OpsLens Deck of 52 Most Wanted Post 9/11 Frontline Leaders
In 2018, as a spin-off and salute to the original 2003 deck of 52 Most Wanted playing cards, let’s honor post 9/11 frontline leaders here at home. Once a week, for 52 weeks this year, OpsLens will post a card highlighting one of the 52 Most Wanted Post 9/11 Frontline Leaders. You’ll learn the top facts about their business or organization, as well as why they made the list, which comes down to impact, scalability, health and unique selling proposition.
I encourage you to look for these weekly updates, share the card with your network, and support or buy the products and services they offer. See the 52 Most Wanted Post 9/11 Frontline Leaders launch story here.
Queen of Clubs | R. Riveter
Successful founders do not typically launch a venture based on the idea of who their employees will be. Yet the pain point that needed to be solved was not exactly a product or service in the case of R. Riveter. Lisa Bradley and Cameron Cruse bonded over the shared frustration of employment struggles as military spouses, and armed with a big idea, one sewing machine and a little bit of canvas, they cofounded a one-of-a-kind brand that is an ode to the community they are part of.
Their mission is to provide flexible, mobile income to military spouses nationwide. And the intentional by-product of that mission are beautiful, functional, handmade in America purses and bags. Lisa summed up their why perfectly: “We don’t hire military spouses to make handbags. We make handbags so that we can hire military spouses.”
In a few short years, R. Riveter has secured partnership and investment from Shark Tank’s Mark Cuban, and boldly expanded their offerings with Post to Pillar, a curated marketplace of home décor and accessories, handcrafted by military spouse makers and artisans. R. Riveter is truly a movement that captures the humble and courageous spirit of Rosie the Riveter and channels it into every piece in their collection, each handmade in America.
R. Riveter is a frontline leader that should be on your list of most wanted businesses to support in 2018.
Frontline Leader (Founder(s)): Lisa Bradley and Cameron Cruse.
Name of Company/Organization: R. Riveter, founded 2014.
Location: Flagship store in Southern Pines, N.C., and includes mobile employment for dozens of military spouses.
Post 9/11 Service Connection: Military spouses (Army).
Tours of Duty: Held down the fort while spouses served overseas, plus, multiple moves across the country (PCS tours).
One sentence tagline & mission statement: American Handmade. Bags on a mission.
Company / organization website: https://www.rriveter.com/
