Valerie Lavin Co-Founds Action Zone for Veteran Entrepreneurs

Tampa, FL – May 2018 – Retired U.S. Army First Sergeant Valerie Ellis Lavin, Founder and CEO of Luminary Global, has co-founded Action Zone, Inc., a new 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting veteran, active duty, reservist, guard, military spouse, and dependent entrepreneurs.

Partnering with fellow entrepreneur Rosie Lee, Ms. Lavin established Action Zone in May 2018 to bridge the gap from military service to business ownership. The organization offers tailored programs—Activate (idea stage), Incubate (growth stage), and Accelerate (scale stage)—along with workshops, mentoring, networking, and resources to increase success rates for military-connected startups.

Action Zone operates from locations in Tampa (Entrepreneur Collaborative Center) and St. Petersburg (Rising Tide Innovation Center), fostering a supportive ecosystem. From its first cohort in July 2018, it has trained over 140 veterans and military spouses, helped generate $18.3 million in sales, created nearly 600 jobs, and secured significant grant funding (over $173,000 reported in early sources).

This initiative draws from Ms. Lavin's own transition experiences post-2014 retirement and her passion for veteran advocacy, complementing her leadership at Luminary Global—a veteran-owned emergency preparedness company providing life-saving supplies.

"Action Zone was born from the belief that military skills like discipline and resilience make exceptional entrepreneurs—we're here to provide the tools, education, and community to turn ideas into thriving businesses," said Valerie Ellis Lavin, Co-Founder and Chair of the Board. "By veterans, for veterans, it's about building long-term success and economic impact."

Action Zone remains an independent nonprofit focused exclusively on military community entrepreneurship. For more details, visit actionzone.org.

Luminary Global is a veteran-owned emergency preparedness company founded in June 2016 by retired U.S. Army First Sergeant Valerie Ellis Lavin. Headquartered in St. Petersburg, Florida, the company provides high-quality emergency medical solutions, tactical gear, and customized kits to citizens, first responders, agencies, and military personnel. Committed to duty, discipline, and dependability, Luminary Global operates independently with no affiliations to other entities. Expect the Unexpected – Be Prepared. Learn more at luminaryglobal.com. Follow our AI Transparency statement for brand integrity details.