inc. Griffiths was also co-founder and CEO of Everdream Corporation, a SaaS company, from 1999 to 2005, acquired by Dell, and co-founder/CEO at HEAT.net from 1996 until its acquisition by Sega, Inc. in 1999.

Patricia Hume is a co-founder and managing partner at Wisdom LLP and has been named CEO of Canvas GFX. Wisdom LLP has invested in Canvas to fuel its growth strategy.  Prior to Canvas, Patricia was chief operations officer of iPass, Inc., which was acquired in February 2019.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Their exciting new opportunity with Canvas GFX, an all-in-one software to create digital illustrations and images
• How Gary and Patricia will work as a team to maximize this opportunity in a $75B market
• Gary’s favorite investments over the years which include and angel investment in Zoom.us which went public in April 2019 and is currently valued at $25B

Connect with Gary and Patricia:

• Gary on LinkedIn
• Patricia on LinkedIn
• Canvas GFX

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 Gary and Patricia for joining me this week.  Until next time!

-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01

Episode link: https://www.sabmgroup.com/lewis-baker

Lewis Baker (USMA '91) is the owner of Rock Creek Wealth Advisors in Washington D.C. and his wife Melissa is a broker with Transworld Business Advisors. Together, they match buyers and sellers of small businesses and navigate them successfully through the process.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Their trusted process for helping business owners buy and sell a business and how to overcome the common roadblocks people encounter
• The most popular businesses to invest in right now
• Best practices for running a business with your spouse 😊

Connect with Lew and Melissa:

• Lew on LinkedIn
• Melissa on LinkedIn

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 Lew and Melissa for joining me this week. Until next time!

-Scott Mackes, USNA '01

Episode link:  https://www.sabmgroup.com/lewis-baker

Lewis Baker (USMA ’91) is the owner of Rock Creek Wealth Advisors in Washington D.C. and his wife Melissa is a broker with Transworld Business Advisors.  Together, they match buyers and sellers of small businesses and navigate them successfully through the process.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Their trusted process for helping business owners buy and sell a business and how to overcome the common roadblocks people encounter
• The most popular businesses to invest in right now
• Best practices for running a business with your spouse

Episode link: https://www.sabmgroup.com/bill-militello-92/

Bill Militello (USNA '92) is the Founder of Militello Capital and LocalVest. Militello Capital is a team of veteran entrepreneurs who invest capital in joint ventures with a select group of highly successful private equity and real estate operators. LocalVest.com is an exclusive community for accredited investors to discover, research, and discuss private investments with knowledgeable investment professionals.

In this episode, we discuss:

• How mindset and visualization can attract massive wealth
• Bill's due diligence process and how he structures a $30M deal
• Why he likes the Tampa, FL market

Connect with Bill Militello:

• Bill on LinkedIn
• Militello Capital
• LocalVest.com

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 Bill for joining me this week. Until next time!

-Scott Mackes, USNA '01