We were lucky to catch up with Bill Krieger recently and have shared our conversation below.

Bill, appreciate you joining us today. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?

The mission of Veterans Archives stems from a deep understanding of the irreplaceable value of personal stories—especially those of our Nation’s Heroes. These stories are not just history; they are legacies, woven with courage, sacrifice, and love.

How often have you wished you could sit with a loved one who has passed, hearing their laughter, wisdom, and experiences once more? Sharing stories around the family table keeps memories alive, but there is something profoundly moving about hearing those stories told in their own voice, in their own words. It creates a connection that transcends time, giving families a piece of their loved ones to hold onto forever.

At Veterans Archives, we preserve these stories not just for the Veterans who share them, but for the generations who will one day listen, learn, and be inspired by their legacy. It’s our way of ensuring that these voices—these lives—are never lost to time.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

The roots of Veterans Archives are deeply personal, born from a love of storytelling and a commitment to honor the lives and legacies of those who serve. It began with the stories of my grandfather, a Missouri-born bootlegger whose Southern drawl made his tales come alive. Though we still recount his adventures, it’s not the same without his voice. That realization planted a seed—a desire to preserve the essence of a storyteller in their own words and tone.

As a retired Army Veteran who served a combat tour in Iraq during some of the war’s most challenging times, I learned the profound power of storytelling firsthand. Sharing my experiences not only helped me heal from the trauma of combat but also gave solace to others who had lived through similar struggles, yet felt alone in their pain. Storytelling became a bridge—a way to connect, understand, and heal.

During the pandemic, I started the Me You Us podcast, where I discovered the beauty of encouraging others to share their journeys. The response was overwhelming, with thousands of listeners finding comfort, inspiration, and camaraderie in those stories.

Bringing all these experiences together, I realized there was more I could do—something lasting, something that could truly make a difference for Veterans and their families. And so, Veterans Archives was born. This nonprofit organization exists to ensure that every Veteran has the opportunity to preserve their story at no cost, creating a gift for generations to come. It’s about honoring their sacrifices, celebrating their contributions, and showing them—and their families—the lasting impact of their service.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

Navigating social media can be a challenging and time-consuming endeavor, especially when you’re just starting out. Initially, I managed with only an Instagram account and a Facebook page. To expand my reach, I decided to hire a social media company for content creation and management. However, it quickly became clear that I wasn’t achieving the reach I needed, and the costs were unsustainable. Recognizing this, I decided to take control of my social media efforts.

I ventured into TikTok on my own and started to see some promising results. But the process was still incredibly time-intensive—reviewing hours of footage, identifying the best moments, crafting titles and descriptions, generating hashtags, and manually posting across multiple platforms. It was rewarding but exhausting.

Then, I discovered an AI-powered online clipping tool, and it changed everything. This tool automated the process: creating clips, writing titles and descriptions, generating hashtags, and even posting content to all my channels. It saved me countless hours and allowed me to focus on what truly matters—serving the mission of Veterans Archives.

What I learned through this experience is a lesson I want to share: you don’t have to do everything yourself. And while the idea of AI can feel intimidating, when used wisely, it’s an incredible resource.

To be clear, I’m not against social media companies—they can be invaluable for the right situations. But as with any expense, especially for a small nonprofit like Veterans Archives, it’s important to evaluate whether you’re getting a meaningful return on your investment. Social media is a powerful tool, but how you choose to manage it should align with your goals, your resources, and your mission.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

This is a great question. Whether in my civilian life, military career or the president of a nonprofit, life requires us to agile and to pivot quickly over and over again. If we cannot change course for the greater good of our business endeavors than we will not succeed. It is a very old adage that the only constant is change.

Pivoting is an inevitable part of life, whether in our personal journeys, careers, or leadership roles. It’s a skill we must embrace if we hope to navigate challenges and achieve success. One moment in my career that truly defined this principle occurred when I was a young Army Officer.

I had just assumed command of the 144th Military Police Company during the Iraq War. At the time, units were deploying at an overwhelming pace, and most of my deployable Soldiers had already been reassigned to other units heading overseas. My company was at roughly 10% strength. Assured by my battalion commander that we had at least a year to rebuild, I began preparing for what I thought would be a measured ramp-up to deployment readiness.

But just one week later, everything changed. The same battalion commander informed me that we had six weeks to deploy to Mosul, Iraq, and would need to assemble over 200 Soldiers from five different states. It was a monumental challenge with an impossibly tight deadline.

In that moment, I had a choice. I could have pushed back, pointed out how unprepared we were, or sought to have the deployment assigned to another commander. But that wasn’t the kind of leader I aspired to be. Instead, I pivoted. I focused on building a cohesive team from these disparate groups, leaning on the strength, resilience, and ingenuity of those around me. We worked tirelessly to prepare, and when the time came, we deployed successfully.

Through determination and teamwork, we not only accomplished our mission but ensured that every Soldier under my command returned home safely. That experience taught me a profound lesson: life is fluid, and the ability to pivot—quickly, purposefully, and with care—can make all the difference.

The urgency of that moment reminds me that change often arrives uninvited, but how we respond defines our success. As a leader, whether in the military, civilian life, or as the president of a nonprofit, I carry that lesson with me. We must always be ready to adapt for the greater good, knowing that our resilience and agility are what truly enable us to succeed.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.veteransarchives.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/veteransarchives/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VeteransArchivesOrg
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/therealbillkrieger/
• Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/@Veterans-Archives
• Other: Tik Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@veteransarchives