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#298: From Tobacco Fields to Real Estate Deals with Gabriella (Gaby) Riffle-Gonzalez, USNA ‘17

Service Academy Business Mastermind

Release Date: 11/01/2024

#320: From Navy Command to Executive Coaching: Building Transformative Teams with Jeff Servello, USNA ‘02 show art #320: From Navy Command to Executive Coaching: Building Transformative Teams with Jeff Servello, USNA ‘02

Service Academy Business Mastermind

Need financing for your next investment property? Visit:  Want to join us in San Antonio, TX on June 11th & 12th? Visit:  ____ Jeff Servello is a seasoned leader and trusted Principal Advisor specializing in executive coaching, leadership development, and crisis response. A U.S. Naval Academy graduate, he also holds a Master of Professional Studies in Leadership, Education, and Development from the University of Maryland.  Over the past 20 years, Jeff has led award-winning teams, managed billion-dollar resources, and coached cross-functional units to high performance in...

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Need financing for your next investment property? Visit:  Want to join us in San Antonio, TX on June 11th & 12th? Visit:  ____ Jeff Tegman is the Vice President of LCAB Holdings, a veteran-owned holding company redefining how the commercial construction industry attracts talent, maintains quality, and drives operational excellence. An Army veteran with an MBA in Engineering Management, Jeff leads LCAB’s strategy of acquiring specialized construction companies, building a resilient network that addresses industry fragmentation and labor shortages while raising the standard for...

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Service Academy Business Mastermind

Need financing for your next investment property? Visit:  Want to join us in San Antonio, TX on June 11th & 12th? Visit:  ____ Mike Brumagin is a U.S. Army veteran, West Point graduate, and co-founder of Battle Monument Group, a private real estate investment firm specializing in single-tenant net lease properties. After earning the Bronze Star for his leadership during Operation Desert Storm, Mike spent over a decade building and managing national restaurant franchises before shifting his focus to real estate. At Battle Monument Group, he has led the acquisition of more than 100...

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Need financing for your next investment property? Visit:  Want to join us in San Antonio, TX on June 11th & 12th? Visit:  ____ Schuyler Williamson is an accomplished leader with a background in business, real estate, and mentorship. A West Point graduate and former college baseball player, he brings a competitive mindset and strategic approach to every endeavor. As the founder of Williamson Group Real Estate, he has built a thriving business as a real estate professional, investor, and entrepreneur.  As the author of The Steady Leader, Schuyler shares his expertise in...

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Need financing for your next investment property? Visit:  Want to join us in San Antonio, TX on June 11th & 12th? Visit:  ____ Corey Reiser is a former Army Artillery Officer, real estate investor, and founder of School of Grit. A Division I lacrosse player at the U.S. Military Academy, he built the discipline and resilience that shaped his career. After leaving the military, Corey applied those same principles to real estate, creating a successful portfolio and achieving financial freedom at a young age. Through School of Grit, he shares hard-earned lessons on mental toughness,...

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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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Gabriella (Gaby) Riffle-Gonzalez is the Founder and CEO of Antipolíticas Cigars, a premium cigar company that draws on her Cuban heritage and four generations of family expertise in the tobacco industry. Inspired by her family's resilience after leaving Cuba, she's reinventing the traditional cigar experience with a modern, celebratory focus. Gaby is currently working on expanding the Antipolíticas brand with a line of alcoholic beverages. In addition to being an entrepreneur, Gaby is a Real Estate Consultant with Berkshire Hathaway Home Services as she’s pursuing a master's degree in commercial real estate at Georgetown with plans to get her MBA at UNC Chapel Hill.

For a 10% discount at Antipolíticas Cigars, enter code: SABM10.

In this episode, we discuss:

  • How Gaby transformed her Cuban family's tobacco heritage into Antipolíticas Cigars, a modern brand that celebrates nonconformity, success, avoiding political talk, and having a good time
  • The story behind her uncle's preservation of their family's Cuban tobacco legacy by bringing seeds and expertise from Cuba to Nicaragua
  • Her strategic approach to building a lifestyle brand, including partnerships with professional athletes and plans for future product lines
  • How she balances multiple ventures, including real estate sales in three states, commercial investments, and pursuing dual masters degrees
  • The transition from guaranteed military purpose to entrepreneurship, and her advice about trying multiple ventures to find your true passion
  • Her commitment to investing 50% of Antipolíticas' proceeds into women's professional sports, inspired by her own journey as a former basketball player
  • Her involvement with Unrivaled Basketball, a new women's professional league launching in January 2024 with TNT media rights
  • The importance of having a supportive spouse and making strategic lifestyle choices to fund entrepreneurial dreams
  • Her vision for the future: creating celebratory moments and advancing equity in women's athletics
  • How she's learning to balance multiple pursuits and prioritize time management while building a lifestyle company with a strong brand

Connect with Gaby

Special thanks to Gaby Riffle-Gonzalez for joining me this week. Until next time!

-Scott Mackes, USNA ’01