We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jeremy Harrell. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jeremy below.

Jeremy , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What was it like going from idea to execution? Can you share some of the backstory and some of the major steps or milestones?

Our nonprofit organization, Veteran’s Club INC started as a social group as I was on the tail end of intense treatment for injuries from my service in Iraq. I knew that there wasn’t enough being done for those who had suffered from trauma as well as physical injuries while defending this country. I was one of those Veterans who felt like I was an island by myself and there wasn’t enough being done for those coming back from two very long simultaneous wars. One day I decided to take matters into my own hands and use my experience to fill in the gaps in taking care of our nations heroes. I began a Facebook group and started to hold weekly meetings for Veterans in the community. Five years later, 7 nationally recognized and award winning programs later, we are serving thousands of Veterans in Kentucky and beyond. I joke about this now, but the reality is, I didn’t even say the word nonprofit until I started one. I had no previous experience in this field and had to deep dive into learning everything as I went. We had to hire an attorney to do the paperwork which at the time was overwhelming. Next we had to find good people to serve on a board of directors. However, what I did know was that the Veteran community needed connection and community. So I focused on that while picking the brains of those who were in the nonprofit realm. I had no idea all the hoops that one had to jump through to start a nonprofit, but am grateful to learn something this important and to be successful at it.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Jeremy Harrell is a U.S. Army Combat Veteran who served in Operation Iraqi Freedom in the Global War on Terrorism. Jeremy served honorably and was a Non-Commissioned Officer before injuries shortened his military career. After leaving the Army, Jeremy went to school at Mid-Continent University studying Business Management. Jeremy went on to become involved in Operations Management, Corporate Training, and Industrial Engineering.

In 2017, Jeremy founded Veteran’s Club INC, which is a premier nonprofit that assists Veterans in healing from PTSD, TBI, Substance Abuse, and to assist homeless Veterans with housing and programs to get them back on their feet. Jeremy’s organization Veteran’s Club INC has 7 nationally recognized programs including an award winning Equine Facilitated Mentoring Program for Active Duty, Veterans, First Responders, and their families.

Jeremy is often called upon by both local and national media outlets as well as national publications to speak on Veteran issues, Social Issues, PTSD, Homelessness, Suicide Prevention, Foreign Policy, and more.Jeremy has been featured on Fox and Friends, CNN Prime Time with Chris Cuomo, 700 Club, History Channel, Banfield at News Nation, Real America’s New, and more for his leadership and advocacy. Additionally, Jeremy is considered a featured speaker at conferences, events, military bases, and venues around the country.

Affiliations

* Past Co-Chair – Veterans Community Alliance of Louisville
* Team Lead- Governor’s Challenge Team -Suicide Prevention
* Community Influencer-City of Louisville Synergy Project
* Supervising Team Leader- Mighty Oaks Warrior Programs
* Member – VA Mental Health Summit Planning Committee
* Advisor- VA Whole Health Steering Committee
* Advisor- Mayor’s Week Of Valor Planning Committee
* Advisory Board- Thrivent Financial
* Security / Men’s Ministry- Southeast Christian Church
* Operation VALOR Program in partnership with Louisville Metro Corrections

Awards
* 2018 Kentucky Veteran of the Year
* 2018 and 2020 Commissioned as a Kentucky Colonel
* 2019 Patriot Award Winner ( National ) D.C.
* 2020 Business First Elite Forty Under 40 Award
* 2020 Humana Boots on Ground Award
* 2020 Amazon and Kentucky Derby Festival Community Champion
* 2021 Merit Award- American Institute of Architects
* 2021 Community Ambassador Award Sec of State KY
* 2021 Kentucky Veterans Hall of Fame Inductee
* 2022 Hometown Hero ( National )-Alcova Mortgage
* 2022 Bell Award Winner for Humanitarian / Volunteer Efforts

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

I would have to say what built my reputation in the Veteran Community around the country is the fact that I am a man of action, I am not afraid to sacrifice for those I care about, and that I have been highly successful in a such a short amount of time. I am not one to get on a podium, spew solutions, and leave them on the table. I have built this organization from the ground up with very little help in the early stages. For example, I didn’t have any financial backing, big connections with people who could help, and I had zero experience in the nonprofit realm. I just knew that I wanted to do all I could physically and mentally for my fellow brothers and sisters in arms who were hurting and needed guidance. I have put my heart and soul into this organization from day one and we have built a nationally recognized organization that serves thousands of Veterans each year with life-changing assistance. From being interviewed in the media frequently and being a guest on many podcasts over the years, the most intriguing for those I speak with is my ability to pivot, adapt, and create highly effective programs in different seasons of challenge for our nations heroes. I have done everything I said I would to the highest level and this seems rare these days. I am very much a boots on ground leader who prefers to be in the trenches with those who need us. WIth that comes to tremendous respect and admiration from a community in which has an established culture of doing what it takes.

Do you have any insights you can share related to maintaining high team morale?

My advice for managing a team and maintaining high morale is to practice Servant Leadership. My responsibility as a the Leader of this organization isn’t to be served but to ensure that everyone on my team feels supported, equipped, and encouraged to do their very best at taking care of our nations heroes. In our office, we have created more of a family dynamic amongst our team. It’s important to me that my team members know and understand that I care deeply about them and their families. Additionally, accountability comes with that as well. My team knows that accountability is the product of me caring about their development and their desire to achieve more. Accountability is often looked at in a negative light because of the actions of bad leaders. It is a positive concept for those who are mature enough to understand the purpose of correction and or remedial training. Overall, choosing your team is critical and should never be taken lightly. Our greatest resource at Veteran’s Club INC and in this country as a whole is people. The best investment I could ever make is in those people who have a passion to do the work we do and be a part of something bigger than themselves.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.veteransclubinc.org
• Instagram: Jeremy_w_harrell_official
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/jeremyharrell81
• Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/jeremy-h-06a7b4175

Image Credits
Lola Hauswald Mattie Hauswald Erin Harrell