The MILCOM Founders Podcast copertina

The MILCOM Founders Podcast

The MILCOM Founders Podcast

Di: Rod Loges
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 Championing and celebrating veteran founders through weekly conversations. Each episode features military entrepreneurs sharing their journey from service to success, uncovering real strategies for business growth, capital raising, and applying military leadership in the private sector.2024 One Degree Financial Economia Gestione e leadership Leadership
Episodi
  • Hillary Boyce | BAFO Services, LLC

    Hillary Boyce | BAFO Services, LLC
    Feb 17 2026
    MILCOM Founders Podcast – Episode 35: Hillary Boyce, Army Veteran and Military Spouse Building a Government Contracting PowerhouseJoin host Rod Loges and guest Hillary Boyce as she shares her journey from small-town North Carolina to leading BAFO Services, a firm helping over 150 clients win government contracts.In this episode:Hillary's path from Taylorsville, North Carolina (population: tiny) to joining Navy ROTC in high school and enlisting in the Army National Guard before her senior yearHow she went to basic training at Fort Leonard Wood before 12th grade and bought her first car with her military paycheckHer transition from National Guard engineer to active duty with the 3rd Infantry Division, where she worked directly with senior officers as an E-4The story of starting her first company after a few glasses of wine, with no business plan and no investorsHow she grew to 85 employees in two years while Ubering on nights and weekends because she couldn't pay herselfSelling her first company and launching BAFO Services, which now employs 50+ staff serving 150+ clientsWhy she takes her Army gear to every Army-Navy game (where her Navy husband has to sit on the Army side)Key takeaways:Write your plan in pencil, not permanent marker. You never know who you'll meet in an elevator tomorrow.The cost of money is real. Before you're two years into business with tax returns to show, SBA won't talk to you. Plan for that.Take care of your staff first. A leader isn't a leader if they're not mentoring and giving back.No hero behavior. Nobody should be a single point of failure on your team.Stay flexible. Don't pigeonhole yourself or your company when you don't know what revenue stream might walk through the door.Guest: Hillary Boyce, Founder and CEO of BAFO Services, U.S. Army Veteran, Military SpouseLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hillary-boyce-14537814/Business Website: https://bafoservices.com/Mrs. Hillary Boyce is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of BAFO Services, LLC, bringing more than 20 years of proven expertise in the procurement, execution, and management of U.S. government contracts. Her career includes owning and acquiring her own successful small government contracting business, through which she earned numerous federal service-related awards. She also holds a Master in Business Development certification from MBDi.A proud U.S. Army veteran, Mrs. Boyce served as an Engineer in the Army National Guard before transitioning to active duty with the 3rd Infantry Division. She is also a dedicated military spouse, supporting her husband, an active-duty Naval Officer. Her academic background includes Business Administration studies at the University of Maryland (Europe and Asia Divisions), a Certification in Acquisition and Procurement from Tidewater Community College (TCC), and legal studies at Regent University.Mrs. Boyce spent many years providing essential services and support to wounded soldiers, survivors, and military families through her roles within the U.S. Army Casualty and Mortuary Affairs Operations and the U.S. Army Physical Disability Agency. Her work focused on operational management and oversight of mission-critical tasks directly impacting service members and their families.In addition to her work supporting the military community, Mrs. Boyce is deeply committed to global humanitarian service. She engages in yearly mission work in Kenya, contributing her time and leadership to support underserved communities, expand educational and economic opportunities, and help strengthen local support networks. Her experiences abroad continue to inspire her passion for service and community empowerment.Deeply committed to community and professional service, she volunteers locally and serves on several boards, including the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association (AFCEA) Hampton Roads chapter and Women in Defense (WID). She is also a business coach for The Honor Foundation (THF), supporting transitioning Navy SEALs and U.S. Special Operations personnel, and serves on the AFCEA International Small Business Committee.Mrs. Boyce has been widely recognized for her leadership, business acumen, and service. Her awards include:Virginia Small Business Veteran of the Year, Virginia SBDC (2025)100 Successful Women in Business Award, Global Trade Chamber (2025)Veteran & Military Spouse Owned Small Business of the Year, Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce (2025)AFCEA International Leadership Award (2025)Military Spouse Awards – Heroes at Home Finalist, militarynews.com (2025)AFCEA International Medal of Merit (2023)AFCEA International Small Business Person of the Year (2021)AFCEA Women's Appreciation Award (2021)Distinguished Service Awards Finalist, Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce (2019)AFCEA Top 40 Under 40 – National (2019)Top 40 Under 40 of Hampton Roads, Inside Business (2017)Additionally, she received the Emerging Star Award (2016) and Stellar Award (2017) from the U.S. ...
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    40 min
  • Kamar D. Perkins | ProTech Consulting Group

    Kamar D. Perkins | ProTech Consulting Group
    Feb 3 2026

    MILCOM Founders Podcast - Episode 34: Kamar Perkins, Army Veteran Building Businesses That Create Jobs and Serve Veterans

    Join host Rod Loges and guest Kamar Perkins as he shares his journey from being a ward of state to Army veteran to founding multiple businesses focused on creating jobs and making community impact.

    In this episode:

    • Kamar's path from ward of state in Prince George's County, Maryland to Army paratrooper with the 3rd Special Forces Group
    • How his mother's tragic death when he was five shaped his mission to help others overcome addiction
    • The story of getting recruited by the Army after the Air Force told him he was "too fat"
    • Building ProTech Consulting Group, a service-disabled veteran-owned IT firm delivering AI and software solutions to federal agencies
    • Opening Divine Medical, a treatment center that will provide free addiction services to North Carolina veterans
    • Why he spent a year responding to 20 RFPs per month without winning anything, and what changed

    Key takeaways:

    • Your network is your net worth. Client acquisition is about cultivating relationships, not just responding to RFPs.
    • If you're still in uniform, use that access to meet the people you'll need to know as a business owner. It's much harder to get those meetings once you're out.
    • Two brains are better than one. There's nothing wrong with saying "I don't know" and figuring it out together.
    • Work should support your life. Your work should not be your life.
    • The NCO corps is the backbone of the military. That operational efficiency translates directly to running a successful business.

    Guest: Kamar D. Perkins, Founder and President of ProTech Consulting Group, Army Veteran, Author

    • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kamardperkins/
    • Business Website: https://protechconsultinggroup.com/

    Kamar D. Perkins is a retired U.S. Army veteran, entrepreneur, and author who brings military-grade discipline and strategy into modern business and technology. He is the Founder and President of Protech Consulting Group, a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned and HUBZone-certified firm delivering secure IT, cloud, and technology solutions to government and industry partners.

    A former paratrooper with the 3rd Special Forces Group and later a Logistics Officer in the North Carolina Army National Guard, Kamar earned multiple competitive distinctions during his service, including recognition as the U.S. Army’s Best Warrior. His military background continues to shape his leadership style, decision-making, and mission-driven approach.

    In addition to technology consulting, Kamar has held leadership roles in healthcare management and is a strong advocate for mental health, mentorship, and veteran transition. His work centers on helping veterans and founders translate discipline, resilience, and lived experience into sustainable success.

    Looking ahead: Kamar is opening Divine Medical in Durham, North Carolina, which will provide free addiction treatment to military veterans. His five-year goal: create 1,000 jobs per year through impactful work that boosts local economies and provides sustainable wages.

    The MILCOM Founders Podcast champions and celebrates military community business owners. Each episode brings practical insights and lessons learned from successful veteran entrepreneurs.

    Sponsored by One Degree Financial www.onedegreefinancial.com

    Want to support veteran entrepreneurs? Learn about the Dick Loges Veteran Entrepreneur Scholarship Fund at https://www.milcomfounders.com/
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    43 min
  • Kristen Ferullo | Partners in Purpose

    Kristen Ferullo | Partners in Purpose
    Jan 20 2026

    MILCOM Founders Podcast - Episode 33: Building a One-Stop Resource Hub for Military Families with Kristen Ferullo

    Join host Rod Loges and guest Kristen Ferullo as she shares her journey from special educator to military school liaison to founding Partners In Purpose, an organization dedicated to curating accurate, timely resources for military and veteran families.

    In this episode:

    • Kristen's nearly 12 years as a military school liaison helping families navigate K-12 education across moves
    • The origin story of Partners In Purpose and its scholarship database with over 1,000 opportunities
    • Why military families move 6-9 times during their children's educational careers and how that creates unique challenges
    • The growing importance of trade schools and CTE programs as alternatives to traditional college
    • How early leadership training shaped Kristen's purpose-driven approach to serving others

    Key takeaways:

    • Old, outdated information at the top of Google searches creates real problems for military families trying to plan moves and education
    • Purpose-driven work requires partners who share that purpose. You don't get there alone.
    • Every day you have a positive impact on one family is a success. Figure out the business part later.
    • Listening to respond versus listening to understand is a critical difference in communication
    • Knowing your "why" is the foundation of everything you do

    Guest: Kristen Ferullo, Co-Founder of Partners In Purpose, Military School Liaison (nearly 12 years)

    • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristen-ferullo/
    • Business Website: https://partners-in-purpose.com/

    Kristen Ferullo is the Co-Founder of Partners In Purpose, an organization focused on curating accurate and timely resources for military and veteran families. As a Military School Liaison in a geographically dispersed area for nearly 12 years Kristen has become acutely aware and deeply passionate in serving the needs of the military community.

    Kristen brings years of valuable diversified experience to her organizational leadership style. As a former Special Educator, a Navy Fleet & Family virtual Leadership Professional, 2025 Navy Region Mid-Atlantic Leadership Community Team Lead, and Technical High School Advisory Committee Chair, and student mentor, Kristen has shown her ability to work with any audience. In her personal time, Kristen is an educational programming and opportunity advisor, mentor and event volunteer for multiple non-profit organizations. Kristen most enjoys hiking, yoga, travel and spending time with her dog and three amazing, grown(ish) children.

    Looking ahead: Kristen aims to build Partners In Purpose into a one-stop shop for military and veteran families, simplifying access to trusted resources for education, spouse employment, and family support. She also hopes to offer leadership coaching and communication training, drawing on her 20+ years working with student leadership programs.

    The MILCOM Founders Podcast champions and celebrates military community business owners. Each episode brings practical insights and lessons learned from successful veteran entrepreneurs.

    Sponsored by One Degree Financial www.onedegreefinancial.com

    Want to support veteran entrepreneurs? Learn about the Dick Loges Veteran Entrepreneur Scholarship Fund at https://www.milcomfounders.com/
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    43 min
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