We had the good fortune of connecting with Brandon Watts and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Brandon, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I was Led to it. Having Served in combat, we took care of each other. Our oath has no expiration date. I saw our comrades suffering after service. how can we demand help for our comrades without first helping in our own capacity? Who better? so “here am I, send me” comes to mind.
What should our readers know about your business?
Our mission: “Provide immediate access to lodging and triage Veterans in crisis for additional services.” We are on the VA crisis line. We assist veterans in need. We have organically built this organization from grass roots on the streets of Atlanta staying overnight with the homeless, to now having 8 apartments for transitional housing and reduced rate hotel partnerships. We’ve given 25+ vehicles to veterans in need.
It wasn’t easy, we did it the hard way with no seed money. we had nothing to offer but our time. Our commitment won some folks over though and they started funding us.
Faith helps me overcome challenges. My personal faith, as well as faith in humanity. people want to help their neighbor, they just don’t know how.
Our value systems matter. They guide us through the tough times and humble us in success. We learn from our mistakes and build from failure.
A man I deeply respect once told me: “we don’t get to see how others see themselves helping people” It was very deep and to the point that we should not be so hard on others who’s intent was to help while their execution maybe flawed.
Ego and awards mean very little, we just want our brothers and sisters to have the opportunity to succeed.
If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Food: The Varsity (Atlanta Tradition), tons of places on Buford hwy (my Wife is Thai so I go way out of the box),lee’s bakery, snackboxe, Fred’s Meat and Bread (Chicken Korean Philly), any of the Pleasant hill Korean bbq places, CM Chicken, Desta, Sam’s on main, Rico’s, El Rey, Mad Italian, Baldino’s, vortex, Busy Bee, Rathbun, and of course Waffle House.
Places and Events: Braves Game, Show at the Fox, Falcons/United Game, Stone Mountain, MLK historic sites, five points, lil five, Capitol, centennial park, piedmont park, krogg st tunnel, college football hall of fame, aquarium, Coca-Cola, Oakland cemetery.
Nightlife: Reminisce of old Buckhead triangle, Midtown, battery, VA highlands, Roswell, I turned into an old man so I’m now mostly in them mean streets of Monroe GA.
The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My faith, Family, My wife especially, Veterans as a whole, and the public who cares so deeply for our brothers and sisters in need.
Website: oprallypoint.org
Linkedin: link’din.com/oprallypoint
Facebook: facebook.com/oprallypoint
Youtube: operation rally point
Image Credits
all personal pics. the Van was given to the children’s mother by ORP. we’ve given 25+ vehicles to veterans in need