Roadie is proud to support veterans and their success. Especially since it hits close to home – two members of Roadie’s leadership team served. And they brought all those important skills back to the States where they use them to help Roadie – and Roadies – thrive.
This Veterans’ Day, we took the opportunity to sit down with Roadie COO Dennis Moon and Roadie CTO James Delmerico. We asked them to share a little about their experiences in the military, what it taught them, and how it made them better leaders.
ROADIE: Why did you decide to enlist in the military?
DENNIS: My interest in the military began when I was 14 and the United States had just conducted Operation Desert Storm. I grew up in a very small rural farm town so some of the older kids were a part of that mission and when they came home afterwards, they would talk about going to other countries and helping spread freedom on this mission. Inspired by their stories, a strong sense of duty and a desire to serve my country, I joined the U.S. Army after graduating high school.
JAMES: Growing up in a working middle-class family in Augusta, options were pretty limited as I graduated high school. My parents gave me my first computer when I was 10 and I was hooked! Right after the First Gulf War as I was graduating from high school, there was a lot of advertising for high-tech jobs in the military – including an offer to provide money for college through the GI Bill. So I applied at my local Army recruiting office, went through basic training in Columbia, SC, and back to my hometown of Augusta, GA, for computer (mainframes at the time) training.
ROADIE: What did you learn from your military service that’s served you well throughout your career?
JAMES: So many things… I like to describe my military time as my gateway to adulthood. Self-discipline, respect for the chain of command/ authority, tidiness, and leadership skills to name a few. The first time I left the country was for my duty station assignment in Seoul where we worked alongside the local Korean forces as part of joint security for the region. This taught me respect for other cultures and ignited a travel bug in me that still exists today.
DENNIS: The experience was both challenging and rewarding. I would say the biggest life lesson is that the Army taught me about different people, different cultures and how similar we all are despite the differences. Everyone serves for different reasons, but you leave that at the door when you enter – we are one team serving one mission. It’s a life lesson that can be applied to any business.
We want to extend our deepest gratitude to all veterans for their service. Thank you, James and Dennis, for the inspiration – and for your leadership here on the home front!
