Written by Stevan Cunningham, Vice President of Marketing Communications at Desert Veterans LLC
One Phoenix-based company, owned and managed by female police, fire and rescue Veterans, is dedicated to helping US Military or First Responder Veterans struggling with homelessness and/or unemployment. Desert Veterans, dba Desert Dogs, aims to become Arizona’s All-Veteran service company, providing an employment refuge for Veterans seeking a fresh start.
“Unless you’ve been through it, it’s hard to understand the difficult transition from military to civilian life”, states Co-Founder Lacey Ranck, who is a former Maricopa County Sheriff’s Officer. “Our goal is to create a safe employment haven, where Veterans can work, grow and garner support from other Veterans.”
Desert Dogs works with U.S. Vets, Wounded Warriors, and the Phoenix Veterans’ Administration to recruit and train any Veteran looking for a job. Since their launch in January 2020, Desert Dogs has hired nearly 100 Veterans of the US Army, Air Force, Navy, and Marines, with hopes of continuing this growth in 2023. “Desert Dogs has been a valuable resource for reintegrating displaced or homeless vets”, says Keith Root, Case Manager at U.S. Vets. “Our hats go off to them for all they have done, and their continued efforts to support the Veteran community here in Phoenix.”
Since April 2020, Desert Dogs has worked with some of the largest home builders in the country, including DR Horton, Lennar Homes, David Weekley, and Richmond American Homes. Desert Dogs keep new home construction sites clean, safe and compliant. They also offer home maintenance and repairs, junk hauling and removal, along with a range of different services focused on fixing, improving, or cleaning their local communities.
Desert Dogs focuses on hiring Veterans – recently released, displaced or homeless. “We do not judge, lay blame, or otherwise use someone’s past to dictate their future”, says Lacey. “Our goal is to provide a leg up, a job that can lead to growth within the Desert Dogs organization, or as a segway into a construction career. Our relationships with builders provide an inside track within the new home construction and services industry.”
While the typical hire at Desert Veterans is male, they have been fortunate enough to recruit an essential group of females that ensure the company runs smoothly, albeit in a male-dominated field. These include the Co-Owner of the company, the Human Resources director, Marketing Specialist, and others out in the field each day rebuilding their communities.
“Working with females in a male-dominant field is refreshing”, says manager Stevan Cunningham. “It allows you to view problems from a different perspective, and the passion that the women at this organization have for helping others is unrivaled. It also gives these tough women a chance to shine and show that they can excel in any field that they choose.”
Moving forward, Desert Veterans is focused on solidifying its new divisions and territories within the state of Arizona. With the help of its female workforce, they have grown from six employees to over sixty in three short years. In the last year alone, they have helped employ and house ten displaced individuals, and are present at most hiring and support functions around Phoenix. They are looking for Veterans and motivated individuals that want to grow with the company, whether here in Phoenix or another Desert Dogs city. Please help spread the word and help us honor our female heroes serving us daily!
Desert Dogs’ Women In Action
Katy G (right) HR Manager – Fire Department Veteran
Lacey R (right) – Co-Owner – Law Enforcement Veteran
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