RO Gonzalez of TEMPE on Life, Lessons & Legacy

We recently had the chance to connect with RO Gonzalez and have shared our conversation below.

Good morning RO, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? What do you think others are secretly struggling with—but never say?
A lot of Veterans are struggling with the stigma of asking for help but think it’s embarrassing or weak. Especially combat Veterans, they were once mighty war fighters and now regular Joe’s. That’s is why I do what I do is to help them realize that there is no shame is asking for help because if we don’t ask for the help, how are we suppose to take care of our families.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi my name is RO Gonzalez. Marine Corps Veteran 87-91 Food Service Specialist. Father of 3 adult children 36-34-23 and 2 grandchildren 17-10. Started Valors Veterans Community AZ in January 2018 with no idea of what I was doing. As we started doing events and socials we figured out what was needed in the community. Connection is #1 being able to identify and recruit Veterans looking for purpose, #2 Community getting Veterans involved in the community with volunteer opportunities and connecting with other VSO’s and #3 Camaraderie Connecting veterans with veterans with socials and coffee meetups. But the real interaction is peeling the layers back on what they actually need.. homelessness, mental health, financial education, post 9/11 and GI Bill education, employment, food, clothes, etc.
My ultimate goal is to have an all in one stop Veteran Center with 6-10 other VSO’s to have a Veteran go thru “MEPS” type deal where each VSO’s will connect with the Veteran to see what services they may need, whether they need the service or not.

Okay, so here’s a deep one: Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
Just another Veteran going through the motions and living my best life until i got divorced and lost my family, career and self esteem. After my divorce i felt worthless and unwanted. I felt i needed alcohol and drugs to cope with life. Not until a failed suicide attempt did i realize my full potential. I had just lost my computer repair shop to theft, my girlfriend had just left me and one of my friends totaled my car, i had the bright idea to take a 45 to South Mountain and end my life. But for whatever reason 2-3 seconds before i wanted to pull the trigger my daughter called me. She asked me if i wanted to hear some good news, I told her baby any news is good news right now. But when she told me that she was having my grandson, that hit me like a bag of bricks. But the first thing that popped into my head was my grandson talking to another little boy and he asked my grandson what does your grandpa do. My grandson would reply “oh he killed himself!” That was the day i found my why and purpose, my why is to leave a legacy for my grandson and my why is how do i help my fellow brother and sister veterans.

If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
One thing i would say to myself is resilience will carry you farther than anything you will ever learn.

So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
All in one Veteran Center. Where a Veteran can come for one resource and be connected to all facets available to have a Veteran succeed and thrive. Whether they need food, clothes, housing resource or mental health they will be connected to all of them and more.

Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: When do you feel most at peace?
I will feel most at peace knowing that I tried to make a difference in the Community and tried to make an Impact on as many Veterans lives as i could. Knowing that a bicycle that was donated to get school helped them graduate with a degree, knowing that spending an morning or afternoon with their spouse and kids carrying the flag at the Fiesta Bowl is a lifetime memory as a family, etc. etc. Knowing all the events and socials had meaning to certain Veterans and can say that helped our family spend more time together or made a lifetime memory.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://vvcazvets.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vvcaztempe/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ro-gonzalez-vvcaz2018/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VVCAZ