From Jamaica to the Army to the Legislature, Lisa Dunkley Driven by Public Service Born and raised in Jamaica, Lisa Dunkley’s path toward becoming a state lawmaker shows the power of the American Dream. Dunkley came to Florida in the 1990s with her siblings and her baby daughter. She said much of her success began with six years in the U.S. Army, active and reserve. “I saw the ad on TV that said ‘be all that you can be,’” she said. “Getting the opportunity to go to college without having to pay for it meant a lot to me.” She served in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom and ..read more

After 50 Years, S&B Metal Products Still Growing and Hiring Vets In 1974, Chuck Sterling and Paul Balliette founded S&B Metal Products in Macedonia, Ohio, just outside of Cleveland. Like many folks up north, Sterling took a vacation to Florida in the 1980s. Drawn by the weather and the potential, he went back with the idea of expanding here. Nearly 50 years after the business began, S&B Metal now has four locations in Florida – Bradenton, Lakeland, Apopka and Daytona Beach. With more than 160 employees, the business is growing and needs to hire welders and other machinists. “Over ..read more

SkillBridge Internship Launches Space Force Vet’s Career Derrick Slatton’s career started from an unlikely beginning: a video game about space exploration. It was 2015, Derrick was in high school, SpaceX was in the news, and his older brother introduced him to Kerbal Space Program, an online simulation exploring orbital mechanics. It was perfect timing for a student ready to explore and develop an interest in the details of space travel. He said, “As a high schooler, I realized that my aspiration was to become an engineer, specifically in the space industry…This led me to consider the Air Fo ..read more

Army Vet Danny Alvarez Parachutes into Public Service in the Florida House Like other veterans, Danny Alvarez’s time in the service placed his role in the Florida House in a certain perspective. “Ultimately, nobody is shooting at me,” said the U.S. Army veteran. “How hard can anything else be after that’s the standard? “When we come to Tallahassee, it is another mission set,” said Alvarez, who represents portions of Hillsborough County in his first two-year term. “We have objectives, we have goals, and we approach it in a tactical way.” While attending the University of Florida where he earned ..read more

Rep. Mike Giallombardo Has Been Battle-Tested in the Army and in the Legislature From football to the military and now the Florida House, Mike Giallombardo has spent much of his life on a team. Giallombardo, a married father of three, has served his Cape Coral district in the Florida House since 2020. He said his time in the military has especially prepared him for his leadership role in the Legislature. “It gave me a different world perspective,” he said. “I get to see events in Iraq and the world and it puts in perspective what freedom is and what’s on the line. “The other side to it is that ..read more

In her second term as a member of the Florida House, Rep. Michelle Salzman’s journey toward representing constituents in Escambia County has its roots in the Army. “My military background shaped my character and provided me with the essential skills and perspective necessary to best serve the people of Florida,” said Salzman. In her second two-year term, Salzman has established herself as a leader in healthcare policy, chairing the Healthcare Regulation Subcommittee. She says her five years as a Logistician and Armorer in the Army required interpersonal skills that fit well in the oft-chaoti ..read more

Vets Can Go From Defending the Country to Feeding it with the Agriculture SkillBridge Program By Frank Torres – Guest Author There are few professions more noble than a career in agriculture, and the responsibility of America’s farmers can’t be overstated. Without their work, our families would go hungry and be left looking elsewhere for one of life’s most basic necessities.  Our nation’s dependence on feeding our families serves as an important point as to why veterans should consider a career in agriculture. Veterans Florida can help. This is where veterans can leave one important missi ..read more

“Manufacturing provides opportunities for Veterans while diversifying Florida’s growing economy” By Frank Torres – Guest Author If you enter a manufacturing facility in Florida you will see many people from different backgrounds and skill levels working together to complete a mission.  This is why many veterans are finding success in their post-military transition periods and beginning their next chapter in the world of manufacturing.  The timing is great to pursue such careers in Florida, which is among the national leaders in manufacturing job growth. Just this week, for example, G ..read more

Veteran Entrepreneurs Awarded Coworking Space Scholarships Starting or growing your business doesn’t have to be a solo endeavor. Coworking spaces offer more than just a setting to focus on a business. It’s an opportunity to network with fellow entrepreneurs and learn from each other. Veterans Florida Entrepreneurship Program is proud to support those who have the courage to dream and the passion to make it a reality. We appreciate the over 70 small business owners who applied for the scholarship. It was a tough competition to select these ten awardees. These veterans, and their business, wil ..read more

Veterans Florida and Renegade Air are Clearing Pilot Careers for Takeoff You think you have a rough commute? As a pilot for UPS, Jason Roberts routinely flies from his home in Pensacola to the massive UPS air hub in Louisville, Kentucky – about 480 miles one-way. That passion for flying also led him and friends to start Renegade Air in Escambia County, a passion that Veterans Florida has helped fuel with the SkillBridge program providing an opportunity for mechanics with military experience to bring their skills to the civilian world. Jason grew up in Panama City with his father assigned to ..read more