Gwen Newsome

President of CollegeRentalHouse.com

Service Member's Branch - Air Force

Service Member's Status - Retiree - 27.5 years

What has been your military spouse career/entrepreneur journey so far?

In 1993 I got married and we got stationed in Columbus, MS, for pilot training. Here I worked as a waitress, knowing we'd soon move. In 1994 we moved to Wichita, KS, where I worked for Sheraton Hotels, still figuring out how to use my history degree. In 1999 we were stationed at NATO Air Base in Geilenkirchen, Germany. I was pregnant and chose to focus on being a stay-at-home mom rather than take a short-term job in Düsseldorf.

In 2002 we settled in Omaha, NE. With my husband in the Nebraska Air National Guard part-time and two kids to support, I took any work available. I started as an assistant at Sergeant's Pet Care and eventually advanced to Senior Category Manager, traveling to Asia for product development. In 2010 I joined a quilting company to help bring a new product to market which was a unique and creative role. Then in 2011I became a Buyer at Hayneedle, which later became part of Walmart.com, but was laid off after three years. That same year, I took on a role in the local lacrosse community, helping grow the sport as Director of Operations.

In 2017 I started with Rush Recommerce, a dynamic start-up, where I wore multiple hats. In May 2024, I was furloughed, prompting me to refocus on our college rental property venture. After purchasing a rental home for our daughter in 2018, I turned this investment into a business. Through CollegeRentalHouse.com, I now share tips and resources for parents interested in college rental properties, offering guidance to help others avoid the challenges we encountered along the way.

Tell us about yourself.

My name is Gwen Newsome, and I live in Omaha, Nebraska. I am a big sports fan and enjoy gardening, watching HGTV, and watching Shark Tank. I love spending time with my family and 14-year-old dog Max. I have two incredible daughters and a fantastic husband and have been a military spouse for over 30 years. How is that possible?

Tell us about a "typical" day in your professional life.

I wouldn't say a day is typical. I would say every day is different from learning something new to fixing a problem or figuring out how to make something work better. It all really depends on the task list at hand.

If you've been stationed overseas, how did this affect your career and or business?

I was young and fresh out of college when we were stationed overseas, so my career wasn't heavily impacted. At that age, it felt like I had all the time in the world to dive into work when I was ready. Sure, there might have been things I could've done differently in hindsight, but there's always time to build a career. Looking back, I feel grateful for the journey and everything I learned along the way.

What has been your biggest military spouse career struggle and how did you overcome it?

The hardest part has been convincing employers that I wasn't just a “temporary hire” who would leave in a few years. I had to show them they'd be getting a hard-working, motivated individual who could adapt to change and handle just about anything. Military spouses are incredibly resilient and versatile, and I think my employers ultimately saw that I was there to make an impact, no matter the length of my stay.

What role did mentors and sponsors play in your journey?

I want to attack this from another perspective of not reaching out to mentors. I think it's a huge mistake if you don't have that network to do so and ask for guidance and help. I was not good at asking for help or advice when I was younger.

How does your career path differ from what you imagined for yourself?

I'm not like my daughter, who knew from fifth grade that she wanted to be a doctor. I didn't have a set plan when I graduated; I just knew I wanted to work hard, succeed, and feel accomplished. I was the first female in my family to graduate from college. While my journey didn't follow a straight line, I've realized that's okay. Not having a structured path can be freeing—you just need a positive attitude, a willingness to work hard, and flexibility to embrace what comes next.

How did military life (PCSing, deployments, trainings, etc) factor into your career decisions?

From a personal perspective, military life made me stronger and more self-reliant. By the time we settled in Omaha, my husband wasn't deploying, so career-wise, it didn't play a big role. Later, when he trained for an airline job, being used to long periods apart helped me manage that transition. The military prepared me for separation and gave me the resilience to handle it well.

Have you ever had to geo-bach due to your career/entrepreneurship?

N/A

What resources have you found to be useful in your career/entrepreneur journey?

It's people like Sue Hoppin or colleagues that will help guide you.

Final word: what are your top tips for other military spouses about navigating a career within the military lifestyle?

Right now is an exciting time for remote and hybrid work! Be open to new opportunities, keep learning, and don't limit yourself to the “same old” jobs. Skills like AI are becoming more relevant, and staying current will help down the road. Remember, reinvention is always possible—it just takes time and a bit of patience. There's so much available online, and so many people out there ready to help. Embrace the possibilities, keep growing, and know that you can shape your own path forward.

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