F or many veterans returning home, their futures can feel like blank canvases — both exciting and overwhelming. The future holds endless opportunities, but stepping back into civilian life brings challenges, and one employer in particular wants this blank canvas to demonstrate a time of hope, not despair.
Flags of Valor (FOV), established in 2015, aims to hire as many veterans as possible. The manufacturer is located in Ashburn, Virginia, where it focuses on being philanthropic, creating classic American woodwork made in the U.S. and, of course, hiring veterans. FOV has been successful — in just three years, the company has hired more than 50 combat veterans, improved American supplier systems and given hundreds of thousands of dollars to charities. All of this makes working at FOV a meaningful experience for veterans whose patriotism continues even after they return home. “We serve all Americans who value the symbolism embodied in our national colors,” said Brian Steorts, FOV co-founder. “The products we create allow customers to experience a tangible expression of the emotion, pride, service and sacrifice that resonates from the American flag.” FOV’s strategic location with St. John Properties places the company in the greater D.C., Maryland and Virginia metro area. Many Flags of Valor ASHBURN TECHNOLOGY PARK 44200 Waxpool Road Suite 157 Ashburn, VA 20147 703.729.8640 flagsofvalor.com
veterans call this region home, and remaining close to many Fortune 500 businesses and branches of federal government allows FOV to achieve its goals for production, philanthropy and veteran employment. Similar to veterans’ lives when returning to civilian life, “Our space was a blank canvas when we first looked at it,” Steorts said. “St. John Properties worked with us to build it out in a way that would suit all of our needs. We’ve needed to make additional changes since then, and St. John Properties has always been quick to respond to our needs and offer a helping hand in seeing things through quickly and efficiently.” FOV has grown quickly in the three years since its founding, and FOV’s location has grown alongside the company. “Our space began as a manufacturing and fulfillment operation,” Steorts said. “As our operation grew, we reconfigured our current St. John Properties suite to include a showroom, meeting and office space, and R&D facility. Our corporate leadership, marketing partners and product specialists work there daily.”
FOV leaders knew they couldn’t go wrong with a location from St. John Properties for a variety of reasons. “St. John Properties offers a portfolio of properties in great locations that offer tenants flexible options to meet their business needs,” Steorts said. “This was huge for FOV since it allowed us to do light manufacturing in a well-manicured, customer- focused environment.” FOV has filled its blank canvas with an ideal location, strong goals and positive community connections, and the company hopes to bring similar benefits to veterans returning home.
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