The Military Spouse Chamber of Commerce is a perfect example of what military spouses are all about.
Military families, on average, move once every two to three years. That makes it difficult for these families to put down roots in a community, or for a spouse to maintain a job. The unemployment for military spouses remains stubbornly high at 22%, more than five times the rate for their civilian counterparts.
Because of these lifestyle challenges, military spouses have the reputation for being resilient problem-solvers who can do what needs to be done.
To help address the unemployment problem for military spouses, a group of them got together and created the Military Spouse Chamber of Commerce. It launched in 2021.
Jaime Chapman is a co-founder and is now its chief operating officer.
“There was no chamber of commerce focused on military spouses,” said Chapman, whose career includes working for Amazon and the ROI Training Center (no affiliation with ROI-NJ), and who now operates a retail online business from her home in Oklahoma.
“We created a nationwide chamber of commerce where military spouses can come to get the specific kinds of support they need. We tell the spouses their business must be portable, so they can run it from anywhere in the world because of their frequent moves.”
Chapman points out that membership in the chamber is free of charge and offers several benefits.
“First, we certify that a business is military-spouse owned,” she said. “That gives them a chance to do business with companies looking to diversify their supply chains.”
Please note: The business must be at least 51% owned by a military spouse to receive such certification.
Chapman’s chamber also offers employee benefit plans and insurance plans to its member companies at special rates.
###
LaPora Lindsey is a military spouse who has faced the typical military spouse challenges. She and her family have moved seven times in 15 years, and she has held 10 different jobs during this time.
Lindsey moved with her family to New Jersey in 2021 from southern Maryland when her husband was ordered to Naval Weapons Station Early in Colts Neck. The next year, she joined the Military Spouse Chamber of Commerce. Four months ago, her family moved again — this time to Omaha, Nebraska.
“I was six months short of becoming a tenured federal employee when I was in Maryland,” Lindsey recalled. “My job was not portable, so I had to give it up. They told me you should be able to get another federal job in New Jersey, but it is easier said than done — will there be a job that meets my expertise? Will I have to take a pay cut? I was frustrated a lot.”
When she arrived in New Jersey, Lindsey decided to start her own business as a career coach and motivational speaker, drawing on her extensive experience as a military spouse and the myriad jobs she has held.
Lindsey said she joined the Military Spouse Chamber of Commerce in 2022 “because joining helped me validate what I do. It is always valuable to be part of a larger community.”
Lindsey acknowledged that having the certification as a military spouse-owned business has been helpful.
“People are more inclined to open my emails when they see I am a military spouse business.”
###
Advocacy work is a key mission of the Military Spouse Chamber of Commerce.
Want to know more?
If you are a military spouse operating your own business or interested in doing so, you can join the Military Spouse Chamber of Commerce via its website here.
If you would like to volunteer as a business mentor for the Military Spouse Chamber of Commerce, click here.
“Right now, we are trying to get the federal government to recognize military spouses as disadvantaged persons for the purpose of contract awards,” Chapman said.
“Another thing the chamber can do,” suggested Lindsey about its advocacy work, “is focus on the fees required for opening and closing a business in many states. I had to close my business in New Jersey and open it all over again in Omaha.”
Lindsey indicated that the costs for these processes is easily in the hundreds of dollars.
Currently, the Military Spouse Chamber has about 4,000 members — and about 10% are military spouse-certified businesses, Chapman said.
“The other 90% are individuals who want to learn about aspects of starting a business or are looking to improve their careers,” she said. “We offer employee and entrepreneurial training.”
Chapman also pointed out her chamber offers mentorship programs, and they are always looking for experienced business executives to volunteer their time and expertise.
As a career coach, Lindsey suggests military spouses continue to reach out and make and maintain relationships.
“Remember, you have a lot of value and an equal amount of value to share where you work,” she said. “It’s the difference between self-value and self-worth.”
