Kelly Romo

When Bryan Nation enlisted in the U.S. Army in January 2001, he was searching for direction. College didn’t feel right, and he wanted something more purposeful. Less than a year into his service, the world changed. Bryan had already completed basic training and his medic training earlier that summer, before 9/11, but when his unit began field exercises that fall, the tone shifted dramatically. What had started as routine preparation quickly became focused, high-intensity training. Bryan began...

In 1951, just after his 18th birthday, Dick Bennett made the decision to join the Navy. The Korean War was at its height, and with the draft underway, he wanted a path that would give him some control over his future. The Navy offered the chance to travel and the promise of life aboard a ship, which suited him more than other branches of service. Boot camp in San Diego marked the start of his journey. His strong test scores earned him a spot in Class A School, where he trained as a teleman....

Jason O’Jones started All Set Plumbing after more than a decade in the trade. He spent years working on new construction before shifting...