A Promise Kept: How One Man Built a Chamber for Veterans Who Needed More Than Words

Born from a vow to family, the Armed Forces Chamber is rewriting what it means to serve veterans by turning military grit into entrepreneurial success.

The story of the Armed Forces Chamber begins not in a boardroom, but in a Las Vegas living room in the early 1990s. A young André Haynes watched a relative, a Vietnam War veteran, struggle with the invisible wounds of service. Tremors shook his hands, post-traumatic stress haunted his nights, and everyday life carried a weight that few around him seemed to understand.

André remembers those years with sharp clarity. “Before he died, I made a promise to him that when I get older, I’m going to do something to help veterans like him,” he says. That promise did not fade with time. Instead, it grew into the foundation of an organization that would one day reshape how military service members, veterans, and their families found stability in civilian life.

In 2017, André officially launched the Armed Forces Chamber, a nonprofit that now helps veterans across the country and beyond. What began as one man’s vow has become a community movement, deeply rooted in both compassion and practicality.

From Personal Promise to Public Mission

André did not leap straight from that teenage promise to founding an organization. His journey, like the veterans he now serves, was one of persistence and adaptation. In the early 2010s, he started volunteering with veteran service organizations, lending his skills to fundraising campaigns and promotional efforts.

He also became involved with Veterans Treatment Court, a specialty program designed to help veterans who found themselves entangled in the legal system. There, he listened closely to the struggles that came up again and again.

“A lot of them have problems with money,” he recalls. “They cannot get a job. They cannot keep a job. And when they have jobs, oftentimes their bosses do not understand their military experience, and they often trigger anger and things of that nature.”

Those conversations became a turning point. Rather than focusing on employment in traditional workplaces, André saw a new path forward: entrepreneurship. If veterans could not find the right jobs, perhaps they could create them. The Armed Forces Chamber was born with the mission of helping armed forces members translate military skills into business success.

Built for Service, Not Rhetoric

At first glance, the Chamber might look like a traditional chamber of commerce, complete with networking events, professional development, and community partnerships. But André is quick to point out the difference.

“The biggest challenge was understanding the difference between the normal rhetoric or run-of-the-mill services that a chamber of commerce provides versus actually understanding and being able to meet the needs of the armed forces member directly,” he says.

That lesson shaped everything that followed. The Armed Forces Chamber is not simply a professional association with military branding. It is a community designed from the ground up by service members, for service members. Its board of directors and officers are primarily composed of veterans, active duty members, and reservists. Events are crafted around the culture of military service, offering camaraderie and familiarity that other business networks simply cannot replicate.

This authenticity sets the organization apart. “When we post our events and we have our programs, everything is geared around military service,” André explains. “So that the veterans or armed forces members we’re helping can develop a sense of camaraderie, and it’s familiar to the military service. It gives them a sense of comfort and familiarity.”

The Fuel That Keeps It Moving

While the Chamber is professional in structure, it is deeply personal in spirit. André says his greatest source of motivation comes not from organizational milestones but from the people whose lives change because of the work.

“I would say the happiness, the sense of purpose, and the success that I see on the smiling faces of the armed forces members that we help and their families who have a better life,” he reflects. “They’re able to see the growth and the improvement and the stability in the lives of the armed forces members.”

These victories are rarely small. A struggling veteran who learns how to turn their skill set into a business, a family that gains stability because a loved one can finally sustain work, or an entire community enriched by a veteran-led business—these are the outcomes that keep André and his team pushing forward.

Turning Service into Opportunity

Today, the Armed Forces Chamber provides a wide range of support services. Members gain access to networking events, business development programs, and a community that understands their unique experiences. For many, it is not just about building a business but about reclaiming dignity and purpose in civilian life.

Online access has been a game-changer. “We have members across the globe, the US and other countries, who find us online, learn about our programs and how we can help,” André says. “They become a member. And a lot of times they even volunteer to help the organization.”

Through its website, armedforceschamber.vet, the organization connects veterans no matter where they live. It is a reminder that military service transcends geography, and so should the support structures built for those who served.

A Chamber That Feels Like Home

Part of what makes the Chamber effective is its balance of professionalism with a personal touch. Members are not just names in a database. They are individuals with stories, and the organization is structured to honor those stories.

“Let’s put them in the driver’s seat,” André says of veterans. “Let’s help them translate their military experience and skills into success.”

That guiding principle shapes every decision, from the makeup of the leadership team to the design of programs. Unlike traditional chambers that may focus heavily on lobbying or local business promotion, the Armed Forces Chamber focuses on making sure veterans feel seen, understood, and empowered.

Expanding Across the Nation

While based in Nevada, the Chamber is not content to stay regional. Its growth strategy is ambitious and purposeful. Over the next six to twelve months, André plans to expand its presence in Texas, Florida, and California—the three states with the largest veteran populations.

This expansion is not just about numbers. It is about meeting veterans where they are and creating opportunities in the places where they are most concentrated. In doing so, the Chamber is positioning itself as a national leader in veteran entrepreneurship and community development.

Why It Matters to the Community

The impact of the Armed Forces Chamber extends beyond the veterans it serves directly. When veterans succeed in business, entire communities benefit. New companies create jobs, bring fresh ideas to markets, and foster stronger civic ties.

André also emphasizes that membership is not limited to veterans. “They can join the Armed Forces Chamber as a member, even if they did not serve in the US Armed Forces,” he says. “If they have a product or service that can benefit armed forces members, or they just want to be a part of the group because they’re patriotic and they support the cause, they are more than welcome to join and become a member.”

This inclusivity helps bridge the gap between military and civilian life. It allows civilians to stand alongside veterans in support, and it offers businesses an avenue to connect with a community that has long been underserved.

The Road Ahead

For André, the future of the Armed Forces Chamber is about scale and sustainability. Expansion into new states will bring more veterans into the fold, more families will gain stability, and more communities will thrive.

The Chamber’s digital presence also continues to grow, with active pages on Facebook at Armed Forces Chamber, Instagram at @afc.vet, YouTube at Armed Forces Chamber, and Twitter/X at @ArmedForcesCham. Each platform extends its reach and spreads awareness about its mission.

As André reflects on the journey from that promise made decades ago to the thriving chamber of today, the thread of commitment is unbroken. What started as one man’s vow to a relative has become a beacon for thousands of veterans and their families.

For readers, the message is simple. If you are a veteran seeking support, a business owner looking to connect, or simply someone who wants to contribute to a cause with lasting impact, the Armed Forces Chamber welcomes you.

Learn more at www.armedforceschamber.vet, or connect with them on social media to become part of their mission.

This feature is part of The Business View Journal’s Local Spotlight Series — your trusted source for discovering the best small businesses in your community.