ZeroMils

10 years ago I was struggling. l had lost my sense of purpose and was barely surviving, until Phil Cassidy, the first Chairman of of Dog Tag Bakery asked me to join the Board. Phil, Meghan Ogilvie and DTB helped me find my way back to #thriving. If you’re looking for deeper #purpose, being part of a connected community and giving back to a cause that you’re passionate about— this is your #opportunity. My offer is simple. Using connections to hundreds of best in class nonprofits and CEOs I’ve come to know and appreciate over the past 15 years, I’m dedicating some of my time, personally and professionally, to help hundreds more purpose-driven leaders from corporate America to do greater #good. If you are a #changemaker - a veteran, military spouse, or civilian executive -in a corporation who may be interested in serving in a larger volunteer leadership capacity — on a Board of Directors, Advisory Board, Leadership or Host Committee for one of the most impactful nonprofits in the country — DM me to set up a meeting. It will be the best decision you ever made. Photos 2) through 4) are from 10 years ago in December of 2014 showing the first cohort, founders, and General Casey with Phil Cassidy at the Grand Opening of Dog Tag Bakery — Photo 1) is 4 years later shortly after I left the Board and was serving as the CEO of Operation Gratitude. #MilitaryThriving with ZeroMils

Our team at ZeroMils has been posting a series of 12 monthly snapshots encapsulating our 2024 “Year in Review” at more than 70 major Military Thriving events and engagements with more than 100 corporate and nonprofit partners in two dozen states. Much to our kids’ dismay I do my best to make “reels” on Instagram. But at least I’m trying. So here is my best effort in capturing 4 quarters of ZeroMils work during 2024 with great pride in what Paul Cucinotta, Trish Bautista, Monica Shea, David Yun and our small but mighty team accomplished this year to start a #MilitaryThriving movement and the #legendary leaders and changemakers who share our mission and vision. Feedback welcome for this 57 year old Veteran’s reel game.

This 8th of 12 monthly snapshots from our 2024 “Year in Review.” Our summer definitely “heated up in August as the #MilitaryThriving movement took hold across the country. Photos: At the U.S. Open Tennis Championships in NYC; At Hope For The Warriors® Invitational with Robin Kelleher and Sean Passmore from Wells Fargo in Wallace NC; our CEO Kevin Schmiegel giving a Military Thriving keynote at NASWA’s Veterans Conference; In Dallas with AWP, Neighborly, and MOH Recipient Sal Giunta; at the AWP Symposium in Washington DC; Kevin and Paul Cucinotta with Dr. Theresa Larson DPT, CSCS, USMC of Movement RX, and at the NYSE with Kevin and Laura Schmiegel.

Nothing makes me happier than seeing the #givers and #leaders we believe in being recognized for excellence. Yesterday, CVS Health named its 2024 Supplier Diversity Award recipients. Among the “exceptional partners who have demonstrated outstanding commitment to innovation, quality, and diversity, and made significant contributions to CVS Health’s supply chain and the communities they serve” is their “Leader of the Year” — Dave Lee. Congratulations for this well deserved recognition. We are proud of you! Go Army! Go Dave!

This 7th of 12 monthly snapshot from our“Year in Review” shows our team #thriving with our family and friends all over the country. Celebrating our nation’s Independence and those who serve to protect our freedoms as Americans. Photos from July 2024: 1) Paul’s Granddaughter Agnes on 7/4 in NC 2) Kevin’s family at a 4th of July Parade in Iron Mountain MI; 3) With AWP in Minneapolis; 4-7) With Sean and Mary Passmore, Liz and Beau Higgins in Wisconsin and at the American Legion Post 60 Veterans Day Celebration.

When we started ZeroMils, a lot of leaders asked about our #why, #what, and #how. But they missed the most important question, which is #who we choose to work with. This Venn Diagram perfectly describes our team and the partners and leaders #who are part of our #MiltaryThriving movement As we look to grow in 2025 and execute our strategy with specific organizations and in targeted regions of the country, this simple approach of intentionally choosing who we work with is more important than ever. 1. Dream Big. To create a movement we must align with brands and leaders who think at truly massive scale and without limitations. Visionaries are highly inspirational, and as dynamic leaders they enable teams to act and solve for a challenge or opportunity in innovative ways and on a much steeper trajectory for growth, impact and change. 2. Get Sh** Done. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again - a vision without execution is hallucination. There is nothing worse than a leader who talks a big game but is useless on following through with tangible actions that help make a big idea or dream a reality. Asking the people and partners we work with to dream big without delivering on our vision would fly in direct opposition to our reputation as a brand and the reason behind ZeroMils and changing the narrative about Veterans in the first place. More and more I’ve recognized that if your goal is truly visionary and a game changer it's going to be met by doubters, skeptics, and those whose very livelihoods are threatened by its realization. The leaders we choose to work and serve alongside would never let the doubters deter progress. By sheer force of will, sticktuitiveness and determination, they get sh** done. 3. Have Fun (and Tthrive). This may be the hardest of all three traits to find — and one that I am guilty of forgetting myself. Yet, it is at the very core of the work we do to create Military Thriving cultures and communities and with whom we do it. Sometimes when you dream big and work tirelessly to get sh** done, you forget that the work you are doing with people you trust, value, and respect must be — above all else — #fun. Otherwise, why bother? We’ve reached a point in our lives and careers where we want to be surrounded by people who not only share our mission, vision, and values, but that want to work together collaboratively as a team and community and "know how to have fun” in the process. We must never take ourselves and the work we do too seriously and always strive to laugh, cherish the work that we get to do together and thrive. This week in Jax FL at our annual strategic planning session I recognized that Paul, Monica, and Trish are at the very intersection of this Venn Diagram. They are more than a team — They are my family. And as that #family grows we will be looking for teammates who value and demonstrate these same 3 qualities dreaming big while getting sh** done and always — always — having fun. #MilitaryThriving

It’s no secret that ZeroMils and Neighborly® are enduring partners. Our mission is simple — to create Military Thriving cultures across their 19 domestic brands and Military Thriving communities where there franchise owners live, work, and serve. Come to our LinkedIn Live tomorrow at 12 pm EST with VP of Franchise Development — Brian Wieters and hear how he and his team are helping aspiring and current Veteran and Military Spouse entrepreneurs achieve their hopes and dreams as small business owners. Register at the link below 👇

Over the past two days, ZeroMils held our annual strategic planning session in Jacksonville FL, where one of our team member’s active duty military family is facing an extended deployment. We did 3 things: 1) We laid the foundation and groundwork for executing our mission and vision in 2025. 2) We leveled the bubbles and got our own team to “ZeroMils.” 3) We worked extremely hard, laughed, and thrived together. There is no doubt in our minds that our vision to create a #MilitaryThriving movement with our partners across the private, public and nonprofit sectors is achievable. Photo - #Thriving with Paul Cucinotta, David Yun, Monica Shea, Trish Bautista, and Kevin Schmiegel.

Resilience. #Hope. Love. ZeroMils chooses the partners we work and serve alongside — and they choose us. #Together we are creating cultures and communities where military and veteran connected families #thrive. Wells Fargo is one of those partners. All you need to do is watch this Today Show video clip 👇 — and you will understand we share the same mission, vision, and values and #why our organizations have chosen to #do more together to make an even greater impact in 2025 and beyond. #MilitaryThriving #BankOfDoing