SOTF - Special Operators Transition Foundation

The SOTF Team is excited to announce that Gareth Gorman has successfully transitioned into the Partner Engagement Specialist role with SOTF - Special Operators Transition Foundation ? ? Gareth is a seasoned Special Operations leader who recently retired from the US Army as a Chief Warrant Officer 3 after 21 years of selfless service.? ? A snapshot of some of Gareth’s accomplishments includes:? ?? Gareth retired as a US Army Senior Special Forces Leader, Chief Warrant Officer 3, out of the 5th Special Forces Group. During his tenure, he served as a Company Operations Warrant, JEDBURGH Troop Commander, Assistant Detachment Commander, and Special Forces Weapons Sergeant, leading SOF operators throughout the Middle East during 15 deployments. ?? Gareth is a highly driven leader committed to serving the Special Operations Forces community, bringing a proven ability to build strong relationships, foster leadership, and make effective decisions to achieve organizational goals. ?? Gareth holds a Master of Science in Human Resources and Organization Development and has built and led organizations worldwide.? ? ?? Gareth cherishes his time with his wife and children, making up for lost years and creating lasting memories. ?? "The support and sense of community I found at SOTF were invaluable during my transition from military service.?The camaraderie and resources provided gave me the confidence I needed to succeed."? Gareth shares, "In fact, my positive experience led me to join the SOTF team, where I'm now able to give back to an organization that has given me so much.” ? To learn more about Gareth’s incredible leadership journey, connect with him on Linkedin: https://lnkd.in/gw7bK_qd Congratulations Gareth! We couldn't be happier to have you as a part of the SOTF team.

Another group of incredible Fellows has completed Phase I of the four-phased SOTF Fellowship—congratulations, Jared Cordell, Katelyn Garcia, Reza Shams, and Alexander L.! Arguably the most personally challenging phase of the SOTF program, phase I focuses on the "soft skills" that make these Operators successful and what may hold them back in a civilian career. Abigail G. Manning gracefully guides these Fellows through phase I and ensures they're set up for a fulfilling career post-service. It takes a team, and we have a world-class one.

"3/4 of an answer is better than an answer and a half." – Davis Driver Jr Words of wisdom were in no short supply at last week’s Colorado Springs Transition Workshop, held next door to the Air Force Academy and graciously hosted by Oracle. They built an outstanding day for our SOTF Fellows, ensuring they felt a warm welcome from the civilian workforce. We are deeply grateful to the patriotic businesses that shared their insights and expertise with our Fellows: ?? Scott Bemis – Bemis Business Partners ?? Heathe Poston & Dru Avery – Innermountain Distributing Company - kindly sponsored breakfast ?? Jeremy Arias, Davis Driver Jr & Bradley Hammel – Lockheed Martin ?? Michael Martinet – GeoStabilization International? ?? Mark Jeltema, Audrey Hammond & Amanda Markey – Oracle ?? Sheri Brown Swanson & Maegan Brown - Visa ?? Jacob W. Croxdale – Apex Home Services LLC ?? Sean Williams – KPMG US ?? Keith Crawford & Artur Loureiro – L3Harris Technologies Kim "KC" Campbell kindly welcomed our Fellows with a mixer the night before the workshop, and MISSION BBQ provided a lip-smacking lunch, as always. A special shoutout to Douglas Liles (and his talented photographer wife, Lizzie Liles), whose dedication made this workshop a resounding success. From the first call with Oracle to ensuring every detail was in place, Doug truly opened the doors to our Fellows, making them feel valued and supported. We host 15 transition workshops nationwide each year, and they are the crown jewel of the SOTF program. It’s because of incredible leaders and companies like these that we can provide top-tier transition support to the exceptional warriors we serve. Thank you all for being part of this mission! ???? #SOTF

We are thrilled to announce that Kersten Lapointe?has joined the SOTF team as our new Administrative Specialist. In this vital role, Kersten?will perform a variety of tasks to ensure our day-to-day operations run smoothly and efficiently in serving our Fellows. Kersten?has a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from North Carolina State University and has experience thriving in dynamic environments. She and her husband, an active-duty AFSOC Combat Controller, have three children. Through her own?experience, Kersten is deeply passionate about SOTF’s mission as she understands the profound impact it can have on?our Special Operators and their families. Please join us in welcoming Kersten to the SOTF family!

Big congratulations to our newest SOTF Alum, Ben Watson, who has successfully transitioned into a Field Operations Manager role with Overland AI! ? Ben is a Special Operations leader who recently concluded his time with the US Army after six years of selfless service.?A snapshot of some of Ben’s accomplishments includes:?? ?? Ben served in the 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) U.S Army on a combat dive detachment, where he served as a senior administrative technical communications representative.? ?? ?? Delivering innovative and impactful solutions through collaborative and empathetic design, Ben ensures that every project addresses both user needs and organizational goals. ?? Ben holds a Bachelor’s degree in Art History.?With a passion for knowledge, Ben has completed intensive 6-month language and cultural training in Mandarin Chinese, achieving proficiency in speaking and listening. ??? ?? Ben enjoys spending time with his wife and three dogs, drawing, and the pursuit of continuous learning. ?? “SOTF has provided me not only with the soft skills training needed to translate military work to equivalent private sector job experience but also the stability and support to keep me moving forward to the next phase of employment." Ben says,?"Sometimes, after having the military be so omnipresent, it's hard not to notice the huge vacuum that's suddenly been created, and the SOTF helped to guide me, and many other service members, through that weird time of transition.”? ? ??? To learn more about Ben’s incredible leadership journey, connect with him on Linkedin!

Last week, our Fort Lauderdale patriots came together for an unforgettable evening at Wine Watch, where guests were invited to "Raise A Glass" to a Special Operator. The night was rich in both flavor and meaning, as we symbolically featured wines from around the world—international wines representing the battles fought overseas and domestic wines signifying the new battle of transition back home. As guests sipped on fine wines, our transitioning Special Operators shared their powerful stories—stories of leadership, resilience, and adaptability, illustrating how their experiences in service translate into their next careers. Inspired by these incredible individuals, our guests did more than listen—they took action. They opened their rolodexes, networks, and hearts, making generous financial commitments to support the Fellows in our program. Fort Lauderdale is a community of patriots, and last week, they proved it once again. A special thanks to the champions who made this event possible: ?? Dr. Richard Strain – Our event sponsor, longtime supporter, tomato-growing master gardener ?? Carol Davis – Fort Lauderdale local, one of our original founders, SOF Advocate ?? Gordon James – A dedicated supporter and SOF Advocate To everyone who attended, supported, and contributed—thank you. Special shoutout to Erin Hauser, Kristi Quarles, Julie Wood, Arlene Casper, and Erik Sims. Your support changes lives.

What an honor it is to have Abigail G. Manning as one of the SOTF's Phase I Executive Coaches. As this story exemplifies, her leadership style can be summarized as courageous, compassionate, and selfless. Each of the SOTF Fellows she coaches has immense talent, experience, and potential. Just as she did in this encounter, Abigail thoughtfully guides our Fellows to utilize their strengths and confidently enter the next challenge—transition. It's great to have team members who excel in their roles, but it's even better when they make an impact both at work and beyond. Abigail is all that and more!

We are thrilled to announce the newest addition to the SOTF team: Kimm Korber ?? Mindset Enthusiast and Pathfinder, our Phase II Executive Coach! Bringing over 35 years of corporate experience, Kimm has an extensive background in partnering with executives to select top-tier candidates for leadership roles, training interviewers, leading talent acquisition campaigns, and negotiating senior-level compensation packages. Before joining SOTF, Kimm dedicated his time as a volunteer career transition coach for the Special Operations community through another veteran service organization. He also spearheaded the launch of an Employee Resource Group within a global specialty chemicals company, aiming to increase visibility and awareness of veterans across its U.S. and international locations. Kimm's wealth of experience and unwavering commitment to supporting veterans make him an invaluable asset to our mission. Please join us in welcoming Kimm to the SOTF family! Learn more about Kimm's background here: https://lnkd.in/etXtqxre

Incredible things happen when great people step up for a great cause. Last week, when our CEO, Austin Moore, traveled to Dallas, the SOTF took a huge step forward—thanks to the generosity and leadership of Rob Ramsey, Matt Oldroyd, Kevin Kampe, Mark Garrett, Sam DuRard, and the entire Evolution Motion Solutions team. By opening their networks and rallying support, we raised enough funding to sponsor 1??3?? Fellows in our program. 1??3?? lives forever changed. Rob and Sam didn’t just lend a hand; they led the charge: ? They personally introduced Austin to key contacts eager to support our Fellows' transitions. This means jobs! ? They connected us with individuals committed to financially backing our mission. This means funding for our program! ? They put our alum, Peter Glaeser, MBA, and current Fellow, Stephen Cortez, on stage—giving them the platform to share their journeys and inspire action. This means opportunities! And they’re not stopping there. Rob and Sam have invited SOTF back to Dallas for two more events this year—ensuring even more of our heroes receive the support they deserve. We are beyond grateful to these two incredible patriots for leading by example and showing their networks what it truly means to serve those who served us. To Rob, Sam, and everyone who made this possible—thank you. The impact you’ve made will be felt for years to come.

2.19.25 - SOTF Tampa Transition Workshop Tampa is home to one of the largest Special Operations hubs, so it’s no surprise that we found an incredible community of patriotic supporters ready to step up for our Fellows in transition. Our hosts, SOFWERX invited us to return another year, kindly hosting our Fellows in an inspiring environment. The goal of an SOTF workshop is simple but powerful: connect our Fellows directly with companies actively seeking SOF talent—and in Tampa, we did just that. Thanks to an outstanding lineup of panelists who generously gave their time, our Fellows walked away with valuable connections and immediate opportunities. A huge thank you to these dedicated professionals who represented their companies: ?? Scott Hamilton – NextEra Energy Resources ?? Susan Mell & Travis Larson – The Entrepreneur's Source ?? Erick T-Raz Turasz – Global Guardian ?? Joaquin Marquez – Apex Service Partners (an organization that has hired multiple SOTF Fellows!) ?? Patrick Toohey – SOTF Alum, Everest ?? John Sophie – SOTF Alum, EY-Parthenon ?? James Upson – SOTF Alum & Fellow Social Sponsor, Aeon ?? Bobby O'Mara, CPD & Adam Avitabile – Ridgeline International, LLC ?? Glenn Thomas – Throughline, Inc. These individuals answered the call to support our Operators when invited—because this is the SOTF difference. Our network isn’t just strong; it’s committed to ensuring our warriors find meaningful careers after service. To everyone who made this event a success, we appreciate you. More lives changed, more futures secured—this is what it’s all about. Shoutout to the Fellows who committed to their transition by attending the workshop. Each of these individuals is looking for their next team - can you help them? Matteo Ippolito - Adam Larson, PhD - Sean Williams - DeWalt Alderman, PMP - Lee Cline - Jack E. Smith - Nate Owen - Dave Coulombe - Sergey Senichev - Phil Porter - Tim Bible - Kyle Greenheck