Posted In: Veteran-Owned Businesses
Randy Bradum sparked his interest in specialty coffee while touring many parts of the world during his 24 years of service in the Navy. Bradum purchased Ubora Coffee in downtown Augusta in 2025.
He renamed the shop Commander Coffee.
“I'm a retired Naval Commander with 24 years of service in the Navy: four years as an active enlisted electrician in the nuclear field, 10 years as an active Supply Corps officer and 10 years as a reserve Supply Corps Officer,” said Bradum.
He served on multiple Navy platforms, from submarines to aircraft carriers. He serves fresh coffee and sells fresh roasted coffee by the pound.
Bradum has a “Mission United” reserve blend for sale. 20% of sales from Mission United goes directly to supporting their efforts to connect local CSRA veterans and their families with the support they need.
As of late 2027, Commander Coffee received about 500 reviews and a near 5-star rating.
Posted In: Veteran-Owned Businesses
Anthony (Tony) Ishmael is a retired U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 3 (CW3) with 24 years of honorable service, including four combat deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, a peacekeeping deployment to Kosovo, and service in Poland in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve. His career culminated with an assignment at U.S. Army Cyber Command.
Currently, Tony is a Certified Senior Advisor and owner of Executive Home Care of Augusta.
His team provides concierge-level in-home care, including specialized Parkinsons and dementia care. This helps seniors and adults with disabilities age in place with dignity, comfort, and independence. Care is available from a few hours a week to 24/7.
Services include bathing, dressing, and mobility; companion care, light housekeeping, and meal preparation; live-in and 24/7 care; respite care; hospital-to-home transitional care; stroke recovery and cancer; fall prevention; end-of-life care; and virtual care.
Every caregiver completes their 360° onboarding, including advanced training, screening, and evaluation.
Log on to schedule an assessment and learn more.
Posted In: Veteran-Owned Businesses
James “Jay” Harden became a policyholder while stationed in Alaska and was always impressed with the service from GEICO.
He was an 11-C (MOS) infantry 81 Mortar from 1990 up to 1995. His first duty station was at FT Wainwright, AK, and my final duty station was in the lower 48 in FT Riley, KS.
He learned that GEICO stood for Government Employees Insurance Company while stationed in Alaska.
“Once I decided to exit the Army, I knew I wanted to join the GEICO team. I left the US Army in 1995 and started my career with GEICO in December of 1995 in Macon, GA, as a sales agent.
I retired from GEICO Corporate as a District Manager in 2019 in order to move to the CSRA and open my own GEICO Local office, said Harden.
Harden primarily offers the services below in both Georgia and South Carolina.
Auto
Home
Renters
Condo
Motorcycle & ATV
Boat
Posted In: Veteran-Owned Businesses
Augusta Business Daily first profiled (https://augustabusinessdaily.com/veterans-open-csra-business-to-serve-and-protect-your-biggest-lifetime-purchase/) Jeremiah Adell in 2024 after he retired from the U.S. Army after a 22-year career. He enlisted just before September 11, 2001, and was later commissioned as a Signal Officer after obtaining a business degree from Texas A & M.
Jeremiah and his wife, Maria, believe in servant leadership and love to provide local customers real estate professionals, home buyers, and home sellers with a home inspection service that brings to the buying or selling of a home unmatched quality, precision, integrity, and professionalism.
Jeremiah calls what they do The Moment of Truth. It is the moment when the emotion of buying and selling a home meets the reality of the issues of that home. Their work is to communicate effectively, knowledgeably, efficiently, and openly about the condition of a home.
PTP provides a 360-degree virtual video tour of each home that is inspected.
Posted In: Veteran-Owned Businesses
Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Hank Cartagena opened Riverwatch Insurance in late 2025 after serving in the Army Reserve (enlisted) and the Regular Army (officer) for over 30 years. He served as a Military Police Officer throughout the United States and overseas in Korea, Iraq, Kuwait, and Syria. He finished his Army service as the Fort Gordon Director of Emergency Services and Provost Marshal.
His transition to helping business owners with commercial insurance and other clients with personal insurance is based on the same character trait developed while working in the military---TRUST.
Hank has already recruited 30 carriers. He’ll shop for the best value and price to fit your needs.