In this series, we highlight those working in the Veteran and Military communities to help make reintegration and life a little better for everyone. We wanted to ask some of the common questions about how they got to where they are and how they inspire others to do more.
Interviewer: Stacey Ebert, Veteran Support Network
Organization: Pathfinder Labs
Title: Resource Affairs Specialist
Why Veterans? Because I’m a veteran, I’ve experienced many of the reintegration issues faced by so many of us that contribute to poor mental wellbeing and quality of life.
What got you interested in this organization (if you started the organization - what inspired you to do so?) Pathfinder Labs was founded by a friend of mine who tapped into the same frustrations I felt. When a job opening came up, it felt like the right fit because it offered me the platform to begin actually doing something to lift our community.
What’s your favorite thing about working in this field? The potential to connect veterans with the resources they need, and to allow them to provide honest feedback about those resources in a continuous cycle of service improvement.
How has community service involvement impacted your life? Taking off the uniform is difficult when you still have the drive to serve. Many organizations tap into that desire for veterans, but very few allow us to continue serving beside our ‘battle buddies’.
Why should veterans and families use these services? We connect you with small businesses, corporate programs, nonprofits, and veteran service organizations across the nation, we give them the analytics they need to improve the programs or services they offer to you.
What, in your opinion, is the most important thing soon-to-be-Veterans and their families should consider before leaving military service? The most important thing is building a network of support for wherever you land, whether in the same city/state of your last duty station, or anywhere across the country.
Anything else you would like us to know about you, your past experiences, or advice for veterans? I’ll leave you with one final ‘oorah, devildogs’!
