Boots2Roots was built based on the hypothesis that early, personalized preparation and networking will enable Maine’s newest active duty veterans to hit the ground running, gain and maintain financial stability, and add new energy to Maine’s workforce!
Boots2Roots was founded by Air Force veteran, Dave Hickey and his BIW co-worker, John Manganello. Dave grew up in West Gardiner, Maine and spent more than 25 years as an aviator in the Air Force before retiring as a colonel and returning to Maine a few years ago.
It didn’t take long for Dave to experience firsthand some of the significant challenges our returning military members face in Maine, he and John decided to become part of the solution, and the concept of Boots2Roots was born.
Boots2Roots became a Maine 501(c)(3) in May of 2016 and is bridging an important gap in preparation and networking services for soon-to-be transitioning active-duty members and their families.
As of December 2024, Boots2Roots has assisted over 325 military members and spouses find meaningful work in Maine. Over 95% found work within 60 days of arriving to Maine and remained in their first post-military job for more than 12 months. Our Teammates found work with over 170 different employers across 14 of Maine’s counties.