ThisWeek CW 01/05/2012
Greg Foulks and Michael Downey were once brothers in arms, both serving in Iraq during the first Gulf War.
Now, years later, the two are brothers in business, sharing upper floor office space at 5 S. High St. in Canal Winchester, and in their work with the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association (CVMA).
Following their full-time military careers, Foulks and Downey came together because of their passion for motorcycles and their desire to continuing serving their military brethren through the CVMA.
According to the organization’s website, CVMA members are combat veterans from all branches of the military who enjoy riding motorcycles as a hobby. The group’s focus is “to help veteran care facilities provide a warm meal, clothing, shelter, and guidance, or simply to say ‘thank you’ and “welcome home.’”
The CVMA sponsors or participates in several motorcycle-related charity events each year and, as a nonprofit organization, donates to veteran care facilities and charities that aid veterans.
Foulks, owner of Falcon Technologies, is still enlisted in the National Guard. Downey is a retired Army veteran and owner of HD Coatings.
The two serve as the state representative and public relations officer of the Ohio branch of the CVMA. They focus on fundraising events to benefit the Fisher House Foundation, which provides free homes for the families of service members who are being treated at a hospital or VA center.
“We raised $27,000 at our last event for Fisher House,” Downey said. “That’s where a family can stay free of charge while their soldier is rehabilitating.”
The original Fisher House is located at Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton; currently, there are 54 Fisher Houses nationwide.
“There are soldiers that need help — with wounds both seen and unseen. They aren’t looking for a pat on the back, but some of them do need help recovering and moving forward with jobs and life,” Foulks said.
The two support veterans through the CVMA, as well as through their businesses, because they believe it is important for returning veterans to have resources available to them as they make the transition into the next phases of their lives.
“I’m very proud to say I run a veteran-owned business, but I don’t expect a leg up for it. I serve because I believe in it, not because I’m trying to get more business,” Foulks said. “When I come across another veteran-owned business, we do definitely share a connection, though.”
This connection between Foulks and Downey led to the shared office.
“My family owned a painting company when I was growing up,” Downey said. “After my military service, that was what I knew how to do. So, now I run a commercial and residential painting and drywall business.
“Greg called and wanted help repairing the office here. He jokingly mentioned me moving in to share the space, but he wasn’t joking.”
After several years of working from home, Foulks said he needed a standalone office to take his business to the next level. Foulks lives near Canal Winchester and said he appreciates the small-town atmosphere, especially being surrounded by so many other locally owned small businesses.
“Canal Winchester has a lot of good things going on for promoting the small businesses downtown here,” he said. “I’m all for small businesses, because they’re who are hiring people, not the big corporations. That’s why (Falcon Technologies) focuses on providing managed IT solutions to small businesses who can’t afford their own IT staff.”
Downey agreed, saying he likes to be accessible face-to-face with clients.
“I don’t want to just be on the other end of an email, I want to be able to offer up a handshake,” he said.
More information about the CVMA is available online at www.combatvet.org or from Downey and Foulks at their offices on the second floor at 5 S. High St.