The military community faces a complex web of challenges that extend far beyond the transition from service to civilian life. From declining veteran entrepreneurship rates to persistent gaps in family support systems, the need for coordinated action has never been more urgent. This October, the Military Impact Summit at MCON 2025 will bring together the nation’s top military leaders, corporate executives, and community advocates to address these interconnected issues head-on.
The summit, scheduled for October 23 in Las Vegas, represents a strategic convergence of expertise around four critical areas that define post-military success: career development and workforce integration, entrepreneurship and business growth, family and community support, and brand partnerships that create lasting impact.
The timing proves particularly crucial as data reveals troubling trends in veteran entrepreneurship. While veteran founders accounted for 8% of new businesses in 2023—a notable increase from previous years—the broader picture shows veteran business ownership in generational decline. Younger veterans are starting businesses at significantly lower rates than their non-veteran peers, representing a concerning shift that threatens to underutilize the leadership skills and innovative thinking that military service develops.
Former Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force JoAnne Bass will address these challenges alongside a distinguished roster of speakers who understand both the obstacles and opportunities facing the military community. Their collective expertise spans from corporate boardrooms to foundation leadership, offering diverse perspectives on how to transform military experience into civilian success.
The summit’s focus on career development recognizes that military skills translation remains a persistent challenge. Despite possessing leadership experience, technical expertise, and proven ability to perform under pressure, many veterans struggle to communicate their value to civilian employers. Corporate leaders like Mona Dexter, Vice President of Military & Veteran Affairs at Comcast NBCUniversal, will share best practices for hiring, retaining, and upskilling military talent in ways that benefit both veterans and employers.
Entrepreneurship represents another critical pathway, but one that requires targeted support. Mike Sherbakov, General Partner & Co-Founder of The Veteran Fund, will present “Veteran Entrepreneurship: From Service to Startup Success,” highlighting how the military community can access resources, funding, and networks necessary to transform service experience into thriving businesses. The session aims to address systemic barriers that prevent younger veterans from pursuing entrepreneurial paths.
Family and community support form the foundation of military resilience, yet these systems often face strain during transition periods. Stephen Saunders from the Elizabeth Dole Foundation and Penny Bolden from Blue Star Families will explore programs that strengthen military families and improve quality of life, recognizing that veteran success cannot be separated from family wellbeing.
The corporate engagement component, led by speakers like Nishant Roy from Chobani, will examine how brand partnerships can move beyond superficial military appreciation toward meaningful impact. This “Beyond Gratitude” approach seeks to position the military community as a strategic national asset capable of driving innovation and economic growth.
CAPT Dan Goldenberg, U.S. Navy (ret.), President of the Call of Duty Endowment, brings unique insights into how technology companies can create sustainable career pipelines for veterans, particularly in high-growth sectors like cybersecurity and software development.
“Veterans represent one of our nation’s greatest untapped assets,” said Safire Co-founder & CEO, John Lee. “At Safire, we see firsthand the impact they bring to innovation and leadership, and we’re proud to support the Military Impact Summit at MCON in empowering veterans to transform their military experience into new opportunities for impact and success.”
The summit’s integrated approach reflects growing recognition that military community challenges are interconnected. Career development success depends on family stability, which requires community support, which benefits from corporate partnership, which creates entrepreneurial opportunities. Addressing these issues in isolation has proven insufficient.
MCON’s platform as the nation’s largest celebration of military culture provides the ideal venue for this comprehensive approach. The summit aims to generate actionable strategies that participants can immediately implement within their organizations and communities.
As military leaders and corporate partners gather in Las Vegas, the focus will remain on practical solutions that honor military service while creating sustainable pathways to post-service success across all dimensions of civilian life.
