Last Friday, I joined about a hundred Habitat for Humanity volunteers and staff at the keynote address of Habitat for Humanity International’s Legislative and Advocacy Conference in Washington, D.C., also dubbed Habitat on the Hill. The keynote speaker was Colonel David Sutherland who serves as the Special Assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and was speaking at Habitat on the Hill to address the attendees on warrior and family support as Habitat launches their nationwide veterans initiative.

I attended the event with fellow Tillman Military Scholars Meghan Lucas and Brett Gibson. We were honored as Colonel Sutherland recognized us as Tillman Military Scholars during his speech. The Colonel spoke about his job as champion of veteran support for the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs. It’s a big job and one that he finds rewarding and critical, particularly with so many veterans coming back from deployment in the current world climate.

Tillman Military Scholars Kenneth Ferrera, Meghan Lucas and Brett Gibson with Colonel David Sutherland.

After the speech, the Tillman Military Scholars had coffee with Colonel Sutherland. During our discussion, I learned we spent time at the same base in Iraq and knew some of the same people. He invited me to attend another speaking event with him the next day, which I accepted, at the American Academy of Physician Assistants, in Alexandria, VA. I begin Physician Assistant School at the University of Washington this summer, so it was quite a coincidence to attend this event with Colonel Sutherland.

This is a great example of how we as Tillman Military Scholars can use our influence to support these kinds of events and to promote the Pat Tillman Foundation, even after graduation. As more of us find ourselves away from school and in the real world, we can take the opportunities we get and put Pat’s name and the mission of the Foundation out there to make good things happen for others, just like the Foundation has done for us.

Last week I had the honor of attending the Inc 500/5000 Conference for entrepreneurs alongside several other Tillman Military Scholars and Pat Tillman Foundation staff, as a member of the Inc./Joining Forces Military Entrepreneurs Program special delegation.

I started my business Patriot Commercial Cleaning in 2011 and we have contracts all over St. Louis, MO. Our mission is to clean commercial office spaces for health and appearance. We hire veterans on our staff and I show them how to navigate different programs so they are aware of the benefits they earned while in the military. They can clean at night and have the opportunity to attend school during the day.

(L to R) Tim Smith, Rick Schumacher, Lindsay Compton, Brett Gibson, Roel Mora

This opportunity turned out to be both an eye opening and empowering experience. Over the weekend, we had the opportunity to speak with business owners who have years of experience and knowledge. Dozens of entrepreneurs took time out of their schedules to meet one-on-one with us. The support we got from people attending the conference was unbelievable and it was very positive.  It seemed like people really wanted the veteran community to thrive and support our new ventures. This is merely a start to the success of veteran-owned businesses, like my own.

From Inc. Magazine: “The Inc./Joining Forces Military Entrepreneurs Program will help veterans, servicemembers and their families start, run and grow their own business through mentoring, education, networking, resources and information provided through Inc.’s special events, business conferences, and www.Inc.com/militaryentrepreneurs.”

(L to R) Regan Turner, Joel Van Brunt, Marie Tillman, Brett Gibson, Kathryn Glynn

Marie explained her and Pat’s decision to lead a life of service and how after his death she continued that life of service – but not without its challenges or, as she states, its “turns and detours.” After telling her story, Marie was joined by Pat Tillman Foundation Director of Programs, Hunter I Riley, to lead a discussion with four Tillman Military Scholars currently attending Harvard. Read more about the evening’s events in CPL’s Jennifer Werdell’s recap of that night or in Retired Brigadier General Kevin Ryan’s thoughts and reaction to the evening’s discussion.

Better yet, watch the video.

Thanks again to Harvard University’s Center for Public Leadership for hosting Marie Tillman and the Pat Tillman Foundation.