Transition Mission: Veteran and Spouse Hometown Startup

When I was in the military, I loved my time being an optometrist, but I always knew I wanted to move back to my hometown in Sandy, Oregon and start my own practice. I love the community, I love the area. So. So during those four years of being in the military, we slowly made progress kind of getting ideas in order, me and my wife working together. But it wasn't really until the Transition Assistance program where they told me about Boots to Business. I attended a two day live course and really was able to kind of get my ideas on paper and just figure out if this is feasible. And then after that they offered an eight week online, basically a mini MBA program in which I was really able to take those ideas and get a functional business plan in place.

The eight week Boots to Business course that Tony did really, really helped jump start this business. It really gave us a way to condense all of our ideas down into a plan that worked and has continued to work.

I felt so confident in that business plan that I actually submitted it to City Salutes, which was a business plan competition for veterans. Actually ended up doing pretty well, took second place and they ended up giving me $15,000 that went towards helping us build this practice out. My wife was a huge, huge help in the build out, but she continues to be just a huge factor to our success. She's actually the reason I got into optometry. She started working for an optometrist when we were in undergrad. So she pretty much knows everything. I mean basically I see the patients and she makes us the money.

After being a year into our business, we are loving what we're doing. I love coming into the office, I love working with my husband. And every day, every week, every month, we're still talking about what we want for our future, where we can go, how we can grow it. Our business has been successful because we've had the resources and the help along the way through things like Boots to Business and Small Business Administration that have really encouraged and come alongside and made us who we are today.

So if I was to let fellow veterans in on kind of what I've learned throughout this first year is definitely take advantage of the opportunities that are available to you while you're on active duty. I mean, the Transition Assistance program, the courses they offer is just a huge, huge opportunity that's available to you for free. So do the work, put in the tasks and you'll be surprised what you learn.