30 Heroes for 30 Years: Steve Carey, CertaPro

From combat-seasoned and highly decorated fighter pilot to successful local businessman, retired U.S. Air Force Colonel Steven D. Carey continues to serve as a Veteran franchise owner. 

With literally tens of thousands of flight hours in multiple fighter aircrafts and combat tours spanning two decades from Operation Desert Storm to Operation Iraqi Freedom, Colonel Carey applied what he learned on the battlefield to his local community.  

As the proud owner of a residential and commercial painting business called CertaPro Painters of Mobile and Baldwin Counties in Alabama, he has received numerous regional and national awards wearing a different uniform as a Veteran franchise owner and generated unprecedented growth: more than doubling production in 3 years.

Colonel Carey continues to serve out of uniform, too, as an active member of the community. Steve leads several Committees and serves as a Director on multiple Boards including Alabama Red Cross, Alabama’s Aviation Hall of Fame, and the Eastern Shore and Mobile Area Chambers of Commerce where he is Director of the Foundation for Workforce Development and Chairman of the Student Training and Exploration Program.

He is also the President of the Mobile Area Veteran’s Day Commission and South Alabama Air Force Association working to improve science, technology, engineering and math skills at local elementary schools and high schools. 

International Franchise Association and VetFran are proud to highlight the extraordinary service of Colonel Steve Carey both in and out of uniform as part of our #30HeroesFor30Years campaign.