Kate Monroe of Vetcomm: How Disrupting the Trillion-Dollar VA Industry Gives Veterans a Fast Pass to Fair Ratings

As a part of our series about women who are shaking things up in their industry, we had the pleasure of interviewing Kate Monroe.

Kate Monroe was born in Northern California. After High School, she attended Corban University. She decided quickly that she needed a bigger challenge. This need for a challenge led her to pursue going into the military. She made the tough choice to go into the Marine Corps. While serving her country she was injured many times and is a 100% disabled veteran. Kate says the “Marine Corps set her up for a successful life and career.” The entrepreneurial spirit that Kate possesses she would say she got from her father. She has owned many businesses in various vertical market areas from lending to sales coaching, her own car dealership, and real estate coaching. Kate launched Vetcomm and is now the CEO. The company helps veterans get the disability rating they deserve. She has a mission to get a million rated. Vetcomm was founded as a VETERAN FIRST organization in response to disabled Veterans’ dissatisfaction with choosing between the “FREE”, but “Low and Slow Results” Rating Service provided by other veteran service organizations, and the “Profit First” companies that overcharge or defraud many veterans yet turn away thousands of Veterans because they are considered “Unprofitable” filing an initial claim. Bottomline, Kate is a fierce woman with a drive to help others succeed as she has. Her mission is to ensure that she can impart her success onto you. Kate is the author of several books, has appeared over 60+ times on broadcast news and is a contributor on homeless, drugs, border, veteran affairs, foreign affairs on Forbes, Fox News, Medium, Inman and many more. In fact, she went viral for her take on the San Diego homeless crisis. In 2023, Kate announced her congressional campaign for California’s 49th district and released her book, “The Race to Save America”.

Thank you so much for doing this with us! Before we dig in, our readers would like to get to know you a bit more. Can you tell us a bit about your “backstory”? What led you to this particular career path?

I grew up in Redding, CA, enjoying a fantastic 80s childhood. Later, I earned a full scholarship to a Christian university. Subsequently, I joined the USMC as an Intelligence Analyst but was injured, sustaining facial injuries, a broken ankle, elbow, and ribs due to an assault. I transitioned into sales, ascending from a salesperson to a dealership owner. I excelled in the auto industry, became the rookie of the year globally for Wyndham in timeshare, and was the fastest-promoted director in history. From 2019–2023, I coached 250 real estate agents with my company Realtor Rehab, earning features in Forbes, Inman, Medium, and more. I’m currently the CEO of the publicly traded company VetComm.us and running for Congress in CA-49. In the last six months, I’ve appeared on the news 60 times, including FOX, Newsmax, Great America’s Voice, KUSI, and more.

What led you to this particular career path?

My journey to becoming the CEO of VetComm was shaped by my own struggles in the service and a passion for helping others. Seeking benefits from the VA myself, I realized the challenges veterans face without assistance. In my congressional run, I’ve been writing legislation and advising Congress, working on solutions for homelessness, drugs, and lawlessness. Instead of being a passive observer, I decided to actively contribute to averting a potential train wreck.

Can you tell our readers what it is about the work you’re doing that’s disruptive?

At VetComm, we disrupt the trillion-dollar VA industry, guiding veterans through the bureaucratic minefield designed to keep them financially strained. We expose issues like migrants and federal employees using VA services, non-citizen veterans facing deportation, and hold the VA accountable on national news. Our approach ensures veterans get a fast pass to higher ratings, unlike free services that often work in the VA’s interest.

Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting?

In entrepreneurship, mistakes are inevitable. One amusing error from my early days involved starting a babysitting business at 12. I marketed extensively, but the demand overwhelmed me. I hadn’t planned for client tracking, and with just one phone at home, chaos ensued. My dad’s advice stuck with me: “I appreciate your hustle, maybe next time we ramp up a little slower, huh?” The lesson: meticulous planning is vital for scaling ideas.

In your opinion, what are the biggest challenges faced by ‘women disruptors’ that aren’t typically faced by their male counterparts?

I have been in so many roles where I was the clear choice for leadership or promotion and had to fight so hard to win, they didn’t even want to give to me but they had to because I was so much better. As a woman disruptor it would seem that you have to be 10x better than your peers who are male. You need to not be too bitchy or too weak. As a female leader and disruptor as Taylor Swift said in her song

“I’d be a fearless leader
I’d be an alpha type
When everyone believes ya
What’s that like?
I’m so sick of running as fast as I can
Wondering if I’d get there quicker
If I was a man
And I’m so sick of them coming at me again
’Cause if I was a man
Then I’d be the man
I’d be the man
I’d be the man
They’d say I hustled
Put in the work
They wouldn’t shake their heads and question how much of this I deserve

Who have been some of your mentors? Can you share a story about how they made an impact?

My grandma Cathy was an amazing woman, she was so entrepreneurial. She always told me “don’t make yourself small for others, you go get em girl.” She made me feel like I was going to do something important. My mom told me when I was about 12, “you can be a thermostat or a thermometer…. You can set the tone, or have it set for you” I chose to be a thermostat. I never really had a true business mentor, but I did watch my Dad in his business and I realized that being a business owner is bigger than you. You have a responsibility to your employees and their families. He taught me that if you want something bad enough and you are willing to do ALL THE WORK, ALL THE TIME. You can achieve anything and now I am the hardest worker in the room.

In today’s parlance, being disruptive is usually a positive adjective. But is disrupting always good? When do we say the converse, that a system or structure has ‘withstood the test of time’?

Positive disruption occurs when challenging monopolies, like Elon Musk buying Twitter. Negative disruption is seen in giants like Google and Amazon, favoring ad buyers and harming small businesses. Disruption’s impact varies, and some structures withstand the test of time while others need transformation.

Can you share 3 of the best words of advice you’ve gotten along your journey?

1. “Never stop moving toward your goal, even if all you did was move the ball an inch, keep going.” — As an entrepreneur, persistence is crucial. Hardships pass, and progress is inevitable.
2. “There are two kinds of people, makeup bag people and tackle box people.” — Don’t let a small setback ruin your day; focus on other aspects when one compartment is struggling.
3. “Put your blinders on like a race horse only looking ahead at your goal.” — Focus on the win and finishing your race, disregarding distractions.

How are you going to shake things up next?

In Congress, I aim to lead with a solution-focused agenda, acknowledging the urgency of the country’s challenges. With VetComm, our goal is to reach 1 million veterans, injecting $12 billion into their pockets annually.

Do you have a book/podcast/talk that’s had a deep impact on your thinking?

While no single podcast or book stands out, daily videos for skill acquisition and motivation, like the “I am a champion” speech by a high school football coach, inspire me. Delivering a similar speech to sales leaders, the room’s collective belief in being champions left a lasting impression.

If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be?

I’d inspire people to take action within their means to help others. Offering practical assistance surpasses passive sympathy. My personal experience, like buying an RV for a homeless man in San Diego, underscores the impact of direct intervention in someone’s struggles.

Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”?

“Hope is for people stranded on an island, what you need is skill and will.” I emphasize skill development and unwavering determination over mere hope. Life happens by design, not by chance.

How can our readers follow you online?

Find me on X: @KateMonroeCEO and visit www.kateonthenews.com, www.kateforcongress.com, and www.vetcomm.us.

This was very inspiring. Thank you so much for joining us!