#105 Grateful for a Rich Heritage, Now Helping Other Vets - Charles Read, GetPayroll

Charles Read is a high profile guy, with TV segments in the financial news and more. And he’s a big, big proponent of hiring military Vets, so he’s a big favorite with us. A Marine veteran and also a Vietnam combat veteran, Charles is the founder president and CEO of GetPayroll, and online, fully-compliant payroll and payroll tax reporting service for businesses of any size. Military service was in the cards for Charles all along. His entire family has been “citizen soldiers” since the Revolutionary War. There’s even a great-great-great grandfather who signed the Declaration of Independence; talk about heritage! With a father in the Navy and Charles being self-proclaimed “young and dumb”, he wanted a tough outfit and the Marines fit that bill. Interestingly enough, his sister was a Marine officer at the same time he was an enlisted man. Trained as a computer programmer and a systems engineer, he was sent to Okinawa where he subsequently requested a transfer to Vietnam and asked to be put in a combat unit. Since he was considered a smart guy with his computer background, he was made the radio carrier, which is like having “a target on your back” according to Charles. After six months of combat, Charles survived pretty much in tact but his experience of being part of a team doing whatever it took to accomplish the mission stayed with him forever. Mission, men and self was the Marine Corps way and is still Charles’ way. After the Marines, getting into business also was a natural for Charles, with his family accomplished business leaders as well. Upon his discharge, Charles’ computer skills were in high demand but didn’t seem to count with employers because it was military training, not civilian. So he went back to school, passed the CPA exam and originally wanted to work for a big corporation and climb to the top. However, realizing he didn’t have the “political skills” (read: he didn’t stab people in the back), Charles decided to start his own company, just as his father had. Now, 30 years established, he has been quite successful and uses his success to promote the hiring of other military veterans who have also put their life on the line for freedom and liberty. 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