This Veterans Day, we are recognizing Connor Group associates who have all seamlessly carried their military skills into their work, elevating their teams and driving success through discipline, dedication, and a relentless pursuit of excellence. Each of these veterans brings hard-earned wisdom and a sense of purpose to their work every day.
Among these exceptional veterans is operations manager John Liford. John knew from an early age that he wanted to serve in the military, a commitment only solidified by the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001. At 17 years old, John enlisted at the earliest opportunity, still needing his mother’s approval to sign. He joined the Navy as a Master-at-Arms—a role similar to military police—where he specialized in anti-terrorism force protection.
John’s military career quickly advanced as he joined the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS), where he helped safeguard ships from pirates and transported crucial equipment to Iraq. John also took on homeland security missions, including assisting in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.
Through his work in the military, John learned the true meaning of accountability.
“Everyone has their own goal, and it’s expected that you achieve your mission so others can achieve theirs. That accountability really sticks with you, and it’s something that I take with me to the office every day.” John shared.
John also remarked on how some aspects of work at The Connor Group remind him of his time in the military.
“We’re all quick to lend a hand, just like we did in the military. Whether it’s traveling to another property and covering or there’s an all-hands-on-deck problem, we come together as a team and get the job done,” said John.
Like John, senior lead tech Adam Hutchinson also joined the military—his self-described ‘dream job’—at age 17. He served during Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) as a 21B combat engineer—essentially an infantryman trained in explosives. For Adam, the lessons learned in the Army continue to guide his mindset on the job today.
“The Army lesson that sticks with me daily is, ‘slow is smooth, smooth is fast,’” he explained. “You have to learn the fundamentals and execute them to a high degree, consistently, to achieve speed and efficiency. The first time you handle a work order you’ve never dealt with, the process can be slow, but each time after should be better.”
Adam’s time in the military also instilled in him a ‘never give up’ attitude, teaching him to persevere through tough situations.
“Things may be tough, but it could always be worse or more difficult. In those moments, I take a deep breath and keep pushing on,” said Adam.
For partner and VP of Kids & Community Partners Chuck Denning, enlisting in the Air Force felt like a natural choice. With a father who served, he was inspired to follow in his dad’s footsteps and earned ROTC scholarships at Purdue University. Chuck learned many valuable lessons through his service, but what stood out most to him was the importance of using his resources effectively.
“During a training exercise, I was tasked with coordinating six other units and their officers within a very tight time frame. It took me all day, but I completed the assignment. I felt good about my work until the colonel approached me and asked, ‘Do you always like working harder instead of smarter?’ That was a wake-up call.” Chuck shared.
That moment stuck with Chuck, reminding him that leadership isn’t just about getting the job done—it’s about harnessing the strengths of your team to achieve more together.
“The military shapes everyone who serves. For me, the greatest lesson was understanding that I needed to delegate if I wanted to become a stronger, more effective leader.” Chuck said.
To all of our veterans, thank you for your service.
Air Force
- Partner and VP of Kids & Community Partners, Chuck Denning
- Partner and director of events and special projects, Keri Stafford
- Executive recruiter, Kevin Pierce
- Pilot, Mark Buzzard
Army
- Senior lead tech, Adam Hutchinson
- Turn tech, Jacson Williams
- Lead tech, Robby Barnett
Coast Guard
- Partner and senior regional service trainer, Carl Williams
Marine Corps
- Partner and senior lead tech, Ben Leonhardt
- Partner and senior lead tech, Matt Brewer
- Property manager, Matt Fryer
- Lead tech, Robert Fulton
Navy
- Operations manager, John Liford
- CapEx project manager, Ty Thompson
If there are any other associates who deserve a shout-out on this list, please email communications specialist Hunter Martini, hmartini@connorgroup.com.