How JPMorgan Chase Helps Veteran-Owned Businesses Succeed Through CEOcircle

Many veteran-owned businesses don’t struggle because their founders lack discipline. They struggle because growth demands a new kind of support system: peers who’ve been there, mentors who tell the truth, and a clearer plan for capital, technology, and scale. That’s exactly where our conversation with Alex McKindra goes, drawing a straight line from military service to building stronger outcomes for veterans and military spouses in business and beyond.

Alex is a Managing Director in Global Corporate Banking and Co-Head of Global Banking Veteran Initiatives at JPMorgan. He shares his own path from the Air Force into banking, including what made the transition challenging and how other veterans helped him break in. We get specific about what actually moves the needle: resume and interview prep, access to real opportunities, and a community that doesn’t disappear when the uniform comes off.

We also unpack CEOcircle, a yearlong program run with Syracuse University’s Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) that supports veteran CEOs and military spouse entrepreneurs who already have a company and want to grow it. We talk mentorship, education, innovation, and technology adoption, capital structure, acquisitions, and why building a cohort “tribe” can be as valuable as any single workshop. If you’re considering a civilian career path, we also cover JPMorganChase’s Military Pathways and SkillBridge programs as on-ramps into banking and financial services careers.

If this helped you, subscribe on your favorite podcast app, share it with a veteran founder or transitioning service member, and leave a review so more people can find these resources.

Transcript

Welcome And Guest Introduction

Larry Zilliox 0:00

Good morning. I'm your host, Larry Zilliox, Director of Culinary Services here at Warrior Retreat at Bull Run. And this week our guest is Alex McKindra. He's a managing director at JP Morgan Chase Banking, and he co-leads their veteran initiative. I asked them to join us to talk about their programs, and they have some wonderful programs for veterans that they hire and also uh that they reach out to in the community to help build their businesses. So uh Alex, uh welcome to the podcast. So you are prior service Air Force, and I usually take I I usually take this time to berate guests about why they joined the Army or the Navy when they could have joined the Air Force. So I uh we don't have to do that for you. Tell us a little bit about why you joined the Air Force and what what that was like for you.

Alex McKindra 0:58

Oh sure, sure. And and first and foremost, thanks again for having me today. Very much appreciated. So I served in the Air Force for years, following my graduation from West

Alex’s Air Force Story And Why

Alex McKindra 1:09

Point. And part of why for joining the military, going to West Point, and serving the Air Force is that serving veterans is really important to me personally based on my family's tree. After the Civil War, my great-great-grandfather, Reuben Frank McKindra, and his two brothers relocated to Central Arkansas to take advantage of a program which actually former black slaves purchase farmland. Over time, with help from others, he was able to maintain the land and actually grow it. And then he eventually paid it forward to others in the community by proving jobs and building a schoolhouse so everyone in the community could have access to quality education. So I want to pay it forward to the military of that community, and that's my why.

Larry Zilliox 1:57

Wow. And w what did you do in the Air Force?

Alex McKindra 2:00

So in the Air Force, I was a defense procurement officer and I was stationed at right past an Air Force base in Dayton, Ohio, and then in Los Angeles.

Larry Zilliox 2:11

Oh, okay. Two assignments. Which did you prefer to?

Alex McKindra 2:15

They were both equally fun. Um, and it was just really fun as well when I was in LA to focus on the B2 bomber program. Um, because I learned by working with very talented colleagues.

Larry Zilliox 2:27

So what made you decide to get out and not make it a 20-year career?

Alex McKindra 2:32

Well, when I was in the Air Force, I had an opportunity to get my NBA on evenings and weekends at USC. And I was just really intrigued with what I learned about banking and corporate finance. So then when I left the Air Force, I

Leaving Service And The Wall Street Jump

Alex McKindra 2:46

was fortunate enough to receive a lot of help. I mean a lot of help from fellow military veterans and working on Wall Street, and they helped me with things from resume building to prepping for interviews and most importantly gaining access to job interviews. So I would not care right now without the help from others.

Larry Zilliox 3:04

Right. How did your transition go for you?

Alex McKindra 3:06

It was not easy because again, I was coming from force and I came from a fan from a family history of military veterans, and no one in my family history had ever been on Wall Street. So I had to rely on others, sort of um educate me on different career paths and to get in. And again, that's why it's so helpful, uh, so important for me to give back to the community because I would not be here without the help from many others.

Larry Zilliox 3:32

Wow. Well, tell us about the uh the incentives and the the different programs that uh JP Morgan Chase has. Uh I know you have some really great partnerships out there, but let's kind of start with the

CEO Circle Program And The Mission

Larry Zilliox 3:47

one that I think gets the most attention is your CEO circle. Can you tell us a little bit about how that works and what it actually is?

Alex McKindra 3:56

Sure. So CEO Circle is a 12-month program where we work very closely with veteran CEOs. We help them grow their businesses through both mentorship and education. We are very fortunate enough to partner on CEO Circle with Syracuse University based on our shared goal of empowering the entire vet community. And why that's important to me is that after World War II, 50% or one of every two veterans took off the uniform and started a business. However, only 5% of three bets have chosen to do so since 9-11. So our goal is to do everything we can to help change that equation and help vet companies grow.

Larry Zilliox 4:40

And at Syracuse, you all partner with, and I know that JP, uh JP Morgan is a a big donor for the uh the NLO Institute.

Alex McKindra 4:50

Yes, that's correct.

Larry Zilliox 4:51

Yeah. Um, I know our local listeners would probably recognize that name um from the uh co-founder of Carlisle Group here in DC. But so the cohort each year uh you you have a number of um CEOs from companies that exist. So it's not it's not for veterans who are thinking about starting a business. This is these are individuals, these are veterans that have already started a business and have just come up against a wall. Or why why are they what are they seeking out when they reach out to you? What do they need?

Alex McKindra 5:30

That's a great question. So I think it's back in 2021. We realized that more opportunities need to exist for mid-sized veteran business owners. So we teamed up with Cycles University's Gangell Institute to create the circle program that exists today. And to be eligible, you have to be a military veteran or military spouse. And selection criteria includes your potential for growth. And if um if CEOs who are vets want to learn more and apply, I would highly encourage them to go to the CRQs IVMF website. Again, that's IBMF, which dance for Institution Institute for Veterans and Military.edu and look for CEO Circle. And applications for our upcoming cohort close on June 12th. So please apply now and don't wait.

Larry Zilliox 6:22

Well, listeners, we'll have that uh link in our show notes, so it'd be easy for you to find. And also two listeners, uh, if you're interested in the institute there at Syracuse University, um, we did an episode with uh Ray Towinson, who's uh their veteran uh rep up there at the institute back in season three, episode 95. So you can go back and listen to that episode and our discussion with him with what the institute does, all they have to offer, and we'll have a direct link in there to the uh CEO circle there at the institute, so you can find out more about it and um and would and they would apply through that link there, or is there another process for that?

Alex McKindra 7:08

You're correct, sir. If they could apply, they can apply into the link on a Syracuse IBMAP website.

Larry Zilliox 7:15

So what do you see is let's just say as a group collectively, what are the what's the number one thing that they come to the CEO circle with needing help with the most?

Alex McKindra 7:29

So I would say three things. First of all, they need help with finding community. As we all know, you can't build something by yourself. You need mentors, advisors, and helpers. Um, secondly, they need help with looking for ways

What Veteran CEOs Need Most

Alex McKindra 7:44

to uptier their business plan and make sure that it prioritizes innovation and technology adoption to drive growth. And third, we find that they're seeking advice on how to optimize their capital structure and pursue acquisitions to help their companies grow. And the great news is that all that and more they can get from CO Circle.

Larry Zilliox 8:04

And do you find that their needs are a little bit different for the spouses as opposed to the veteran service member?

Alex McKindra 8:13

Pretty similar. And again, I feel very passionate about this because vets and their spouses and their dependents have sacrificed a lot for the country. Um, so it's it's the least we can do to help them out. Um, and for a lot of both veterans and their spouses, they've been serving our countries, sometimes flooded overseas. So they have not had the opportunity in time to get the MBA. So our goal is through CEO Circle is to supplement that learning and help with their growth.

Larry Zilliox 8:41

Are there particular types of companies that veterans have started that lend themselves better to this program? Or is it does it really matter?

Alex McKindra 8:51

It doesn't really matter. All all across the board are very welcome. We've had companies that work in the aerospace and defense space, as you'd imagine, just based on the military service, but also consumer products, healthcare, um, you name it, all across the board are welcome.

Larry Zilliox 9:06

Uh is there a particular size? Are you looking for a company that has to employ at least a hundred people, or is there some sort of parameter for for the you know, the size of the company or what type of company it needs to be?

Alex McKindra 9:19

I would say ideally the company has at least a million to five million of revenues, although we bad companies with as much as a hundred million dollars of revenue that have that have definitely benefited for the program. And again, it's important that they're a military veteran spouse, they have the desire to grow and learn from each other. Because in addition to the great content we have in the program, which includes how they can access capital and and and um and they also receive one-on-one mentorship, they also learn from each other. I mean, these CEOs and spouses, you know, these bets and their spouses are very accomplished, they know their industries, but again, they want to find community. And so by coming to CEO's circle, they can learn from others, in addition to some really great speakers on stage.

Larry Zilliox 10:05

So what's what's the size of the cohort each year?

Alex McKindra 10:08

It's varied each year, um, but typically it's around 70.

Larry Zilliox 10:12

Well, so right off the bat, you you've you almost have a network of 70 other veteran companies that you can reach out to in your industry or in a similar industry, or just just straight up right there, you you've got a new tribe.

Alex McKindra 10:29

You're right. You have a tribe, a community, and even more, Larry, because in addition to the 70 members of each cohort, there are also over 250 alumnus that are also willing to lean in and give a hand.

Larry Zilliox 10:42

So it's sort of a built-in mentor program.

Alex McKindra 10:45

It is, it is. It's an incredible community in which the in which many great veterans and their spouses learn from each other, in addition to benefiting from some really good content.

Larry Zilliox 10:54

And is this a in-person program? Is this a Zoom program? Is this a combination thing? How does it work?

Alex McKindra 11:03

It's the best of both worlds. So we have four in-person, two-day conferences a year. And then in addition to that, between each conference, there are several opportunities to learn and network over Zoom each and every month of the year.

Larry Zilliox 11:19

And it's a year program, is that correct?

Alex McKindra 11:21

Yes, it's a 12-month program. Okay.

Larry Zilliox 11:24

Are there well let me ask you this too? It's not for everybody. Um, not only uh you you all have limited resources, the cohorts can only be so big. So what about veterans who

Military Pathways And SkillBridge Options

Larry Zilliox 11:39

uh don't have a company, but they're interested in getting into finance or the banking industry? What what do you see as an ideal candidate there? What what what I mean? I don't think that the veteran who was an EOD specialist and thrived on um that adrenaline is really an ideal candidate for a bank setting. But I mean, who's that veteran that you're looking for at JP Morgan Chase?

Alex McKindra 12:06

You know, you know, um that's a great question. From my experience, military veterans are uniquely qualified for any career fields to include banking based on their grit, attention and detail, and focus on strategy. So I would welcome any veteran who's interested in learning more about opportunities to go to the JP Morgan Careers website because we have several programs which help veterans transition into JP Morgan. Two of which have come that are top of mind are the Military Pathways program, in which we work very closely with veterans who have been in the service and help them transition into JP Morgan. It's a two-year program. And then secondly, it's a program called Skillbridge, in which we work with actually members of the military who are about to leave over a 12-week program. We help them put their toe in the water and learn more about banking just to make sure that this is the great group for them.

Larry Zilliox 13:07

Well, listeners too, if you're active duty, um, that Skillbridge program is really a wonderful program. It uh it benefits you uh as a service member, um, trying to decide what career path you might be interested in. It gives you a chance to test the waters, so to say. Um, we've seen it with I know some restaurants here locally have um brought in military chefs. And basically the military pays the salary for them to be there working. So it benefits the the business, but it also gives that service member a chance to see what it's like. And especially with JP Morgan Chase uh in banking, um there's there's a number of different ways you can go once you're in the organization, from commercial banking and you know, loans and just all sorts of career paths just within one company. Um the other thing I'd like to point out to listeners too is that Alex is a managing director. And so that's the equivalent probably of a fullbird colonel. Um he's above an executive director, but right below the generals, which means that's a pretty serious commitment on the part of JP Morgan Chase to put somebody at that level in charge of veteran initiatives. You know, it's it's not like some companies where the CEO happens to be in the lunchroom and says, Hey, you over there, weren't weren't you in the Air Force? Oh, okay, you're in charge of veteran initiatives. Thanks for your service. And I think that goes a long way to show how JP Morgan Chase really values veterans and what they on they understand actually what veterans bring to the table. Um so I really, I really think that's uh commendable, Alex, that JP Morgan has really taken such a strong interest in not only um the programs you have in-house, but working with uh Syracuse University. I know that you all are a major donor and supporter of that program there too.

Alex McKindra 15:24

Thank you for saying that. And as an employee, I'm extremely proud of how vested JP Morgan is and how they're laser focused on making an impact on the broader military veteran community. I'm very proud to serve here.

Larry Zilliox 15:36

Well, let me ask you this real quick. I know um you're a busy guy, so uh I I just really have one more question for you. Um, are there any veteran initiatives, new veteran initiatives

The Three E’s And What’s Next

Larry Zilliox 15:51

you would like to see JP Morgan Chase institute in the next, say, three to five years?

Alex McKindra 15:58

Well, as I said before, JP Morgan is laser focused on making impact on the on the military veteran community. We target, we like to call the three E's of employment, entrepreneurship, and education. On the employment front, we lead the best job mission and a partner with other corporations to create over one million jobs for military bets and their spouses. On the front of entrepreneurship, again, we're very close to Syracuse University on CEO Circle to help vet companies grow. And then on the education front, we are training vets on important topics, such as how to gain access to capital and we and we provide one-on-one mentorship. Our goal is to position military members, vets, and their families to thrive in the post-service lives. So my goal is that JP Morgan continues to go deep in each of these on the employment, entrepreneurship, and education front, again, to help improve the lives of military veterans.

Larry Zilliox 16:53

Well, I'll tell you we can't thank you enough for all that you do to support the program within JPMorgan Chase and for everything the company does uh for veterans and spouses and the entire family. I think it's just wonderful the work that you do.

Alex McKindra 17:08

Thank you again, Larry. And for all the listeners, especially those who are um CEOs of vet companies, please go to the Syracuse IDMF website and get smart about CEO Circle and apply now because applications for the upcoming cohort close on June 12th.

Larry Zilliox 17:26

Oh, so time's running out, listeners. You want to go to that webpage? The link will be in the show notes. So go ahead and check it out. Um I I really thanks thanks so much for joining us, Alex. I really appreciate it.

Alex McKindra 17:40

And thank you, Leigh, for having me here today.

Larry Zilliox 17:42

Well, listeners, we'll have another episode next Monday morning at 0500. You can find

Deadline Reminder And Closing

Larry Zilliox 17:47

us on all the major podcast platforms. We're on YouTube and Reese Across America Radio. So until then, thanks for listening.