During his 20-year military career
To put down roots and spend time on the home front with his family, Andrew Yonkers relied on coaching from The Entrepreneur’s Source® to help him meet his lifestyle and career aspirations.
Yonkers joined the United States Air Force in 2002, directly after high school graduation. He started his military service in aircraft structural maintenance, primarily working on F-16 fighter jets. As part of his most recent assignment, Yonkers supported global contingency operations by leading 150 personnel through sortie production on 31 E-3 aircraft, valued at $15.5 billion, at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
Yonkers worked diligently at honing his educational background to prepare him for his Career 2.0® during his enlistment. He received a master’s degree in business administration from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and completed his Project Management Professional certification.
During his 20-year military career, Yonkers spent time at bases in the United States and deployed across the globe in Guam, Japan, The Philippines, South Korea, and Afghanistan. Now that his stepson is in high school and he has two young children at home, Yonkers was ready to make a change.
“It was time to move on. I felt like I had a bigger and better future ahead of me,” Yonkers said.
Air Force Colleague Provides Guidance
Initially, Yonkers planned to work for a military contractor after he retired from the service. But, when he received a job offer that did not meet his financial expectations, he started to hunt for alternatives. When Jamie Allen, a Career Ownership Coach™ with The Entrepreneur’s Source® (TES), contacted him, Yonkers decided to explore his possibilities, options, and dreams.
As a fellow Air Force veteran, Allen identified with Yonkers’ desire to have a flexible opportunity and achieve financial freedom. Allen spent 29 years in the Air Force as both enlisted and officer and served as an instructor at the elite USAF’s Advanced Maintenance and Munitions Officer School. Following his stint as an instructor, Allen led a multi-million-dollar company specializing in aircraft testing as their CEO before starting his coaching career.
“I was done scratching my 40-year aviation itch, and I didn’t know what my next step was going to be,” Allen said. “I wanted an opportunity with more time flexibility with my wife and the ability to pick my grandchildren up at school every Friday in my classic Chevy truck.”
Allen started providing career ownership coaching services in 2020 and is dedicated to helping people explore wonderful possibilities in business ownership. TES coaches help people explore new opportunities by delving into their Income, Lifestyle, Wealth, and Equity™ goals. They guide people as they learn whether they want to pursue a corporate job, start a business from scratch, or invest in a franchise.
“I really enjoy being a help to people during their big career moments,” Allen said.
His career as a coach provides him with a work-from-home business and the flexibility to enjoy the lifestyle he deserves. Allen took his family to Walt Disney World and Disneyland and spent two and a half weeks with his wife touring Germany, where he was able to enjoy spending time with his spouse and stay committed to helping his clients.
Business Ownership Ticks All the Boxes
After defining his goals with his TES coach, Yonkers reached a point of clarity. He realized investing in a franchise business would help him achieve financial freedom and self-sufficiency. He wanted to call the shots by taking charge of his future.
“Being in the military for 20 years, there were times some people made decisions that I didn’t necessarily agree with. I realized I wanted to be my own boss,” Yonkers said.
Yonkers landed on Archadeck, a home improvement franchise specializing in custom-designed and custom-built gazebos, sunrooms, screened porches, and related outdoor living structures. To secure the financing he needed to start his business, he capitalized on the hot housing market and sold three rental homes.
“I love doing work outdoors, and I love doing projects where you can see what you created,” Yonkers said. “The Archadeck name stands out to people. I’m happy to bring it to Oklahoma City.”
Yonkers’ official retirement date from the Air Force is at the end of October, and he is launching his Archadeck location in December. After getting his Archadeck business up and running, Yonkers plans to add more businesses to his portfolio.
Discover Benefits of Entrepreneurship
If you are searching for a way to achieve financial freedom and control your destiny, take time to discover a new option for your future. For more information about TES, visit www.entrepreneursource.com, or check out our guide book, “Your Career 2.0® A Survival Guide for the Battered Career and Investor Syndrome®.”