Happy Monday, Civvie!

The Houston veteran community keeps showing up. This week brings another strong lineup of opportunities to connect, learn, and support one another across the city. From public speaking and tech networking to veteran business mixers, legal support, and community-building events, there’s something for veterans in every stage of life and transition.

And the momentum continues through the rest of May. Fishing outings, relaxed veteran meetups, Memorial Day tributes, hands-on workshops, and the next The Civvie Connect on May 27continue building the kind of community that keeps veterans plugged in long after service.

This week’s spotlight features a veteran's journey from the 82nd Airborne and military medical research into investing, entrepreneurship, and strategic advisory work. It's a reminder that transition is not about starting over -- it’s about applying everything learned in service toward a new mission.

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📆 VETERAN EVENTS

THIS WEEK

🗣️ May 11
Public Speaking for Veterans

🕡 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
📍Houston, TX

Join Stay Tuned for Vets for a veteran-only public speaking workshop focused on confidence, communication, stage presence, and helping you share your story with impact.

☕ May 12

Cup of Joey & HRVCC Networking Event

🕖 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
📍 Houston, TX

Join veterans and local businesses as they come together over a cup of coffee to support each other.

🤝 May 12
DAV New Chapter Meeting

🕡 7:00 PM
📍Katy, TX

Connect, give back, and help launch a new DAV chapter supporting veterans and their families so no one stands alone.

💻 May 13
VetsinTech Houston Chapter Soft Launch

🕡 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
📍Clear Lake Shores, TX

A casual networking event with Houston veterans and military spouses to connect, share goals, and help shape the future of the local tech community.

🤝 May 13

HRVCC Katy After Hours Mixer

🕚 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
📍 Katy, TX

Grow your knowledge and network. Open to all HRVCC Members, Veteran & Military Spouse-Owned Businesses, First Responder-Owned Business, and Passionate Patriot businesses.

⚖️ May 16
Military & Veterans Legal Advice Clinic

🕡 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
📍Houston, TX

A legal clinic for veterans in need of support, with complimentary lunch and museum admission included.

OTHER EVENTS IN MAY

🎣 May 23
Reel Connect: Veteran Family Fun Fishing & Resource Fair

🕡 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
📍Katy, TX

A family-friendly event bringing veterans together for fishing, community connection, and access to valuable resources and support services.

🍻 May 23
Vets & Vibes

🕡 3:00 PM
📍Magnolia, TX

Join this relaxed meetup to unwind, share stories, and connect with others who get it. Grab a drink, talk some trash, share a laugh, or just listen.

🌹 May 25
Victory for Veterans | Flower on Every Grave

🕡 8:00 AM
📍Houston, TX

Ensure every veteran's resting place is adorned with a flower, symbolizing our undying gratitude and the promise that their sacrifices will never be forgotten.

🇺🇸 May 26
Mini Wooden Flags Workshop for Veterans

🕡 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM
📍Friendswood, TX

This is a free hands-on mini wooden flag workshop and create your own custom charred and painted American flag in a fun, supportive setting.

🎖️ May 30
Flags of Honor: 6th Annual Memorial Day Veterans Flag Planting

🕡 8:30 AM
📍Houston

Memorial Day flag planting at Houston National Cemetery honoring fallen heroes.

NEXT MONTH

🎖️ May 30
Flags of Honor: 6th Annual Memorial Day Veterans Flag Planting

🕡 8:30 AM
📍Houston

Memorial Day flag planting at Houston National Cemetery honoring fallen heroes.

NEXT MONTH

📋 June 11
Veterans Health & Resource Fair

🕡 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM
📍Dayton

An event to connect Houston-area veterans with resources, opportunities, and community support.

🫡 Know an Event We Should Share?

If you’re hosting or attending a veteran-focused event in the Houston area → [Submit here]

🌟 THE CIVVIE SPOTLIGHT

Called to Serve. A Veteran’s Journey from the Battlefield to Business & Beyond

For some veterans, service ends when the uniform comes off.

For others, the mission simply changes.

For Eduardo De La Torre, the call to serve has taken many forms. Soldier, researcher, leader, investor, entrepreneur, and mentor. Each chapter built on the one before it.

Eduardo’s military journey began in the aftermath of 9/11. At the time, he was a college student on a pre-med track, already involved in research and preparing for a very different future. But after witnessing the attacks and the moment the country faced, he chose to serve.

He entered the Army as a laboratory technician, but his career quickly expanded beyond that first role.

Assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division, Eduardo deployed in support of Hurricane Katrina relief efforts and later served a combat deployment to Iraq. He would later transition into military medical research, contributing to projects designed to improve survivability and recovery for wounded service members. He also served in leadership and instructor positions, earning recognition throughout his career.

After nearly a decade in uniform, Eduardo once again answered a new call.

He transitioned from the military and entered a highly selective veteran education pathway supported by The Posse Foundation, an organization dedicated to helping talented leaders access higher education and long-term opportunity. Eduardo credits the program and community with helping him successfully navigate the transition into college life and opening doors that would shape the next stage of his journey.

That opportunity eventually led him to Vassar College, where he studied economics and broadened his understanding of leadership, systems, and markets. That next chapter opened doors into hedge funds, Bloomberg, and private investment.

Today, Eduardo applies those experiences through business ownership and strategic advisory work.

Through E&K Partners, he helps founders and business owners solve growth challenges through leadership, finance, and strategy support. Through Torre Capital, he pursues investments and acquisitions in essential service businesses with long-term potential.

But success, to Eduardo, is bigger than business.

He remains passionate about helping veterans understand the benefits, resources, and wealth-building opportunities available to them after service. He believes too many veterans underestimate what they have earned and never fully use the tools available to build their next chapter.

That same sense of purpose is what keeps him strongly connected to the Houston veteran community.

His story is a reminder that transition does not mean starting over. It means taking everything learned through service and applying it to a new mission. Because for some veterans, the call to serve never really ends.

If you are a founder looking for strategic growth support or exploring the sale, acquisition, or expansion of a business, get connected with Eduardo and his team.

👉 https://www.e-k-partners.com/

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