Syracuse University’s D’Aniello Institute for Veteran & Military Families and JPMorgan Chase Commercial Banking have announced the new cohort of 71 business leaders selected for CEOCircle, a yearlong peer accountability training program tailored to help mid-size veteran and military spouse executives scale their businesses.
Since launching their joint effort to support veteran and military spouse founders in 2021, JPMorgan Chase Commercial Banking and the IVMF have guided more than 173 business owners through CEOcircle, helping them gain access to growth opportunities, mentorship and a robust network of peers as they navigate their business journeys. According to a release, over the last three years, more than 70 percent of CEOcircle participants reported gaining new business opportunities from the program.
“Veteran and military-spouse entrepreneurs are an important driver of the American economy,” said Terry Hill, co-head of Emerging Middle Market and co-head of Veteran Initiatives, JPMorgan Chase Commercial Banking. “We are proud to support CEOcircle and look forward to seeing the incredible impact these leaders make.”
Of the 2025 CEOcircle cohort, 90 percent are veterans and 12 percent are military spouses (there is overlap of both demographics.) The companies span industries including technology, healthcare, consumer packaged goods and manufacturing and have an average annual revenue of $20 million reported in 2023.
“This program provides advocacy, training and phenomenal networks for veteran and spouse entrepreneurs,” says retired U.S. Army Col. Irene Glaeser, chief executive officer of Spahr Solutions Group, LLC and a 2024 CEOcircle cohort member. “We’re accountable to each other, which is something veterans know a lot about: milestones and checking in with our buddies.”
This year, 20 CEOcircle alumni have volunteered to be facilitators to give back to the veteran business community. The alumni facilitators will go through training provided by IVMF and seven will be selected to lead small group sessions to help build connections and encourage group problem solving.
“Through our research at the IVMF, we know that a strong network of support is paramount for veteran entrepreneurs,” says Misty Fox, IVMF’s director of Entrepreneurship and Small Business programs. “CEOcircle offers veteran entrepreneurs an incredible opportunity to meet, speak with, and network with other success-driven veterans in the entrepreneurship ecosystem, and we’re looking forward to the pending success these veterans will have in scaling their businesses after they've graduated."
The full list of companies selected to participate in the 2025 CEOcircle cohort is available on IVMF’s website. Companies interested in participating in the next CEOcircle can learn more and apply here.
Learn more about how JPMorgan Chase supports military members, veterans and their families here as well as the firm’s commitment to supporting veteran business owners here.
Reach Julia LeDoux at Julia@connectingvets.com.