Service Academy Business Mastermind

"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:

• Justin's journey from selling candy as a kid to Naval Academy graduate to submarine officer to real estate investor.
• How he built a portfolio of rental properties in Charleston, South Carolina.
• The partnership between Justin, his wife, and his mom and how their teamwork helps to balance vital family time with entrepreneurial success.
• A detailed look at one of Justin's most successful investments: a single property rezoning that netted two valuable real estate assets.
• The creation of "Renting Freedom," Justin's YouTube channel aimed at educating others about real estate investing strategies.
• Justin's perspective on the four ways to make money in real estate.
• Justin's philosophy on valuing time over money and how it shapes his approach to real estate and life.

Connect with Justin Artis:

• LinkedIn
• YouTube
• [email protected]

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 & Spotify
• Leave us a 5-star review!

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's journey from military service to 9-5 jobs to entrepreneurship in real estate investing.
• The rapid learning curve Justin experienced in his first year of entrepreneurship, trying various business models including wholesaling real estate and exploring teaching courses.
• Advice for aspiring entrepreneurs, including the value of practical experience in sales over a traditional business education.
• Justin's innovative debt validation fund that provides a 20% return to investors while helping people get out of debt for half of what they originally owed.
• Justin's short-term goal of raising $50 million for his debt validation fund to help 25,000 people get out of debt.
• Justin's podcast "DadVestors," where he explores the intersection of parenting and investing.

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:

• LinkedIn
• Instagram
• Facebook
• YouTube
• https://www.onyxpeakcapital.com/
• [email protected]

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 & Spotify
• Leave us a 5-star review!

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

-Scott Mackes, USNA '01

"For me, it's been rewarding to be helping the businesses that we help, because these are businesses that instead of spending money on customer support, they're spending that on marketing, they're spending that on developing a new product, which from a macro economic perspective is much better for our economy." -Kris Sandor

Kris Sandor is the Co-Founder and CEO of Readyly, a company that automates manual customer support workflows through Generative AI technology. Kris's career includes roles as a Navy nuclear submarine officer, consultant at McKinsey, business development lead at Palantir, and CEO of Citi Bike, which he successfully exited to Lyft in 2018. Passionate about helping entrepreneurs scale and improving conditions for front-line workers, Kris also has expertise in bioterrorism defense. He holds an MBA from Stanford, an MA in International Security Studies from Georgetown, and a BS in Political Science from the Naval Academy. Kris speaks fluent Hungarian and English and enjoys reading, traveling, and mentoring.

In this episode, we discuss:

• How Kris' background in automation from his Navy career inspired him to found Readily to automate tier one customer support labor
• How Readyly's AI platform can automate up to 80% of customer contacts through web chat, email and internal tools like response drafting
• How the platform generates personalized knowledge bases by analyzing historical customer data and identifies gaps to improve support
• Kris' most important goals like platform enhancements and integrating new technologies like voice

Kris Sandor's early career exposed him to the power of automation, from operating nuclear submarines to deploying technologies at Palantir and Citi Bike. This inspired his current venture, Readily, which aims to automate tier one customer support labor through conversational AI.

In a podcast with fellow alum Scott Mackes, Kris discussed his pathway into entrepreneurship after the Navy. He founded Readyly to address the massive need for more efficient customer support, especially as interactions moved online during the pandemic.Thank you, Kris!

Connect with Kris:

• LinkedIn
• Readyly

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 & Spotify
• Leave us a 5-star review!

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

-Scott Mackes, USNA '01

"The best advantage of being in this industry for 17 years is the relationships. You can make a very good living and make money in health care, which is great. However, I think most people who go into this field genuinely care about improving patient care." -Greg Parranto

Greg Parranto is the Chief Executive Officer of Endeavor Orthopedics with over 16 years of experience in orthopedic trauma and medical device sales, business development, and management. He has held leadership roles at Depuy Synthes/Johnson & Johnson, including Midwest Area Vice President for Trauma and Extremities, National Director of Specialty Sales, and Global Segment Manager. Greg's expertise spans global perspectives on orthopedics, diverse medical device markets, and innovation in product development. He holds an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management with a Healthcare Leadership Certificate, a Master of Public Administration from Webster University, and a Bachelor of Science in Engineering Management from the US Military Academy at West Point.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Differences between skill sets needed at a large company vs. startup
• When is the right time to bring in a CEO for a founder-led startup
• Closing his $2M convertible note funding round
• Hiring a VP of Sales once funding is secured to focus on growing sales
• Launching 3 additional products currently in development pipelines

Greg walks through his career journey from sales to leadership roles at large companies like Synthes and Johnson & Johnson, where he gained invaluable experience but missed the opportunity to directly solve clinical problems. This inspired Greg to pursue an MBA and eventually join Endeavor Orthopedics as CEO. Thank you, Greg!

Connect with Greg:

• LinkedIn
• Endeavor Orthopedics

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 & Spotify
• Leave us a 5-star review!

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

-Scott Mackes, USNA '01

"Almost four years later, two funds, multiple loan participation opportunities…we've lent north of $60 million and have never missed a monthly distribution to investors. From idea to $60 million in under four years. I'm proud of all the support we've provided to our fellow vets who are entrepreneurs out there swinging for it." -Bill Militello, USNA '92

On today's podcast, Bill and Scott express their gratitude to the investors who have supported the Academy Fund and its growth over the past four years and discuss a new project emerging within the community

In 2023, a member of 10X Vets approached them with a compelling idea. Having recently sold his business, he sought a network of trustworthy and capable investors within the group to conduct due diligence and invest together in high-quality opportunities. Inspired by his vision, they formed a steering committee to gather feedback and shape this initiative. By June 2024, the Investor Syndicate was born.

Their vision for the 10X Vets Investor Syndicate is to foster camaraderie, collaboratively analyze investment opportunities, and become the premier funding source for top commercial real estate operators within the military veteran community. Through the syndicate, they aim to create a strong, supportive network that enhances investment success and strengthens the collective financial future of the group.

Bill's secret tip for operators who want a "fast pass" to having their deal evaluated? Join 10X Vets! By contributing to the group and participating in meetings and events, we get to know you as a person instead of just a number.

Congratulations to Bill, Scott, and the rest of the Academy Fund and 10X Vets team on their incredible growth over the past four years!

In this episode, we discuss:

• How far the Academy Fun has come since it started in 2020
• The guiding principles of the Academy Fund and how it is attractive to both investors and real estate operators
• The "fast pass" for real estate operators to get their deals evaluated and the importance of the 10X Vets community
• The broader vision of the 10X Vets Investor Syndicate that recently launched

Learn more:

• Academy Fund: https://www.academyfund.com/
• 10X Vets: https://www.10xvets.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 Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
• Leave us a 5-star review!

Special thanks to Bill for joining me this week. Until next time! -Scott Mackes, USNA '01

Hey team! Before we dive in, I've got some exciting announcements:

1) Join us on August 8th NJ for an exclusive Advanced Real Estate Investing Workshop & Networking Event at the prestigious Park Avenue Club in Florham Park, NJ. This premier event is crafted to elevate your real estate investing skills with institutional-level analysis. Whether you're a private investor, a commercial real estate operator, or work in the commercial real estate industry, this is your chance to expand your network and learn from the best. Space is limited, so don't miss out! Register here: https://www.10xvets.com/advanced-real-estate-workshop

2) On October 1st we're heading to Charleston, SC for an incredible retreat. We'll kick off with a business mastermind session at the Harbour Club in downtown Charleston. Later, we'll set sail on a harbor cruise and enjoy a fantastic dinner together. On October 2nd, get ready for an exciting inshore fishing tournament with a fleet of fishing boats. It's going to be an unforgettable experience and an opportunity to surround yourself with like-minded successful veterans who are pushing each other to greatness. Register here: https://www.10xvets.com/charleston-event

To learn more and register for these events, visit 10xvets.com/events. Hope to see you there!

Today's Podcast:

"Our vision is that child welfare is enabled, as a system, to support families and children rather than to separate them." -Jennifer Jacobs, USMA '93

Jennifer Jacobs is the CEO and Co-founder of Connect Our Kids, a technology nonprofit dedicated to helping social workers, lawyers, family recruiters, and CASA/GAL volunteers find supportive family connections and natural support networks for America's most vulnerable. The organization's advanced tech tools speed up and scale up techniques for finding extended family members and other caring adults for children in foster care. Jennifer has applied her technical expertise gained from working in nuclear counterterrorism as an Army Officer to Connect Our Kids. The organization has affected 18,000 children and found over half a million connections for those children, touching the lives of over 10,000 American families.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Where Jennifer came up with the idea to create Connect Our Kids
• How the technology works to help social workers do their job more efficiently
• Impactful success stories of children being connected with family members and adults in their circle
• Jennifer's long-term vision for Connect Our Kids and her short-term goals for 2024
• The challenges Jennifer is facing and the support she needs to help Connect Our Kids grow

Jennifer explains that social workers who work in child welfare can use the tools provided by Connect Our Kids to build out a "map" for a child. This helps to organize all known information about the child's family and other adults in their circle and search for more details on the Internet through the Connect Our Kids People Search technology. By having a tool that searches for and organizes all of the key details, social workers have more time, bandwidth, and emotional energy to do the human work of social work. Due to Jennifer's smart application of modern technology, Connect Our Kids is impacting the lives of thousands of children and families. Thank you, Jennifer, for creating tools that help foster children be connected to their people.

Connect with Jennifer:

• LinkedIn
• connectourkids.org
• [email protected]

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 Jennifer for joining me this week. Until next time!

-Scott Mackes, USNA '01

Hey team! Before we dive in, I've got some exciting announcements:

1) Join us on August 8th NJ for an exclusive Advanced Real Estate Investing Workshop & Networking Event at the prestigious Park Avenue Club in Florham Park, NJ. This premier event is crafted to elevate your real estate investing skills with institutional-level analysis. Whether you're a private investor, a commercial real estate operator, or work in the commercial real estate industry, this is your chance to expand your network and learn from the best. Space is limited, so don't miss out! Register here: https://www.10xvets.com/advanced-real-estate-workshop

2) On October 1st we're heading to Charleston, SC for an incredible retreat. We'll kick off with a business mastermind session at the Harbour Club in downtown Charleston. Later, we'll set sail on a harbor cruise and enjoy a fantastic dinner together. On October 2nd, get ready for an exciting inshore fishing tournament with a fleet of fishing boats. It's going to be an unforgettable experience and an opportunity to surround yourself with like-minded successful veterans who are pushing each other to greatness. Register here: https://www.10xvets.com/charleston-event

To learn more and register for these events, visit 10xvets.com/events. Hope to see you there!

Today's Podcast:

"[As veterans], we're adept at creating order from chaos. I think that lends itself well to being an entrepreneur. You're able to step back, assess the situation, and try to create some order around what is happening." -Rich Vaill, USNA '88

Rich Vaill is the President of Custom Marketing Solutions LLC, a Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) and vertically integrated print marketing agency specializing in offset print, digital print, large format projects, and promotional products. Rich and his team run a nimble shop that can handle large-scale projects based on each client's needs. After 20 years in the financial sector, Rich transitioned into entrepreneurship by acquiring Custom Marketing Solutions LLC in 2023. He is a 1988 United States Naval Academy graduate and a Marine Corps veteran.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Rich's transition from finance to entrepreneurship
• Key pieces of advice Rich would give to someone who wants to buy a business
• The printing services offered by Custom Marketing Solutions LLC
• How the skills from Rich's time in the Marine Corps have translated to owning a business and leading his team
• The goals Rich has for the rest of the year and the biggest challenges he is facing as he establishes himself in his new role

Major career transitions are not easy, and Rich made a big leap from the financial sector to becoming an entrepreneur through acquisition. His two key pieces of advice for others who are buying a business? Ask a lot of questions and make sure you have the right trusted advisors around you. Acquiring a business takes time and there are many steps to go through, but when you have a knowledgeable team supporting you, it makes for a smooth process. We enjoyed discussing entrepreneurship, leadership, and best practices as a business owner with Rich and are excited to see him succeed with his new company, Custom Marketing Solutions LLC. Thank you, Rich!

Connect with Rich:

• LinkedIn
• Custom Marketing Solutions LLC
• [email protected]

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 Rich for joining me this week. Until next time!

Are you a real estate investor in need of financing for your next investment property? The Academy Fund has you covered! Whether you're working on "fix-and-flip" projects, land development, or new construction, 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 passive income while supporting military veteran real estate investors, the Academy Fund is the perfect opportunity. Our loans are powered by capital from investors like you, who receive monthly distributions as the loans are repaid.

To learn more, visit AcademyFund.com.

Thank you for listening to today's podcast. Enjoy the rest of your day and remember to dream big and take bold action!

Hey team! Before we dive in, I've got some exciting announcements:

1) Join us on August 8th NJ for an exclusive Advanced Real Estate Investing Workshop & Networking Event at the prestigious Park Avenue Club in Florham Park, NJ. This premier event is crafted to elevate your real estate investing skills with institutional-level analysis. Whether you're a private investor, a commercial real estate operator, or work in the commercial real estate industry, this is your chance to expand your network and learn from the best. Space is limited, so don't miss out! Register here: https://www.10xvets.com/advanced-real-estate-workshop

2) On October 1st we're heading to Charleston, SC for an incredible retreat. We'll kick off with a business mastermind session at the Harbour Club in downtown Charleston. Later, we'll set sail on a harbor cruise and enjoy a fantastic dinner together. On October 2nd, get ready for an exciting inshore fishing tournament with a fleet of fishing boats. It's going to be an unforgettable experience and an opportunity to surround yourself with like-minded successful veterans who are pushing each other to greatness. Register here: https://www.10xvets.com/charleston-event

To learn more and register for these events, visit 10xvets.com/events. Hope to see you there!

Today's Podcast:

"We aspire to be way more than just a check… we want to be supportive capital and we want to help our veteran entrepreneurs scale their companies." -Joshua Weed, USAFA '01

Joshua Weed is a Partner and Senior Director at Veteran Ventures Capital and a member of the Fund's investment committee. Veteran Ventures Capital is a veteran-owned growth equity and venture capital firm specializing in making private investments into veteran-owned, post-revenue companies, primarily with a defense focus and superior dual-use technology. A 2001 graduate of the United States Air Force Academy, Joshua is a former Air Force Financial Management Officer and currently serves as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Air Force Reserves.

Connect with Joshua:

• LinkedIn
• www.veteranventures.us
• [email protected]

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

Are you a real estate investor in need of financing for your next investment property? The Academy Fund has you covered! Whether you're working on "fix-and-flip" projects, land development, or new construction, 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 passive income while supporting military veteran real estate investors, the Academy Fund is the perfect opportunity. Our loans are powered by capital from investors like you, who receive monthly distributions as the loans are repaid.

To learn more, visit AcademyFund.com.

Thank you for listening to today's podcast. Enjoy the rest of your day and remember to dream big and take bold action!

"That's the beauty of note investing. You don't have to do it locally. It's not like a development deal or a rental property where you have to be semi-local because there are no tenants or maintenance. It's vacant land that is the collateral on these notes. We do deals in 30-plus states and that's how we're able to really scale it." -Quinn McArthur, USMA '08

Quinn McArthur is the Co-Founder and Fund Manager of Legacy Land Fund, a real estate fund that focuses exclusively on the distinctive and expanding land investments sector. By securing a 1st lien position, imposing stringent requirements for robust down payments and credit scores, and maintaining a carefully balanced 50-60% loan-to-value ratio, Legacy Land Fund ensures a secure and reliable approach to land investment and allows for passive income for its investors through mortgage note investing. Quinn is a West Point graduate and former Green Beret. A devoted husband and father, he balances faith-driven values and a commitment to stewardship with his real estate investments.

In this episode, we discuss:

• Quinn's journey into real estate investing and what attracted him to the industry
• What Quinn and his partner are accomplishing at Legacy Land Fund
• The keys to success in finding and maintaining deal flow
• How mortgage note investing works

Although Quinn did not set out to establish a fund for his mortgage note investing efforts, his success in the business led him to create Legacy Land Fund to set him up to scale. He explains that because his strategy of buying discounted notes on the secondary market is niche, there is less competition and more opportunity. Plus, purchasing notes is a secure and predictable way to invest and the market is very healthy. We learned a lot from Quinn about how he has found success in mortgage note investing and look forward to seeing how he will scale with his first fund. Thanks for chatting, Quinn!

Connect with Quinn:

• LinkedIn
• www.legacylandfund.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 Podcasts, Spotify & Stitcher
• Leave us a 5-star review!

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

-Scott Mackes, USNA '01

"Entrepreneurship, at its core, is all about leading. Leading customers, leading suppliers, leading bankers, leading lawyers, leading employees, and no one spends more money than the Department of Defense developing leaders. Have confidence that the raw leadership skill gets you halfway there." -John Panaccione, Army Veteran

John Panaccione is an experienced Chief Executive Officer with a history of working in the information technology and services industry. He is a strong business development professional who is well-versed in the world of equity and debt financing, and the emerging wonderful world of equity crowdfunding and other SEC-exempt offerings used to raise capital. John's company, Folla Capital, provides a platform for average Americans and accredited investors to invest in private small businesses of their choice, supporting the ventures and management teams they believe in. John also works with fellow veterans who are exploring entrepreneurship as a career path once they leave the military through his nonprofit, VETtoCEO.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The origin story of VETtoCEO
• John's advice for those looking to transition from the military into entrepreneurship
• The three pathways to small business ownership
• What led John to start Folla Capital
• John's ideal client that he serves at Folla Capital

John shares that sometimes it takes veterans years after transitioning out of the military to discover the pathway to entrepreneurship. There are many different ways to become an entrepreneur and one that can be a great fit for veterans is buying an existing business, as they can apply their leadership and decision-making skills to make improvements and move the needle. John is helping veterans succeed through his offerings at VETtoCEO and investment services at Folla Capital. Thank you for all you do for our military community, John!

Connect with John:

• LinkedIn
• vettoceo.org
• follacapital.com
• Folla Capital YouTube Video: Introduction to Alternative Investments - Opportunities for All of Us

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 John for joining me this week. Until next time!