Military Friendly® Announces 2026 Veteran of the Year and Vetrepreneur® of the Year Honorees

PITTSBURGH, Sept. 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Military Friendly® has announced the 2026 Veteran of the Year and Vetrepreneur® of the Year honorees, recognizing Veterans whose leadership, professional accomplishments, entrepreneurship and community impact demonstrate the many ways Veterans continue to make a difference after military service.

Selected from hundreds of nominations submitted from across the country, this year's honorees represent a wide range of industries, military backgrounds and paths following service. Collectively, the 2026 winners demonstrate the depth and diversity of Veteran achievement, and the lasting influence Veterans continue to have in the places where they live, work and lead.

"The accomplishments we recognize through Veteran of the Year and Vetrepreneur® of the Year look different from one honoree to the next, and that is exactly what makes this program so meaningful," said Kayla Lopez, Vice President of Memberships at Military Friendly®. "There is no single definition of what Veteran leadership looks like after military service. These honorees are building companies, leading organizations, advocating for others and strengthening their communities, each carrying their experience forward in a way that creates meaningful impact."

The annual awards program recognizes both state and national honorees, culminating in national awards across categories representing professional leadership, entrepreneurship, advocacy, education and community impact.

Winners were selected through a multi-stage evaluation process that included peer nominations, public voting, scoring by a peer council and panel interviews.

2026 Military Friendly® Veteran of the Year Honorees

• 2026 National Military Friendly® Veteran of the Year: Ryan Groves, MS
• 2026 Military Friendly® Veteran of the Year in Corporate America: Joshua Copeland, LA
• 2026 Military Friendly® Veteran of the Year for Community Impact: Dave Underwood, IL
• 2026 Military Friendly® Veteran of the Year in Higher Education: Bryan Bills, OH
• 2026 Military Friendly® Veteran of the Year in Advocacy: Valerie Sudduth, FL

2026 National Vetrepreneur® of the Year Honorees

• 2026 Vetrepreneur® of the Year Emerging: Gary Travis, CA
• 2026 Vetrepreneur® of the Year Lifestyle Business: Dial Burum, VA
• 2026 Vetrepreneur® of the Year Restaurant: Anthony Suppa, NY
• 2026 Vetrepreneur® of the Year Advocacy: Robert Kolley, NE

Together with this year's state honorees, the national winners showcase the scope of Veteran achievement taking place in workplaces, businesses and communities across the country. Military Friendly® is proud to recognize their accomplishments and the continued influence of Veteran leadership nationwide.

To view the full list of the 2026 Veteran of the Year State winners, visit: https://www.militaryfriendly.com/oy/veteran/state/

To view the full list of the 2026 Vetrepreneur® of the Year State winners, visit: https://www.militaryfriendly.com/oy/vetrepreneur/state/

SOURCE Military Friendly