Called to Serve. Proven to Perform.
What began with a simple question over a dinner conversation between four senior executives and members from the U.S. Navy SEAL team that eliminated Osama Bin Laden, “What are you going to do next?” has evolved into a four-phased program tailored for the transition experience for Special Operators of all services. Every year since its inception, SOTF has increased the number of successfully transitioned Special Operators.
Leadership Made in America.
Special Operators Transition Foundation™ is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization committed to providing best-in-class training, education, and business connectivity for our military’s most elite Special Operators who are transitioning to their next successful career.
They are the military’s professional athletes, possessing specialized skill sets and advanced degrees, ready to find their next ideal career. SOTF provides coaching and connections to help Special Operations veterans identify, prepare, and execute a personal marketing strategy. We also facilitate unique interactive workshops with C-Suite executives to meet and explore opportunities in regionally advantageous regions.
Foundation Staff
Josh Johnson
CEO
Keith Pritchard
Director of Development
Gareth Gorman
Director of Programs
Kerry Black
Director of Corporate Engagement
Sarah Vanderleest
Head of Operations
Kimm Korber
Phase II Executive Coach
Kersten Lapointe
Administrative Specialist
Melba Holliday
Managing Partner, Atlantic Leadership Group
Abigail G. Manning
Executive Coach
Board of Directors
Jeff Jacobs
Chairman, CIO of Insurance Solutions Group for Apollo Global Management
Jeff Jacobs
Chairman, CIO of Insurance Solutions Group for Apollo Global Management
Jeffrey Jacobs is a Partner and Chief Investment Officer at Apollo Insurance Solutions Group. Prior to joining Apollo in 2019, Jeff was Global CIO and Lead Portfolio Manager of the Financial Institutions Group at BlackRock, where he was responsible for…
Dan Poritzky
Vice Chairman, Managing Partner at Blue Rise Ventures
Dan Poritzky
Vice Chairman, Managing Partner at Blue Rise Ventures
Mr. Poritzky is a Founder and Managing Partner at Blue Rise Ventures, responsible for oversight of operations, leasing, new business, and capital partner relationships. Mr. Poritzky previously spent four years at Local Capital Group, leading the Commercial Real Estate platform….
Carol Davis
Founding Member of SOTF
Carol Davis
Founding Member of SOTF
Carol Davis is a distinguished leader in the defense and national security sector, renowned for her strategic vision and operational expertise. As Partner, President, and Chief Strategy Officer of Gryphon Technologies, she was a key leader guiding the company to…
Laurent Roux
Treasurer, Founder/CEO of Gallatin Wealth Management
Laurent Roux
Treasurer, Founder/CEO of Gallatin Wealth Management
Laurent Roux has over 40 years of experience working with families and family offices worldwide. Activities range from strategic wealth management – family legacy and stewardship, family dynamics and organization, family office construction, coordination, troubleshooting and consulting, to international asset…
Kim Campbell
Keynote Speaker, Former Fighter Pilot, Managing Director at Victory Strategies
Kim Campbell
Keynote Speaker, Former Fighter Pilot, Managing Director at Victory Strategies
Kim “KC” Campbell is a retired Air Force Colonel who served in the Air Force for 24 years as a fighter pilot and senior military leader. She has flown 1,800 hours in the A-10 Warthog, including more than 100 combat…
Clint Kollar
Co-Founder & Chief Origination Officer at Sixth Street
Clint Kollar
Co-Founder & Chief Origination Officer at Sixth Street
Clint Kollar is a Partner and Co-Founder of Sixth Street Partners, a private alternative investment firm based in San Francisco, CA. He is responsible for Sixth Street’s investment origination activity and leads the Strategic Partnerships & Originations team. Clint began…
Lenny Dacanay
Executive Vice President, E78
Lenny Dacanay
Executive Vice President, E78
Lenny brings over 38 years of business development experience in the financial and professional services industries. Prior to joining Tightrope Capital, he led sponsor coverage for a national advisory and consulting firm and served as head of originations for a…
Dr. Richard Strain
Orthopeadic Surgeon
Dr. Richard Strain
Orthopeadic Surgeon
Dr. Richard Strain is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon and the senior partner of the practice who specializes in the treatment of hip and knee arthritis as well as sports injuries. Dr. Strain has been practicing continuously in South Florida for…
Aimee Burck
Co-chair for the Capital Campaign for the Beauvoir National Cathedral School
Christopher Berg
Director of Alumni Affairs
Christopher Berg
Director of Alumni Affairs
Christopher Berg is the COO of FlexTC, a construction firm specializing in semi-permanent and modular facilities support in the premium event and disaster relief sectors. Chris serves as the CEO’s primary advisor and leads the execution of the company’s operational…
Bill Freda
Managing Director, Banker at J.P. Morgan Private Bank
Bill Freda
Managing Director, Banker at J.P. Morgan Private Bank
As a Managing Director at J.P. Morgan Private Bank, Bill Freda is the go-to advisor for ultra-high-net-worth families along Florida’s northeast coast. With over 20 years of experience at the forefront of the financial industry, Bill combines deep market insight…
Mark Whaling
Chairman Emeritus; Founder of Whaleshark LLC & Black Powder Partners
Mark Whaling
Chairman Emeritus; Founder of Whaleshark LLC & Black Powder Partners
Mark Whaling is the Founder and CEO of Whaleshark and a founding partner of WS strategic partner firms, Black Powder Partners and Black Powder Search. In all roles, he leverages his 25 years of Institutional Sales, Finance, and Management experience…
Advisory Board
Tommy O’Connor
Vice President of Sales and Operations for Mohawk
Tommy O’Connor
Vice President of Sales and Operations for Mohawk
Prior to founding Mohawk Insurance Services Inc. Tom O’Connor spent 13 years at Mohawk Fine Paper, North America’s largest privately held premium paper manufacturer. His roles ranged from Sales management, Director of Customer Service, various supply chain roles, VP of…
Tiffany Orner
CEO & Founder, IGY6 Company
Tiffany Orner
CEO & Founder, IGY6 Company
Drawing from a rich tapestry of military heritage, she stands as a beacon of resilience and dedication—a third-generation military professional and a proud second-generation Air Force veteran. Her journey, deeply rooted in the disciplined ethos passed down through her family,…
Steve Iorio
President at Prospect Ridge
Steve Iorio
President at Prospect Ridge
Steve Iorio is President of Prospect Ridge and is responsible for overseeing portfolio and asset management, capital raising, investor relations, risk management, and many of the day-to-day responsibilities associated with operating the firm. He also works closely with the Finance…
Leonne (Leona) Philippen, PhD
Partner at Arsenal Enterprise Capital
Leonne (Leona) Philippen, PhD
Partner at Arsenal Enterprise Capital
Leonne Philippen is a Partner at Arsenal Enterprise Capital, responsible for driving value creation across the firm’s aerospace, defense, and critical-infrastructure portfolio. She leads end-to-end operational transformation strategies, partnering with founders, C-suite executives, and operators to accelerate growth, strengthen execution,…
Richard Aube
Managing Partner at Pine Brook
Richard Aube
Managing Partner at Pine Brook
Mr. Aube joined Pine Brook in July 2011 and is a managing partner. He is responsible formanaging the Firm’s energy investment activities. He is also a member of the Firm’sManagement Committee and Investment Committee. Mr. Aube represents Pine Brook as…
Patrice Meagher
Founder and CEO of MilkMate
Patrice Meagher
Founder and CEO of MilkMate
Patrice Meagher is the Founder and CEO of MilkMate, a Company on a mission to empower working moms and the employers that support them. MilkMate offers a turnkey breast pumping solution for workplace wellness rooms and was created out of…
Brian A. Demkowicz
Chairman & Founding Partner of Huron Capital
Brian A. Demkowicz
Chairman & Founding Partner of Huron Capital
Brian is the Chairman and Founding Partner of Huron Capital, a leading private equity firm in the lower middle-market. He is a seasoned investor with a successful 35+ year track record of partnering with passionate entrepreneurs to build bigger, better…
Nate Scopac
Associate Director of International Strategy at Collins Aerospace
Nate Scopac
Associate Director of International Strategy at Collins Aerospace
Nate Scopac is the Associate Director of International Strategy, responsible for developingCollins Aerospace-wide international strategies for the Americas that support investmentdecisions. Prior to that, he was a business development lead for helmet-mounted displaysand other related products. Mr. Scopac joined the…
Lee Stacey
Managing Director of McGowan Insurance
Lee Stacey
Managing Director of McGowan Insurance
Lee M. Stacey is the Managing Director of McGowan Insurance, a full-servicecommercial property & casualty insurance brokerage and advisory firm locatedin Cleveland, Ohio. A 30-year veteran of the commercial insurance space, hehas held positions in the industry of increasing responsibility…
Michael Karmilowicz
Executive Vice President, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Everest Insurance
Michael Karmilowicz
Executive Vice President, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Everest Insurance
Michael Karmilowicz is the Executive Vice President, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Everest Insurance, a leading global provider of reinsurance and insurance, operating for over 50 years in the U.S., Europe, Asia, Canada, Bermuda, and Latin America. He is…
Michael Leiter
Partner at Skadden, Arps
Michael Leiter
Partner at Skadden, Arps
Michael Leiter is a Partner at Skadden, Arps, where he runs the firm’s national security practice, which focuses on a broad range of transactions, investigations, and incidents involving U.S. national security and cybersecurity, including CFIUS, export controls, trade, government contracts,…
Scott Bemis
Founder & CEO of Bemis Business Partners
Scott Bemis
Founder & CEO of Bemis Business Partners
Scott Bemis has been a fixture in the Denver business community for more than 25 years. He built relationships and developed partnerships through his leadership with American City Business Journals. After leading Business Journals in Indianapolis, Rochester, and Cincinnati, Scott…
Andrew Blanchard
Andrew Blanchard
Andrew Blanchard is a Partner and Portfolio Manager at Rockwood Capital, a U.S.-based private real estate investment firm with approximately $14.0 billion in assets under management. Since its inception, Rockwood has managed numerous funds and separate accounts on behalf of…
Steven Franco
Steven Franco
Steven Franco is the founder and CEO of Rodos Realty Partners, Rodos Realty Advisors, and Beachworx—Innovative Coworking Spaces. His professional experience spans nearly 30 years in commercial real estate. He’s managed the acquisition, development, redevelopment, leasing, and management of commercial…