The Boot

As we prep for our Lake Charles trip this week, we wanted to take a moment to highlight our amazing experience in Lafayette a few months ago. Our TSMs got to explore the community and see firsthand what makes Cajun Country special. We're excited to bring that same energy to 'Louisiana's Playground' in Lake Charles and show our service members all the area has to offer! #TheBoot #LouisianaCommunityExperience #LakeCharles #Lafayette #LouisianasPlayground #VeteranTransition #TSMs

A huge thank you to the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry (LABI) for their incredible support of The Boot! ?? We are only as strong as our partners, and with LABI standing by us, we're even more empowered to welcome veterans back home to Louisiana. Together, we're strengthening our state, our workforce, and the communities that make Louisiana special. ?????? #VeteransDay #LouisianaProud Andrew Ward Ben Armstrong Wade Franklin Gary “Bubba” V. Mark Collazos Lamar Narcisse Hannah C. Benton Iles Lindsey Russ

On this Veterans Day, The Boot extends our deepest gratitude to all who have served and sacrificed for our country. We also want to give a special shoutout to Baton Rouge Girl Scout Troop 10087 for their thoughtful package of cards, filled with heartfelt messages of appreciation. Your kindness means the world to our veterans, and we are honored to share them. Thank you to all our veterans, and thank you to Troop 10087 for your support. Together, we’re making a difference for those who have given so much. #VeteransDay #ThankYouVeterans #TheBoot Andrew Ward Ben Armstrong Wade Franklin Gary “Bubba” V. Hannah C. Lamar Narcisse Mark Collazos Benton Iles

Appreciate The Advocate and Megan Wyatt for sharing our WHY and the work we continue to do to be an integral part of the growth of Louisiana! Click below to read the feature article… Ben Armstrong | Gary “Bubba” V. | Lindsey Russ | Wade Franklin | Lamar Narcisse | Hannah C. | Benton Iles | Kayla Heavlin | Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs | Office of Governor Jeff Landry | Louisiana Economic Development | Louisiana Association of Business and Industry | Louisiana Travel Association https://lnkd.in/gcSaBbKZ

?? Meet Ben Armstrong, CEO of The Boot and resident multitasker extraordinaire! From leading Marine Corps aviation missions to managing $52 million budgets, helping 4,000+ veterans find jobs at NextOp, and earning the distinction of Bush Scholar from the George W. Bush Presidential Leadership Institute, Ben’s been juggling some serious responsibilities for nearly two decades. Now he’s the fearless leader at?The Boot, a nonprofit dedicated to bringing military veterans back to Louisiana after service. With a background in veteran services, nonprofit leadership, and a love for all things Louisiana, Ben’s passionate about building a strong future for vets in the state. When asked what he loves most about Louisiana, Ben says, "I love that every little part of Louisiana has its own culture, people, and customs. And I love being able to access that." He lives on the Northshore with his wife and two young daughters, where they enjoy the lakefront, free outdoor concerts, bike rides—and if you know Ben, you know he never turns down an ice-cold beer & a good conversation. ?? Welcome to the wild world of Ben—let’s just say he’s not afraid to add a little?boot?to his step! ?? #MeetTheCEO #TheBootLouisiana #VeteranLeadership #LouisianaCulture

Beautiful day for The Boot to support our friends at Louisiana Association of Business and Industry at their annual golf tournament in Baton Rouge! ???♂????♀?

Welcome to THE BOOT!! Click below to see our newly released hype video showcasing WHY you should live in Louisiana after military service! Just a taste of what we have to offer, enjoy!!! Louisiana Association of Business and Industry | Office of Governor Jeff Landry | Louisiana Economic Development | Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs | Louisiana Travel Association Ben Armstrong | Gary “Bubba” V. | Wade Franklin | Lindsey Russ | Hannah C. | Lamar Narcisse | Mark Collazos | Charlton J. Meginley | Jerome Buller, MD, MBA, MS, CPE, FACOG, FACHE

“Just wanted to let you know that I accepted an offer from Levingston Group in Lake Charles. Thanks again for pushing my info out man, this never would’ve happened otherwise.” — Austin B., Transitioning Service Member Yet another growing number of success stories we are receiving daily through efforts of Boot Leadership like Gary “Bubba” V.. We are proud to share them and the future looks brighter and brighter each day for our ex-military and Louisiana. ?????????? Louisiana Association of Business and Industry | Office of Governor Jeff Landry | Louisiana Economic Development | Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs | Louisiana Travel Association

Thanks to Lake Charles American Press for their great feature of The Boot and our COO & Lake Charles resident Gary “Bubba” V.!! In the article, Viator expresses the need for this push by stating, “Louisiana experiences a $1.2 billion loss in economic impact each year due to transitioning service members (TSMs) leaving our state after their term of service. Adding women and men who have served their country to the Louisiana workforce, consumer and tax base is more than a numbers game. It’s a way to add quality people. These men and women are trained in the greatest armed forces in the world. Leadership is a core value of that training.” Read more at: https://lnkd.in/gBt8e4EP ?????????? Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs | Louisiana Economic Development | Office of Governor Jeff Landry | Louisiana Association of Business and Industry | Louisiana Travel Association

A big thank you to BIZ. Magazine for featuring The Boot and our efforts to help military service members transition to civilian life right here in Louisiana! We’re honored to partner with the Bossier Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Shreveport Chamber of Commerce, and the Shreveport Bossier African American Chamber of Commerce to create opportunities for veterans to stay and thrive in our great state. Together, we’re building stronger communities and keeping military talent in Louisiana! Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/gjtRQywW #TheBootLA #VeteranSupport #LouisianaStrong #MilitaryTransition #ChamberPartnerships #KeepMilitaryInLouisiana Hiring Our Heroes | Eric Eversole Andrew Ward | Ben Armstrong | Gary “Bubba” V. | Hannah C. | Mark Collazos | Wade Franklin | Lindsey Russ