So nice to meet you! First off, what’s your name? Tell our readers a bit about yourself—where you’re from originally and where you live now.
My name is Kate Monroe. I was born and raised in Redding, California, and I’m now based in San Diego. I’m a Marine Corps veteran, entrepreneur, and the CEO of VetComm, a company dedicated to helping veterans navigate the VA disability benefits process. In addition to my work in the veteran community, I’m also a producer and storyteller passionate about creating meaningful impact through both business and media.
Tell us one thing you love about where you live now?
I grew up in a small town in Northern California, and the Marine Corps took me far beyond that world before eventually bringing me to San Diego. What I love about living here is that it truly offers the best of everything—the weather is beautiful, the people are amazing, there’s always something to do, and it’s a great place to raise a family.
But beyond the city itself, what I love most about where I am in life right now is that I’ve reached a point where all the years of hard work are starting to come together. I’ve built experience, credibility, and a platform that allows me to pour into and help other people. I’m living a reality today that wouldn’t have been possible five years ago, and that’s incredibly rewarding. It also makes me excited to see what the next five years will bring.
Tell us a little bit more about what your company does and how it started? How does it help your customers?
As a veteran myself, I learned through trial and error that getting disability compensation from the VA isn’t impossible, but it can be incredibly difficult to navigate. I remember thinking that if it was this challenging for me, it had to be even harder for the average veteran—especially those dealing with anxiety, PTSD, or other service-related conditions.
That realization became the foundation for VetComm. Our mission is to help the nearly 18 million veterans in this country access the benefits they’ve earned through their service. In some cases, that can mean up to $4,000 a month in disability compensation,which can be life-changing for veterans and their families.
To date, we’ve helped more than 27,000 veterans secure over $12 billion in lifetime compensation. More than anything, that’s what I’m most proud of. It’s the legacy I’m building and the impact I hope to be remembered for long after I’m gone.
If someone wants to start a business, what advice will help them?
If someone wants to start a business, my first piece of advice is to find a mentor. Find someone who is already doing what you want to do and go work with them for a year.
Learn what it actually takes—the hours, the money, the sacrifices, and the kind of person you have to become day in and day out to make a business successful.
From there, create a real business plan. Not just something generated online, but a plan you've built with someone who has actually done it in the real world and understands what it takes to succeed.
I would also encourage aspiring entrepreneurs to make sure they're properly capitalized.
Whether that's your own money or investment from others, having resources set aside for things like advertising, infrastructure, and operations gives you a much stronger foundation. If you're trying to build a business with no budget and no plan, it's going to be an uphill battle.
Most importantly, don't try to do it alone. Seek advice from people who have already walked the path. It can save you a tremendous amount of time, money, and frustration.
Where do you see your company in the future?
In the future, I see VetComm becoming much more than a company that helps veterans with disability claims. Our goal is to be a trusted resource that helps veterans build better lives overall.
That means helping veterans access homeownership opportunities, find better insurance options, build wealth, and even pursue entrepreneurship. We want to empower veterans not just to secure the benefits they've earned, but to create long-term financial stability and success for themselves and their families.
Over the next two to three years, I plan to continue expanding our services so we can support veterans in more areas of their lives and help them thrive long after their military service ends.
What was one feedback from a happy customer/client that you won't forget about?
One story I'll never forget happened after I appeared on a local news segment in San Diego. During the interview, I told viewers that if any veteran needed help, the phone would ring directly to my cell phone when I got off the air.
Shortly afterward, an 88-year-old veteran named Floyd called me. He told me he had an intent-to-file claim that was set to expire the very next day, and he didn't know what to do. I asked if he had a car and could drive to meet me right away. He did, and we were able to get everything submitted in time.
Before that, Floyd had been receiving about $150 a month in benefits. After we helped him through the process, he was receiving nearly $2,000 a month. A little while later, he brought me a Marie Callender's pie and, in a shaky voice with tears in his eyes, said, "I know this is going to sound crazy, but now my wife and I can afford the good cheese. We can make a really good sandwich."
That moment has stayed with me ever since. It reminded me that the impact of our work isn't just measured in numbers or dollars—it's measured in quality of life. Sometimes it's helping someone stay in their home, and sometimes it's something as simple as being able to enjoy a better meal with the person they love. On the hard days, stories like Floyd's remind me exactly why I do what I do. They remind me that we're creating real change in people's lives, and that's incredibly meaningful to me.
Where do you see your company in the future?
In the future, I see VetComm becoming much more than a company that helps veterans with disability claims. Our goal is to be a trusted resource that helps veterans build better lives overall.
That means helping veterans access homeownership opportunities, find better insurance options, build wealth, and even pursue entrepreneurship. We want to empower veterans not just to secure the benefits they've earned, but to create long-term financial stability and success for themselves and their families.
Over the next two to three years, I plan to continue expanding our services so we can support veterans in more areas of their lives and help them thrive long after their military service ends.
What is the biggest misconception about your industry?
One of the biggest misconceptions in the veteran disability space is that veterans should either handle the process entirely on their own or rely solely on free resources. While free help can absolutely work for some people, many veterans find the system incredibly difficult to navigate and end up receiving far less than they may be entitled to.
On the other end of the spectrum, there are companies that take advantage of veterans, charging excessive fees or making promises they can't keep. As a result, many veterans don't know who they can trust.
I believe veterans deserve support from organizations that are transparent, responsive,and genuinely committed to their success. They should work with people who answer the phone, guide them through the process, and stand behind the service they provide.
At VetComm, we've helped more than 27,000 veterans secure over $12 billion in lifetime compensation. My advice is to do your research, ask questions, and make sure you're working with a company that has a proven track record of helping veterans achieve real results. Don't automatically believe everything you're told—especially when it comes from the same system responsible for administering those benefits.
What has been one of your biggest struggles building your business and how did you deal with it?
One of the biggest struggles in building VetComm was figuring out how to reach the veterans who needed our help. I knew the impact we could make, and I knew our service worked, but none of that matters if people don't know you exist.
The challenge was really in the marketing. We had to distill our message into something simple, clear, and compelling. We needed veterans to be able to watch a short video, understand what we do, feel inspired, and be willing to start a conversation with us.
Once we cracked that code, everything changed. In 2022, we helped just 22 veterans. By 2023, that number had grown to 700. In 2024, we helped more than 24,000 veterans, and in 2025, we surpassed 30,000.
Learning how to effectively communicate our mission and get in front of the people we serve was our biggest challenge. Ironically, it's also become one of our greatest strengths and one of the key reasons we've been able to help so many veterans across the country.
Who was your favorite music artist and athlete growing up?
Growing up, my musical tastes were all over the place. I grew up in a small country town,so I listened to a lot of country music and was a big fan of Garth Brooks. As I got older,my appreciation for music expanded, and I've come to enjoy a much wider range of artists.
Right now, my favorite artist is Stephen Wilson Jr. I genuinely believe he's going to be one of the biggest names in music. I'll be seeing him in San Diego this June, and it will be my second time seeing him perform in the last 12 months. He's an incredible talent and has a way of connecting with people that feels almost supernatural. The level of artistry he brings to his craft is inspiring. If I could do in business what he does in music, I'd be a trillionaire.
Where can our readers learn more about you and your company?
Readers can learn more about VetComm by visiting VetComm.us. If you're a veteran, a family member of a veteran, or someone looking to help a veteran navigate the VA disability benefits process, our team is always available to help.
If you're interested in the mindset and principles that have guided my success, you can visit WakeUpReadyBook.com to learn more about my book, Wake Up Ready. The book outlines the Wake Up Ready mentality—a practical framework designed to help people take control of their lives, build better habits, and create meaningful change in just 30 days.
For a complete look at everything I'm involved in including my businesses, books, media projects, and upcoming ventures—you can visit KateMonroeCEO.com. That's the best place to learn more about my work and what I'm building for the future.
Link to Interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vzhHZFFMKao
