| photography by Alex Lepe |
Zach Freeman, founder and CEO of Fort Worth-based Veterans Moving America, is guided by four passions in life: faith, creativity, helping others and challenging himself.
"At its core, the combination of my four personal values lets me do what I do every day," Freeman says. "Starting a company has strengthened my faith. I tell people all the time that if you want to grow in your faith, start a company. This job gives me the opportunity for creativity in coming up with goals and solutions. We are a company that's helping others. That's why it was started in the first place. And, I challenge myself. I could tell you all kinds of challenging moments in being an entrepreneur."
Freeman is not a veteran. His parents are not veterans. He is the only non-veteran moving company owner that exclusively hires American veterans.
"Everyone wonders, "Why veterans?"" Freeman says.
The genesis of "Why?" began in 2008, the summer before his senior year in high school, when Freeman met a troubled U.S. Marine Corps veteran at church. Freeman's father became the man's mentor. In October that year, the Marine lost his job and got a divorce in the same month. Freeman's family offered him a place to live for a few months until he got back on his feet. A few months turned into three years.
"There were nights when I came in after being out with my friends, and I would walk near his room," Freeman recalls. "He would fling the door open and almost attack me until he realized who I was. He struggled with depression, alcoholism and post-traumatic stress disorder. He came across as rude or aggressive, but that was just what was drilled into his head while he was in the Marine Corps. It was hard for him to keep a job. This left a big soft spot in my heart for veterans."
Freeman was born and raised in Encinitas, California, a suburb of San Diego. He has an older brother, Jay, who lives in San Francisco and a younger sister, Hannah, who is graduating from Texas Christian University this May. Their parents still live in San Diego.
Freeman visited TCU's campus in his junior year of high school. All plans to remain in California for college went out the window, he says. "At the time, it was a scary decision because I knew nobody and had never been that far from home. Looking back, it was hands down, one of the best decisions I've ever made."
Freeman, a 2013 graduate, majored in Entrepreneurial Management and Supply Chain Management at TCU's M.J. Neeley School of Business. Two departments honored him his senior year with the Servant Leadership Award and the Professors" Award.
"It was after attending the CEO Club's National Conference in Fort Worth, that I began entertaining the thought of starting my own business," Freeman says. "I knew I wanted a company that would help veterans. For some reason, the idea of starting a moving company that only hired veterans popped into my head. I did some research and got feedback from veterans and a lot of other people. It all came back good, so I decided to go for it. I wrote a business plan and found some investors. In June 2013, we opened the doors."
Freeman created a company culture that is team and family oriented.
"The number one thing these guys miss after being in the military is comradery, family atmosphere and just fitting in," Freeman says.
"Because of that experience with the Marine, I wanted this company to give veterans what another company can't give them. When they come to work, they are surrounded by people they are familiar with, people that speak their language, people that can share their struggles and challenges and fears. They can talk to them. These guys not only get a job and some money in their pocket, but they also get a community and a new family that can support them inside and outside of work."
VMA recently partnered with Safe Haven of Tarrant County to provide moving services free of charge to victims of domestic violence.
"Our veterans are already heroes," Freeman says. "To these women and children, they will become even more so. We hope other companies can join this movement."
To learn more, visit VeteransMovingAmerica.com
