Ventures & Victories: Stories of Entrepreneurial Breakthroughs – Details, episodes & analysis

In this episode, we talk with Ryan Walsh, Army Ranger Veteran and founder of Valqari, about the lessons he’s learned building and leading multiple multimillion-dollar companies from the ground up. Ryan shares how his military background shaped his approach to entrepreneurship, how he’s navigated challenges with limited resources, and what it truly takes to turn bold ideas into successful ventures. Tune in for practical insights on leadership, resilience, and growing businesses with purpose and clarity.

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In this episode, we sit down with Courtney Zaugg, serial entrepreneur, economic developer, and cofounder of VentureVets, an initiative helping Veterans and Military Spouses launch and scale their businesses. Based in Indianapolis, Courtney has built her career around increasing innovation at the intersection of capital, talent, and community.

She shares her journey founding multiple companies, building entrepreneurial ecosystems, and advocating for Veteran and community-driven growth. Tune in as Courtney discusses how collaboration, purpose, and perseverance can turn bold ideas into lasting impact.

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This week, Kasie Valenti welcomes Julia Ruddock, an Army Veteran, West Point graduate, Entrepreneur, and Founder of Hayati Coaching. Julia discusses her career thus far, from financial services to higher education, and how her experiences drove her to pursue entrepreneurship. Hayati Coaching is a career coaching firm that helps clients navigate career transitions and live wholesome lives. 

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In this week’s episode, ACP’s Kasie Valenti welcomes Brandon Marquez, a Marine Corps Veteran, ACP Alumnus, and the Founder of Southern Cross Service Dogs. Southern Cross Service Dogs is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to enriching lives by providing exceptionally trained service dogs at no cost to qualified individuals with disabilities.

After serving as a Multi-Purpose Canine Trainer with U.S Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command, Brandon decided to continue his passion for canine training in the civilian world. Brandon will take us through his career thus far, his experiences running a nonprofit, and some of the challenges he's overcome along the way. 

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This week, ACP’s Kasie Valenti welcomes Bridget B. Sullivan, an ACP Mentor, Award-Winning Event Producer, and Founder of Creative Canvas Productions. Creative Canvas Productions is a woman-owned event management, video production, and motion graphics company based in Charlotte, North Carolina.  

Bridget discusses her career thus far, the challenges she overcame, and some tips and tricks for creative-minded entrepreneurs looking to embark on their small business journeys.

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This week, ACP’s Kasie Valenti welcomes Ken Davenport, a serial entrepreneur, Coach for The Honor Foundation, FourBlock and trainer at IVMF’s Boots to Business, and the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Mission Edge. Ken takes us through his early days during the dot-com boom, what drove him to pursue entrepreneurship, and his numerous successes in the technology space. He’ll also discuss the importance of resiliency and humility to overcome adversity and lead effectively. 

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In this week’s episode of Ventures & Victories, ACP’s Kasie Valenti welcomes Christian Hanebeck, the Founder and CEO of Truckl and a professional with over 25 years of experience in consulting, startups, and private equity. From a teenager reselling fashion in Germany to founding a multinational logistics technology company, Christian takes us through his career thus far and provides valuable insight into the mindset of successful entrepreneurs. 

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In this week’s episode of Ventures & Victories, Kasie Valenti welcomes Moni Jefferson, a Forbes #Next1000 honoree, founder of four companies, and builder of global impact communities. She is also the CEO and Founder of the Association of Military Spouse Entrepreneurs (AMSE), whose mission is to provide a worldwide network of organizational support, resources, education, and mentorship for military spouse entrepreneurs.

Moni will take us through her career and how she utilized her expertise in marketing, communications, and networking to expedite the growth of her businesses. She will also provide advice to early-stage entrepreneurs and some tips and tricks to set yourself up for entrepreneurial success. Do not miss this opportunity to hear directly from a successful business owner and a pillar of the Military Spouse community! 

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This week, ACP’s Kasie Valenti welcomes the Founder & CEO of WithMe, Jonathan Treble. WithMe aims to revolutionize apartment living through tech-powered amenities and has been ranked by Inc. 5000 as one of the fastest-growing private companies in the United States for the past four years.

Jonathan will dive into his journey as a business owner and how aspiring entrepreneurs can best support the Military community. Tune in today to hear Jonathan’s story and pick up some valuable insight into business ownership.

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This week’s guest is an ACP Mentor and the Founder and CEO of Quantious, Lisa Larson-Kelly. Lisa takes us through her career and how she pivoted into the tech sector in the early internet age. After successful freelance gigs for Adobe and Google, Lisa scaled her one-woman operation into a thriving small business. Eventually, Lisa founded Quantious, a marketing agency specializing in technology and developer audiences. 

Lisa shares some lessons learned after a decade-plus of working within the tech ecosystem and the challenges she overcame along the way. She’ll also speak on the evolution of the tech sector and how entrepreneurs can leverage emerging technologies to expedite their company’s growth. 

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