“I would not be successful without assistance from GVRA,” says Army Veteran Turned Entrepreneur

After serving as a medic for 20 years in the U.S. Army, Shane Giltner decided to become self-employed once his military service ended. Shane sustained multiple injuries during Operation Iraqi Freedom, a conflict that was fought in 2004. Not only did he suffer two traumatic brain injuries while serving his country, but he also survived injuries to his lower back, shoulders, knees, and feet. Additionally, he had been diagnosed with Type One diabetes. "It's a long list, unfortunately, and I consider these issues to be the primary disabilities that affect my ability to perform some job duties and function in my everyday life," Shane said.

His desire to own his own business motivated him to learn more about government services that are available to people with disabilities, especially veterans. "I was referred to GVRA by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' Office of Veteran Readiness and Employment (also known as Chapter 31) which helps individuals who have a service-connected disability find employment or explore training avenues. After performing a Google search, I found a GVRA location that was close to me in Columbus," he noted. "My case was assigned to Ms. Treasure Hight. I couldn't have asked for a better counselor or a better experience," Shane exclaimed. "Overall, interacting with GVRA has been great. Starting a new business is never easy, but the assistance I got from GVRA gave me the confidence to form my home inspection company."

Assistive Work Technology Department helps Shane realize his goals

Home inspection is a physical job that requires inspectors to climb onto roofs, navigate narrow crawl spaces, and walk carefully through attics and basements. With this knowledge in mind, Hight assessed Shane's abilities and suggested he should meet with the Assistive Work Technology department to determine which devices and technologies would be beneficial to him as an inspector. "To assist Shane with his self-employment, I referred him to the Assistive Work Technology (AWT) department where he was subsequently evaluated by an occupational therapist," Hight explained. "Shane received equipment that ensured his safety while he performs home inspections. Examples of equipment GVRA furnished include a reusable respirator mask with filters to prevent dust inhalation, tiger grip shoes to prevent falls, and a thermal imaging camera with a laser to identify trouble spots in a home."

High tech has changed operations in many professions, including home inspection. "We live in a digital world, and home inspectors have to be well-versed in the use of technology when it comes to performing their jobs accurately," Shane declared. "I am grateful GVRA provided me with a GoPro, which is a wearable action camera that facilitates hands-free roof inspections. The agency also provided a telescopic survey pole, which relays a live image from the camera unit on top of the pole back to a receiver monitor. Finally, GVRA furnished an Uplink Robotics Marten Inspection Crawler Robot that features a live-view video camera.

Hight said the equipment GVRA staff determined would be suitable for Shane as he began performing home inspections is invaluable. "Shane underwent multiple surgeries because of injuries he received during combat," she stated. "The crawler robot alone decreases a significant amount of physical exertion that comes with his job as a home inspector. Just think, with the assistance of the crawler robot, Shane can perform an in-depth inspection underneath the structure with the palm of his hand."

Inspecting home crawlspaces is a must - a task now made easier by AWT

Shane reaffirmed his gratitude for receiving the AWT equipment. "The Assistive Work Technology department has helped me tremendously by providing ladders, drones, the crawl bot, boot grips to go over my shoes, and of course, the GoPro for roof inspections," he added. "The piece of equipment that has helped me the most in this job has been the crawl bot. In my line of work, being able to get into crawlspaces is a must. Many home inspectors won't venture into crawlspaces because of the safety concerns. Luckily, thanks to the crawl bot's capabilities, I don't have to contend with those safety issues."

When asked how he chose home inspection as his new career, Shane said, "In a word, family. After I bought my first home, the home inspector we had been working with mentioned he owned his business and could take a week off anytime he wanted. That sounded appealing to me. I didn't have that flexibility while serving in the military, so I lost a lot of time I could have been spending with my family."

Shane had no experience in performing home inspections but credits his prior experience as a medic for shaping his new endeavor. "You know, a home is like the human body," he observed. "The electrical system is akin to our nervous system; the framing and the foundation are similar to our bones; and the plumbing fixtures would be like our circulatory system."

"Thanks to assistance provided by GVRA, my business has taken off"

Since coming to GVRA for assistance, Shane has successfully completed his 90-day business plan. "I'll acknowledge things got off to a slow start, but largely thanks to the help I received from Ms. Hight, my business has really taken off. She helped me navigate areas such as tracking productivity and formulating financial projections. She also helped me brainstorm ways in which to market my business," he said. "I couldn't have asked for a better GVRA representative than Ms. Hight. I thank her and her team for working with me to realize my dream, and for answering all my questions along the way."

Hight echoes similar sentiments when asked about her experience counseling Shane. "At first, I felt a little inadequate, because Shane is an Army veteran who sustained multiple injuries during combat," she shared. "We began working together on his case in June of 2023, so I've been monitoring his progress for a year. This case challenged me as a counselor, but I have thoroughly enjoyed working with Shane to get his business up and running. I do feel that I contributed to the overall success of this case; however, Shane gets a lot of credit because of his knowledge of the home inspection field and his determination to own a small business."

Shane added, "As an advocate for the military, I would recommend GVRA services to my fellow veterans. The staff at GVRA boosted my confidence so I could go for what I wanted, which was to establish my own business," he continued. "I can't say enough good things about the counselors and the services they provide. Thanks to GVRA, I am just as competitive as folks who have been performing home inspections for five years or more."

When he's not managing his home inspection business, Shane enjoys watching sports and spending time with his wife and two children.

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