Jeff Pitcher
“I’ve done lots of things…in lots of places.”
One of the founders of J3 Marine, LLC. Read below to learn about his journey in the creation of J3 Marine, LLC.
It all started for me when….
John and Jeremy asked me about some help with the research when it comes to starting a business. Quite frankly, I had already known about the potential formation of the company about 6 months prior to them asking, so I pretty much had a general idea of what needed to get done.
I’m not a mechanic by any means, but I am handy and can fix just about anything, thanks to the invention of the internet and the influx of information available on the web, whether in video or text format. As for J3 Marine, though, what I’m bringing to the table is my background in the military, more specifically within operational and team management, program management, continuous process improvement, and a bunch of other geeky skills when it comes to computers.
I’ve held many jobs over my lifetime, only one of them was in the capacity of owning a business and that was more of a hobby turned business, Photography. I’ve been in the Air Force for 21 years as of this writing. My first 6 were active duty in Security Forces, followed by a miscalculated and improperly planned decision to leave active duty and be a civilian because “life would be so much easier”, along with trying to start a family with my fiance at the time. Both of those endeavors crashed fairly quickly, within about 3 – 6 months I was homeless, and single.
I’ve held many jobs in my lifetime, only one…was more of a hobby turned business.
Luckily, my parents were adamant about me moving back in with them to help me get back on my feet. About 2 months later I had a new job as security manager for a commercial complex managing 14 guards and a new place to live. Still in the military at the time, in the Air Force Reserves as a Security Forces Member. I did get called back to “Active Duty” for a spell, then shortly after was deployed back to the desert. Once I returned I ended up staying near the base and got a job working in surveillance with a casino, they called us “trained advantage players”. I then re-trained into a new military career, the field of Logistics Plans Management. Back to military school and back to being on orders again. Once I got back, I ended up getting my Class-A license, after I couldn’t return to my job at the casino.
So, I traveled the country in an 18 wheeler. Hauling loads through the lower 48 US States and Canada. It was a fun job, but it was lonely. I was only home for 2 days a month, and that was to be back at my unit for my reserve weekend, then back to my truck by Sunday night for my next dispatch Monday morning. One month while home for my reserve weekend, I ended up breaking my leg and couldn’t drive for a few months. I had the realization that I missed being home each night and decided not to go back to the road, instead I went into construction.
I grew up hanging garage doors with my Dad. As a kid I would go to work with him every now and then, which helped me learn some of the trade. So, when it came to finding something else to do, I figured, why not? After being at this new job for a few months, I moved up to warehouse management. I improved efficiency, and in my humble opinion, improved the morale of not only the field technicians but also the office staff. It was around that point in my life where I thought I had a good grasp on being a manager and leading larger portions of a company.
About 2012 I was told of an opportunity to move to New Jersey and join the New Jersey Air National Guard. Doing the same military job I was already doing, and pretty much only surviving on paycheck to paycheck, it was an opportunity I couldn’t really pass up if I wanted to improve my life. I applied, got selected, and pretty much sold everything I owned and pack up two bags of clothes and jumped on a plane to a state I had never really been to, with no family in the immediate area. I was still living paycheck to paycheck, and my credit score was probably in the negative numbers, but two years later I purchased my first home, was debt free and had a credit score that would allow me to do just about anything, like establish more debt!
I like photography too
My other passions are: my wife and disc golf
It's a really big tree!
Disc Golf and goofiness at World Championships
I’ve been with the New Jersey Air National Guard (NJANG) since 2013. I’ve worked in many facets of state operations. Over the last 6 years it’s been domestic operations response and coordination. From hurricane response efforts in USVI and Texas to New Jersey; from Presidential Inauguration support planning to resource planning for National Guard support for the Super Bowl; from severe snow-storm response and support to COVID relief efforts. There’s been a lot of larger than myself planning and management in my last years of the military, and it has been rewarding.
I never saw myself as a business owner, never planned to be one. When I married Jaime (John and Jeremy’s sister), I married because I loved her and want to spend the rest of my life with her. I married into a family that loves me and treats me like I belong. Then, when John and Jeremy asked if I could help with some research, I took it a little further and began building out a plan for them, and later, with them. I finally brought up my interest in becoming a part of the company officially and was welcomed in with open arms. Since then, I’ve spent many nights working diligently to make sure this becomes a success. I’m not here to deepen my pockets, I’m here to support my family, my brothers, to make sure they have a lifeline. This company is that lifeline, and I will do whatever it takes to make sure it is successful. I retire from the military in a few short years and will be at the marina full-time, but until then, whenever I have off-time I make it a point to be there supporting the business and supporting my family.
Want to learn more about Jeff? Read his blog below!
Hi, I’m Jeff…
So where did it all start with me? That’s a good question. To answer it though, one has to decide...
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I’m not here to deepen my pockets, I’m here to support my family, my brothers, to make sure they have a lifeline. This company is that lifeline, and I will do whatever it takes to make sure it is successful.