10X Vets Member Spotlight

The 10X Vets program is for military veterans who want to grow their businesses to a new level. As fellow military veterans and entrepreneurs, we know you have the inner qualities it takes to succeed as a business owner, but we also know how difficult it can be to become one. That is why we built this program for you—so you can grow your business to a new level while working alongside fellow military veterans who share the common traits of intelligence, integrity and grit.  We are excited to have Rick Darouse as this month’s member in the spotlight!

 

Member: Rick Darouse (USMA ’93)

Company: Lendio

Rick Darouse is a native of South Louisiana and a 1993 graduate of West Point. After his graduation, he served five years on active duty as a member of a Patriot unit and spent two years serving in Saudi Arabia. Following military service, Rick enrolled in Southeastern Louisiana University, graduating with his MBA in 2000.  

After business school, Rick worked for a small distributor in Dallas selling pumps, heat exchangers, fiberglass pipes, and filter vessels. After one year, he moved on to Baker Tanks in Houston and, in 2003, Rick headed back to Dallas to run the Baker Tanks branch. In 2008, he joined his uncle and three cousins as the CFO for STA Operation.  After ten years in the role, Rick moved on to become a managing partner.  

Rick recently invested in a Lendio franchise. Lendio is a marketplace of 75+ small business lenders with the mission of filling the void family, friends, and traditional banks can not. Rick chose to join Lendio because he saw the need Lendio can fill for small business loans. As CFO for a holding company, Rick applied for a total of 8 PPP loans and 1 Main Street Loan. Rick recognized that his business was not alone as he heard other small business owners speak about their struggles to find funding. In addition, while he was growing up Rick saw the difference an equipment loan could have made for his father’s business and he wants to be able to offer the opportunity for small businesses to grow. 

 

Welcome, New Members!

 

 

 

Upcoming Schedule

 

Thursday, February 3rd @ 11:00 am: B2B Circle

Grow your businesses through trusted group referrals in this community of business owners and high-caliber sales reps whose clients are companies with 10-250 employees (can be located anywhere geographically).

 

Friday, February 4th @ 11:00 am: Digital Growth Circle

The Digital Growth Circle is for 10X Vets members who want to generate more business in the digital realm. Here, you’ll learn the best digital strategies, tactics and tools from experts and proven best practices from your peers.

 

Thursday, February 10th @ 11:00 am ET: Capital Circle

The Capital Circle: Increase your knowledge, network and net-worth in this group of entrepreneurs, real estate investors, investment fund managers and start-ups who are raising capital.  

 

Tuesday, February 15th @ 2:00 pm ET: Government Contracting Circle

The US federal government is the world’s largest single customer. There is no close second. With trillion-dollar budgets, whatever you’re good at doing or building, there is a high probability that the Federal Government is buying it in sufficient quantities to make you a very wealthy person. However, it gets even better. The US Federal Government’s Small Business Set Aside Program has a goal to award about one-fourth of its contracts to small and new businesses. Led by Randy Wimmer from the Government Contracting Academy, the 10X Vets Government Contracting Circle helps aspiring entrepreneurs find both business and financial success in the Federal Government contracting industry.  

 

Wednesday, February 16th @ 11:00 am ET: Real Estate Development Circle

This meeting is for 10X Vets members in the real estate development and construction industry who want to grow their network, increase their knowledge and win more work.

 

Thursday, February 17th @ 11:00 am ET: Community Meeting

All members meet monthly for cross-industry networking and knowledge sharing. 

 

 

10X Vets is for military veterans who want to grow their businesses to a new level.

As fellow military veterans and entrepreneurs, we know you have the inner qualities it takes to succeed as a business owner, but we also know how difficult it can be to become one. This is why we built 10X Vets for you—so you can grow your business while working alongside fellow military veterans who share common attributes of intelligence, integrity and grit.

 

What 10Xers Are Saying

“I love 10X Vets! The experience has been invaluable. The best part is networking and I have made more connections than I can count. I have, and will continue, to recommend 10X Vets to all military veterans I know.” John Kirby, Boat School Ventures

“More than anything 10X Vets has helped me to know that I am not alone. That is a powerful force alone. Moreover, I have learned techniques to help me work smarter and more effectively. Pete Canalichio, Author, Brand Strategist

“In a world that’s increasingly divided, 10X Vets has been refreshing. It’s a humbling and motivating experience and will take your business to the next level. The value you get out of it moves at the same rate as the effort that you put into it.” Chris Tyll, Real Estate Developer

CLICK HERE to learn more and schedule a call with our team!