Berwyn's JDog Brands Helping Veterans Into Business For A Decade

BERWYN, PA — A Berwyn couple is looking back on 10 years of helping veterans get into business for themselves, and looking ahead to lower veteran unemployment in the decade ahead.

Jerry and Tracy Flanagan founded JDog Brands as their own junk removal business in 2011. They hired veterans and later franchised the JDog Junk Removal business. Today, JDog Brands is both JDog Junk Removal and Hauling and JDog Carpet Cleaning and Floor Care.

Tracy Flanagan said that 90 percent of the 250 franchised JDog businesses around the country are owned by military veterans, the other 10 percent by military families. With headquarters in Berwyn, JDog Brands represents a business opportunity for veterans, but it's more than that; it's also a place of belonging for veterans who sometimes feel displaced in the world of post-military employment.

"The business is junk removal, or floor care, but really, it's a culture," explained Tracy, who spoke with Patch this week, as Jerry joined in from on the road.

Jerry Flanagan served in the Army National Guard during the late 1980s and early 1990s and Tracy is from a military family. They understand that upon entering civilian life, military veterans often experience a disconnect.

"Private companies often don't understand what military experience entails, or how it translates into private sector skills," said Tracy. She said she's had the experience of serving on a veteran hiring panel, making presentations to try to help employers to see how military experience forms valuable leadership skills, and soft skills like adaptability, service-mindedness, and a moral code. "It's hard to explain how to translate that," she said.

When the Flanagan's retail business became a casualty of the 2008 economic crash, Jerry had an impressive resume; he'd worked his way up through a series of retail positions and gained a lot of experience. He had military experience on his resume, but not a college degree.

Their experience underscored what a loss it can be when veterans' skills are overlooked. "What a tragedy. That's lost talent," Tracy said, noting that now, years later, Jerry is running a national franchise of businesses.

"It's a mission, it's more than a business," the Flanagans said about JDog Brands. Tracy refers affectionately to the franchisees as "JDogs." The veterans who go into junk removal or floor care gain more than a way to make a good living. Being in business, she said, allows them to serve.

"When our JDogs open up in a market, they find ways to give back and be a part of serving their community."

The mission part of JDog happens when the veterans are successful and can give back wherever they live and do business.

Tracy said, "Veterans are used to serving. It's really neat to see what they do when they get started. They find ways to give back."

Franchisee success stories are as varied as the people who own them. One owner left being a police officer because he wanted to be his own boss, another worked in healthcare administration and left to make a life change. One "JDog" came in from the hazmat industry because he also just wanted to work for himself.

"The story we always hear is 'corporate America doesn't get me,'" said Tracy. She said they miss the camaraderie of military culture and find JDog a welcome change of culture. "The camaraderie is palpable here," she said.

As JDog moves into its next decade, the Flanagans would like to help make a further dent in veteran unemployment. Flanagan said the Military Times reports veteran unemployment was at 5.5 percent in February 2021. JDog has a goal of seeing veteran unemployment at under 1 percent.

"We want every vet to know there is a place for them here at JDog."

The Flanagans in 2019 founded a 501c3, the JDog Foundation. The nonprofit will focus on veteran suicide, PTSD treatment, as well as on higher education for veterans. Tracy is the Assistant Director of the foundation, working on grants, fundraisers, and strategic partnerships.

The foundation lists its guiding principles as "Respect, Integrity, and Trust."

"A lot of JDogs are combat veterans, some have PTSD issues. It is almost therapeutic for them to have a mission and purpose," Tracy explained.

The 250 franchises are open nationwide but fall heavily in southeastern Pennsylvania because it began here. The Flanagans lived in Chesterbrook before their move to Berwyn, their children attended Tredyffrin/Easttown schools, Tracy said. Jerry is from Media and Tracy from Villanova.

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