After the Marine Corps, This Veteran Turns His Next Mission Into a Franchise Built Around Family and Community

After nine years as a U.S. Marine Corps intelligence analyst, 30-year-old Ross Neeley knew it was time for a change. With two children, now ages 1 and 3, he wanted a career that would give him more time with his family while allowing him to serve his Colorado Springs community. Through TruBlue Home Service Ally, Neeley found a mission-driven franchise that offered both.

"The military lifestyle was catching up to me," Neeley said. "It definitely wasn't something I could sustain, or was willing to sustain, because of the amount of time I was away from my kids. So, the change was necessary."

Neeley returned to his hometown of Colorado Springs, where he graduated from Cheyenne Mountain High School and where much of his and his wife’s extended family still lives. His grandfather, a local Rotarian, had also left him with a strong example of what it meant to serve his community.

"I'm really trying to follow my grandfather's legacy; he believed in service above himself,” Neeley said.

That passion for service became personal three years ago when Neeley's grandmother fell in her kitchen. Her family provided the support she needed, but the experience made Neeley realize that many seniors don't have the same support system.

"That experience, combined with recognizing that my grandmother is not the only one, really resonated with me," Neeley said. "The reason I went with TruBlue is their mission of helping seniors in the community who may not have the support system they need.”

Since soft-launching on Sept. 14, 2026, Neeley has also learned that building the business requires knowing when to step back. With support from the TruBlue team and a network of professionals, he is learning to delegate rather than handle every responsibility himself.

"I'm already realizing this just a few weeks in; I'm not going to be able to do all of it at once," Neeley said. "I can't do every single job in this business ... it's really important to have a team in place or in mind before getting into a business like this."

Learning to rely on that team is also helping Neeley build the flexibility he wanted when he left the military.

"I have two young kids, and I needed a job that was going to allow me to be flexible, allow me to step away from the business when I needed to, so that I can go spend some more summers with my kids," Neeley said.

Ross sat down with 1851 Franchise to discuss how his military career led him to a mission-driven franchise that allows him to balance family life with giving back to Colorado Springs. Here’s what he had to say:

1851 Franchise: Tell us your story in one sentence.

Ross Neeley: A series of chapters that led me to my overall goal: serving my local community.

1851: What was happening in your life that made you realize it was time to make a change?

Neeley: I transitioned out of the Marine Corps in April 2026. That life event was largely driven by having two kids. I have a 1-year-old and a 3-year-old, and the military lifestyle was catching up to me. It definitely wasn’t something I could sustain, or was willing to sustain, because of how much time I was away from my kids. So, the change was necessary.

1851: Why did you choose this franchise over every other opportunity?

Neeley: I actually had a coach to kind of help me through this process because I had the same type of mindset: Why this one over the other? I struggled to find the right balance between the mission and/or business I wanted to pursue and self-fulfillment. I had roughly five choices, and it took me about three months to narrow it down to those five. It ultimately came down to TruBlue and another very similar service.

The reason I went with TruBlue is that their mission of helping seniors in the community who may not have the support system they need really stood out to me. I thought, “OK, that really impacts me.” My grandmother just turned 84 last week, and talking to her church friends reinforced my decision. About three years ago, my grandmother fell in her kitchen. EMTs came in, and that led my uncle to say, “Hey, you don’t have hardly anything in place to make sure you’re safe and to prevent something like this from happening again.”

That experience, combined with realizing my grandmother isn't the only one, really resonated with me. She has tremendous support here in Colorado Springs, including adult children who can come in and help. I know that’s not the case for everybody. I'm really trying to follow my grandfather's legacy; he believed in service above himself.

1851: What is it really like owning a TruBlue franchise?

Neeley: I want to say owning the franchise itself, it’s great. I think the support system with the headquarters team is spot on. They do weekly touch points. They have business coaches. They have a marketing team. So that in and of itself takes so much off of my plate as a business owner that I don’t have to worry about.

1851: How has owning this franchise changed your life?

Neeley: It’s given me back my freedom. I have two young kids, and I want them to grow up in a stable environment here in Colorado Springs, which is where I grew up. I want them to see the legacy of helping others and what that looks like. The biggest thing was quality of life. I have two young kids, and I needed a job that was going to allow me to be flexible, allow me to step away from the business when I needed to, so that I can go spend some more summers with my kids.

1851: If your best friend had enough money to buy this franchise tomorrow, what would you tell them?

Neeley: Buy two. Absolutely. The barrier to entry is relatively low, and I don't think their requirements for a business owner are unrealistic. You know, you don't need a background as a handyman, and if it's something that you want to do, and you want to be impactful in your community, I think this is a really good way to do it.

1851: What's the one thing you wish someone had told you before you bought this franchise?

Neeley: “Hey, Ross. Slow down a little bit.” I'm a proponent of delegation; however, I'm always willing to take on the majority of the work. I'm already realizing this just a few weeks in; I won't be able to do all of it at once. I can't do every single job in this business. And so, if I were to frame my mindset a little bit earlier, I wish I understood that it's really important to have a team in place or in mind before getting into a business like this: your team, your bankers, your accountants, your insurance and legal team.

About TruBlue Home Service Ally

TruBlue Home Service Ally® provides a unique and affordable approach to helping busy adults and seniors live a worry-free life by offering trustworthy handyman, home maintenance and senior modification services. Helping you maintain your home both inside and out, TruBlue’s services include handyman projects and to-do list chores, preventative home maintenance programs, kitchen and bath remodels, seasonal work, and senior modification services, all handled by professional, bonded and insured Tru-Pro® Technicians. TruBlue franchise owners are required to complete senior home safety certification programs through the NAHB and Age Safe America. As certified specialists, TruBlue franchisees are able to perform aging in place home safety assessments and can make recommended safety modifications as needed.