Joe Lindenmayer was first exposed to the Marine Corps when his oldest brother returned home from boot camp in his dress blues. Even at a very young age, Joe was inspired to be among the best. Service to his nation was in his blood; in addition to his brother being a Marine, Joe’s father and…

Lou Schager grew up as one of 14 siblings. Wanting to break free from the crowd and follow a dream of flying, Lou earned an appointment to the Naval Academy and graduated in 1990. From there, he graduated Top Gun and flew fighter jets (F14s and FA18s) off of aircraft carriers. His talents in the…

Did you know that July 25th is National #HireAVeteranDay? Founded by Marine Corps Veteran Dan Caporale in 2017, the day is designed to serve as a reminder that companies seeking to fill vacancies will find outstanding talent in the Veteran community. Nearly 7% of the American population is a U.S. military Veteran. These veterans represent…

During the IFA 2022 Convention in San Diego, VetFran hosted a panel that included several Non-Profits.  There was considerable conversation regarding employment opportunities for military spouses regardless of the status of their veteran. The conversation included the assistance for these spouses to either find employment when active duty troops are relocated or transferred, or aligning…

VetFran is proud and grateful to have Snap-on Tools continue in 2022 as a Gold Sponsor. As a non-profit initiative, everything we do is made possible by the generous donations of our sponsor companies and individuals. As part of the International Franchise Association Foundation, VetFran supports Veterans interested in franchise ownership and careers in franchising.…

Jimmy Weeks loves to help franchise brands grow. While he founded Internet Strategy Labs in 2001, it wasn’t until 2007 that he really got started helping franchise companies build websites and understand their web traffic patterns. But Jimmy’s passion for serving others didn’t originate with the development of his computer skills… While a junior in…

Kendall Lemley spent 9 years on active duty with the Air Force, after graduating from the United States Air Force Academy in the class of 1992. He then spent an additional 13 years in the Air Force Reserves, retiring with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in 2014. Ready to strike out on his own, Kendall…

Join the IFA Foundation for a series of webinars as part oft he Open for Opportunity campaign.Learn how local franchise ownership could be the answer to your entrepreneurial dreams. Click here to register: Meeting Registration – Zoom

Mary Kennedy Thompson currently serves as the COO of Neighborly, the parent company for many brands such as Mr. Rooter, Molly Maid, and Mosquito Joe. But before that she was an officer in the Marine Corps and one of only a handful of Marines that was jump qualified. Mary is a self-described Army brat –…

Ralph Yarusso is an Air Force veteran, as well as a 30-year veteran of franchising. Originally desiring a career in aviation technology, the United States Air Force decided that Ralph would best fit in as an aircrew loadmaster. Upon completion of his contract, he left the service as a Technical Sergeant. Ralph recently reflected on…