June 17 Show: Larry Curell, Veteran Hero Talks Being in Somolia during the Real Black Hawk Down Incident

Brian Sussman talks this week with Larry Curell, a U.S. Veteran Entrepreneur of the Year and courageous hero who lived to tell the real story of Black Hawk Down.

Curell enlisted in the Army in 1992. He served with the U.S. Army’s Special Operations Command both domestically and overseas. He served a total of 8 years with the U.S. Army as a paratrooper with an occupational specialty in communications and intelligence. He served in Somolia in 1993 during the incident known as “Black Hawk Down”. Larry personally rescued helicopter pilots who were shot down while under heavy fire

Larry Curell serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of Better Deal Printing, LLC, BDP Franchising, LLC, The Coffee Peddlers, LLC and Rugged Pilot, LLC, headquartered in Prescott Arizona.

In 2017, Curell was awarded the U.S. Veteran Entrepreneur of the year award for franchising for the United States, edging out 3.6 million other Veteran business owners to win the title. Additionally, Better Deal Printing was nominated for the national Golden Ink award for service, value and quality in 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017. The Coffee Peddlers & Rugged Pilot Coffee, under Curell’s management and direction also achieved rapid growth and results nationally with a focus on Veteran Entrepreneurship.

Curell has served on the board of directors for the Arizona Heritage Credit Union (merged with CU West), ran a successful campaign for Mayor of El Mirage in 2004, is President for the Arizona Elite Service Disabled Veteran Owned Business Chapter and advocates at a state and national level for Veteran’s business causes to help Arizona become more Veteran friendly for entrepreneurs.

In his spare time, Curell enjoys the outdoors, flying, hiking, travel, and volunteering with organizations that support Veteran Entrepreneurship and business development.