Veterans turn service into entrepreneurship, using skills from the military to build and grow their own businesses.
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Transformation.
It’s what Brett Suttle loves about working with dogs. It’s also what lead him to start his own business. Suttle owns Rude Dog K9 Training in Canal Winchester.
“There aren’t any bad dogs,” said Suttle, explaining the concept for the name of his business. “They’re just rude.”
His work now is very different from his time in the U.S. Navy, when Suttle focused on communications.
“How does what I’m doing in the military going to apply after I get out,” said Suttle, remembering what it was like for his military transition. “I had two choices to make – I needed to either make a career out of the military or I needed to find something else that I wanted to do and I always had a passion for dogs.”
It would take him years to go into business for himself. But when he did, the leap called back to his time in uniform.
“Getting shipped off to bootcamp, not knowing anybody, it was a big character builder,” he said. “When I decided to go into business for myself – that’s a scary jump.”
U.S. Army veteran, Regina Rembert, understands the enormity of the transition out of uniform as well. She now owns her own HR consulting firm, Brightstar Consulting.
“Service is in our DNA,” said Rembert. “It’s in our core.”
She started “Buy Veteran” Week through her nonprofit, Think Veterans First, which promotes the ways our veterans continue to serve.
“Their loyalty, their leadership skills, their tenacity,” said Rembert, listing the characteristics that she associates with veteran business owners. “They’re honest, trustworthy and I think all of those things speak well in the business community and as business owners.”
Rembert says it’s a way to support the wide variety of businesses owned by those who served our country.
“They’re taking a chance on themselves,” said Suttle. “It’s a big step. I know it was for me.”
Click here to find the growing list of veteran-owned businesses, as gathered by Think Veterans First.
