#101 Not Perfect, Just Excellent - Kate Monroe, CEO VetCom

US Marine vet Kate Monroe, founder of VetCom joined the military in an unusual path. On a full ride scholarship to a Christian Bible College. A gifted student all through school, Kate was always told she would be someone great- the usual doctor, lawyer path – and she just plain burned out on it. After her freshman year, she looked into the Air Force originally. A chance meeting with a Marine recruiter on her way to take her qualifying tests resulted in being swept into the Marines at 19. Becoming an Intel analyst, she was not deployed but wound up being disable. During a softball game, she took a ball to the face and suffered a break that required 72 hours of surgery. That was it for the military. But she had an entrepreneurial father and so her transition to civilian life was easier than for most vets. She started with a sales job which is always a great base for any entrepreneur. And she has overcome some discrimination she has faced as a woman not only in the private sector but when she was in the Marines as well. Her personal mission has become her gift to others, being empowered, finding the courage to follow your dream. Kate credits the Marine Corps with her attitude that if something was hard, adapt and overcome and that “mantra” keeps her going every day. Having sold her car dealership (yes, she does what she sets her mind to), a veteran came to her asking her help get rated. She did, and that led to helping more people get rated. The idea for a platform to help vets get back into civilian life in almost every aspect of their life; buying a home, getting a job, getting deserved VA benefits was super exciting to Kate and VetCom was born. It will launch soon and Kate is ready, “It will be a hurricane ready to make landing”. So be ready all you vets. Veteran Founder Podcast with your hosts Josh Carter and Cynthia Kao We record the Veteran Founder Podcast inside NedSpace in the Bigfoot Podcast Studio in beautiful downtown Portland. Audio engineer, mixer and podcast editor is Allon Beausoleil Show logo was designed by Carolyn Main Website was designed by Cameron Grimes Production assistant is Chelsea Lancaster Theme music: Artist: Tipsy Track: Kadonka Album: Buzzz Courtesy of Ipecac Records 10% of gross revenue at Startup Radio Network goes to support women entrepreneurs in developing countries thru kiva.org/lender/markgrimes