Military Friendly® Honors 2025 Veteran of the Year® and Vetrepreneur of the Year® Winners
Celebrating Excellence: The 2025 Military Friendly® Veteran Awards
On November 10, 2025, Military Friendly® made waves in the nation as it proudly unveiled the State and National honorees for its esteemed Veteran of the Year® and Vetrepreneur of the Year® awards. This year's event broke records with nominations flooding in from all 50 states, demonstrating the incredible contributions and impact of veterans who continue to shape their communities long after their service.
These awards are more than just accolades; they embody the essence of leadership fostered by the veteran community. Nominees include veterans who have demonstrated a commitment to service-driven leadership, professional triumphs, and significant contributions as champions of their communities and as entrepreneurial trailblazers. Each finalist was handpicked from a plethora of submissions, showcasing a rich mosaic of military backgrounds, branches, and ventures, all united under the shared ethos of purpose and transformation that extends beyond their military service.
"The VOY awards program signifies more than mere recognition; it declares the ongoing dedication of veterans to build resilient communities, ethical businesses, and leadership grounded in purpose," stated Kayla Lopez, Vice President of Memberships at Military Friendly®. "Every nominee and winner stands as a testament that service is an unending journey—it evolves and continues to inspire change."
To select the winners, Military Friendly® engaged in a meticulous process involving peer nominations, public voting, and assessments by a council of peers, culminating in panel interviews.
2025 Veteran of the Year® Honorees
- - Melissa Fulmore-Hardwick (FL) - National Veteran of the Year®
- - Freeman Degboe (NV) - Veteran of the Year® in Corporate America
- - Tony Ramirez (TX) - Veteran of the Year® for Community Impact
- - Kevin Ho (TN) - Veteran of the Year® in Higher Education
- - Terrence Hayes (MD) - Veteran of the Year® Leadership Award
- - Joanna Santorum Finnell (AZ) - Veteran of the Year® Coast Guard
- - Britt Conroy (CT) - Veteran of the Year® Air Force
- - Brian Heffernan (VA) - Veteran of the Year® Army
- - Alex Mattmiller (HI) - Veteran of the Year® Marine Corps
- - Melissa A. Washington (CA) - Veteran of the Year® Navy
- - Donnell E. Johns Sr. (VA) - Veteran of the Year® Non-Profit
2025 National Vetrepreneur of the Year® Honorees
- - Alec Hall, Alliance Cyber (CA) - Vetrepreneur of the Year® Small Business
- - Rheanna Sinnett, The Floating Nomad (ME) - Vetrepreneur of the Year® Lifestyle Business
- - Kevin Dougherty, CertaPro of Durham (NC) - Vetrepreneur of the Year® Franchise
- - Dave Liniger, REMAX (CO) - Vetrepreneur of the Year® Hall of Fame
These distinguished honorees reflect the pinnacle of veteran excellence. They are leaders committed to ongoing service, inspiration, and community transformation. Military Friendly® not only celebrates their accomplishments but also encourages everyone to recognize veterans making significant impacts.
If you know a veteran who exhibits remarkable leadership, consider submitting a nomination for the 2026 Military Friendly Veteran® or Vetrepreneur® of the Year at militaryfriendly.com/voy. For a complete list of the state winners for the 2025 Veteran of the Year®, please visit state winners. To view the state winners for the 2025 Vetrepreneur of the Year®, click here.
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