May 2, 2018
Casey McEuin, President and Executive Director of Project
RELO, is dedicated to improve the lives of others with a family
first mentality. He talks with Jim and Jan on what makes Project
RELO an unorthodox and transformational organization for effecting
change in both veterans and corporate executives. He shares how
they are helping rewrite the way companies value, hire and place
veterans.
Key Takeaways
[6:40] Project RELO encourages
the veterans who have already been in leadership positions to aim
high when looking for work. They also work with the executives on
hiring veterans established in leadership which benefits the
culture and the revenue.
[7:36] Taking over Project RELO
was an opportunity for Casey to operationalize the
business.
[13:15] Casey enlisted because
he wanted a sense of belonging and to be part of something bigger
than himself. As an athlete as well he sees many parallels between
the mindset qualities that benefit leaders from inspiring others in
business including perseverance, tenacity and providing service to
the team.
[17:50] Casey’s shares the
extreme highs and lows of his injury and recovery from serving in
Afghanistan. Bedridden and told by doctors to learn to live in a
wheelchair, he developed a strong sense of resiliency, and to focus
on what is important in the moment. Each day he pushed himself just
a little bit more, and used the people who said he couldn’t walk as
fuel to take his first unassisted step.
[25:54] Asking for help is a
sign of power, not weakness. Project RELO is not there to give a
handout, but to create a handshake and positive networking
experience between the veterans and executives.
[35:43] All of the trials and
tribulations had led Casey to the perfect moment - to meet his wife
Sage. This is a testament to trusting the greater plan, and having
faith in the process when you are working hard in the thick of a
situation, whether it’s with health, business or
leadership.
LinkedIn: @ProjectRELO
Facebook: @Project RELO
Instagram: @Project_RELO
Website: projectrelo.org
Twitter: @projectrelo
Quotable Quotes
- It’s
all about the sense of tribe.
- You
can’t teach leadership in a boardroom or a classroom.
- I
always wanted to be a part of something bigger than
myself.
- What
is important right now.
- You
can beat anything that is thrown your way.
- Asking for help is a sign of power, not
weakness
- The
greatest motivational speakers are the one that told me I couldn’t
do something.
- Struggle and criticism are the prerequisites
for greatness.
Bio
Casey McEuin is an
unconventional leader, leadership coach, adventurer, prolific
networker, keynote speaker, and the President and Executive
Director of Project RELO. Like so many of our veterans, McEuin is
focused on direction, mission, purpose, and making an impact in our
communities, companies, and country. He currently directs his keen
sense of commitment to the worthy endeavor of pinpointing the
intersectionality between business talent needs and the skills,
training, and rich character of our transitioning
veterans.
At the age of 25, McEuin was an
aspiring Olympic athlete and a fierce competitor on the Army’s
Taekwondo team. Eight years later he earned the Purple Heart when
he was injured in Afghanistan. Discharged from the military after
his recovery, three years later, he worked to assimilate into a
society that was unable to understand the full extent of what a
veteran of 17 years had to offer the workforce.
Galvanized by his experiences,
McEuin dedicated himself to helping veterans transition more
effectively into the civilian workforce. He fulfills this mission
as the Leader of Project RELO, and by setting the example for other
veterans by continuing his education, and personal and professional
development. Casey was honored by President Barack Obama in April
of 2016 for his continued service to the veteran
community.
McEuin holds a Bachelor of Arts
degree in social services from Thomas A. Edison University, and a
Master of Social Work with an emphasis on Military Community
Organization, Policy, and Advocacy from the University of Southern
California.
Project RELO
Project RELO provides immersive,
visceral and highly effective leadership training to corporate
executives and top talent. The training missions are conducted on
American military bases where participants and transitioning
veteran instructors conduct multi-day pseudo military
operations.
Project RELO missions are
executed over a three-day period where participants conduct real,
physical convoy operations, navigating to various objectives in
massive military training areas. Weapons training (real weapons /
simulated rounds) and high-tech simulators provide an experiential
glimpse into our military members’ backgrounds. Exploration of
combat towns and mock negotiations with costumed mullahs
diversifies our understanding of our veterans’
skillsets.
As the collective team navigates
the various obstacles that invariably arise during any military
operation, leadership, teamwork, and selflessness provide the glue
that allows the collective team to meet its objectives. It is also
here that participants experience the best leadership training
available anywhere. For instead of a classroom or whiteboard,
leadership is taught by example.
Best Leadership Training, and More
Project RELO missions provide
superlative leadership training. Yet, even more importantly,
participants develop a deep understanding about the character,
quality, and full extent of our veterans’ skills. And with this
understanding comes appreciation, and a desire to hire more of our
former military members into their respective
organizations.
Project RELO then continues its
veteran advocacy beyond the missions by helping firms establish, or
improve existing, military hiring programs.