3rd Annual Change Forum

June 9

Georgetown University

Washington, DC 20057
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Our 3rd Annual Military Thriving Change Forum will build on the momentum we created at the first two convenings, where we crowd-sourced an actionable Military Thriving community model, and then executed it at stakeholder meetings and Uniting In Service events in 15 different regions of the country during 2025.

At this year’s Forum in partnership with Georgetown University we will:

  • Feature community leaders from the six cities where our Military Thriving Action Coalition has committed to hosting Regional Change Forums in 2026.
  • Prioritize education and entrepreneurship pathways, giving voice to subject matter experts that will empower our community to make better, more informed decisions about opportunities available to them in transition, opening their apertures and helping them thrive in the workplace and in society.
  • Deliver on the pledge we made in testimony before the House Committee on Small Business, giving thousands of Veteran and military spouse entrepreneurs a seat at the table at our national and regional change forums both in person and virtually.

In recognizing the contributions of Veteran and military spouse small business owners to our country, our economy, and our communities we will make them an integral part of our Military Thriving movement and empower thousands more as the engine of growth, change and impact at the local level.

About Us

ZeroMils is a term of both science and art, used in the military to describe a state of perfection that accounts for accuracy and effectiveness. Once attained, ZeroMils allows  you to achieve maximum impact on a target.

Our mission as social impact consultants to corporations and nonprofit organizations is to create Military Thriving cultures and communities. Our vision is to use our experiences to make our history every Veteran’s and Military Spouse’s future—with a focus on small business owners like us.

We are intentional in our efforts to serve alongside organizations and leaders who focus on what we know to be true:  that although Veterans and their families face unique challenges, the vast majority of us overcome them and thrive as a result of our service and not in spite of it.

Our Founders

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Kevin Schmiegel
CEO

Kevin Schmiegel is CEO at ZeroMils. A retired Marine Corps lieutenant colonel, Kevin is a mission-focused leader with a proven track record for rapidly scaling nonprofits and a reputation for delivering significant results. Kevin founded Hiring Our Heroes at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and was CEO of two other national nonprofits. Raising $100 million for these causes over a decade, Kevin and his teams have impacted millions of Americans, in and out of uniform. He is a proud husband to Laura and a father of five.

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Paul Cucinotta
President & COO

Paul Cucinotta is a retired Marine Corps colonel who after serving on active duty for almost three decades followed his passion for service to the non-profit space to help individuals thrive, while strengthening communities and bridging the civilian service divide. This ultimately led him to founding ZeroMils with fellow Marine Veteran and long-time friend, Kevin Schmiegel where they are creating Military Thriving® cultures and communities with their clients and partners in the places where they live, work and serve. Paul and his wife Beth have four children and three grandchildren, and when not serving their community can be found enjoying the beach on the Crystal Coast of North Carolina.