Suzie Schwartz

Military Spouse Mentor

Service Member's Branch - Air Force

Service Member's Status - Retiree - 39 years

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

I started my adult life as a resource teacher in Arkansas. After marrying my husband, I found it was actually not that easy to find teaching jobs. I somehow got into the hotel business and loved it for many years. There were times in my military spouse life, where working outside the home was not appreciated by the Air Force. But my husband supported my career at every turn. We even did a two year separation so that I could stay with the hotel and build up my own career experience. I worked until my husband put on his 3rd Star. At that point, moving was coming quickly and I felt I could not give the hotel the best results and it was time to step away.

Tell us about yourself.

My name is Suzie Schwartz and I am a military brat who finished school in Arkansas. I enjoy cardmaking, gardening, and the Washington Nationals. I have been a military spouse for a long time and now truly enjoy mentoring other military spouses.

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

My previous life included working for Armed Forces Insurance and their Military Spouse of the Year Program. I still keep in touch with many of them. I also serve on the Board of Trustees of the Fisher House. I travel to events for them including the Warrior Games and the Invictus Games.

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

I was asked to give up my job while my husband was the Commander of a flying squadron. My husband supported my career, and told the Air Force he would NOT ask me to quit and they could relieve him of command if that was the only option.

What role did mentors and sponsors play in your journey?

I truly did not have many mentors coming up. Most senior spouses did not work outside the home. And most did not have loud opinions and the desire to make real impact for families.

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

Oh my...I truly thought my career would end as a principal of a small elementary school somewhere in the US. I would not change a thing for the path my life/career took.

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

I chose to work while in the DC area. When we PCS's outside of DC, it was usually for a command assignment, and I chose to not work then. Luckily, we were stationed in DC many times, and my hotel was good to me each time we returned to DC.

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

Yes, and it was not easy. We survived and I tell people you can survive, but I would not do it more than once.

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

There were no resources for me as a working spouse coming up.

If you and/or your spouse have transitioned from active duty to your current status, what resource or tool did you find to be the most helpful?

I relied on the large network I had created among all of my fellow senior spouses and within the military family non-profit network. They remain in my circle to this day.

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

Stay connected. Show up for people and for events… in person. It matters. Showing up for many Fisher House events, when other senior leaders could not be bothered, is what led to me being asked to be on their board. Also, life will lead and offer opportunities that you could NEVER have imagined as a newly married or young military spouse. Jump at those opportunities.

Listen to an interview with Suzie
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