Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities success stories

Jose Rene “JR” Martinez

Hometown: Dalton, Ga.
Marital Status: Single
Branch of Service: U.S. Army
Profile: JR Martinez is a 2008 graduate of the Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities program at Florida State University.

Martinez was deployed to Iraq in February 2003. In April of that year, he was driving a Humvee when the vehicle’s left front tire hit a landmine. Martinez suffered severe burns to more than 40 percent of his body, as well as smoke inhalation. He was evacuated to Landstuhl, Germany, for immediate care and was eventually transferred to Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas, to begin his recovery. Martinez spent 34 months in the hospital, undergoing 32 different surgeries, including skin grafts and cosmetic surgery.

As part of his personal recovery, Martinez took the initiative to speak to other injured veterans while he was hospitalized. After a long and difficult recovery, he traveled the country extensively, speaking to veterans and other groups about his combat experience and recovery. Martinez was passionate about sharing his inspirational story and realized that he had the opportunity to create a business for himself as a spokesman and motivational speaker. He became his own entrepreneurial venture.

That venture has been remarkably successful. Martinez now speaks to many diverse audiences across the United States. In addition, in November 2008, he was cast in ABC's Emmy Award-winning daytime drama “All My Children” in the role of Brot Monroe — a role that he continues to play today. Martinez’s character on “All My Children” also served in the U.S. Army in Iraq and was also injured in combat.

In addition to acting, Martinez has made appearances on “Oprah,” “Good Morning America” and “60 Minutes.” He has been featured in People magazine, US Weekly and The Washington Post. Martinez also has spoken as the opening act for renowned motivational speakers Tony Robbins and Dave Roever, and has delivered the keynote address at events for RE/MAX, BB&T, and hundreds of schools and veterans organizations across the country.

Daniel A. Hash

Hometown: Layton, Utah
Marital Status: Single
Branch of Service: U.S. Air Force
Profile: Dan Hash is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force and a 2008 graduate of the Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities program at Florida State University. He served in Operation Iraqi Freedom and also earned three degrees while serving in the Air Force. Hash is currently working on an MBA with an emphasis on international business and entrepreneurship.

Hash is the founder of one of the most unique businesses to ever come out of the EBV program. His business — United Doves — releases doves for weddings, funerals, birthdays and other celebrations that are trained to navigate home afterward.

Hash’s love for birds began when he caught his first pigeon by hand at the age of 5. His first bird release was in 1989 as an endeavor to honor his grandfather. Hash’s entrepreneurial venture actually began while he was stationed in Iraq, where he began writing his business plan. The venture was put into action and hit the ground running in 2004, after he returned home to the States. After attending Florida State’s boot-camp program in 2008, Hash created a franchise of his business for other dove enthusiasts. The white-dove release business has grown into a multimillion-dollar industry with great demand and growth potential.

In addition to United Doves, Hash started a spin-off company, White Pigeon Sales, which offers all of the supplies needed to start a dove-release business. White Pigeon Sales has become a key supplier in the white-dove release industry and is ranked No. 1 in its field by Google’s search engine. This business has proven to be as successful as his initial venture, and Hash expects exponential growth for it as well.

For Hash, entrepreneurship means “learning how to find passion from within, and offering something back to society that hasn't been there before — to create meaning that will bless the lives of others for generations to come.” He believes that despite whatever trials may come in life, “there is hope . . . where there is a will, there is a way.” Hash says he is grateful that he is able to do what he enjoys despite obstacles that would have caused others to give up.

Hash recently moved to Kaysville, Utah, to expand the business and address the growing demand for ceremonial dove releases in the Salt Lake City metropolitan area.

Chris Cancialosi

Hometown: Caldwell, N.J.
Marital Status: Married
Branch of Service: U.S. Army
Profile: Chris Cancialosi served as an aviator in the U.S. Army and is a 2009 graduate of the Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities program at Florida State University.

Cancialosi’s first business, gothamCULTURE, is a New York city-based organizational development consultancy that has been in business for just over four years. Cancialosi and his business partner started the business soon after returning from Iraq. Through hard work and the support of many friends and family (and a little bit of luck), they have developed the company into a solid venture. According to Cancialosi, “I want to devote my life to developing the future leaders of America, and I feel that my experiences have prepared me for success in this endeavor.”

His venture continues to grow, and in 2010, Cancialosi’s company launched its “commitment to the community” — a promise that his company will donate a percentage of each contract it is awarded to nonprofit organizations in the form of skills-based volunteering. The client has the option of choosing its own charity of choice or one of gothamCULTURE’s selections. Cancialosi says this commitment gives him the opportunity to run a for-profit venture in a way that is committed to a mission of social responsibility in the community.

For Cancialosi, “being an entrepreneur means that I have the ability to control my destiny — to make a difference in the world in my own way. The only limits that are set for me as an entrepreneur are those that I set for myself. I am (now) able to create something in the world in my own vision.”

Marylyn Harris

Hometown: Houston
Marital Status: Single
Branch of Service: U.S. Army

Profile: Marylyn Harris served as a military nurse in the U.S. Army and is a 2010 graduate of the Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities program at Florida State University. Her business, Harrland Healthcare Consulting LLC, is a management consulting firm based in Houston. Harrland’s focus is medical and psychiatric staffing and training services; it offers several services for individuals, corporations, nonprofit organizations, and military and government entities, both domestically and abroad. Harrland Healthcare Consulting LLC has been in business with Harris serving as president and CEO since 2006.

“Harrland Consulting is a committed advocate of military families, volunteerism, access to health care for all, and advocacy for women,” she said.

Since graduating from the boot-camp program in 2010, Harris has been working to start her second business. On Nov. 11, 2010 — Veteran’s Day — she opened the Women Veterans Business Center, a membership-based Web portal full of information and resources for both women veterans and military families who wish to start and develop veteran-owned businesses. The Women Veterans Business Center provides online business training and consulting services along with online networking events.

Harris says the reason she started the business center was to fill a need that was not being met.

“No current resource exists wherein women veterans (and military families) can network online with other veteran businesses, get up-to-date information on products and services, and learn of upcoming events pertinent to them,” she said. “They can do all of this at the Women Veterans Business Center 24/7/365 from anywhere around the world.” 

Claudel Aubry

Hometown: New York City
Marital Status: Married
Branch of Service: U.S. Army
Profile: Claudel Aubry served as a Staff Sergeant in the U.S. Army, and is a 2010 graduate of the Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities program at Florida State University.

Aubry’s first business, Aubry Logistics Group LLC, based in Charlotte, N.C., is a logistics management firm specializing in transportation and supply chain management. Since graduating from the Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities in 2010, Aubry has worked with many supporters and launched his business in October of that year.

As the founder and managing director of Aubry Logistics Group, Aubry made it his company’s mission to help shippers simplify the complexities of the global freight transportation industry and help them obtain the value-added services that allow them to focus on their core operations by combining the expertise of the best transportation experts. Aubry Logistics Group offers freight transport coordination and procurement, as well as logistics and transportation systems analysis.

Aubry is a member of the American Society of Transportation and Logistics and the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals, and he has registered Aubry Logistics Group with the government central contractor registration and as a Service-Disabled Veterans-Owned Small Business firm.

Reggie Crane

Hometown: Houston
Marital Status: Married
Branch of Service: U.S. Air Force
Profile: Reggie Crane served as a chief master sergeant in the U.S. Air Force and is a 2010 graduate of the Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities program at Florida State University.

After retiring from the Air Force, Crane started Next Level Coaching & Consulting Services LLC, based in Cocoa Beach, Fla., in 2007. Next Level’s mission is to successfully partner with individuals, teams and organizations for improved performance outcomes, with the centerpiece being enhanced awareness and understanding.

After graduating from the Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities, Crane teamed up with another veteran, and together they have continued to grow Next Level’s portfolio.

“At the beginning of the year, my goal was to have, at minimum, two recurring clients by the end of the year,” Crane said. “As of now, I have three.”

Along with the launch of Next Level’s Web site, Crane facilitated numerous workshops to continue meeting and exceeding his goals and began an executive coaching certification program with the Center of Executive Coaching. Crane has also been asked to serve as a panelist for the Diversity Supplier Disability Program, under the United States Business Leadership Network, where he will speak to people with disabilities about business start-ups.