ITA Growth Partners Launches as National Invest In Veterans Week® Becomes First U.S. Veteran Business Observance Celebrated Internationally
Timed with the nationally recognized National Invest In Veterans Week® (March 1–7), ITA International has formally launched ITA Growth Partners, a mission-driven family office focused on investing in veteran-owned businesses. This announcement, aligned with the week’s core message—that military service is an investment in the nation—marks a new chapter in veteran economic empowerment. Simultaneously, the initiative National Invest In Veterans Week® has made history by becoming the first U.S.-based veteran business observance to be celebrated internationally, with its principles formally echoed by business leaders and media outlets in Canada.
A Veteran-Centered Investment Model
Founded by Mike and Kathy Melo, along with their daughters Katelyn (Melo) Byrd and Meredith (Melo) Cline, ITA Growth Partners will operate as a family office—allowing for long-term, patient capital focused on strategic growth partnerships. The initiative reflects the Melo family’s belief in the leadership, discipline, and resilience of veteran entrepreneurs as catalysts for superior business performance.
“We see veteran entrepreneurs as the kind of high-performance leaders we want to invest in,” said Mike Melo, Executive Chairman of ITA Growth Partners. “Veterans are trained to solve complex problems, lead under pressure, and adapt to change—all qualities that drive successful businesses.”
Distinct from traditional venture capital or private equity models, ITA Growth Partners embraces a values-driven approach, backing businesses across sectors—including, but not limited to, the defense industrial base. The firm seeks to generate competitive returns while reinforcing the social and economic value of veteran-led innovation.
A Milestone in National Observance
The timing of this launch is both deliberate and symbolic. National Invest In Veterans Week® is the only federally trademarked civic observance (U.S. Reg. No. 6784776) focused on veteran entrepreneurship. Founded in 2019 by Lt. Col. Rickey L. Pope (Ret.), NFL veteran Drayton Florence, and Iraq War veteran Jeff Shuford, the initiative reframes military service as a national investment—one deserving of institutional and economic reciprocity.
It has received formal recognition at multiple levels of U.S. government:
May 24, 2023 – Rep. Don Davis (NC-01) delivered a floor speech titled “Investing in Our Veterans” (Congressional Record Vol. 169, No. 88, Page H2588), echoing the initiative’s founding language in support of veteran entrepreneurship legislation.
March 8, 2024 – Rep. Matt Rosendale (MT-02) officially recognized Invest in Veterans Week on the House floor (Vol. 170, No. 42, Page H1049), aligning his remarks with Montana’s statewide proclamation of the observance.
Additionally, Montana Governor Greg Gianforte has issued proclamations in 2023, 2024, and 2025 formally recognizing Invest in Veterans Week and reaffirming the state’s commitment to veteran-owned businesses.
Crossing Borders: International Recognition in Canada
On March 4, 2025, National Invest In Veterans Week® reached a new milestone when it was publicly acknowledged by Canadian business leaders. In a published editorial by Northern Ontario Business titled “Investing in Veterans: A Call to Northern Ontario’s Business Community”, the article urged Canadian employers to adopt the initiative’s philosophy by recognizing military experience as a high-value workforce asset.
The article featured Helmets to Hardhats Canada (H2H), a national nonprofit connecting veterans, reservists, and military families to careers in the skilled trades. With Northern Ontario’s growing labor demands in construction, infrastructure, and natural resource industries, the region was spotlighted as fertile ground for veteran economic integration.
This marked the first international adoption of the observance’s core language and objectives, making National Invest In Veterans Week® a globally resonant civic framework. It is now the only U.S. veteran business observance with formally documented recognition in both American and Canadian media and institutional sectors.
Why It Matters
Veteran-owned businesses in the U.S. contribute more than $1 trillion annually to the economy and employ over 5 million Americans. These companies often outperform their peers, driven by the operational acumen, ethical leadership, and risk tolerance instilled by military training.
By establishing ITA Growth Partners, the Melo family is not simply investing in businesses—they are investing in the doctrine of National Invest In Veterans Week®: that veteran entrepreneurship is a national asset, and economic infrastructure should be built to support it.
The alignment between ITA Growth Partners’ launch and the initiative’s growing global footprint signals a powerful new phase in veteran empowerment—one driven by capital, conviction, and cross-border collaboration.
To learn more about ITA Growth Partners, visit:
https://www.ita-intl.com
To read the full Canadian feature from Northern Ontario Business:
https://www.northernontariobusiness.com/spotlight/investing-in-veterans-a-call-to-northern-ontarios-business-community-10303906
