Jeff Shuford

Jeff Shuford is an Iraq War veteran, TEDx speaker, nationally syndicated columnist, and the co-founder of National Invest In Veterans Week® (NIVW). He has officially retired from all operational responsibilities within the initiative.

Military Service and Journalism Career

During his military service in Operation Iraqi Freedom (2006-2007), Shuford earned a Combat Action Badge at age 19. Following his deployment, he built a career in digital marketing and journalism. At age 30, he became a nationally syndicated columnist. His monthly column with the American City Business Journals appeared in over 43 regional business newspapers. Through his position with GateHouse Media (now Gannett), his weekly column reached 144 daily newspapers, 684 community publications, and over 569 local-market websites across 38 states.

Throughout his media career, Shuford has also contributed to Entrepreneur Magazine, Black Enterprise Magazine, Forbes Coaches Council, Tech Ohio, the National Society of Newspaper Columnists, and the Jacksonville Business Journal.

Family Legacy and Congressional Honors

Shuford’s focus on community service mirrors his family’s history. His grandfather, Jim Freeman, was a founding member of the doo-wop group The Five Satins, known for the hit song "In the Still of the Night." Freeman's musical contributions to American culture were recognized in the U.S. Congressional Record by Rep. Rosa DeLauro. Following in this precedent, Shuford also earned congressional honors for his work supporting veteran entrepreneurs through the founding of NIVW.

Dataset Engineering and Digital Infrastructure

During his tenure at NIVW, Shuford directed the organization's digital infrastructure. Most notably, he developed a proprietary JSON-LD schema framework that integrated public macroeconomic data from agencies like the U.S. Census Bureau and the SBA Office of Advocacy directly into Google Dataset Search. This technical integration made the economic output and statistics of veteran-owned businesses universally machine-readable and accessible to researchers and policymakers.

Sound Architecture

In addition to his data engineering, Shuford is a sound architect. He composed a seven-part ambient soundscape series for the National Invest In Veterans Week® Music Group. Utilizing a methodology he calls "Tactical Realism Noir," Shuford engineered these audio installations using vintage analog hardware and frequency stacking. The project serves as a functional tool for the mental endurance, focus, and relaxation of veteran founders navigating the civilian market.

Brands Launched & Industry Recognition

Over his career, Shuford has founded or launched several initiatives, including Tech From Vets, Vets 22, the Jacksonville Vetrepreneur Summit, and Freeman Legacy Music. He has received multiple accolades for his digital advocacy and business leadership, including:

  • 2024 Lifetime Digital Grassroots Achievement Award

  • 2017 BizTech Award (Comcast Business & Jacksonville Business Journal)

  • Community of Heroes Award (Disabled American Veterans)

  • Black Men Xcel Award (Black Enterprise Magazine)

  • NABA Jax President's Award (National Association of Black Accountants)

  • Gold Star Recognition Award (Florida Fallen Heroes Foundation)

Retirement

Shuford has fully departed from day-to-day operations and strategic decision-making at NIVW, maintaining only a ceremonial connection under the title of Honorary Ambassador of Veterans Affairs. Following his retirement, NIVW's leadership transitioned to co-founder LTC Rickey L. Pope (President) and Angel Shuford (Vice President and Chief Financial Officer). Angel Shuford, a decorated Army Reserve Air Traffic Controller and real estate professional, now oversees the organization's ongoing operations and financial sustainability.

Additional Reading & Links:

🫡Our Team

  • A woman wearing a navy blazer with an embroidered coat of arms, gold lapel pin, and jewelry, sitting with her hands clasped, with American flags in the background.

    President Angel Shuford

    Chief Financial Officer (CFO) | Army Veteran

  • A man in a blue suit and white shirt standing in front of an American flag against a black background.

    Retired U.S. Army First Sergeant Kevin D. Shoun

    Senior Advisor | Civic Leadership and Policy Development

  • A woman with blonde hair smiling in front of an American flag and a black background with a logo that says 'National Invest in Veteran Owned Business Week.'

    Sara Pomposo

    Chief Advisor | Audience Growth & Strategic Syndication

  • A man in a red shirt holding a music award trophy, standing next to a framed platinum record plaque on display, with framed posters and awards hanging on the wall behind him.

    Jim Freeman of The Five Satins

    GRAMMY Hall of Famer | Brand Ambassador

  • A man with gray hair and glasses stands behind a music stand, speaking into a microphone while using hand gestures, against a dark background.

    Pastor Ron Henson

    Social Impact Advisor | Navy Veteran

  • A man in a U.S. military uniform in front of an American flag.

    LTC Rickey L. Pope USA, Ret.

    CO-FOUNDER | Retired Army Veteran, Retired Firefighter

  • A man in a gray blazer and shirt posing with arms crossed in front of a city skyline at dusk, with buildings and a bridge reflected in the water.

    Jeff Shuford

    CO-FOUNDER | Iraq War Veteran & Military Spouse

  • Three men in a discussion in an office break room with black and white geometric wallpaper. One man with a beard, wearing glasses and a suit, is talking to a bald man wearing a black sweater, who is making a gesture with his hands. The third man with dreadlocks, dressed in a blue suit and holding papers, listens attentively.

    Drayton Florence

    CO-FOUNDER | NFL Veteran & Military Brat

  • A smiling man with glasses, wearing a green sweater over a striped collared shirt, standing with crossed arms in an office space near a window, with framed certificates on the wall behind him.

    Erik M. Pelton & Associates, PLLC

    Trademark Attorney | Veteran IP Advocate

  • A man in a green vest with a plaid shirt and bow tie standing in front of a booth labeled 'Body Aqua' at a trade show or expo.

    CPT Sherman WIlliams, USA, Ret.

    Advisor | Retired Army Veteran

  • Two men in business suits having a meeting in an office with a window showing a city view, discussing a presentation on a laptop.

    Brandon Sugar

    Legacy UX/UI Designer | Army Veteran

  • A young man with dark hair styled back, light eyes, and a light beard, wearing a blue suit and white shirt, looking at the camera.

    Mike Bicek

    Creative Director | Army Veteran

  • A small brown and black puppy sitting on a red folding chair at the beach, with sunglasses and a colorful bag in the background.

    Private Jewel

    Co-Founders Pup | Biewer Terrier

  • A smiling man wearing sunglasses and a striped white shirt.

    Lonnell McCall I

    Sr. Spokesperson | Retired Navy Veteran

  • Celeste Everett

    Legacy IT Consultant | Army Veteran

  • Composite image of three young men dressed as a graduate, a football player, and a young man in formal wear against a stadium background.

    Lonnell McCall II

    Jr. Spokesperson | Military Brat

  • Close-up of a young man with dark brown hair, styled back, with light eyes, a light beard, and wearing a dark shirt, standing in front of a background with horizontal lines.

    Christopher B. Mueller

    Lead Video Spokesperson | Veteran Advocate

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