VETERANS, GUNS & CIGARS
Military Networking Events
VETERANS, GUNS & CIGARS
Military Networking Events
WHY JOIN US
Military-connected executives network over friendly competition at our signature in-person events. Our environment is 10x easier for making business deals, mentoring service members, and recruiting skilled candidates. Meritorious sponsors transitioning veterans to attend at no cost.
“It was more than networking. I came away with friends and brothers who shared similar experiences.”
PERRY, FL
PACEM DEFENSE
FEB. 4, 2023
LAS VEGAS, NV
PRO GUN VEGAS
OCT. 29, 2022
MEBANE, NC
DISTINGUISHED PISTOL CLUB
NOV. 11, 2022
EVENTS FOR EVERYONE. Join Virtually or In-Person.
Experience more individualized impact as you move from 1.0 to 2.0 to 3.0.
1.0 | STATE OF THE FIREARMS INDUSTRY
SEPT 28, 2022
National, virtual event with speakers, panels, business networking, and virtual tables.
Free Registration >
2.0 | VETERANS, GUNS & CIGARS
FALL 2022
Regional in-person events combining tactical competitions with professional networking.
Learn More >
3.0 | MENTOR
CONNECT
DEC 6, 2022
Invitation only events for industry executives to mentor veterans and spouses.
Get Involved >
WHY JOIN US
Military-connected executives network over friendly competition at our signature in-person events. Our environment is 10x easier for making business deals, mentoring service members, and recruiting skilled candidates. Meritorious sponsors transitioning veterans to attend at no cost.
“It was more than networking. I came away with friends and brothers who shared similar experiences.”
PERRY, FL
PACEM DEFENSE
FEB. 4, 2023
LAS VEGAS, NV
PRO GUN VEGAS
OCT. 29, 2022
MEBANE, NC
DISTINGUISHED PISTOL CLUB
NOV. 11, 2022
EVENTS FOR EVERYONE. Join Virtually or In-Person.
Experience more individualized impact as you move from 1.0 to 2.0 to 3.0.
1.0 | STATE OF THE FIREARMS INDUSTRY
SEPT 28, 2022
National, virtual event with speakers, panels, business networking, and virtual tables.
Free Registration >
2.0 | VETERANS, GUNS & CIGARS
FALL 2022
Regional in-person events combining tactical competitions with professional networking.
Learn More >
3.0 | MENTOR
CONNECT
DEC 6, 2022
Invitation only events for industry executives to mentor veterans and spouses.
Get Involved >
Sponsors & Partners:
Purchase Tickets:
Meritorious is a great forum to listen, learn, leverage and develop your network, not just add numbers. Wherever you are in your professional journey, the time you spend here will add value to it.
As a transitioning veteran, this event was an awesome opportunity to have a little fun, network, and learn about what other veteran businesses are doing. This was a great platform for bringing together veteran businesses so that we can support each other!
I enjoyed the fellowship, and the ability to connect with like minded veteran professionals. I would recommend to others veterans that would like to network and connect with a supportive military group.
I highly recommend events like this to any veteran, transitioning or already out, to help maintain that connection to the veteran community and to help gain access to the veteran business community.
Meritorious did a great job of finding an incredible venue and bringing different servicemembers / veterans together for a true executive networking event. I hope to attend Meritorious events in the future!
What a fantastic event! It was a great day of fellowship with brothers and sisters in arms. And, it was also a terrific opportunity to network with industry professionals. Thank you Meritorious Team!
It was more than networking, I came away with friends and brothers who shared similar experiences. I will make it a priority to attend the next event.
OUR APPROACH
Military service members and special operators thrive under familiar conditions. So why make them wear a suit and tie to find a career?
Meritorious created, Veterans, Guns & Cigars, a unique, adventure networking event that bridges executives who want a day out of the office, with transitioning veterans who are most relaxed outdoors. The resulting environment is 10x easier for making business deals, mentoring service members, and recruiting skilled candidates. For those who can’t join in person, we host virtual networking events, and mentorship events, that support established professionals, transitioning veterans, and those pivoting their careers.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Meritorious is an all-in-one SaaS platform making it easier for military-connected professionals, business owners, and veteran friendly organizations to find each other and collaborate while engaging transitioning veterans and military spouses. Meritorious provides active-duty service members, veterans, military spouses, and veteran advocates access to a member portal, networking events, mentors and recruiters, communities, and mobile app with geolocation.
All Meritorious events, including Veterans, Guns & Cigars, welcome professionals and executives, business owners and startup founders, transitioning veterans and military spouses, and the organizations that support them, including veteran serving nonprofits, military veteran employee resource groups, and recruiters. Veteran advocates, family members, and anyone who support our military are welcome!
- SPONSOR Sponsor lunch or dinner at one of our three in-person events.
- DONATE Make a donation to honor active duty service members and transitioning veterans with an action packed, full day of adventure networking and executive mentorship.
- FUNDRAISE Start a fundraising team and engage employees, partners, and customers. Easily set up a fundraising page in minutes. QR codes provided upon request to display on promotional materials.
- BUY TICKETS We encourage local business leaders and recruiters to purchase tickets and attend.
Yes! We seek individuals, and companies that would like to engage employees, to attend the event and assist with basic setup / breakdown, greet guests, check-in, liaison with vendors, etc. Volunteers are provided lunch and dinner, and have access to open range time and competitions!
We welcome nonprofits dedicated to our military-connected communities to exhibit during one or all of our events. There is no cost to participate. Nonprofit representatives receive lunch and dinner, and can participate in the day long activities! Participation is first come, first served.
OUR APPROACH
Military service members and special operators thrive under familiar conditions. So why make them wear a suit and tie to find a career?
Meritorious created, Veterans, Guns & Cigars, a unique, adventure networking event that bridges executives who want a day out of the office, with transitioning veterans who are most relaxed outdoors. The resulting environment is 10x easier for making business deals, mentoring service members, and recruiting skilled candidates. For those who can’t join in person, we host virtual networking events, and mentorship events, that support established professionals, transitioning veterans, and those pivoting their careers.
FAQ
Meritorious is an all-in-one SaaS platform making it easier for military-connected professionals, business owners, and veteran friendly organizations to find each other and collaborate while engaging transitioning veterans and military spouses. Meritorious provides active-duty service members, veterans, military spouses, and veteran advocates access to a member portal, networking events, mentors and recruiters, communities, and mobile app with geolocation.
All Meritorious events, including Veterans, Guns & Cigars, welcome professionals and executives, business owners and startup founders, transitioning veterans and military spouses, and the organizations that support them, including veteran serving nonprofits, military veteran employee resource groups, and recruiters. Veteran advocates, family members, and anyone who support our military are welcome!
- SPONSOR Sponsor lunch or dinner at one of our three in-person events.
- DONATE Make a donation to honor active duty service members and transitioning veterans with an action packed, full day of adventure networking and executive mentorship.
- FUNDRAISE Start a fundraising team and engage employees, partners, and customers. Easily set up a fundraising page in minutes. QR codes provided upon request to display on promotional materials.
- BUY TICKETS We encourage local business leaders and recruiters to purchase tickets and attend.
Yes! We seek individuals, and companies that would like to engage employees, to attend the event and assist with basic setup / breakdown, greet guests, check-in, liaison with vendors, etc. Volunteers are provided lunch and dinner, and have access to open range time and competitions!
We welcome nonprofits dedicated to our military-connected communities to exhibit during one or all of our events. There is no cost to participate. Nonprofit representatives receive lunch and dinner, and can participate in the day long activities! Participation is first come, first served.
SPONSOR A VETERAN!
In partnership with Backpacks for Life, a 501(c)(3), your donation honors active duty service members and transitioning veterans with an action packed, full day of adventure networking and executive mentorship at Veterans, Guns & Cigars! Your support provides guns, ammo, clay, all access to pistol, rifle, shotgun ranges, meals, libations, cigars, and camaraderie! Our military-connected community sponsored 25 veterans to attend the 2021 Veterans, Guns & Cigars. We hope you will join us and help quadruple that number this year!
For your tax records, Backpacks For Life, Inc. is a 501 (c) 3 tax-exempt nonprofit organization with Federal employer I.D.#47-1281873. Please consult a tax professional to determine if any portion of your donation is tax deductible.
SPONSOR A VETERAN!
In partnership with Backpacks for Life, a 501(c)(3), your donation honors active duty service members and transitioning veterans with an action packed, full day of adventure networking and executive mentorship at Veterans, Guns & Cigars! Your support provides guns, ammo, clay, all access to pistol, rifle, shotgun ranges, meals, libations, cigars, and camaraderie! Our military-connected community sponsored 25 veterans to attend the 2021 Veterans, Guns & Cigars. We hope you will join us and help quadruple that number this year!
For your tax records, Backpacks For Life, Inc. is a 501 (c) 3 tax-exempt nonprofit organization with Federal employer I.D.#47-1281873. Please consult a tax professional to determine if any portion of your donation is tax deductible.
STATE OF THE
FIREARMS INDUSTRY
SEPTEMBER 28, 2022
Our companion virtual event combines speakers from the firearms, outdoors, defense, and nonprofit industries with 1:1 speed networking and virtual tables facilitated by military-friendly companies that hire and do business with veterans.
2022 Speakers:
Lauren Hill
Director of Corporate Relations
Firearms Policy Coalition
Mark Oliva
USMC Veteran
Managing Director of
Public Affairs, NSSF
Philip Smith-Soboyede
President & Founder
National African America
Gun Association
Buck Pierson
USMC Veteran
Senior VP, Business Development
Staccato 2011
William Wisner
US Army Veteran
Executive Director
Grunt Style Foundation
Chris Ford
USAF Veteran
CEO
Stop Soldier Suicide
Betsey Mercado
Military Spouse
Co-Founder, Executive Director, Objective Zero
Jade Moldae
Editor
Shooting Industry
Magazine
STATE OF THE FIREARMS INDUSTRY
Our companion virtual event combines speakers from the firearms, outdoors, defense, and nonprofit industries with 1:1 speed networking and virtual tables facilitated by military-friendly companies that hire and do business with veterans.
2022 Speakers:
Lauren Hill
Director of Corporate Relations
Firearms Policy Coalition
Mark Oliva
USMC Veteran
Managing Director of
Public Affairs, NSSF
Philip Smith-Soboyede
President & Founder
National African America
Gun Association
Buck Pierson
USMC Veteran
Senior VP, Business Development
Staccato 2011
William Wisner
US Army Veteran
Executive Director
Grunt Style Foundation
Chris Ford
USAF Veteran
CEO
Stop Soldier Suicide
Betsey Mercado
Military Spouse
Co-Founder, Executive Director
Objective Zero
Jade Moldae
Editor
Shooting Industry
Magazine
PRESENTS
MENTOR CONNECT
DECEMBER 6, 2022
This invitation only virtual event provides mentorship, career, and entrepreneurship guidance for active duty, transitioning veterans, and spouses. Mentors are curated by Meritorious from organizations in the firearms, hunting, outdoor, and manufacturing industries, and include a mix of executives, hiring managers, small business advisors, and nonprofit leaders.
This invitation only virtual event provides mentorship, career, and entrepreneurship guidance for active duty, transitioning veterans, and spouses. Mentors are curated by Meritorious from organizations in the firearms, hunting, outdoor, and manufacturing industries, and include a mix of executives, hiring managers, small business advisors, and nonprofit leaders.
Transitioning veterans and military spouses interested in attending our December 6 event, please complete our brief intake form.
Industry professionals and executives interested in mentoring at our December 6 event, please complete our brief intake form.
THE MERITORIOUS MISSION
“Veteran owned businesses, local nonprofits, transitioning service members, and their families need our support. By making it easier for military-connected leaders to intersect and reach our communities, we can continue contributing to a greater purpose, as in service.”
Ryan Loya, Co-Founder, Meritorious
USMC Veteran, 2/5 Fox Company
THE MERITORIOUS MISSION
“Veteran owned businesses, local nonprofits, transitioning service members, and their families need our support. By making it easier for military-connected leaders to intersect and reach our communities, we can continue contributing to a greater purpose, as in service.”
Ryan Loya, Co-Founder, Meritorious
USMC Veteran, 2/5 Fox Company
THE MERITORIOUS MISSION
“Veteran owned businesses, local nonprofits, transitioning service members, and their families need our support. By making it easier for military-connected leaders to intersect and reach our communities, we can continue contributing to a greater purpose, as in service.”
Ryan Loya, Co-Founder, Meritorious
USMC Veteran, 2/5 Fox Company
GROW YOUR ORGANIZATION
Acquire leads and referrals. Meet mentors, advisors, and investors. Hire veterans and military spouses.
GEOLOCATE & MEETUP
Traveling on business or returning to your home of record? Our mobile app connects you in real-time.
EVENTS TO OPTIMIZE YOUR NETWORK
Browse events for veterans and military spouses nationwide. Add your event to broaden reach.
JOIN A COMMUNITY OR BUILD YOUR OWN
Our turnkey communities yield better data, higher engagement, and ROI then social media groups.
Meritorious is an all-in-one SaaS platform making it easier for military-connected professionals, business owners, and veteran friendly organizations to find each other and collaborate while engaging transitioning veterans and military spouses.
Member Portal
Networking Events
Mentorship
Communities
WHO WE SERVE
Our platform unites military veterans, their spouses, and the organizations that serve them.
Professionals and Executives
Business Owners and Startup Founders
Transitioning Veterans and Military Spouses
Veteran Support Organizations
Veteran Employee Resource Groups
WHY WE’RE DIFFERENT
Rather than build from the ground up to serve our veterans, we take a top down approach, bringing together successful leaders who have hiring power, the right mix of expertise and desire to mentor, and the capacity to rally their companies in support of our military.
On an micro level, Meritorious fosters business networking, recruitment, and mentorship. On a macro level, Meritorious provides organizations a cost-effective solution to continue services and engagement beyond an intervention and focus area.
HOW WE SERVE
Meritorious has developed a Community-as-a-Service feature found nowhere else in the veteran ecosystem. Nonprofits and corporations can build centralized, virtual communities within our member portal to improve communication, information sharing, and collaboration, while creating a catchall resource for veterans to explore programs, connect with professionals and advocates, attend live events, access on-demand workshops, and more.
- Clean UX/UI, intuitive backend, easy to learn and manage.
- Control who accesses community and which content is private or public.
- Import, export, and analyze user data. Easily identify most engaged users.
- Standard community modules include live feed, member directory, events aggregate, forum, blog, partner showcase.
- Custom modules available.
- Email campaigns, segmentation, and analytics.
In addition to aggregating events nationwide, Meritorious hosts signature events using a three-prong approach, to create multiple access points, greater engagement, and more meaningful impact. As participants move from 1.0 to 2.0 to 3.0, the impact is more individualized.
1.0 events are national, virtual networking events for veterans and military spouses, on topics like real estate investing, cybersecurity, and running for Congress. 2.0 events are regional in-person events that intentionally bring together military-connected executives and transitioning veterans. 3.0 events are invitation only mentorship events.
The Meritorious member portal further enriches the experience, enabling participants to connect before, during, and after events, and allows brands and organizations to expand activations.
Mentor Connect is an on-demand, Professional to Professional (P2P) mentorship module on the Meritorious member portal. Unique to other mentorship programs, Meritorious members can both mentor and find mentors. A dashboard enables mentors to review and accept mentee requests. One-hour calls are a minimum requirement.
Mentor Connect is not just a mentorship module on our platform. It is also virtual and in-person events. Meritorious hosts in-house mentorship events, as well as curates mentorship events to help nonprofits expand their services for transitioning veterans and military spouses.
The Small Business Hub connects entrepreneurs with other veteran and military spouse owned businesses, resources, advisors, investors, and potential partners, while showcasing their businesses, fundraising goals, and current projects. Profile your business in our business directory, access discounts through our Marketplace (future launch), and leverage thousands of accredited investors through our partner, Localvest, a SaaS solution designed by veterans for veterans to help entrepreneurs raise capital faster.
Members of Meritorious can browse career opportunities through the member portal, as well as themselves post jobs, internships, apprenticeships, volunteer opportunities, and more. Hiring managers can tap into Meritorious to directly post career opportunities, interface with a high caliber talent pipeline, and connect with transitioning veterans.
The Meritorious app includes geolocation technology to create a smart, connected veteran ecosystem with more contextual touch points across the user journey. Our app provides users with timely communications, including push notifications, based on who they are, where they are, and what they might be needing.
Whether an executive travels on business or transitioning veterans return to their home of record, the app makes it easier to locate members and resources nearby. Geolocation also provides a more integrated experience for networking events, Mentor Connect, and brand activations.
Meritorious is an all-in-one SaaS platform making it easier for military-connected professionals, business owners, and veteran friendly organizations to find each other and collaborate while engaging transitioning veterans and military spouses.
Member Portal
Networking Events
Mentorship
Communities
WHO WE SERVE
Our platform unites military veterans, their spouses, and the organizations that serve them.
Professionals and Executives
Business Owners and Startup Founders
Transitioning Veterans and Military Spouses
Veteran Support Organizations
Veteran Employee Resource Groups
WHY WE’RE DIFFERENT
Rather than build from the ground up to serve our veterans, we take a top down approach, bringing together successful leaders who have hiring power, the right mix of expertise and desire to mentor, and the capacity to rally their companies in support of our military.
On an micro level, Meritorious fosters business networking, recruitment, and mentorship. On a macro level, Meritorious provides organizations a cost-effective solution to continue services and engagement beyond an intervention and focus area.
HOW WE SERVE
Meritorious has developed a Community-as-a-Service feature found nowhere else in the veteran ecosystem. Nonprofits and corporations can build centralized, virtual communities within our member portal to improve communication, information sharing, and collaboration, while creating a catchall resource for veterans to explore programs, connect with professionals and advocates, attend live events, access on-demand workshops, and more.
- Clean UX/UI, intuitive backend, easy to learn and manage.
- Control who accesses community and which content is private or public.
- Import, export, and analyze user data. Easily identify most engaged users.
- Standard community modules include live feed, member directory, events aggregate, forum, blog, partner showcase.
- Custom modules available.
- Email campaigns, segmentation, and analytics.
In addition to aggregating events nationwide, Meritorious hosts signature events using a three-prong approach, to create multiple access points, greater engagement, and more meaningful impact. As participants move from 1.0 to 2.0 to 3.0, the impact is more individualized.
1.0 events are national, virtual networking events for veterans and military spouses, on topics like real estate investing, cybersecurity, and running for Congress. 2.0 events are regional in-person events that intentionally bring together military-connected executives and transitioning veterans. 3.0 events are invitation only mentorship events.
The Meritorious member portal further enriches the experience, enabling participants to connect before, during, and after events, and allows brands and organizations to expand activations.
Mentor Connect is an on-demand, Professional to Professional (P2P) mentorship module on the Meritorious member portal. Unique to other mentorship programs, Meritorious members can both mentor and find mentors. A dashboard enables mentors to review and accept mentee requests. One-hour calls are a minimum requirement.
Mentor Connect is not just a mentorship module on our platform. It is also virtual and in-person events. Meritorious hosts in-house mentorship events, as well as curates mentorship events to help nonprofits expand their services for transitioning veterans and military spouses.
The Small Business Hub connects entrepreneurs with other veteran and military spouse owned businesses, resources, advisors, investors, and potential partners, while showcasing their businesses, fundraising goals, and current projects. Profile your business in our business directory, access discounts through our Marketplace (future launch), and leverage thousands of accredited investors through our partner, Localvest, a SaaS solution designed by veterans for veterans to help entrepreneurs raise capital faster.
Members of Meritorious can browse career opportunities through the member portal, as well as themselves post jobs, internships, apprenticeships, volunteer opportunities, and more. Hiring managers can tap into Meritorious to directly post career opportunities, interface with a high caliber talent pipeline, and connect with transitioning veterans.
The Meritorious app includes geolocation technology to create a smart, connected veteran ecosystem with more contextual touch points across the user journey. Our app provides users with timely communications, including push notifications, based on who they are, where they are, and what they might be needing.
Whether an executive travels on business or transitioning veterans return to their home of record, the app makes it easier to locate members and resources nearby. Geolocation also provides a more integrated experience for networking events, Mentor Connect, and brand activations.
MEMBERSHIP
Membership is open to military veteran and military spouse leaders.
INDIVIDUAL MEMBERSHIP: FREE
Full Access to Member Portal (App Coming Soon!)
Directory, Direct Messaging, Careers and More
Mentor Connect and Exclusive Mentorship Events
List Your Business in the Small Business Hub
Access Industry, Nonprofit and Corporate Communities
MEMBERSHIP
Membership is open to military veteran and military spouse leaders.
INDIVIDUAL MEMBERSHIP
FREE
Full Access to Member Portal (App Coming Soon!)
Directory, Direct Messaging, Careers and More
Mentor Connect and Exclusive Mentorship Events
List Your Business in the Small Business Hub
Access Industry, Nonprofit and Corporate Communities
MEMBERSHIP
Membership is open to military veteran and military spouse leaders.
INDIVIDUAL MEMBERSHIP
FREE
Full Access to Member Portal (App Coming Soon!)
Directory, Direct Messaging, Careers and More
Mentor Connect and Exclusive Mentorship Events
List Your Business in the Small Business Hub
Access Industry, Nonprofit and Corporate Communities
NO ALGORITHMS. NO CENSORSHIP. JUST VETS HELPING VETS.
NO ALGORITHMS. NO CENSORSHIP. JUST VETS HELPING VETS.
NO ALGORITHMS. NO CENSORSHIP. JUST VETS HELPING VETS.
OUR PARTNERS
Join 60+ partners who trust Meritorious. We’re proud to collaborate with startups, small businesses, nonprofits, coalitions, and corporations with a shared mission to propel our military-connected communities forward.
STAY UP TO DATE
STAY UP TO DATE
STAY UP TO DATE