Open to all and FREE to attend! We believe that great things don’t happen in a vacuum, and we encourage everyone to venture out to network at Chance Meetings.
What does it take to go from commanding troops to commanding a boardroom? For veterans who've made the leap into entrepreneurship, the answer often comes down to the same skills that kept them sharp in uniform: discipline, adaptability, and a deep commitment to mission.
Join us for a Chance Meetings panel featuring four members of our community whose military careers have shaped the way they build, lead, and serve. Todd Hanna, a decorated Marine Corps Captain with two combat tours in Iraq, has spent years guiding startups and early-stage companies through growth as founder of Belay On Advisors, and has held leadership roles at organizations like Kate's Real Food and Vertical Harvest. Matt Adkins, founder of Mountaineer Spirits and a former Army infantry commander in the 10th Mountain Division, is channeling his operational background into building a sustainability-driven whiskey brand in the Tetons. Eric Bressler, founder of Alpine Infrastructure, is tackling avalanche mitigation with remote technology used at resorts like Jackson Hole Mountain Resort and Alta. And Lauren Gurney, an Army Major who has spent 21 years flying UH-60 Black Hawks (often as the maintenance test pilot who takes the aircraft up after it's been taken apart to make sure it still flies), has kept a second career going in the kitchen the whole time, from owning Cocopelli Chocolatier in Santa Fe to baking for Dornan's and Jackson Cake Co. She's now bringing that same systems mindset to her next venture.
Whether you've served, started a company, or are simply curious about what drives people to take big risks for a bigger purpose, this conversation has something for you. Our panelists will dig into the lessons that carry over from military life to business, the challenges that don't come with a playbook, and why a mission-driven mindset matters for any entrepreneur.
You don't need a startup or a military background to walk away with something valuable. Come ready to listen and connect.
About Our Panelists:
Matt Adkins is an independent AI software consultant who builds custom tools and AI workflows to solve business needs. He also has entrepreneurial experience in the outdoor sports industry, governemnt contracting, and beverage alcohol. As an infantry commander of a 150-soldier company in Afghanistan with the 10th Mountain Division, he learned to take on new roles quickly and adapt to changing mission requirements.
Eric Bressler is the founder and CEO of Alpine Infrastructure Inc., a construction and manufacturing company building remote avalanche control and detection systems for ski resorts and mountain infrastructure programs across the West, including Jackson Hole, Alta, Park City, Crested Butte, and Mammoth. He has deep roots in mountain construction and at-height rope-access work, and previously served as Wyoming DOT's at-height and rigging instructor. A U.S. Navy veteran, Eric brings that same discipline and ownership to building and scaling a construction and engineering company from the ground up.
MAJ Lauren Gurney has served 21 years in the Army flying UH-60 Black Hawks, most notably as a maintenance test pilot… the person who takes the aircraft up after it's been taken apart to make sure it still agrees to fly. Along the way she kept a second career going in the kitchen, owning Cocopelli Chocolatier in Santa Fe, baking for her family's business at Dornan's, and caking Jackson Cake Co., all while serving in the National Guard. After recent years in command and on full-time active duty, she's turning that same systems mindset toward her next venture, whether the system in question has rotor blades or a sourdough starter. Lo is also featured in Lindsay Linton Buk's Women Shaping the West.
Todd Hanna currently serves as the Founder and Managing Director of Hoplon Equity Partners. He is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, having served six years as a Marine Officer, including two combat tours in Iraq. In the private sector, Todd has more than 30 years of leadership and operating experience across startups, growing businesses, and established companies. He has led entire organizations and teams across operations, finance, sales and marketing, HR, risk management, logistics, strategy, and organizational change. His experience spans multple industries including CPG, construction, real estate, manufacturing, financial services, nonprofit, and venture capital.