Kevin Barber, Army Veteran, finished college, worked for a natural gas wholesaler for 16 years and decided to open his Veteran-owned business in June, 2010. A year later, his business model changed and as Veteran Energy, he began selling to retail customers. The company tag line is “The Power to Give Back” and Kevin says, “It is not just a tag line, it is a vision, a mission and a commitment.” Veteran Energy not only offers competitive rates and exceptional customer service, the company donates money and time to military service organizations.
Disaboom: When you opened your doors in 2010, was this your plan?
Kevin Barber: “No not really. I went in the Army at 18, I was an MP (military police) and after college, I went into the wholesale natural gas business. I spent 16 years there and then decided there was a lack of representation in that market for Veteran-owned small businesses, and I saw a need. I decided to go through the process of getting my license here in Texas and in New York and then we started serving customers in June. I wanted to have the ability to reach a broad customer base and give people the opportunity to give back. We give every consumer in a deregulated area in Texas and New York, who buys natural gas and electricity, the opportunity to give back to those who are serving or have served in our military."
Disaboom: You are the first fully Veteran-owned energy retailer in Texas, is that a unique concept in the U.S?
Kevin Barber: "Yes, we are the only one in Texas and New York, and I have not found any others in the nation. So, yes, as far as I know we are unique."
Disaboom: What a great idea, especially since the Veterans Administration has a 20 percent buying mandate now. Could you explain how that works?
Kevin Barber: "Each facility has to buy 20 percent of their products from a Veteran-owned business. They can buy 30 percent of their paper products from a Veteran-owned small business and nothing on the energy side. It does not necessarily have to be across the board. We are providing them the opportunity to deal with a Veteran-owned small business and to be able to buy their natural gas or electricity from us as well."
Disaboom: Do you have plans to expand into other deregulated states?
Kevin Barber: "Yes we plan to expand, but it is a long process and it takes a lot of capital to be able to expand. Again we are licensed in New York and we are in the process of setting up our operations there and start supplying electricity and natural gas customers in upstate New York. We have Pennsylvania, Ohio and Maryland on the radar screen as well. It is not going as fast as I anticipated, but it is going. Eventually we would like to be in all the deregulated states. We just keep pushing forward with the message and the ability to impact local Veterans and military support organizations in those areas that we want to serve."
Disaboom: What is the incentive for people to use Veteran Energy?
Kevin Barber: "First and foremost, we provide competitive rates and plans that can save our customers money. That is a pretty positive and powerful mission in itself. We are also committed to superior customer service at all levels of the process - from the minute you pick up the phone, to billing, to customer care that takes place afterwards. Our customer service people are also Veterans. A big incentive for our customers is “The Power to Give Back” program. When our customers sign-up for Veteran Energy they are able to chose which military service organization will receive our donation. So many people want to help a Veteran or someone currently serving but don’t know how, so we help them choose which organization we will help."
Disaboom: How many Veterans work for your company?
Kevin Barber: "We have three including myself. But any service or product that we need we try to use a Veteran-owned small business: from the Vietnam Vet that comes and fixes our phones to the Navy guy that fixes our computers to the majority of our call and fulfillment centers. We try to really practice what we are about every day. We take seriously our mission to help out and support fellow Veterans, and support our military service organizations as well."
Disaboom: In addition to helping with business opportunities, are you personally involved with community organizations?
Kevin Barber: "Definitely. I’m involved with the Texas VFW, where we just did an Infinity Program and we will be a preferred supplier. That is one of the ways we reach out locally to try and impact those Veteran organizations: From the young Marine who called and asked how to set up a business to the Veteran Coordinator at the University of Houston who needed advice. It is very fulfilling to be in the community and offering any help that I can – be it a 15-minute phone call to a lunch with a group of guys, or however else we can help out – I ’m always looking to do that. It is extremely fulfilling."
To read more about Veteran Energy go to: http://www.veteranenergy.us
Part 2 of this interview deals with Veterans Employment
