ActionZone is a is a Veteran-owned business hub helping the military community put their business ideas into action.

Mission:
To empower veteran and military spouse entrepreneurs as catalysts to help their communities become centers of economic growth and workforce development while celebrating and fostering the inherent diversity of our military population.

Vision:
The military community invests its entrepreneurial ambitions into thriving ventures, creating a legacy of service, innovation, and community impact.

Value:
Action Zone is an entrepreneur service organization created by veteran and military spouse entrepreneurs. As such we can recreate the camaraderie we experienced in the military to your entrepreneurial journey. Along with our proprietary programs we leverage a network of collaborators and industry leaders nationwide to deliver a unique entrepreneurial experience that takes you from idea to exit.

Action Zone was created by the Veteran community for the Veteran community. Our services are designed to help Veterans, Active Duty, Reservists, Guards and military spouses and dependents build businesses. We provide education and advocacy for the entire military community seeking an alternative to traditional employment. We support military spouses and dependents who create businesses that are impervious to the nomadic nature of military life for families. We connect Veterans to advocates and assets in the region to provide the most comprehensive system of support to develop and launch a business.

Action Zone also haves programs for the seasoned entrepreneur to take their growth stage business to scale.

ActionZone facilitators and subject matter experts are experienced entrepreneurs with first-hand knowledge of the challenges you face in your new business. They share best practices, make recommendations, and connect you to other experts you may need.

Get moving in the right direction, whether your business is in pre-launch, pivot or no/slow-growth stage. ActionZone provides the tools and resources you need to build it well.
Starting with the development or refinement of your business model and graduating through strategic performance goals, Activate helps you build a solid foundation for a sustainable, thriving business.

A board of advisors works with you to develop strategic plans for growth and longevity, and to facilitate connections you need to grow strong.
Accelerate provides a personal provisional board of directors guiding you with strategic advice and critical industry connections to build a stable foundation for your business to grow. With this guidance and support you are prepared for business sustainability and growth, as well as building your professional network for success.

Nurture your business with subject matter experts and peer-to-peer support as your business operates post-launch as an early stage startup. There is strength in numbers.
Incubate addresses the operational challenges your business faces, offers practical, actionable steps to break through those challenges, and offers a peer-to-peer network for ongoing support and growth.

The staff and volunteers who were involved in the different Action Zone training modules as well as the incubator were simply outstanding. They offered real-life examples of highly successful business operators to model our businesses after, not to mention simply using as a resource for questions, challenges, new ways to approach the variety of problems all entrepreneurs face in business.

Dr. Ted Grellner, Theodore J. Grellner DDS, PA, Cohort 2 2019

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Want to become a partner with Action Zone to help grow and scale the military business ecosystem?

There are a few different ways in which you can help ActionZone’s mission:

Donate
Volunteer your time for one of our positions.
Become one of our facilitators and share your expertise with our military entrepreneurs
Become a collaborative partner

Testimonies from our Veterans

Justin M, Amy Veteran

Off-Leash K9 Training - Colorado

I retired from the U.S. Army in September 2021, transitioning out of MacDill AFB in Tampa, FL. During this time, I struggled to find organizations that supported veteran entrepreneurs, as most programs catered to help with finding W2 employment. That changed when I was introduced to Valerie and Action Zone at an event. At the time, I still wasn't sure if their program was what I was looking for but it was and it exceeded any and all expectations I walked in with. Now, I advocate for Action Zone to every veteran entrepreneur I meet. I also share the invaluable lessons I learned through Action Zone with the entrepreneurs I mentor, both veterans and civilians, young and old. Since that first meeting, I have participated in the Activate program and attended the Incubate program twice. I eagerly await their Accelerate program.

Through 2021, my business, Off-Leash K9 Training - Colorado had been stagnant at $1.1M in gross annual revenue for 3-4 years. In 2022, we increased gross sales by 18%, closing the year at $1.3M in gross annual revenue. ATS, a private intelligence company I co-founded, was launched in September 2021. In 2022, we closed just under $200K in gross annual revenue. Before transitioning majority ownership of both entities to other partners in 2023, Off-Leash was projected to maintain top line and ATS was projected to grow approximately 200%+.

Troy, Amy Veteran

Tampa Steel & Supply

I attended Action Zone’s program at the end of 2019 and that course came at a great time. First, Covid was just hitting the world and I was able to apply some of the learnings and action plans that I created in the course to navigate and create some pivots in my business. One of the ideas was to create metal signs for home offices with a new piece of machinery that I had just purchased. Second, it opened me up to a network of fellow veteran entrepreneurs who, although we were at different stages of our businesses, we shared the military in common and we able to help each other through collaboration on assignments. Even though I had a mature business, I learned new ways of looking at things based on what new start-ups were doing, and I was able to share with them my experiences and contacts to help them get to the next level. Lastly, I was able to attend the course with my wife who was administratively involved with business and the course gave her an even better insight into the business and how to improve. I feel that all of these reasons played a major part of growing my business and being recognized as a Top 500 business on the Florida Gulf Coast in 2020. Therefore, I highly recommend any business owner attend regardless of their experience level.

Meghan Ross, Amy Veteran

Faces by Meghan.

I started Action Zone right after I rented and built out a bigger space for my business, Faces by Meghan. With Action Zones guidance and mentorship, I was able to complete and refine my new business plan. Since the program, I have rebranded to Panthera Palm Beach, have hired two team members and implemented a successful client loyalty program, which has brought me 99.5% of my most recent monthly income from returning customers, which is higher than the goal I had set when building my plan.

Journey Coach and Consultant
Six Seconds Certified EQ Practitioner and Assessor
Igniting a journey filled with simplicity, purpose and possibilities.

Laura W., SHRM-CP, USMC Veteran

The Action Zone Activate Cohort I recently attended, not only provided me proven, actionable tools to implement; but also helped me to clarify and validate who my target clients are and what they need - and not just plan my approach in terms of what I think they need. And being able to bounce ideas off of other veterans who were starting or restarting their businesses, has been so beneficial. Pairing those insights with the ability to ask our experienced cohort instructors who are also entrepreneurs, is a truly invaluable asset!

I am so appreciative of the support and encouragement I have received from Action Zone. I started implementing the strategies I designed in my business model, recently became a certified Emotional Intelligence Practitioner and Assessor, and am currently leveraging my extensive expertise to tailor consulting solutions for clients. I just completed a project helping a nonprofit Board develop and conduct a CEO search committee process and selection of a new Executive to lead their organization toward growth and success. That new CEO just happens to be a Veteran! I'm currently developing my services toolkit and marketing materials while networking for new business prospects. After so many years of wanting to fulfill this dream, I finally feel confident that I can succeed in achieving my financial independence.

After a long career encompassing military leadership, corporate HR consulting, and nonprofit community program management, I decided to step away from environments that limited my ability to improve systems and foster collaboration to accomplish greater impact in the lives of others.

I reached out to the Action Zone, Inc. team to guide me in the creation of a business model and plan for making an entrepreneurial journey a reality. My father was an entrepreneur, and I always admired his tenacity, determination, resilience and focus on accomplishing his goal to be financially independent. That foundation and the spark of entrepreneurship never left me; and I felt now was the time to fully commit to launching my People Management Consulting business.

Dr. Natacha Delince, U.S Army Veteran

Lamercie Health Care, LLC

One of the most valuable aspects of Action Zone was its focus on practical, hands-on learning. Through workshops, seminars, and one-on-one coaching sessions, I gained invaluable insights into various aspects of entrepreneurship, including business planning, marketing strategies, financial management, and more. These lessons were not just theoretical; they were immediately applicable to my own business endeavors.

Moreover, the sense of camaraderie and solidarity among fellow veteran entrepreneurs was truly inspiring. Being surrounded by like-minded individuals who shared similar experiences and aspirations created a supportive environment where we could learn from each other's successes and setbacks. The bonds formed during the program continue to endure, serving as a source of motivation and encouragement.

Since completing the Action Zone program, I have applied the knowledge and skills acquired to successfully launch and expand my group home for the elderly. With each passing year, my business has continued to thrive, generating increasing revenue and making a positive impact in the community. I attribute much of this success to the foundation laid by Action Zone and the ongoing support I receive from the program.

What sets Action Zone apart is its commitment to providing ongoing support and resources to its alumni. Even years after completing the program, I still benefit from networking opportunities, mentorship, and access to relevant workshops and events. This sustained support has been instrumental in overcoming challenges and seizing new opportunities in my entrepreneurial journey.

In conclusion, Action Zone Tampa is not just a program; it's a lifeline for veteran entrepreneurs like myself. Through its comprehensive curriculum, supportive community, and ongoing assistance, Action Zone equips veterans with the tools and confidence needed to succeed in the world of entrepreneurship. I am immensely grateful for the impact it has had on my journey, and I wholeheartedly recommend it to any veteran looking to pursue their entrepreneurial dreams.

As a veteran entrepreneur who participated in the Action Zone program in Tampa, Florida, I can confidently say that it has been a transformative experience that has shaped my journey in entrepreneurship. Action Zone, exclusively tailored for veterans and their families, is not just a program; it's a community, a support system, and a catalyst for growth.

When I first embarked on my entrepreneurial journey, I knew there would be challenges ahead. However, Action Zone provided me with the tools, resources, and mentorship necessary to navigate the complexities of starting and growing a business. The program instilled in me a sense of confidence and resilience, essential traits for any entrepreneur.

Reported an increase in revenue by 1632.35% increase between 2021 - 2023.