Boulder’s Lane Hornung knows the challenges of transitioning from military service to a civilian career. That’s why the former Desert Storm U.S. Marine helicopter pilot founded Salute Colorado, a Boulder nonprofit, in 2013. “Through our mentoring and training for transitioning Veterans, our program has helped leaders in military service emerge as leaders in business and community” said Hornung, founder, and CEO of 8z Real Estate.
In Denver, business leaders Ted Brown and Link Wilfley recognized an untapped demographic of Veterans who had the ability to become leaders within the private sector but needed the right resources, training, and mentorship during their transition. Brown and Wilfley created Valor Bridge, a Denver nonprofit, in 2015.
In early 2021, leaders from both organizations realized that teaming up to create a single entity could provide stronger and wider ranging support for Veterans than the groups had provided separately. The premier programs that each had developed have been brought together and expanded, and the new and better Salute Colorado is now able to serve Veterans from the Denver area and across the Front Range from Fort Collins to Colorado Springs.