Meet Our Partners
We invite you to join us!
Gretchen Evans
Founder, Team Unbroken 
After joining the Army in 1979 to help pay for her education, Evans quickly realized, as she says, military life was her calling. Over 27 years of service she worked her way up to Command Sergeant Major, the highest non-commissioned officer rank in the military. In 2006, she was deployed in Afghanistan when she was severely injured by a rocket blast, landing her in an Army hospital in Germany. When she awoke, Evans learned that she had suffered total hearing loss and a traumatic brain injury, which would end her military career. In the months to come, suffering from severe depression and PTSD, Evans struggled to find her footing, but then found a path forward through mentoring and competition. Evans has since founded Team Unbroken which competed in the TV series World’s Toughest Race Eco-Challenge: Fiji, is a nationally known motivational speaker, and was inducted into the U.S. Army Women’s Hall of Fame and U.S. Veteran Hall of Fame – all on top of a military career that saw her win numerous medals and awards from the Bronze Star to a Presidential Unit Citation Medal, several Global War on Terrorism ribbons, and six Meritorious Service Medals.
Mike Evock
Founder, Racing For Heroes
Retired Special Forces Chief Warrant Officer Three (CW3-180A) Mike Evock is founder of Racing For Heroes. During active duty Mike suffered more than 50 “significant” injuries, of which several were life threatening. This “ghost warrior” has come back from the brink to become a champion for veterans. Mike founded RFH as a way to use racing to recreate the solidarity experienced during active duty for the men and women who are now veterans. In addition to motorsports therapy, Racing For Heroes has grown to offer free mental & physical health treatments and job training & placement.
Stephanie Brown
Founder, The Rosie Network
Founder of The Rosie Network, and co-founder of the US Military Spouse Chamber of Commerce, Stephanie is a senior military spouse, wife of the late R. Admiral Thomas L. Brown (SEAL). TRN’s mission is to provide business owners and budding military entrepreneurs the kind of business training and support needed to ensure the greatest opportunity for success. It also offers Rosie’s List, a means for customers to locate verified military family-owned businesses. She’s a member of the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Spouse Ambassador Network and has been presented the Commander’s Award for Civilian Service by the Commanding General of Special Operations Command SOUTH.
Monique Clarke
Founder, Lioness Defense Firearms Training
A first generation daughter, born in the U.S. to Jamaican natives, Monique Clarke’s self-discipline and indomitable work ethic led her to a career in the Marines. That career in turn led to her entrepreneurial journey. Between combat tours in Iraq, she earned her Combat Marksmanship Trainer certification in Japan and prepared other Marines for deployment. This is where Monique discovered her talent in firearms instruction. Fueled by a passion to mentor others and inspired by the art of marksmanship, she began dreaming of starting a business in firearms instruction. 13 years later, while still on active duty and with 14 years experience as a certified combat marksmanship instructor, she launched Lioness Defense Firearms Training where she and her instructors “aim to empower.”
Annette Whittenberger
Founder, A Wild Ride Called Life
Annette Whittenberger is a retired disabled Army combat veteran, mother, military spouse, and the founder of A Wild Ride Called Life. She started A Wild Ride Called Life as a blog after she retired, to help reflect on and deal with her life’s journey and traumas she’s faced – a sexual assault, a devastating car accident, and military-related incidents – that all led to debilitating PTSD, anxiety, and depression. This simple blog touched so many people, it evolved into Annette’s next act as a mental health advocate, speaker, mentor, and coach. She also helps guide active duty military as they transition into the civilian world, is host of the podcast The Truths We Hide, and author of The Wall Between Two Lives.
