Veterans Connect Radio

A spotlight episode of Atlanta Business Radio and powered by Business RadioX. Co-Hosted by Ryan “Redhawk” McPherson and Brandon Skolnick with Gathering Of Angels. Featuring veteran entrepreneurs, support organizations, outreach groups and more in the Atlanta area continuing to serve our families, our communities and our country.

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Brandon Skolnick, Dr. Anthony Cooper, Rocky McKay. Sandy Sanders, Bill Duelge and Ryan Redhawk

Dr. Anthony Cooper / Atlanta Veterans Affairs Medical Center

Chief, Voluntary Service

Dr Cooper is a retired Army First Sergeant and work with the Atlanta community who want to help volunteer for programs at the VA.

anthony.cooper@va.gov, 404-321-6111 ext. 7728

Rocky McKay / Operation Reset

CEO & Founder

Rocky McKay aka “Rocky The Roofer” is the Founder and President of The Operation Organization Inc. (TOO) a 501(c)3 non-profit organization whose program Operation Reset gives a “hand-up and not a hand-out” to returning citizens – U.S. Veterans who’ve returned home jobless, non violent ex-offenders, and homeless people in need of a second chance.

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Bill Duelge / Hearts For Heroes

Founder

Born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Accepted an appointment to West Point from Senator William Proxmire to join the class of 1980. Having turned down a number of football scholarships, I decided to play at West Point. I played in 10 varsity games on special teams and at defensive tackle my freshman year. I had the chance to play against household names like Joe Montana, Tony Dorsett, Hugh Green, Mike Singletary, Howie Long, Fred Smerlas and many others. I graduated in 1980 with an engineering degree with a concentration in Chemistry, became Airborne qualified and brought my shiny new butter bar to 1st Armored Division in Germany. After 3 years in Germany I came back to 1st Cav Division at Ft Hood as a Captain.

My business career started at Mobil Chemical in the Plastic packaging business. On my 30th birthday I became the manager of Mobil’s International Films group. I worked as a senior executive for 4 different companies before starting my first company in January 2004. I have been part of 14 small company startups since that time, centered around general business leadership and new startup technology. Currently 3 of those 15 companies are operating.

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Atlanta Business Radio

Veterans Connect Radio Episode 06

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Bill Williams, Grant McGarry, Ryan Redhawk, Brandon Skolnick, Eddie Williams

Veterans Connect Radio

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Eddie Williams / E&M Consulting

Founder & Managing Partners

Eddie is a West Point graduate, U.S. Army Veteran, and former Airborne Ranger, and Green Beret. After leaving the military, he has held positions of increased responsibility in Sales, Marketing and Management. Eddie also holds an MBA from Kennesaw State University’s Executive MBA program.

Eddie also serves in the Georgia State Defense Force (GSDF), a voluntary military organization that assists the Georgia Army and Air National Guard during state emergency situations, such as; search & rescue, hurricane evacuation, joint operations, and medical emergencies. He has been the Headquarters Recruiting Officer, Public Affairs Officer, Commander of Operations Company, Executive Officer and Commander of 911th Support Battalion. He currently serves as the Commander of the 76th Support Brigade at the Clay National Guard Center, Marietta, GA, and holds the rank of Colonel.

Veterans Economic Communities Initiative (VECI)

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Bill Williams / Axxiom Franchise Consultants

Bill knows what it’s like to want to control your destiny by owning a business. He began his career in the United States Army where he served as an officer in Vietnam. For more than 30 years, he was an executive with technology companies, responsible for training, support, operations and IT. After experiencing “his final corporate reorganization,” he became an adjunct career consultant with Right Management Associates, the firm who provided his outsourcing services.

It was there that he discovered his passion to help others discover their full potential. “As a consultant, I helped them get past the anger and shock of being fired and see this as one of the greatest opportunities of their lives,” he says. “Often, they chose to ‘hire themselves’ and start their own businesses.”

Bill also had aspirations to be his own boss. He wanted to run a business that capitalized on his military and corporate experiences to help others realize their dreams. Research showed that the structure and track record of franchise businesses increased an owner’s success rate. As part of Axxiom Franchise Advisors and the International Franchise Professionals Group, Bill can help you discover the best franchises for your unique skills and desires. Seasoned and wise. Of the highest integrity. Respected and trusted. Caring. An excellent listener with your best interests at heart. That’s how Bill’s colleagues describe him. He speaks and writes on career issues. As a member of the Atlanta Vietnam Veterans Business Association, he helps former military professionals transition into new careers.

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Grant McGarry / Live The Ranger Creed, LLC

Founder

Grant is a former US Army Ranger, author of A Night in the Pech Valley and a combat veteran with five deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan in the War on Terrorism. Upon graduation in 2006 from the University of Alabama with a degree in finance, Grant McGarry reported to Fort Benning with an enlistment contract “for the hardest thing the Army has to offer.” Following his graduation from the Ranger Indoctrination Program Grant was assigned to the 1st Ranger Battalion in Savannah Georgia. Following the completion of his enlistment in 2011, he was a civilian security contractor at the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad. Upon his return to the U.S., Grant was hired by The Coca-Cola Company and served as the Atlanta chapter president of the military veteran’s business resource group. After leaving Coca-Cola Grant started his own business, Live the Ranger Creed, LLC. and co-founded The Darby Project (501-C-3). Grant McGarry is continuing his education at Emory University in the Goizueta Business School Weekend Executive MBA program and his happily married to his wife Karin.

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