President | Co-Founder

Co-Founder and President of Veteran Business Project (VBP), a certified national 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to “Offering Hope and Saving Lives” by helping veterans and military spouses become business owners. A dedicated mentor to aspiring veteran entrepreneurs, driven by a commitment to restoring purpose, dignity, and a renewed sense of belonging as veterans reconnect with the communities they once served.

Veteran Business Project has pioneered innovative approaches to veteran entrepreneurship. VBP’s proprietary vharmony™ program, modeled after “eHarmony®,” matches veterans seeking to purchase a business with existing owners looking to sell—allowing veterans to step directly into established, profitable enterprises rather than starting from scratch.

VBP has further expanded its impact through its “Hands-On Living Business School”, which combines classroom education with immersive, real-world training. Partnering with Rosie’s Home Cookin’, an IRS-certified L3C educational enterprise and veteran-operated nonprofit restaurant, veterans gain hands-on experience in business operations, leadership, customer service, and management—bridging the gap between learning and lasting economic independence.

Over 50 years of hands-on experience as a successful Original Pancake House franchisee, Dale has owned and operated multiple locations in Toledo, Ohio, and the Chicago suburbs. His passion for continually improving restaurant operations, while introducing healthier food options and socially conscious business models, led to the creation of additional concepts, including 2Toots Train Whistle Grill®.

Revived the historic Choo Choo Grill in Des Plaines, Illinois, in 2001. Originally opened in 1949, Dale restored the then-closed restaurant and later drew inspiration from its iconic train-themed luncheonette restaurant to develop and launch 2Toots Train Whistle Grill®. Both concepts preserve the nostalgic charm of meals delivered by authentic Lionel trains. Today, the Choo Choo Grill and multiple 2Toots locations continue to connect families in a meaningful way, creating memories that last a lifetime.