Zach Freeman shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Zach, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. What do you think is misunderstood about your business?
Many assume Veterans Moving America is just a moving company, but our true purpose is to support and empower American veterans. We chose moving as our service, but our primary mission is to provide meaningful employment and a supportive, camaraderie-driven environment for veterans—something many struggle to find after leaving the military. As the only non-veteran in the company, I’ve seen how our veteran-exclusive team fosters a unique culture that our employees value deeply. This focus drives our excellence, which is why we’ve been honored as Fort Worth Magazine’s “Best Moving Service” for seven years running and featured on PBS’s Start UP. Our work is about moving lives forward, not just boxes.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Zach Freeman, Founder and CEO of Veterans Moving America, a Fort Worth-based moving company with a mission to empower U.S. military veterans. Founded in 2013, Veterans Moving America is unique because we exclusively hire veterans, creating a supportive, camaraderie-driven workplace that helps them thrive after military service. Inspired by a veteran who lived with my family during a challenging time, I built VMA to provide not just jobs but a sense of belonging for veterans, addressing the struggles many face in civilian life. We offer full-service residential and commercial moving, packing, and storage across the DFW area and beyond, earning us a 4.8-star rating and Fort Worth Magazine’s “Best Moving Service” award for seven consecutive years. Our feature on PBS’s Start UP (Season 12, Episode 7) showcased our commitment to excellence and veteran empowerment. As the only non-veteran in the company, I’m honored to lead a team whose discipline and integrity make every move seamless. We’re currently expanding our reach to serve more communities while staying true to our values of service, trust, and care.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who taught you the most about work?
My parents were my greatest teachers about work. Growing up, I watched my dad pour his heart into his career at WD-40, often traveling but always being fully present with our family when home. His intentionality showed me the value of balancing dedication to work with devotion to family. My mom, who juggled her own job while raising me, my brother, and sister, taught me how to manage responsibilities with grace and still make time for meaningful connections. As a father now, I carry their lesson forward: work hard at what you do, but work even harder at nurturing the relationships that matter most. Their example shapes how I lead Veterans Moving America, prioritizing both excellence in service and a supportive culture for our veteran team.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
The toughest season for Veterans Moving America spanned late 2021 through most of 2022. After weathering COVID in 2020, we faced a hiring crisis as business surged, making it nearly impossible to find veteran talent. Unexpected leadership vacancies strained our culture, and I felt the full weight of keeping things together. Doubting my ability to lead, I told my board by the end of Q1 2023 that if things didn’t improve, I’d consider stepping down as CEO to let someone else take the reins.
What pulled me through was reconnecting with our core mission: empowering veterans through meaningful work and a supportive community. That purpose reignited my drive. I leaned on key team members, made decisive changes, and rebuilt our momentum. The result was the strongest, most vibrant culture we’ve ever had. That experience taught me that a purpose bigger than profit—like serving our veterans—fuels perseverance when you’re running on empty.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
Recently, I asked my closest friends this question for a church program, and their answers painted a clear picture. They’d say I cherish quality time with loved ones, especially being a goofy, present dad to my kids. I’m passionate about emotionally supporting my family and friends, often through deep conversations or lighthearted pranks that keep things fun. They’d also highlight my love for music as a creative outlet and my fascination with aeronautics and mechanical systems, which reflects my curiosity. These values—connection, support, and joy—shape how I lead Veterans Moving America, where I strive to foster a supportive, family-like culture for our veteran team while bringing passion and purpose to everything we do.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: When have you had to bet the company?
In 2015, Veterans Moving America was on shaky ground. Despite a small profit in 2014, our first full year, we were losing money monthly. I tracked every transaction on a spreadsheet, sometimes transferring my last few hundred dollars to cover payroll and keep our account above zero. Desperate, I approached our investors for more funding to buy time. Some board members stepped up, but I knew we needed a bold move. I canceled our main lead source, YellowPages online, cut my pay in half, and redirected those funds to Google AdWords campaigns—a risky bet, as we couldn’t afford to waste the limited investment. If it failed, we’d likely close. Fortunately, the gamble paid off. The campaigns, paired with other changes, turned things around, leading to a profitable 2016 and sustained growth thereafter. That leap taught me to trust my instincts when the stakes are high.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.VeteransMovingAmerica.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/veteransmovingamerica
- Twitter: https://x.com/veteranmovers
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VeteransMovingAmerica/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/veterans-moving-america-fort-worth
- Other: Google (Fort Worth): https://rb.gy/znht7d
Google (Dallas): https://tinyurl.com/mrtn8j22
