#44: Mark Rockefeller – Air Force Veteran, Street Shares CEO

Borne the Battle

In the Veteran community, there are people you hear of and hear about over and over but never meet or engage with. Mark Rockefeller was on my radar for years. I heard about Street Shares, the company he co-founded, when they first started. I never had the opportunity to interview him for my former programs, so he made the short list when we launched This Week at VA. Just a couple weeks ago, I finally got the opportunity to talk with him. I visited Street Share's cozy space in Reston, VA and talked with him about serving in the Air Force, being an entrepreneur, Veteran owned businesses, and much more.

About Mark:

Mark began his career as a military officer, and later as an attorney. Following service in Iraq, Mark worked briefly on a pro bono micro-finance project in Africa before joining the prominent global financial services law firm Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP. His law practice focused on securities, financial restructuring, and international investment disputes. Inspired by his experience in Africa and a desire to reinvigorate small businesses in the United States (particularly veteran-owned small businesses), Mark left the law firm in 2013 to co-found StreetShares. He holds a B.S. in Finance, and advanced degrees in Finance and Law. Mark provides strategic leadership and vision to StreetShares and ensures our talented team has what it needs to serve our customers. Mark's favorite American Main Street is Main Street, Breckenridge, CO.

Covered in Episode 43:

• Secretary Shulkin's remarks on the signing of Choice and Quality Employment Act
• Interview with Air Force Veteran Mark Rockefeller
  • Why he decided to join the Air Force
  • His experience in the military
  • Handling legal cases in a conflict zone
  • Founding Street Shares
  • Entrepreneurship among Veterans
• Office of Small & Disadvantaged Business Utilization
• #VeteranOfTheDay Marine Corps Veteran Robert Estrada