By Debbie Gregory.

VAMBOA, the Veterans and Military Business Owners Association and our staff want to take this opportunity to wish everyone a happy and healthy holiday filled with joy.

We have the highest regard for those who serve, past and present.  The men and women who have worn our nation’s uniform and their loved ones have made many sacrifices so that the rest of us can live well and prosper.   They have written a blank check up to and including their lives for our country and are courageous patriots.

Those who have served are uniquely suited to be entrepreneurs.   Veteran and Military Business Owners have a keen understanding of how to execute a plan to achieve their goals.   Veteran and Military Business Owners have the know- how to build and manage teams.     They are disciplined and understand that success might come after numerous challenges and even a few failures.

We salute you and the families that support you.   We hope that all of you will take time out during the holidays with all the extra demands upon you to experience the joy of these special days with your friends and family.

VAMBOA wishes everyone the best of the holidays in December including Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Winter Solstice, Las Posadas, Diwali and Chinese New Year.   Each one has special joys including meanings, traditions and foods to experience.  Our holiday wish for you is to please give yourself some much-deserved time to take it all in and enjoy the moments with those people who mean the most to you.

Many holidays are commercialized and often we are focused on gifts and all that we must do instead of people.   Let’s think of the true meaning and magic of these special times.    The time and experiences with those people who mean the most to each of us are the real gifts and are irreplaceable.

We all can be kind and perform random acts of kindness.  The holidays and the beginning of a new year are a wonderful time for kind acts and continuing them into 2020.    There is much more that unites us as Americans than divides us.

Joy to America and to the World!

Sincerely,

Debbie Gregory

CEO, VAMBOA

By Debbie Gregory.

This Monday, November 11^th we celebrate Veteran’s Day.  I am the proud daughter of a Veteran who made the ultimate sacrifice and served with seven of his brothers.

I believe that the word “Veteran” needs to be expanded to celebrate all the men and women who serve, past and present, every day of the year in all the uniformed services.  They make incredible sacrifices so that the rest of us can live and prosper.   They are true patriots and write a blank check up to and including their lives.

Those that sacrifice so much include every man and woman who has served or is serving in our Armed Forces and Uniformed Services.  These include members of the United States Army, the United States Navy, the United States Air Force, the United States Marine Corps, the United States Coast Guard, the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps.  Our United States military men and women operate in more than 10 countries too.

We must also honor our citizen soldiers who serve in the United States National Guard and Reserves and deserve to be honored as much as our active duty and Veterans.

Many people don’t know that those who serve in the National Guard and Reserves can and do dual duty.  They usually work in a civilian job and can be called upon in their home states, but they are also activated and deployed overseas to the Middle East and other countries.

A huge percentage of our currently deployed military are members of the National Guard and Reserves.   These citizen soldiers and their loved ones don’t have the full support system that is provided to regular military stationed on military bases.   Being citizen soldiers, they also face huge financial challenges to serve and are often underemployed.

On this Veterans’ Day, we need to include everyone and think of ways we can do better by them.   Many are not receiving proper healthcare or must wait too long for it.  Wellness, especially mental wellness, must be a priority especially with so many Veterans committing suicide.  One size does not fit all when it comes to solutions.  We need to work together to find solutions for everyone and dedicate ourselves to those doing more for who have sacrificed so much for us.

On Monday, November 11th and every day, think of doing a small random act of kindness that can make a huge difference.  It can be as simple as volunteering at a Veterans home or doing some “honey do” things for the spouses of deployed Veterans or helping coach or tutor their kids.  It might involve donating money or goods to a Veteran charity, driving a Veteran, or just telling a cashier that you want to pick up a Veteran’s tab.    We are losing almost 2,000 Veterans a day from “the Greatest Generation” and preserving and listening to their stories and memories is part of our history.  You might find that supporting those who serve enriches your life too.

Be there for those who serve and have served because they are and have been there for all of us.  Never forget them and remember, there is more that unites us as Americans than divides us.

Debbie Gregory

CEO – VAMBOA, Veteran and Military Business Owners Association

Vice-President & Producer, “America Salutes You”, a nationally televised annual concert

Director of Employer Engagement, California ESGR

By Debbie Gregory.

A family owned business faces unique challenges that other types of businesses do not face. The overly personal nature of family relationships can cause issues with hostility, nepotism, favoritism, and other morale-killing practices but if you are diligent and set (and adhere to) the same standards for all employees, those related or not, you can create an environment that is uniquely fulfilling and diverse.   Often Veteran Owned Businesses are a family affair.

The top five challenges for family owned businesses and how to make sure they are not negatively impacting your family owned business:

1.) Company Culture

Make sure that you clearly communicate the company’s values to all employees, both those related and those who are not. If people in the company feel that they are not part of the company’s culture they will not stay with the company very long.   It makes sense to be consistent and have the same policies apply to all.

2.) Compensation and Benefits

All compensation and benefits need to be set according to the position in the company and not according to the relationship between the people. If the business is viewed as simply paying a relative for doing little or no work, it can cause serious morale problems among the staff who are not relatives. You have to be careful and make it very clear that everyone at the company is on an equal playing field when it comes to salary and rewards for a job well done.   This policy can also protect you from litigation.

3.) Generational Issues

When a company employs multiple generations, it can be a serious boon to the company overall. The younger generation brings fresh ideas, new perspectives, and new technology. However, if the originators of the business are too rigid, they may not listen to the younger employees and those people will feel frustrated or feel that they are not valued and a welcome part of the team. This can lead to low morale. Each generation has something to offer and it is best to be open-minded and actively listen to all ideas presented.

4.) Business and Pleasure

Special problems arise from family members working together. Personal relationships come with conflict and arguments as well as kindness and affection. When at work it is best to keep personal feelings out of business dealings; and vise versa when at home it is best to leave business at work. This is another area where it needs to be made clear to every employee, those related and not, that every single person working for the company will be held to the same standards and the same consequences apply to everyone for breaking rules or poor performance.

5.) Succession Planning

Most family owned business do not survive long enough to be handed off to the next generation. It is best to come up with a solid plan for when the company owners retire or die. This includes who will be the next head of the company and training them for the position well in advance.  This is extremely important with Veteran Owned Businesses especially those who obtain the majority of their revenues from government contracts that provide Veteran preferences.

With all the challenges, working in a family owned business can be wonderful, enriching, and wholly satisfying experience for all involved… as long as everyone is treated fairly.

By Debbie Gregory.

Brandi Leifo was living in a domestic violence shelter without any clear direction in life, or real training, job or even a home to live in. Brandi did not have any support structure but she had an idea and absolutely nothing to lose.

Brandi had a vision for a future and developed a mission to break stigmas and make a real social impact.  With only $15, some creative portfolio items, and an honest desire to do good, Brandi created Evio Beauty Group to bring together products that are good for your skin, your community, and the planet.

With two brands, Evio Beauty is an eco-conscious skincare and makeup company that focuses on sustainable, natural cosmetic products.  The Evio community is an online platform that provides education on a wide variety of topics such as feminism, fashion, beauty, and cannabis.

Brandi’s critics told her she was crazy to try to break into the over-saturated cosmetics market with zero experience, but she didn’t listen to them. Her first real ‘yes’ in the industry came from Unity Clothing that placed an order for Brandi’s conceptual line of lip-gloss, mascara, bronzers, eye shadow, and blush. They placed their order before there was an actual product and Brandi began work to deliver their order within three

Fast forward, today Evio is projecting over $5 million in annual sales and has attracted interest and investment from many other large corporations and manufacturers of personal care products. Social impact is truly the core of the business and Evio partners with many others to do good in the world and works with organizations such as the Canadian Women’s Foundation. Evio Beauty uses makeup as a way to confront stigmas and to promote the idea of kindness.

Evio also owns a subsidiary company called Iona Cannabis Corp. that houses all of Evio’s cannabis developments and activities. Evio and their partner Aurora Cannabis will soon be launching an exclusive set of 6 beauty products featuring hemp-oil. They are working hard to develop cannabis-infused products that will help reduce their carbon footprint while offering new and exciting “affordable luxury” products to the world with real health benefits.

Interested in learning more? You can check out their website here : https://www.evio.ca/

Regardless of whatever negativity life tosses your way, there is always a way to turn your path around and start a new journey. As the saying goes “when one door closes, another opens.”  VAMBOA hopes that Brandi Leifo and Evio’s story inspires and motivates you.