To all veterans of all branches – especially those who are a part of our eMoney team: Thank you for your sacrifice, your bravery, and the example you set for us all. In short, thank you for your service. We salute you today and every day.
To honor and recognize our eMoney veterans, we’ve profiled a few employees below so that you can learn more about their experiences in the military.
If you’re a veteran and would like to share your story, please email life@emoneyadvisor.com and we’ll make sure to add you to the list of profiles below!
Senior HRIS Manager, People Experience
Dave knew early on he wanted to be a Marine – following in his father’s footsteps and drawn to the sense of camaraderie and purpose. Just days after turning 18, he left for boot camp, stepping into an experience that would shape the next decade of his life.
Over the next 10 years, his role as a Combat Correspondent took him around the world, documenting the stories of fellow Marines – from privates to generals – across more than 30 countries, including Middle East, Norway, French Martinique, Iwo Jima, Guam. Along the way, he experienced everything from cold-weather training above the Arctic Circle (with the Northern Lights overhead) to supporting relief efforts after Hurricane Andrew in 1992.
“While I was deployed in Norway, we had set up our tents for the night and the Aurora Borealis was right above us. It was like an invisible hand was painting colors in the sky and was spectacular to see.“
Dave served in the first Gulf War from August 1990 to February 1991. After 10 months deployed at sea and in the desert, coming home took time. Crowded rooms felt overwhelming, and it wasn’t always easy to relate to others back home.
But if you ask Dave what stayed with him most, and it’s the perspective. Seeing how others live around the world gave him a deep appreciation for life back home – and reinforced a belief that he could handle whatever came his way.
He’ll also tell you it wasn’t all serious. Between deployments, there were moments of humor, strong friendships, and unforgettable experiences – like trading gear with international troops (one trade he’s proud of is his Zippo lighter for an Israeli soldier’s beret), imitations of drill instructors (+ lots of pushups to follow) or navigating adventures with his best friend and fellow Marine, Blayne.
At the heart of it all, Dave’s service was about camaraderie, resilience, and showing up when it mattered most – values that continue to shape how he approaches life and work today.
Advisory Web Designer, Technology
Kyle’s path to the United States Navy started with family. Raised in an Air Force household (his mother and father), service was always part of his world – and in 1992, he made it official, enlisting in Anchorage, Alaska, where he was sworn in by his father, a U.S. Air Force Colonel.
During his time in the Navy, Kyle served aboard the USS Fort Fisher, traveling across the Pacific and around the world. His deployments took him to places like Pearl Harbor, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Australia – but also into more intense moments, including retreiving UN Peacekeepers off the beach during Operation United Shield in Somalia.
Some experiences were unforgettable in quieter ways – like crossing the Pacific in rough seas, with the ship tilting so dramatically it turned everyday movement into a challenge. Others stood out for entirely different reasons, like playing guitar in a band in front of hundreds of people while deployed in Dubai.
Through it all, Kyle gained a deeper understanding of teamwork, sacrifice, and what it truly means to serve. He also discovered something about himself – that he was capable of more than he thought, even in the most demanding situations.
His time in the Navy didn’t just shape his experience – it shaped his perspective. It gave him a lasting appreciation for commitment, adaptability, and the lessons that stay with you long after service ends.
Systems Administrator, Information and Security
Joe’s path into the U.S. Army started with a leap of faith. At 19, unsure of what was next and coming from a family with a long history of service, he decided to follow in their footsteps—and hasn’t looked back since.
“Taking that leap of faith was one of the best decisions I ever made – it shaped who I am today.”
From day one, it was a shock to the system. Leaving behind the comfort of home, Joe was dropped into a fast-paced, high-pressure environment where the rules were simple: listen, learn, and don’t stand out for the wrong reasons. Six weeks of basic training at Fort Jackson tested him physically and mentally, but it also set the foundation for who he would become.
Over the next several years, Joe served with the 101st Airborne Division in Kentucky and later with the 25th Infantry Division in Hawaii, with time spent in South Korea along the way. Whether hiking through forests in Tennessee or snorkeling off the coast of Hawaii, his experience blended hard work with moments of adventure and lasting friendships – including one with “Big Jim,” a fellow soldier he’s still close with today.
Ask Joe what he gained from his time in service, and it comes down to the fundamentals: structure, teamwork, respect, and pride. It also gave him confidence – proving to himself that he could rise to a challenge (and even earned expert marksman status with the M-16, hitting 37 out of 40 targets ranging from 50 to 300 meters).
Looking back, Joe is most proud of taking a chance on something unknown and turning it into an experience that shaped his life in lasting ways.
QA Analyst, Technology
For Shawn, joining the Navy felt like a natural fit. Growing up in Rhode Island, he’d always been drawn to the water – so choosing his path was an easy decision.
After boot camp and training in Virginia Beach, Shawn was assigned to the USS DeWert, a guided-missile frigate that would take him far beyond the East Coast. What followed was exactly what the Navy promises- an adventure. Fun fact: The DeWert has since been decommissioned and can be seen in a shipyard in Philadelphia.
His time in service included deployments across the Caribbean and a six-month tour in the Mediterranean, where he experienced new cultures, countries, and perspectives along the way. For Shawn, those moments – stepping off the ship into a new place, taking it all in, and yes, sometimes heading straight for a familiar McDonald’s – are what made the experience unforgettable.
One memory that stands out most is participating in Fleet Week in New York City. Walking through the city in uniform, he was met with an outpouring of appreciation – strangers stopping to say thank you or ask for photos. It was a powerful reminder of the pride and connection that comes with serving.
Looking back, Shawn describes his time in the Navy exactly as it’s often advertised – not just a job, but an experience that opened his world in ways he’ll never forget.
Learning Manager, People Experience
Doug’s path to the Marine Corps started simply – he and a friend decided to enlist together. In the end, Doug followed through, beginning his service in February 1985, inspired in part by his father’s time in the Navy.
From the start, life in the Marines pushed him in new ways. Basic training was mentally demanding, stripping everything down and rebuilding it with discipline and purpose. It wasn’t easy – but it set the tone for everything that followed.
Doug served in the infantry across North Carolina, California, and Panama, where one thing stood out above all else: the camaraderie. The bonds formed quickly and ran deep – built through shared challenges, experiences, and a sense of relying on one another.
Of course, not every memory was serious. He still remembers the relentless sand fleas during boot camp and being told not to swat them because, as the drill instructor put it, “my sand fleas need to eat too.”
Through it all, Doug stayed connected to home the old-fashioned way – handwritten letters – and carried with him a strong sense of purpose and resilience.
Looking back, his time in the Marines was defined by the people, the discipline, and the experiences that shaped him along the way.
Thank you for your service to United States of America (USA). Excellent stories! Happy Veteran’s Day!