#91 From Commune to Community - Jon Sanford, Caber Carter Construction

A greater Portland, Oregon native, who lives across the river from co-host Josh, Jon Sanford grew up a Hippie Kid in a commune. His rebellion was going into the military, but since his parents would not sign off on infantry for him, he went National Guard. He loved working on cars as a high schooler and so becoming a diesel mechanic was a natural choice. He came home and went immediately to college. But the path to entrepreneurship was Jon's ability to lead. His personality is to sink his teeth into something and stay with it, which in personal relationships can be destructive, but in business and politics, can be amazingly successful. It means putting it all on the line and having the confidence to make it work. Coming out of the military, Jon did all the things he was told NOT to do when coming home: He bought a house, a new car and got married. He had a small screen printing business that failed and within a year, had lost all those things he got after coming home. But he had a mission, go back to Iraq and make amends for having been there in a place he thought he had never should have been in the first place. Then he found another "knucklehead" who had a carpenter background as Jon had and also a similar work ethic and the business was born. Jon's partner performed the activity of throwing a pole, called Caber. Jon's family came from a group that picked up things in a cart, called carters, so the name was born. Veteran Founder Podcast with your hosts Josh Carter and Cynthia Kao We record the Veteran Founder Podcast inside NedSpace in the Bigfoot Podcast Studio in beautiful downtown Portland. Audio engineer, mixer and podcast editor is Allon Beausoleil Show logo was designed by Carolyn Main Website was designed by Cameron Grimes Production assistant is Chelsea Lancaster Theme music: Artist: Tipsy Track: Kadonka Album: Buzzz Courtesy of Ipecac Records 10% of gross revenue at Startup Radio Network goes to support women entrepreneurs in developing countries thru kiva.org/lender/markgrimes