Evan Hafer is a former Green Beret in the United States Army and also did contracts for the CIA. He grew up in Idaho in a family of loggers. Everyone in his family joined the military, did their time, and then returned home to work in the forest as loggers. He followed in the footsteps of his family and joined the National Guard but after years of teenage delinquency, he decided to go to college and graduated from the University of Idaho. After he graduated, he decided to return to the military where he climbed up the ranks over 20 years eventually becoming a Green Beret where he was involved in the invasion of Iraq. He eventually became a contractor and continued to serve in the military until he began to suffer from mental and psychological problems. One thing that took his mind off of the stress of war, however, is coffee. Throughout his tenure in the military, he became infatuated with coffee and began roasting his own coffee. After he left the military, he decided he wanted to tie his love for coffee into his love for the country. In 2015, Hafer founded Black Rifle Coffee along with two other veterans, Tom Davin and Matt Best. They founded the company with the goal of supporting veterans, first responders, and law enforcement. While Black Rifle Coffee supports those who serve the nation and fall into line with certain political views, they do not endorse one party or another. Black Rifle Coffee has made the commitment to only hire veterans based on their work ethic and discipline. Hafer also made sure when he was founding the company that every purchase of his coffee would give back to veteran organizations and funds. One thing I feel young entrepreneurs can take from Evan’s story is his dedication to what he loves. As someone who has veterans in their family, Evan’s dedication to them and giving back to veterans who need it through donations and the BRCC fund is something I can stand behind fully. Not only does his company make great tasting coffee and support a great cause, he also sets a standard for all young entrepreneurs.