Disabled American Veterans now has another way to empower the veteran and military community by assisting job creators and advocating for service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses.
DAV recently acquired Patriot Boot Camp, a former nonprofit charity that has provided in-person and virtual boot camp programs for more than 1,000 entrepreneurs since its founding in 2012.
“We have supported Patriot Boot Camp and know its impact and the potential it has shown to dramatically improve lives. It empowers innovators in our community to succeed in business,” said DAV National Headquarters Executive Director Barry Jesinoski. “And, of course, once those who served and the spouses in our community reach their goals, they hire more veterans and create more opportunities for them to excel. It’s a win-win from our perspective.”
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Taylor McLemore, David Cohen, David Calone, and Jared Polis founded Patriot Boot Camp, whose former board of directors will form DAV’s National Veterans Entrepreneurship Council, which will be led by McLemore and Calone, who led the transition as board chair.
“We have a ton of respect for DAV as an organization and just kind of coming together under their organization, their resources, and their reach will only allow us to help more people,” said McLemore.
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Military spouse Jen Pilcher, who has led Patriot Boot Camp as its chief executive officer, will serve as National Director of DAV Patriot Boot Camp.
“DAV has been an advocate for veterans, transitioning military members and their families for more than 100 years. We’re thrilled to be able to contribute to that mission in a unique way and impressed by DAV’s forward-thinking approach to providing opportunities for veterans,” Pilcher said.
Pilcher founded MilitaryOneClick, a digital media resource, and its subsidiary brand, MilSpouseFest, a nationwide program supporting military and veteran spouses. She participated in Patriot Boot Camp as a business owner in Patriot Boot Camp’s second cohort in 2013.
The company scaled quickly and ranked as one of the top sites in the military media industry. She oversaw its acquisition in 2015 before her exit in 2017.
Patriot Boot Camp alumni have raised more than $150 million in venture capital and employ over 1,900 individuals.
Reach Julia LeDoux at Julia@connectingvets.com.