TAVS USA is proud to announce that Michael Thompson has joined the team and will serve as Senior Producer. In this role, Michael will head the development of original content drawn from the experiences of TAVS USA candidates from the military and first responder communities. For those who made the ultimate sacrifice, their stories will be told by family members and by those who served with them.

Michael currently is Co/Owner-Founder of The Riff Factory as a Producer, Record/Mix Engineer, and Musician-Offering music for TV/Film and gaming. His extensive experience in audio, production, and logistics spans acts such as Travis Scott, Zakk Wylde, Jerry Cantrell, Five Finger Death Punch, Poison, and The Smashing Pumpkins, to name a few.

Starting his career at The Hit Factory NYC, Michael had the unique opportunity to work with recording legends such as Nile Rodgers, David Bowie, Eric Clapton, Joan Jett, and Cyndi Lauper, among others.

Michael’s technical experience and industry knowledge enable TAVS USA to build a foundation for veterans and first responders to share their stories while opening doors to further development opportunities for them. Please join us in welcoming him and thanking him for his contribution to our expanding organization.

TAVS USA is proud to announce that the Sales Verification Certification Program’s pilot class is wrapping up as we launch our second class. Based on the lessons learned during our launch and the program pilot, we will continue to refine our training while expanding access to meaningful careers.

Thanks to a recent state university partnership, we also are working on a path towards college credit and apprenticeship opportunities for our students. Advisory support from RCTAA and ongoing recruitment and placement through Veterans Hiring Solutions will remain in place further strengthening our organizational ecosystem. Looking ahead, TAVS will begin to develop original content based on student interviews to give those who have served their country and their communities a greater voice to educate and encourage us all.

We would like to thank the pilot participants. Their commitment and dedication inspired us while validating the TAVS mission. We also want to thank our advisors, instructors, team leaders, and supporters. They selflessly gave their time and expertise based on an idea they believed could help others.

We look forward to ongoing expansion and program enhancements in 2026.

Thanks to the sponsorship of COMCAST Business, TAVS USA is increasing the Fall/Winter 2025 class by 400 student seats.  The current start date of 10/21/25 will not change, but registration will remain open for three additional weeks, giving more veterans, first responders, and their families the opportunity to join this semester.  Later registrations will be afforded an extended completion date based on their actual registration date. Only our gradation date will change from 01/07/26 to 01/29/26 so that we ensure that every graduate finishes side by side together.

TAVS USA is honored to welcome Giles Walger to our Advisory Board. Giles is the founder of OODAx Holding LLC, a firm that delivers business development as a service to pre-series A startups bringing mission-critical technology to the U.S. Government. With an active TS/SCI clearance and a trusted network of partners, he drives solutions that cut through bureaucracy and deliver results where they matter most.

Giles retired from the Marine Corps after 20 years of infantry service, where he led high-impact initiatives such as launching the Visit, Board, Search and Seizure program. After transitioning from the military, he joined Amazon, quickly advancing to senior operations manager before moving to AWS, where he helped stand up the Mission Engineering team. His leadership directly improved PROJECT MAVEN, the Department of Defense’s flagship initiative to apply artificial intelligence to defense intelligence and battlefield operations and drove solutions across global theaters of operation.

Giles brings battle-tested experience, proven innovation, and a relentless focus on mission success—qualities that will strengthen TAVS USA’s mission and impact.

In this leadership role, Robert will guide a council made up of program students and transition assistance advisors. Together, they will deliver unfiltered feedback and strategic recommendations directly to the TAVS USA Board, ensuring our program continues to improve and deliver maximum value to those we serve.

This milestone underscores our commitment to building a program shaped not only for students—but by students.

As the Founder and CEO of Magnify Success and Chief Partnerships Officer at the Impact Innovation Foundation (IIF), she is widely recognized for her ability to bridge people and resources, creating pathways to achievement and meaningful impact. Her career includes more than two decades at COMCAST, where she worked alongside executives and rising leaders to foster development, resilience, and career advancement.

Through Magnify Success, Brandee empowers individuals with coaching, workshops, and strategic guidance designed to help professionals magnify their potential and lead with integrity, confidence, and clarity. Her holistic approach emphasizes not only career growth, but also authentic connection and purpose-driven leadership.

In addition to her professional roles, Brandee is a passionate community leader, serving on multiple boards and supporting organizations dedicated to uplifting others. Her session will equip participants with the skills and confidence to present with purpose, impact, and authenticity.

We are proud to announce that Daniel Hardy, a nationally recognized top-producing Enterprise Sales Executive with Comcast Business, will lead TEAM Hotel for the Fall 2025 Inaugural Class. As Team Leader, Daniel will guide a cohort of 10 participants through the Sales Verification Certification process, offering them hands-on mentorship, real-world insights, and a front-row seat to the art of enterprise sales. His leadership will not only elevate participant learning but also provide a rare and invaluable perspective from the front lines of sales success.

Daniel Hardy is a top-producing Enterprise Sales Executive at Comcast Business, recognized as a two-time President’s Club winner and one of the leading performers nationwide. With over seven years of progressive sales leadership at Comcast Business, Daniel has consistently delivered results across the hospitality sector, driving growth through innovative solutions in dedicated fiber, cybersecurity, and global SD-WAN. Currently serving as an Enterprise Account Executive for the Mid-Atlantic Region, he partners with organizations to modernize their networks, safeguard digital assets, and scale operations with confidence.

Anthony Castellano is a seasoned Enterprise Solutions Account Executive at Comcast Business, bringing more than 20 years of technology and enterprise sales leadership to the role. For over 14 years with Comcast Business, Anthony has specialized in designing, building, and managing custom enterprise solutions that empower organizations to scale, innovate, and operate with agility.

Since 2020, Anthony has led at the national level, providing strategic enterprises with advanced solutions across dedicated fiber, SD-WAN, WAN optimization, hosted voice, network infrastructure, and cloud migration. Previously, as a Strategic Enterprise Account Executive in the Greater Chicago Area, he delivered smarter network agility strategies to Fortune 1000 clients, ensuring businesses leveraged bandwidth from 10 Mbps to 100 Gbps, private fiber networks, and enterprise voice platforms to drive performance.

Anthony’s career path reflects both entrepreneurial drive and corporate expertise, spanning leadership roles at XO Communications, MI-BOX Moving & Mobile Storage, and Waste Solutions Corp. His foundation in Business Administration, Marketing, and Advertising from Lewis University further complements his ability to connect technology innovation with measurable business value.

Known for his integrity, vision, and results-oriented approach, Anthony continues to serve as a trusted advisor to enterprises navigating the rapidly evolving digital landscape.

David is the Senior Director of Business Services for COMCAST’s Mid-Atlantic Region, a role he has successfully led for over 14 years. With nearly four decades of experience in telecommunications, David has built a reputation as a consistent, decisive, and forward-thinking leader who drives performance while shaping the future of business connectivity.

At COMCAST, David oversees Business Services across multiple states, guiding teams that deliver critical solutions—including Internet, Mobile, Voice, TV, VoIP Systems, and Network Security. Under his leadership, the Mid-Atlantic region has consistently delivered top-tier results, fueled by his commitment to operational excellence, customer impact, and cultivating diverse, high-performing teams.

Prior to joining COMCAST, David served as Regional General Manager for Sprint, where he managed Wireless, Wireline, and Local Telco operations across Virginia and Eastern North Carolina. His teams achieved some of the highest performance rankings in the nation. Beyond his corporate responsibilities, David has served for nine years on the Board of Directors for the Virginia Cable Telecommunications Association / The Broadband Association of Virginia, helping shape policy and industry growth.

David holds a B.S. in Psychology from St. Lawrence University and is recognized as a visionary leader who blends strategic discipline with a people-first approach to drive sustained success.

This block of instruction is designed to provide students with practical guidance on how to maximize the automation tools available to jump start their career in sales.  Jason is a U.S. Navy Veteran and accomplished sales executive with over 15 years of experience in Business Sales, Enterprise Direct Sales, and Strategic Account Sales across leading technology providers including Comcast Business, Allstream/Zayo, and Astound Broadband. He is the founder of Quantify 360 Solutions, Inc., a technical consulting firm based in the Greater Seattle Area, focused on helping small businesses embrace digital transformation through practical AI applications and full-service technology solutions. Jason has been prompting with ChatGPT for over three years and has completed advanced coursework in AI/ML and Prompt Engineering through Eastern Washington University, Augment, and other platforms. A passionate advocate for emerging technologies like AI and Web3, he also serves as a mentor with American Corporate Partners, supporting veterans transitioning into corporate careers.