Business Made Social - September 2026

Join us for Business Made Social, a networking event for La Porte business people! This event will be held at State Street Community Church, at 7:30 a.m. on September 15th. Our guest speaker is Sergeant Major (Ret.) James D. Messer, Veteran Engagement Manager for INVets.

James D. Messer is a retired U.S. Army Sergeant Major with 21 years of distinguished military service, spanning from June 2001 to July 2022. Over the course of his career, James rose through the ranks from Rifleman to Operations Sergeant Major, developing deep expertise in operations management, personnel leadership, and training and development.

James deployed four times in support of combat operations — twice to Iraq and twice to Afghanistan — demonstrating exceptional leadership and resilience under high-pressure, high-stakes conditions. His service is recognized through some of the military's highest honors, including the Bronze Star Medal, the Purple Heart, and five Meritorious Service Medals.

Throughout his career, James held progressively senior leadership roles, including Operations Sergeant Major for the Noncommissioned Officer Leadership Center of Excellence, Company First Sergeant, and Chief of Training, where he oversaw the training and professional development of thousands of service members and managed multi-million-dollar budgets and equipment portfolios. He built a reputation as a trusted mentor and consensus builder, redesigning onboarding processes, leading instructor certification programs, and fostering cultures of excellence that consistently exceeded organizational benchmarks.

Since retiring from the Army, James has continued serving the veteran community, first as a Credentialed Background Investigator with Peraton, determining employment suitability for individuals seeking access to sensitive and classified U.S. Government information. He now serves as a as a Veteran Engagement Manager with INvets. In this role, he continues his lifelong commitment to supporting veterans, connecting them with meaningful career opportunities and resources as they transition to civilian life.

This event is free of charge.

Register by clicking the link to the right or call 219.324.8584 for more information. By registering for this event, you are not registering for all future Business Made Social events.

This event will take place the third Tuesday of every other month; time varies.