Charlotte, North Carolina — November 11, 2024. When founder Jon Vordermark first envisioned a project leadership firm of independent, expert program and project managers… figuratively “parachuting” into troubled clients to save the day,… he foresaw how service men and women in the U.S. military could be foundational pieces to the company. Almost eight years later, Mavendog owes much of its growth, reputation, and ongoing success to the veterans and military spouses on team. Many Mavendog clients have experienced the impact and value of these veterans firsthand.
In this article we touch briefly on the impacts of veterans on project management today; the tough transition to civilian life; and the attraction veterans have to the booming independent, 1099 consulting market. We also share a few remarks from five of our veterans who have been a part of the Mavendog journey: Liz Gist, Clint Woods, Charles Sieber, Amy Heddleson, and Rachael Gabbard.
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‘Veteran’ Project Management: A Military Advantage
Army Doctrine Publication (ADP) 3-90 describes tactical work this way:
“The creative and flexible array of means to accomplish designed missions, decision-making under conditions of uncertainty when faced with thinking and adaptive enemy, and understanding the effects of combat on Soldiers.’ Tactical work is a complement to strategy work.”
This Doctrine sounds a lot like project work, doesn’t it…. It’s no wonder why there is a natural draw for veterans to project management, especially those who are attracted to professional services and consulting market. Project leaders, like those at Mavendog, help clients drive enterprise programs and change initiatives. And as Mavendog has shared in past articles, project management, at its core, is a tactical specialty — a translation that is often seamless for military specialists.
Liz Gist, a former Captain in the U.S. Air Force, shares some of her experiences and military influences this way:
“My military experience shaped my project leadership approach by instilling discipline, strategic planning, and adaptability. In the private sector, this helped me lead teams efficiently under pressure. For instance, when a supply chain disruption threatened a product launch, I applied military-style crisis management. I quickly organized a team, defined clear objectives, and held daily briefings to adapt in real-time. This approach allowed us to find alternative suppliers and meet our launch date, leveraging the decisive leadership and teamwork skills I gained from the military.” – Liz Gist
Liz served 12 years in the United States Air Force in various roles and leadership positions. Today, she is a Mavendog Affiliate and Principal Consultant within our Program Leadership Services practice. Liz’s passion is motivating and mentoring teams to deliver quality programs and projects that solve business problems and achieve tangible results. She has a proven track record in Operations; Product Development; Manufacturing, Software Development; Information Technology; Digital Transformation; Professional Services; Leadership Development; Mentoring/Coaching; and Change Management. She is also known for establishing and leading global Project Management Offices (PMOs) to deliver quality programs and projects that solve business problems and achieve tangible results.
Clinton Woods, a retired Marine Corps Major, highlights his military experience as having an immediate impact on his ability to lead corporate projects and teams:
“The ability to get things done [in the military] and leverage assets to accomplish the mission has aided me greatly. My first job in the corporate sector was leading mechanical engineers designing next-generation engines for GE, which is way outside my area of expertise in IT. Communication, identifying roadblocks, and setting realistic goals and milestones helped my team win team of the year.” – Clinton Woods
Clint served in the United States Marine Corps for almost 20 years. Today he is a Managing Consultant in Mavendog’s Project & Change Delivery Practice. He originally came to Mavendog through its relationship with the Department of Defense (DoD) and its SkillBridge fellowship program – a conduit for Service members to begin their careers within the civilian sector. His military experience encompasses 19+ years in organizational change, project management, and information technology, particularly in IT infrastructure. He has supported medium to large-scale, high-pressure projects and roles. A willing and driven learner with vast experience leading highly technical team members.
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Bridging Worlds: Addressing the Challenges of Military-to-Civilian Transition
Before a veteran’s career in the private sector can really take flight, he or she must first face the challenges of transitioning out of military service. It is a demanding adjustment, learning how to adapt to the nuances of civilian organizations and its leaders. Many of those civilian leaders are unfamiliar with (and sometimes resistant to) working veterans coming right out of the service. Even their own HR managers struggle to understand the transition, let alone the value veterans bring.
Fortunately, veterans have far more access today to programs and services that support military-to-civilian transition. Veteran-facing organizations like Veterans Bridge Home, Hiring Our Heroes, and NC4ME, and Patriot’s Path (now MilBridge) all share in this calling to help veterans through this difficult transition. Most notably, the Department of Defense SkillBridge program grants active service members the chance to be released from duty up to six months before their date of separation in order to receive on-the-job training and work opportunities with civilian companies.
“Mavendog has had a symbiotic relationship with these organizations since its founding,” says President Jon Vordermark. “I grew up in an Army family and witnessed the challenges of transitioning from military to civilian life. I take great pride in supporting such organizations for all the good they do. With the right support and opportunities, veterans can achieve their professional and personal goals in the private sector.”
Charles Sieber joined Mavendog after serving as a Combat Engineer Officer (Captain) in the United States Marine Corps. He came to Mavendog through our relationship with DoD SkillBridge, after Charles concluded a stellar, ten-year career in the United States Marine Corps. He spent over a year as an instructor at Marine Corps Engineer School training young Marine officers how to assess strengths and weaknesses when planning various military operations. He shares how he adapted his communication style post-service. But it wasn’t easy:
“Military culture communication is very different from what is found in a corporate environment. My experience with moving to the private sector has caused me to adapt my communication style to accommodate a civilian workforce and learn how to “pace” a team in a way that matches the company’s expectations for delivery and work. I’ve learned how to respectfully (but assertively) communicate in a way that unites towards a common goal, working with people (understanding the human factor and emotional intelligence), combined with my endurance, discipline, and work ethic. Most important is accountability and ownership of whatever task you are assigned.” – Charles Sieber
Charles Sieber is a Senior Consultant and Mavendog Affiliate within our Project & Change Delivery (PCD) practice. He is a highly organized project and process leader with an eye toward production and process efficiency. Mr. Sieber has hands-on experience in several domains, including supply chain logistics; heavy machinery/equipment, support, and mobilization; construction and safety protocols; and resource and facilities management.
Amy Heddleson was an Army Intelligence Officer (Captain) with the Georgia Army National Guard before continuing her project leadership career and eventually joining Mavendog. She shares these tips for navigating the uncertainty of military transition:
“Always use a military-to-civilian recruiter or corporate partner like SkillBridge. Use your own network of past co-workers and leaders you enjoyed working with. Take advantage of resources for mentoring or networking through any enrolled education programs. Join professional organizations like PMI.org and attend their events or volunteer to expand your network.“ – Amy Heddleson
Amy Heddleson is a Managing Consultant and Mavendog Affiliate within our Project & Change Delivery (PCD) practice. Amy has served as a Senior Product Marketing Manager, Technology Program Manager, and SCRUM Team Manager, gaining 20 years of corporate experience managing multi-million-dollar international products and programs in the IT, Telecommunications, VoIP, and CRM industries.
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Veterans and 1099: A Path to Flexibility and Independence
Transitioning from military to civilian life can be challenging, regardless of length of service. It is unique for each individual. For some veterans a career in consulting as a 1099 is an excellent way to retain flexibility and independence while transitioning and ‘finding’ their way in a new, post-service career (i.e., 1099-NEC for tax purposes versus a full-time employee, or W2). To that end, Mavendog attracts many such veterans to its own consulting model, which is a conduit to the 1099 market and American independent economy.
For these and other Mavendog veterans, traditional employment models no longer work for high-impact, time-bound project delivery. They gravitate to 1099-based consulting models instead. Roger Hopper, Mavendog Vice President and Chief of Staff (former soldier with the Army National Guard), is a key leader in Mavendog’s recruitment of our veteran consultants. He explains: “Mavendog Affiliates receive the benefits of Mavendog branding, contracting, peer networking, insurance, and protections while retaining their freedom to pick and choose their projects, and negotiating the right balance of work and commitments for themselves and their family.”
Liz Gist concurs: “The flexibility of being an independent contractor has had a positive impact on my work-life balance. Transitioning from a full-time employee to a 1099 worker has given me more control over my schedule and the ability to select projects that suit my interests. This shift has allowed me to better balance personal commitments with professional responsibilities.”
Charles Sieber also supports this view: “The flexibility allows me to structure dedicated family time. One factor I would encourage veterans to consider in a role like this is the freedom to drive your schedule and work with the company you are supporting to ensure their needs are met.”
For Amy Heddleson consulting as an independent contractor gives her much-needed variation: “I enjoy being able to interview the client just as they are interviewing me to choose if it’s a good fit for us both. I am also able to try new industries as I transition from one client project to another, which is refreshing for me and brings value to the client.”
Lieutenant Colonel Rachael Gabbard, an active member of the Army Reserve Medical Service Corps, discovered the advantages of independent contracting after facing challenges with traditional employment models. For Rachael, the flexibility of being a 1099 contractor allows her to seamlessly manage her military commitments while maintaining a civilian career:
“The flexibility of being an independent contractor has had a positive impact on my work-life balance. This shift has allowed me to better balance my responsibilities as a reservist with professional aspirations.”
Today, Rachael is a Senior Consultant within our Project & Change Delivery practice. She is an Operations Leader with 17 years of professional experience in Logistics, Project Management, and Human Resources Management at a strategic level. Rachael adds to Mavendog’s strength and versatility in supporting HR-related programs and projects. She is also instrumental to Mavendog’s capabilities in Supply Chain, Distribution, and Operations, where Rachael helps companies to optimize material flows, minimize supply chain disruptions, and improve responsiveness to internal and external customer demands.
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Learn More About Veteran Project Leaders with Mavendog
Mavendog is the Carolinas’ premier project management firm, offering independent, expert program and project managers and interim executive leaders. Since 2017, Mavendog has been committed to helping clients solve their project challenges, from complex enterprise programs and change initiatives to tactical project needs. Find out how Mavendog can help your company access the American independent economy of highly skilled, motivated, and experienced veteran project leaders.