Jordie Kern, founder of Seven Eagle Group, shares how his organization helps veterans transition from military service to civilian careers, with a focus on blue collar trades. We discuss the SkillBridge program that allows active-duty military members to train with civilian employers during their final months of service, the challenges veterans face adapting to civilian work culture, and why soft skills matter more than military credentials in hiring decisions.

This conversation covers supporting military spouses, common misconceptions about veterans, success stories of veteran placement, the future of traditional resumes, and the Blue Collar Trades Academy's mission to expose high school students to skilled trades careers.

What This Episode Covers:

Jordie Kern's journey founding Seven Eagle Group and his mission to support veteran employment. How the SkillBridge program connects transitioning service members with civilian employers for hands-on training. The unique challenges veterans face moving from military structure to civilian work culture. Why soft skills and character traits matter more to employers than military job titles (MOS). Common misconceptions about hiring veterans and how to overcome them. Success stories of veterans placed in blue collar trades and civilian careers. Post-service support and career guidance Seven Eagle Group provides beyond initial placement. Supporting military spouses in finding employment and career opportunities. The declining relevance of traditional resumes in modern hiring processes. How technology is changing interview processes and candidate evaluation. The entrepreneurial journey of building Seven Eagle Group and lessons learned. Supporting veterans who want to start their own businesses. The fulfillment that comes from helping veterans find meaningful careers. Mentorship and guidance strategies that work for transitioning service members. Why employers should actively recruit and hire veterans. Benefits of SkillBridge opportunities for both veterans and companies. How hiring veterans builds stronger teams while reducing recruitment costs.

Key Takeaways:

The SkillBridge program provides invaluable transition support for veterans entering civilian careers. Soft skills are highly valued by hiring managers and often matter more than technical military experience. Veterans face significant culture shock transitioning from military structure to civilian work environments.

Timestamps:

00:00 – Introduction and Background
05:02 – Youth Sports and Career Beginnings
13:41 – SkillBridge Program and Career Transition
19:06 – Supporting Military Spouses
25:45 – Challenges of Military MOS Transition
31:30 – Success Stories of Veteran Placement
42:27 – The Future of Resumes
01:08:07 – Exposing High School Students to Trade Careers

About Our Guest:

Jordie Kern - Founder of Seven Eagle Group
Website: https://7eagle.com/

Learn More:

The Blue Collar Recruiter: https://thebluecollarrecruiter.com/

Our Guest Greg Nelson pulls back the curtain on what it actually takes to build a career in live sound engineering. This conversation covers his journey from small venue gigs to major concert productions, the blue-collar grit behind the music industry's biggest shows, and why people skills matter more than technical knowledge for long-term survival in entertainment.

We dig into how the industry has evolved with technology, the growing presence of women in live production, how military discipline shaped work ethic behind the scenes, and the brutal realities of COVID-19 on touring professionals. Greg shares real stories about working with famous artists, navigating high turnover, and why humility and consistency are the traits that keep careers alive.

What This Episode Covers:

Greg's path from small club shows to large-scale concert production and what that transition actually looks like. The blue-collar reality of live sound engineering that most fans never see. How military background and respect for authority create better crew members. The evolution of concert production technology and its impact on the workforce. Why more women are entering live sound and touring production. Behind-the-scenes disasters and how professionals handle them under pressure. Surviving COVID-19 as a touring professional when the entire industry shut down overnight. The high turnover problem in entertainment and what causes it. Why people skills and humility matter more than gear knowledge for career longevity. Memorable encounters with famous artists and personalities on tour. Generational differences in work ethic and how they play out on the road. Studio work vs. live sound and Greg's music preferences. Why rock bands tend to have more stability and longevity than other genres. Career advice for young people considering the trades and live production.

TIMESTAMPS:

0:00 – Blue Collar Nature of Live Sound Engineering 29:25 – Industry Evolution and Gender Inclusion 35:18 – Behind-the-Scenes Disasters and Challenges 40:29 – Public Perception and Industry Realities 47:44 – High Turnover in the Entertainment Industry 55:18 – Key to Success and Longevity in the Industry 1:00:42 – Studio Work and Music Preferences 1:07:23 – Career Advice for Young People

CONTACT OUR GUEST

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/greg-nelson-19894613/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gregmnelsonaudio/

CONTACT US:

https://thebluecollarrecruiter.com/

Episode Summary:

Jeff Rahn shares his journey from the Air Force to building a successful home services business. This conversation dives into what actually makes blue collar businesses work: hiring for personality over technical skills, building team culture that drives retention, and why soft skills matter more than most people realize.

We cover the realities of earning potential in the trades, how to handle employee development and terminations with integrity, and why customer service is the foundation of growth. Jeff shares hard-learned lessons about consistency, fair compensation, and adapting to industry changes driven by technology and customer expectations.

What This Episode Covers:

Jeff's transition from military service to entrepreneurship and the role mentorship played in his success. Why hiring based on personality and character creates better long-term outcomes than hiring for technical skills alone. How soft skills and customer interaction drive business growth in home services. The real earning potential in blue collar trades that most people underestimate. Strategies for building positive team culture that reduces turnover. The impact of integrity and consistency on business operations and reputation. Employee retention tactics that actually work in the trades. Fair compensation structures and employee development pathways. Customer service challenges unique to home services and how to handle them. How the internet fundamentally changed customer expectations and business operations. Predicting future trends in blue collar businesses. How military leadership experience translates to civilian business ownership. Starting consulting businesses in the trades.

Timestamps:

00:00 – Building a Successful Business
27:30 – The Perception of Blue Collar Trades
33:41 – The Impact of Integrity and Consistency
39:28 – Employee Retention and Growth
44:29 – Employee Retention and Integrity
50:33 – Employee Retention and Turnover
56:41 – Predicting the Future of Business and Adaptation
01:03:13 – Motivational Quotes and Funny Stories

How to Contact Our Guest:

Jeff Rahn: https://ontimebusinesspartners.com/jeff-rahn/

Contact Us:

https://thebluecollarrecruiter.com/

More Information About Skilled Trades:

https://thebluecollarrecruiter.com/best-and-worst-skilled-trades-2026-salaries-job-outlook/

Guest Links:

Service Pros: https://ontimeservicepros.com/
Business Partners: https://ontimebusinesspartners.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ontimeservicepros
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ontimeservicepros/