(Sorry this is late! I was totally swamped late in the week, speaking to veterans about my new role. More below:)

A couple of weeks ago, I shared that I took a new job.

I am now an Executive Search Consultant at Talent War Group (TWG). We place veterans in mid-senior level roles at small to medium-sized businesses.

Here are some examples of roles we have successfully recruited for:

Chief Operating Officer (COO) at a personal injury law firm

Regional VP at a nationwide fleet management business

Director of Government Sales at an American Manufacturing Company

TWG was started by Mike Saraille, a former SEAL, who saw that companies needed people with real leadership experience and that the veteran community was a good place to draw from.

This role was not on my radar. They approached me, we started a conversation, and everything made sense. Given this audience, it all seemed a natural fit.

I get to connect veterans in great roles to lead businesses. And get paid to do it.

It’s a win across the board for me, and I could not be more excited.

We do have a few open roles that we are still recruiting for (shared at the bottom of this email). And we are always looking for more companies to connect with.

So here is what I will tell you:

If you refer someone to me who gets hired OR refer a company to us that hires us to search for an executive for them, I will pay you $500.

Just for making an intro.

Help me and I help you.

Veteran Business of the Week

Soon in my journey of starting The Veteran Professional, I ran into JP Snyder.

JP has since become a friend, and like me, he is both entrepreneurial-minded and is always seeking a way to support veterans.

So he started Vetdb.org

What is it?

He’s gotten a ton of veterans to share information about their salary and role. Here is a recent example:

This is a really awesome way to crowdsource data on roles and give veterans information to use on the job hunt and in negotiations.

He is still working out how exactly he will monetize this, but he is always looking for more veterans to share in what he is doing.

Go give it a visit and share your experience, and help your fellow veterans.

I started using Monarch Money to finally get my finances organized—and honestly, it's a game-changer. If you want to get on top of your money, too, check it out here.

Resource of The Week

I shared this one a few weeks ago, butI need to share it again because it is so good and the deadline is coming up:

On June 10-12, 2025, Google will host Google Veterans Career Week 2025.

I have been a speaker at this before, and here is what I really like about it:

It is not just a Google recruiting event.

The event is run by veterans at Google, for veterans.

They use the Google brand and reach to promote and get great speakers, but it really is just focused on helping veterans in their careers.

It’s also free.

Definitely recommend checking it out.

Google Veterans Career Week 2025

Business Idea of The Week

This is not a specific idea, but a SUPER simple way to test demand:

Facebook Marketplace

If you have a product idea, create a single version and see if people buy it.

Or you can try selling a service.

This is a GREAT way to test something.

Why?

You can start speaking with potential customers directly and get into their real problems and concerns.

Oh, and posting is free.

Super low risk.

From the Archives

Listen here.

Go crush it,

Mark

💼 Open Positions:

Director of Operations – Honolulu, HI (On-Site)$150K–$200K + BonusCommand aviation operations at a strategic Pacific post. Manage compliance, lead crews, and liaise with the FAA — reporting directly to a veteran VP of Ops.(Mark's note: This is a really awesome role with a company that lists all the major global logistics companies on their client list. Can be a direct pivot for someone transitioning from the military who has an aviation background. Did I mention it is in Hawaii??)Sales Representative – Northern IL or Southern WI (On-Site)$100K+ Year 1 | $150K++ by Year 2–3Represent a legacy brand in luxury boating. Integrity-driven sales, strong client relationships, and a team that values veterans.(Mark's note: This is a sales floor role perfect for someone who loves boats and the lake life. The company has been family-owned for 50+ years and has a stellar reputation. They truly value veterans and have hired multiple GMs from us in the past.) Sales Representative – Hyperscale (Remote/Flexible)Base $100K–$120K | OTE $200K–$250KStep into the world of hyperscale tech and green energy. Sell high-value solutions with a mission-focused team led by a former F-18 pilot.(Mark's note: Company started US operations in 2018 and is already at $100M+ revenue. Their service is a "need to have" for anyone trying to rapidly scale up data use. So basically every tech company. This is also not a "hard sales" role but much more about partnering with a client to engineer a solution. People with engineering backgrounds, large-scale IT project management, or who know about data center power management could be good candidates.)