A More Elite Podcast

051: Dan Lopez, Retired Special Operations, Hockey Heals 22

How do you connect with your children at the twilight of a 30-year military career? Pick up the game of hockey, of course. SGM Ret. Dan Lopez left a distinguished career as the U.S. Special Operations Command’s J6 Communications senior enlisted leader only to find himself busier than imaginable with pursuits that maintain his connection to the warrior community.

We were reintroduced to Dan when he introduced Ranger For Life to the upcoming Hockey Heals 22 event at the Advent Ice Center in Wesley Chapel, FL just outside of Tampa. Not enough to just be a member of the Tampa Warriors veteran hockey team, Dan took over responsibilities for marketing the event designed to raise awareness and funds for suicide prevention with the benefiting nonprofit Stop Soldier Suicide.

Through our conversation, we learned how Dan’s faith was instrumental in providing the guidance and direction needed to continue to serve with honor. Dan came to Christ halfway through his career with the help of Ranger Hall of Famer Chaplain Jeff Struecker.

Now, outside of work and time on the ice, Dan also serves as the Chaplain for the Round Canopy Parachuting team. Although not formally trained, Dan continues to serve by providing pre-flight prayer and sharing the good news wherever there is fertile soil. It is amazing the type of organizations and people we run into when we place relationships first in our busy lives. Enjoy Dan’s podcast #ForAmerica.

051: Dan Lopez, Retired Special Operations, Hockey Heals 22

How do you connect with your children at the twilight of a 30-year military career? Pick up the game of hockey, of course. SGM Ret. Dan Lopez left a distinguished career as the U.S. Special Operations Command’s J6 Communications senior enlisted leader only to find himself busier than imaginable with pursuits that maintain his connection to the warrior community.

We were reintroduced to Dan when he introduced Ranger For Life to the upcoming Hockey Heals 22 event at the Advent Ice Center in Wesley Chapel, FL just outside of Tampa. Not enough to just be a member of the Tampa Warriors veteran hockey team, Dan took over responsibilities for marketing the event designed to raise awareness and funds for suicide prevention with the benefiting nonprofit Stop Soldier Suicide. Through our conversation, we learned how Dan’s faith was instrumental in providing the guidance and direction needed to continue to serve with honor. Dan came to Christ halfway through his career with the help of Ranger Hall of Famer Chaplain Jeff Struecker.

Now, outside of work and time on the ice, Dan also serves as the Chaplain for the Round Canopy Parachuting team. Although not formally trained, Dan continues to serve by providing pre-flight prayer and sharing the good news wherever there is fertile soil.

It is amazing the type of organizations and people we run into when we place relationships first in our busy lives. Enjoy Dan’s podcast #ForAmerica.

050: Bunny Hinzman, Visual Artist and Army Child

In this episode of A More Elite Podcast, we speak with Columbus, Ga. artist and Army child Bunny Hinzman to learn how she finds her inspiration and purpose through art.

Inspiration can come from a variety of sources – family, friends, books, and the like. For Columbus, Ga. artist Bunny Hinzman, the beauty and power of horses provided the impetus to pursue art. To pursue her passion for art, Hinzman entered the equine industry as a journalist. Getting closer to her art subject cemented her purpose to show beauty through the physical form. Now, with her own studio and a growing reputation in the southeast, Hinzman’s art has evolved to human subjects specifically portraits of America’s military heroes. She has produced the Medal of Honor portraits of Col. Ralph Puckett and Sgt. First Class Alwyn Ashe. Both of those portraits were unveiled and displayed at the award-winning National Infantry Museum.

While Hinzman’s passion is clear, the purpose of her art has evolved as she matured in her profession and in life. Originally, art provided satisfaction to the artist, now – with a renewed focus on human subjects – Hinzman finds the opportunity to connect with others as a shared benefit to the artist and the subject.

Over Memorial Day weekend she will be unveiling her portrait of fallen Ranger Sgt. Jason Santora during the Heroes of America Marathon. This work is the second of her Patriot Portrait Project series. The first patriot portrait was of fallen Ranger Sgt. Ronald Kubik. Both men were members of 3rd Ranger Battalion and were mortally wounded on the same mission in Logar province, Afghanistan on April 23, 2010. Hinzman describes the growth in her work paralleling the growth in her faith.

Always a believer, the connection of living and departed service members provides a glimpse of the love and pain the families feel for the courage and sacrifice of their loved ones. This is a story #forAmerica.

050: Bunny Hinzman, Visual Artist and Army Child

In this episode of A More Elite Podcast, we speak with Columbus, Ga. artist and Army child Bunny Hinzman to learn how she finds her inspiration and purpose through art.

Inspiration can come from a variety of sources – family, friends, books, and the like. For Columbus, Ga. artist Bunny Hinzman, the beauty and power of horses provided the impetus to pursue art. To pursue her passion for art, Hinzman entered the equine industry as a journalist. Getting closer to her art subject cemented her purpose to show beauty through the physical form. Now, with her own studio and a growing reputation in the southeast, Hinzman’s art has evolved to human subjects specifically portraits of America’s military heroes. She has produced the Medal of Honor portraits of Col. Ralph Puckett and Sgt. First Class Alwyn Ashe. Both of those portraits were unveiled and displayed at the award-winning National Infantry Museum.

While Hinzman’s passion is clear, the purpose of her art has evolved as she matured in her profession and in life. Originally, art provided satisfaction to the artist, now – with a renewed focus on human subjects – Hinzman finds the opportunity to connect with others as a shared benefit to the artist and the subject.

Over Memorial Day weekend she will be unveiling her portrait of fallen Ranger Sgt. Jason Santora during the Heroes of America Marathon. This work is the second of her Patriot Portrait Project series. The first patriot portrait was of fallen Ranger Sgt. Ronald Kubik. Both men were members of 3rd Ranger Battalion and were mortally wounded on the same mission in Logar province, Afghanistan on April 23, 2010. Hinzman describes the growth in her work paralleling the growth in her faith.

Always a believer, the connection of living and departed service members provides a glimpse of the love and pain the families feel for the courage and sacrifice of their loved ones. This is a story #forAmerica.

049: Seamus Murphy, Cornell Alumni, Veteran, Management Consultant in NYC

How do we keep the Warrior Culture alive in America? We bring the tenant of military leadership to the civilian world by building bridges for our veterans to compete and thrive in the civilian workforce.

A Veteran "Dogface Soldier" of the Army's 3rd Infantry Division Seamus Murphy now serves as a management consultant with Accenture in New York City. Seamus initially reached out to Ranger For Life to share opportunities for veterans to thrive at Cornell University.

Seamus is from the upstate of New York, but Cornell was far from what he thought would be his reality for higher education upon graduation from high school. Like many veterans, Seamus's service and experiences overseas provided him a level of confidence to compete for a top-flight education upon his transition from service. But first, Seamus would have to humble himself by gaining a solid start in community college before gaining admission to Cornell. Once on the campus, Seamus found the services for veterans to be lacking. Like any good NCO, he took charge and helps build up the undergraduate student veterans program and is now championing Cornell as part of the recently founded veterans alumni network.

Most veterans that continue to stay involved in the betterment of their communities do exactly what Seamus did and is doing - filling the gaps and educating others on the opportunities not just in transition, but opportunities available by service.

Thanks for reaching out, Seamus.

049: Seamus Murphy, Cornell Alumni, Veteran, Management Consultant in NYC

How do we keep the Warrior Culture alive in America? We bring the tenant of military leadership to the civilian world by building bridges for our veterans to compete and thrive in the civilian workforce.

A Veteran "Dogface Soldier" of the Army's 3rd Infantry Division Seamus Murphy now serves as a management consultant with Accenture in New York City. Seamus initially reached out to Ranger For Life to share opportunities for veterans to thrive at Cornell University. Seamus is from the upstate of New York, but Cornell was far from what he thought would be his reality for higher education upon graduation from high school.

Like many veterans, Seamus's service and experiences overseas provided him a level of confidence to compete for a top-flight education upon his transition from service. But first, Seamus would have to humble himself by gaining a solid start in community college before gaining admission to Cornell. Once on the campus, Seamus found the services for veterans to be lacking. Like any good NCO, he took charge and helps build up the undergraduate student veterans program and is now championing Cornell as part of the recently founded veterans alumni network.

Most veterans that continue to stay involved in the betterment of their communities do exactly what Seamus did and is doing - filling the gaps and educating others on the opportunities not just in transition, but opportunities available by service.

Thanks for reaching out, Seamus.

048: Travis Walker, Posse Foundation Scholar, Investment Banking Associate at Bank of America

From the panhandle of Florida to Wall Street with stops at the 75th Ranger Regiment and Vasser College, Travis Walker has taken full advantage of available mentorship and transition opportunities. Now an investment banking associate with Bank of America, Travis shares how the Posse Foundation and service to Schools prepared him to excel #ForAmerica.

048: Travis Walker, Posse Foundation Scholar, Investment Banking Associate at Bank of America

From the panhandle of Florida to Wall Street with stops at the 75th Ranger Regiment and Vasser College, Travis Walker has taken full advantage of available mentorship and transition opportunities. Now an investment banking associate with Bank of America, Travis shares how the Posse Foundation and service to Schools prepared him to excel #ForAmerica.

047: Brooke & Mike Villano, Veterans Lending Group

The is no reason to go into the home buying process alone. Mike and Brooke Villano from Veterans Lending Group have created a wealth of resources to inform military families of the opportunities afforded by the VA Home Loan certificate #ForAmerica.

047: Brooke & Mike Villano, Veterans Lending Group

The is no reason to go into the home buying process alone. Mike and Brooke Villano from Veterans Lending Group have created a wealth of resources to inform military families of the opportunities afforded by the VA Home Loan certificate #ForAmerica.