Voices of Veterans
“There is strength in community.” - Jason Kelley Army Ranger Veteran and IBM’s General Manager of Global Strategic Partners, Jason Kelley, joined Next Gen Warrior for an in-depth conversation on military life & post-transition growth. Born into a military family, Jason earned his commission at West Point, serving in the Army Rangers for more than a decade before transitioning to the private sector. Jason discussed the importance of team building in business, his current work at IBM, and the idea of the “New Collar” worker.
info_outline Ep. 88 Rick & Laura Narpaul - Founder/Owners Mach1 Services, Air Force VeteranVoices of Veterans
Rick Narpaul, Air Force Veteran, and Laura Narpaul joined Next Gen Warrior to discuss how their business Mach1 Services got started. Rick Narpaul served in the Air Force Security Forces and then served as a law enforcement officer, but his passion for entrepreneurship never went away. He moved to San Antonio and met his now-wife Laura, who has extensive experience in marketing and advertising. Together they dreamt up the idea of Mach1 Services, put their ideas on paper, and built the company from scratch. They provided some great insight on what they look for when hiring, why...
info_outline EP 87: Major General (ret.) David Glaser - Army Veteran - Chief Strategy OfficerVoices of Veterans
After 36 years of military service in the United States Army, Major General (Ret.) David Glaser is now the Chief Strategy Officer at Sam Houston State. David discusses the opportunities the Army opened up for him, critical lessons in team building and leadership from Iraq, and the impact technology is having on students as they enter a rapidly changing workforce.
info_outline EP 86: John Register – Army Veteran – ParalympianVoices of Veterans
John Register is an Army Veteran, Paralympic Silver Medalist, public speaker, and author. He joined Next Gen Warrior and shared with us how Desert Storm impacted his perspective on life, how he overcame the limits he placed on himself after having his leg amputated, and how to set attainable goals to strive for long-term success.
info_outline EP 85: Scott Alpaugh – Army Veteran – AuthorVoices of Veterans
Check out our interview with United States Army Veteran Scotty Alpaugh. He works in the finance industry and recently became a published author. Scotty discussed how being injured in Iraq, battling cancer (twice), and enduring COVID impacted how he views life. A lighthearted, optimistic, and in-the-moment perspective is his prescription for an over-stimulated life. You’ll love his story of enduring life’s hurdles with patience, grace, and a little humor.
info_outline EP 84: Antoinette Balta, ESQ – Veterans Legal InstituteVoices of Veterans
Antoinette Balta identified a problem while providing social services for Veterans who had fallen through the cracks, and she started building a legal group to serve them. As the co-founder and Executive Director of Veterans Legal Institute, Antoinette has provided pro-bono services for Veterans in need. She joined Next Gen Warrior to discuss building a non-profit, enduring rejection, how she stays sharp on a daily basis and offers words of wisdom to Veterans interested in pursuing a legal career. We discussed taking care of yourself before taking care of others, and how her faith and fitness...
info_outline EP 83: Hernán Luis y Prado– CEO Workshops for Warriors – Navy VeteranVoices of Veterans
Motivated by the loss of his friends in the service and wanting to provide meaningful employment for those he served with, Hernán Luis y Prado founded @workshopsforwarriors in his garage in 2008. Workshops for Warriors has a campus in San Diego that began as a 400 sq ft space. They train Veterans and active-duty personnel in high-skilled manufacturing trades and then place them in well-paying jobs in machining, 3D printing, and more. Hernán discussed the incredible need for skilled labor, how Veterans can fill that void, and what he does to stay sharp as CEO.
info_outline EP 82: Jenn Hassin – Air Force Veteran – ArtistVoices of Veterans
A new episode of Next Gen Warrior is live! We joined Artist and Air Force Veteran Jenn Hassin in her Buda studio, just south of Austin. She walked us through her journey from pursuing a dental career, to discovering her passion for art. We discussed her latest piece that will be featured in Dallas, her famous Google Doodle on Veterans Day in 2020, and her piece on display in the Pentagon. Jenn uses art as a way to help other Veterans process their traumatic experiences.
info_outline Author’s Corner: James Payton – Army Veteran – WriterVoices of Veterans
US Army Veteran and G.I. Jobs Magazine writer James Payton joined Next Gen Warrior to discuss his article “Multiple Paths to Success: College Isn’t for Everyone.” We discussed how education can be pursued through multiple avenues, whether that is going to college or getting a professional certification. Be sure to read the article from the August edition of G.I. Jobs Magazine.
info_outline EP 81: Babs Chase - VP of Military and Veterans Programs at The Manufacturing InstituteVoices of Veterans
Next Gen warrior was joined by Babs Chase, Vice President of Military and Veterans Programs at The Manufacturing Institute. We discussed how the manufacturing industry is a perfect fit for Veterans and how it has an incredible need for Veterans to fill open positions. The Manufacturing Institute’s “Heroes MAKE America” program can help train and place Veterans in those well-paying jobs. She also looked back on her career moves, from finance to public policy, to the Department of Defense, and how each different role contributed to her success.
info_outlineRetired Vice Admiral Raquel Bono spent her life in service to the Navy and medicine. After retiring from her role as Chief Executive Officer of the Defense Health Agency, months later she was responding to the unfolding COVID-19 crisis in the State of Washington. She joined Next Gen Warrior to talk about her lifetime of service, her passion for medicine, and what she misses most about life in the Navy.