After serving in Iraq in the U.S. Marine Corps, Paul built a successful civilian career in critical infrastructure security. Starting as a wire puller for a small company, he rose through the ranks to become a project leader at a global tech firm, developing high-stakes security systems for nuclear facilities around the world.
Now, he’s about to add another title to his resume: business owner.
When a car slammed into the back of his motorcycle in 2021, leaving him paralyzed, Paul’s career trajectory came to a sudden halt — but the setback was only temporary.
“There are some people where it’s almost like they just need a good kick in the butt to shift it into high gear,” says Paul, a T8 complete paraplegic who lives in Dallas. “I felt like that’s what happened to me.”
Initially, doctors told him he would be the functional equivalent of a quadriplegic because of the extent of the damage to his arms.
But after a dozen surgeries and months of intensive rehab, Paul defied expectations and regained strength and mobility in his upper body.
The journey wasn’t easy. He faced a long recovery, his career was on hold, and he moved out of his home after the collapse of his 15-year marriage.
Some people encouraged him to stop working and collect Social Security. But that was never an option for Paul.
“I wanted to keep going,” he says.
He shifted into a new role leading business strategy at his current company, which allowed him to work from home and cut back on travel. He also went back to school, earning a master’s degree in innovation and entrepreneurship from the University of Texas-Dallas. He’s now pursuing a second master’s in business administration.
Recently engaged and focused on the next chapter of his professional life, Paul is well on his way to becoming his own boss, thanks in part to PVA’s Self-Employment Program.
The 10-week course, offered through PVA’s Veterans Career Program, is open to PVA Members, spouses, and their adult children. The program provided Paul with the resources and connections he needed to transform a fledgling idea — buying into a national battery franchise — into a solid business plan.
He says he initially considered buying into a pizza chain, but pivoted to batteries after learning the owner of two battery stores in the Dallas-Fort Worth area was looking to retire.
“I met with him and we hit it off immediately,” Paul recalls. “He told me the numbers and I was like, ‘This sounds amazing’.” They struck a verbal agreement that same day.
Through PVA’s program, Paul refined his business plan, networked with bankers and lawyers, and pitched his idea to private industry PVA supporters — who rate pitches and provide feedback — during the program’s capstone pitch night. He was one of two winners of a $2,500 grant provided by Wells Fargo to help cover startup costs.
With funding in hand, Paul hopes to expand the stores’ business model from traditional retail to include commercial and government sales.
The grant will help him attend an upcoming facilities management trade show to build relationships with potential customers across the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
Although he’s already achieved career success, Paul says owning a business will bring him purpose on his own terms.
“People underestimate you as a paraplegic. Most people are surprised when I tell them I still work,” he says. “But I’m just as capable as anybody else. I can make this happen.”
He also hopes to pay it forward by hiring and training others who “just need someone to believe in them.”
“If you’d asked me four years ago what the future looked like, I would have said I don’t know if there’s going to be much of a future for me,” he adds. “But four years makes a big difference. You’ve just gotta keep pushing forward, and eventually it’ll pay off.”
PVA’s Veterans Career Program is open to all Veterans, spouses, and adult children, regardless of disability status. If you or someone you know is interested in enrolling in PVA’s Veterans Career Program, please reach out to VeteransCareerProgram@pva.org.