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Today's episode will go deep into what it means to branch out and start a small business after devoting a lifetime to serving one's country. We will also discuss how Michelle took her skills honed from years serving in the Air Force and used them to help veterans, minorities, and other small business start-ups. This show is for anyone looking to make that career change!

As the director of the Women Veteran-Owned Small Business Initiative (WVOSB), she leads the Department of Veteran Affairs' efforts to develop programs that connect and enable Women Veteran entrepreneurs within the VA, federal and commercial marketplace. As the architect of the first program of its kind in the federal government, the program brings together like-minded female veteran entrepreneurs to position and enable their success and remove obstacles that often stand in the way. The effort is known in the veteran and small business community as" VetBizLady or VetBizLadies."

As its director, she develops, executes, and communicates the importance of its mission to bring partnerships and collaborations into VA to increase access, economic, procurement, and learning opportunities for woman veteran-owned small businesses. Known by most as "G-I," Ms. Gardner-Ince’s focus is to increase cooperation with other federal agencies, commercial entities, non-profits, and educational institutions to benefit their small business success.

Ms. "G-I" is a highly decorated Air Force veteran and a retired Colonel, having served 20+ years supporting veterans, military troops, and their families. Before creating her own small business, G-I Strategic Solutions LLC., an advisory and consulting firm, she held numerous executive-level positions. Her experience spans customer-centric business operations, training, consulting, strategic collaboration, and directing award-winning complex global operations.

One of her most significant leadership roles while still serving in the military was as the commander of the Army and Air Force Exchange Service Pacific Region, where she led a $1.8 billion-dollar retail, food, and services business, with full profit-loss responsibility, employed 7000+ associates who provided goods and services to over 350,000 militaries, U.S. government civilian, and State Department patrons and their families. While in command, her leadership led to the top highest-grossing military exchanges in the world two years in a row. AAFES is the U.S. military's largest retail operation.

Ms. "G-I's" personal mission is to be "About the business of America's Veterans – serving those who continue to serve America." Ms. "G-I" has a unique perspective in that she has never been without a military ID Card. She is a veteran and a military spouse, but she grew up in an Army family. Her father and Vietnam veteran, Colonel Arthur Gardner, commissioned her. She holds a bachelor's degree from Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, Alabama, and a master's degree from Troy State University, Troy, Alabama. She is a graduate Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth Executive Program, Dale Carnegie, and John Maxwell, a leadership coach/trainer.

Learn more about Michelle here - https://linktr.ee/G.IFactor

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