Today we’d like to introduce you to Clifford Sosamon.
Clifford is Executive Director of Honor Courage Commitment. In this capacity, he leads the enterprise’s full suite of veteran empowerment programs—VET Program, Advanced Career Training (ACT) Program, Fellows Program, HCC donor relations—as well as day to-day business administration. Prior to joining HCC in 2014, Cliford and his wife, Paula, founded PRISMA Staffing in Frisco, Texas.
In 2012, they helped co-found the North Texas Military Association (NTXMA), a 501(c)(19) that supports veterans and veteran service organizations through events, such as the annual NTXMA Military Ball and 4th of July 10-Mile Hump fundraiser. Prior to founding PRISMA Staffing, Cliff conducted security for Perot System. Following his high school graduation, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps and served in Operation Uphold Democracy in Haiti before volunteering for Marine Security Guard School in Quantico, Virginia.
He later served at the American Embassy in Bangkok, Thailand and the U.S. Consulate in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He is a graduate of Southern Methodist University where he earned two Bachelor of Arts degrees in political science and public policy, and a minor in economics.
Has it been a smooth road?
Redefining my since of purpose after military service was difficult. Hanging up my uniform was like hanging up my identity, and finding my place post military service was more challenging than expected. In the thirteen years after my service ended I held eight different jobs and started two companies and three non-profits. I did not realize it at the time, but none of these fulfilled my sense of purpose which is why I was consistently jumping from company to company and industry to industry.
It was not until I began working with veterans and assisting them that the light bulb went off and I realized that this was the mission I was searching for. I needed to redefine what my purpose was post military. It is my belief that this is essential for everyone to do, defining ones purpose is the first step to fulfillment, and I work every day to assist the Warriors who are returning to civilian life redefine theirs.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Honor Courage Commitment (HCC) story. Tell us more about the business.
Each year, the U.S. government devotes hundreds of billions in military spending toward developing world-class servicemen and women. But what happens when these veterans transition back to civilian life? If you believe prevailing headlines, a life of unemployment and mental health issues is what awaits our returning heroes. At Honor Courage Commitment, we know better.
Founded in 2011, HCC focuses on education, mentorship, and community service to catalyze the specialized skills, leadership acumen, and confidence that veterans carry into the private sector. We marry those attributes with our proprietary training and mentoring programs to empower veterans to become successful business owners, community leaders, and professionals.
Our continuing goal is to produce veteran leaders for the civilian sector, as well as generate more jobs and support relevant programs for the 240,000-300,000 veterans who transition out of military service annually. HCC provides veterans with a tactical approach to professional success. Our full-suite of programs and services are designed to empower veterans to build sustainable, successful companies and become economic drivers throughout North Texas.
HCC has three programs designed to assist veterans in entrepreneurship, career mentorship, and reconnecting with fellow veterans. Our primary program is the Veteran Entrepreneur Training (VET) Program which assists veterans in any stage of the business life cycle; from concept to exit, This approach is more detailed than other entrepreneur programs in existence today and we are proud of the fact that we’ve helped launch or assist 35 veteran businesses and six non-profits and generated over $16,000,000 in revenue with these ventures.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
The non-profit sector is a growing segment of our economy, both locally and nationally. Within the non-profit world, veteran service organizations are forming at a steady pace. One of the biggest reasons for this, I believe, is veterans are service minded individuals. We don’t join the military for the pay or recognition, but to be a part of something greater than our selves and to give back.
After service, many veterans turn to the non-profit world to continue mission. However, there is a point at which there will be too many non-profits tapping into the finite amount of funds available which will make it more and more difficult for established, and new, organizations to obtain the funds needed to effectively act on their mission. The other aspect that we have already begun to see is donor fatigue.
Organizations must diversify their donor base and be innovative with the types of fund raising events they hold.
Pricing:
- $561 will put a veteran through the Recon Phase of the HCC VET Program
- $729 will put a veteran through the Pre-Deployment phase of the HCC VET Program
- $75 will put a veteran through one aspect of the HCC ACT Program
- $37 will allow a veteran to participate in the HCC Fellows Program
Contact Info:
- Address: 4801 Spring Valley Rd.
Suite 20 Dallas, TX 75244 - Website: www.hccvet.org
- Phone: 214-431-3834
- Email: info@hccvet.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hccvet/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hccvet/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/hccvet
- Other: https://vimeo.com/204977187
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