杏吧原创

Since he graduated in 2006 with a liberal arts degree, veteran Tim Colomer has become CEO of a , a Military Veteran Partners (MVP) company, and works hard to give back to his community and fellow veterans.

Colomer, who was an explosives expert in the Marines for 14 years, became an entrepreneur while working as director of the explosives program at Halliburton, one of the world鈥檚 largest energy corporations, centered in Houston, Texas. After a significant number of layoffs, he decided to invest in a business of his own. He looked at several franchises, and ultimately decided on JDog Junk Removal & Hauling because it aligned with his values. In June 2017, he bought one franchise territory. (A territory is based on population density; Colomer鈥檚 original territory of Lake Houston equaled about 200,000 people. There is a total of 23 territories in Houston.) 鈥淛Dog is a very mission-driven and purpose-driven company in that our mission is to hire veterans,鈥� says Colomer, adding that the franchise鈥檚 mission is to empower veterans through entrepreneurship, career, and employment opportunities.

In September 2017, Hurricane Harvey hit Houston, and though devastating, it became a helpful business opportunity for Colomer. Flood waters rose to 12 feet high, stranding many people in their homes. Many peoples鈥� possessions were ruined and they were forced to rebuild their houses. Colomer explains JDog was perfectly suited to help because it had a F-150 and small trailer that could fit where a large garbage truck couldn鈥檛. 鈥淲e were able to negotiate our way into the neighborhood, help house by house, pick up their life, really, and go bring it to the dump for them so they could get in the new working crews to bring in the supplies.鈥�

MVP, a veteran-focused investment and advisory services company, then asked Colomer if he wanted to open the entire Houston metro; an offer that Colomer could not refuse. 鈥淢VP offered a once in a lifetime opportunity,鈥� recalls Colomer. So, in May 2018 he became full-time CEO of JDog United.

Since then, Colomer has expanded his franchise to eight more locations out west, to San Antonio, San Diego, Denver, Chicago, and others. He currently employs about 60 veterans, 鈥渨ith the projection in five years we鈥檙e going to be open in 125 territories across the United States and employ as many as 500 veterans.鈥�

Junk removal isn鈥檛 new but Colomer thinks JDog is different in that they give back to the veterans, their local community, and their environment.

In San Diego, JDog works with homeless veterans and battered women鈥檚 shelters; in Chicago, the company supports battered women鈥檚 shelters and other veteran鈥檚 opportunities and charities specific to Chicago. Specifically, in Houston, Colomer and his team remove the 鈥渏unk,鈥� which is oftentimes appliances or furniture someone doesn鈥檛 need anymore, and bring it back to their warehouse to clean it up before donating it to a local homeless veteran鈥檚 shelter. Colomer says, 鈥淚t鈥檚 an environmental friendly aspect of what we do but we鈥檙e also literally, quite literally, giving back to our community and giving people a hand up in life.鈥�

JDog also works with an organization called in Houston, which is a privately funded, free retreat for veterans who are struggling with PTSD, traumatic brain injury, and drug and alcohol problems. JDog will drop off mattresses and other physical, tangible assets but they also provide an opportunity for the veterans to work with the company. Veterans are able to work for JDog for a couple months so they can get back on their feet and get some money in their pocket. If they want to stay in the Houston area, they may be hired full-time; alternatively, they can return home. 鈥淚t鈥檚 literally a fresh start and an opportunity for them to make a new life for themselves,鈥� says Colomer.

Colomer says it wasn鈥檛 a junk removal and hauling business that caught his attention. 鈥淭o me it wasn鈥檛 necessarily about what we did, like the day to day operations; for me it was more about why we鈥檙e doing it,鈥� he says. After being in the Marines for 14 years, Colomer understood that veterans look for camaraderie and dedication in a job and wanted to provide them with the same kind of atmosphere. He also knew that veterans have a commitment to service and JDog provides the opportunity for him and fellow veterans to continue serving their community. 鈥淜nowing the wants and needs of veterans, and being able to cater to them, and understanding the amount of loyalty they would have to me and our business and our community was just a no brainer,鈥� he says of investing in JDog.

Colomer says he鈥檚 successful because he鈥檚 鈥渘ot afraid to trust people to succeed.鈥� He says some people are afraid to let go of the reins, but he has put his trust in his coworkers and district partners. 鈥淚 know day to day, they鈥檙e going to go out there and execute our mission, execute our core competencies, our core values鈥攔espect, integrity, and trust.鈥�

Colomer sees the company growing by expanding its services and relying on the skills of his fellow veterans. For now, though, there will undoubtedly be growth in awareness of the company. MVP has sponsored the reality TV show, 鈥淢VP has sponsored the TV show, 鈥淢ilitary Makeover,鈥� on Lifetime. Military Makeover with Montel Williams is a very special home improvement series that aims to respect those who have served our country, rebuild the homes鈥攁nd even the lives鈥攐f these brave service men and women, and repay veterans for the service and sacrifices they鈥檝e made for us. In the show, JDog Junk Removal & Hauling plays an integral part in making over homes for veterans. Colomer is excited for the opportunity and, though he doesn鈥檛 think he鈥檚 going to be on TV, he鈥檚 hoping to be at the end of the next project鈥檚 鈥渂ig reveal鈥� to support his veteran employees.