Originally posted on Oct 15, 2024 by Military Entrepreneur Magazine

In the heart of Alexandria, Virginia, a social impact company is redefining how corporations, foundations, and individuals connect with the military community. Kevin Schmiegel, a retired Marine Corps Lieutenant Colonel, is at the helm of ZeroMils, a company committed to creating “military thriving” cultures within organizations across America. With a distinguished military background and a proven track record of building impactful initiatives, Schmiegel’s entrepreneurial journey is as inspiring as it is impactful.

From Marine Corps to Mission-Driven Leadership, Kevin Schmiegel’s military career spanned over 20 years, during which he served at the highest levels of the Department of Defense. From deploying to more than 50 countries to playing key roles in NATO and U.S. European Command, Schmiegel’s service was marked by leadership, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to his country. His roles included serving as Aide de Camp to the NATO and U.S. European Commander and spearheading the assignment and retention of 172,000 Marines worldwide during a time of war. His experience culminated in working on the peace process between Israel and Palestine, as the military assistant to the Special Envoy for Middle East Regional Security.

Upon retiring from the Marine Corps in 2009, Schmiegel transitioned to the civilian sector with the same mission-focused mindset. He served as Chief of Staff at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. where he founded Hiring Our Heroes (HOH), quickly transforming it into the largest veteran and military spouse employment nonprofit in the country. His leadership continued at the helm of other national military and veteran nonprofits, where he raised $100 million and impacted over 10 million Americans.

The Birth of ZeroMils: A New Vision for Military Thriving

Kevin Schmiegel founded ZeroMils in response to a gap he observed in how military-connected families were supported in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. “In corporate America, terms like ‘military- friendly’ or ‘military-ready’ are often used to describe a company’s culture,” says Schmiegel. “But at ZeroMils, we believe these terms imply a one- sided value proposition. We aim to build ‘military-thriving’ cultures, where both the company and its military-connected employees can grow and thrive together.”

ZeroMils’ mission is to create military-thriving cultures by partnering with corporations to hire, value, and retain military talent, support military families through purpose-driven nonprofits, and effectively communicate these efforts through marketing strategies. The company’s unique approach involves collaborating with Talent Acquisition, Social Impact, and Marketing teams to create an integrated strategy that breaks down silos and engages Veteran and Diversity Employee Resource Groups (ERGS).

Overcoming Challenges and Celebrating Milestones

Starting ZeroMils was not without its challenges. “The biggest challenge was not having the infrastructure of a large organization to support our vision,” Schmiegel reflects. “When I founded Hiring Our Heroes, I had the weight of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce behind me. As an entrepreneur, resources are limited. But that’s where resilience and adaptability come into play.”

Despite these challenges, ZeroMils has achieved significant milestones. The company’s “Portfolio of Purpose,” which includes 50 best-in-class nonprofits, has collectively reached and impacted millions of veterans and their families. Over the past six months, ZeroMils developed a system to measure success in three key areas: hiring rates for military and veteran talent, employee engagement through ERGS, and audience reach through media.

Defining Success and Leaving a Legacy

For Schmiegel, success is about more than just business growth—it’s about living and breathing the mission. “Success is ensuring that every service member, veteran, and family we touch realize the five things we need to thrive post-military service: meaningful employment, finding purpose through continued service, being part of a connected community, health and well-being, and continuous self-improvement,” he explains.

Schmiegel’s legacy through ZeroMils is clear: to create a military-thriving movement that strengthens communities and bridges the civilian-military divide. “We want our history to be every veteran’s and military spouse’s future,” he says. “Success is not just about our achievements but about helping others thrive.”

Lessons Learned and Words of Wisdom

Throughout his entrepreneurial journey, Schmiegel has learned valuable lessons. “Never give up. Iterate and evolve,” he advises. His approach to setbacks is grounded in the concept of “intelligent failure,” where every failure is seen as an opportunity for learning and growth.

For those looking to start a business in this industry, Schmiegel offers two key pieces of advice: ensure there is a need for your products or services, and differentiate your brand in a crowded space. His approach to entrepreneurship is one of relentless pursuit and dedication, where work and life blend seamlessly into a mission-driven existence.

The Future of ZeroMils

Looking ahead, Kevin Schmiegel remains focused on expanding the impact of ZeroMils. His vision is to continue creating military-thriving cultures and to change the narrative about how veterans, military spouses, and their families are seen and heard in the workplace and society. “We are all called to serve in different ways.” Schmiegel concludes. “What’s most important is that we answer the calling, whatever it may be.”