MILCOM Founders Podcast – Episode 13
From Army Captain to Chief Storyteller with Ira Koretsky

Join host Rod Loges and guest Ira Koretsky as he shares his journey from serving as a US Army Captain in the Medical Service Corps to founding The Chief Storyteller®, a communications consultancy that helps organizations improve performance and audience engagement through strategic storytelling and presentation coaching.

In this episode:

• Ira’s atypical military experience in healthcare IT, working primarily with civilian leadership
• His path from ROTC at Syracuse University to serving as CIO of an Army hospital at Fort Ord
• Building a hospital-based computer training center to enable just-in-time learning for doctors and nurses
• Navigating post-military life through the dot-com boom, bust, and 9/11 to eventually start his business in 2002
• 23+ years helping organizations improve communication through his proprietary storytelling frameworks
• Teaching more than 1,300 veteran entrepreneurs through the Veteran Institute for Procurement (VIP) program
• Why “The Chief Storyteller®” name stuck and became a trademarked brand identity

Key takeaways:

• Standing up for what's right—even to senior officers—can build mutual respect and stronger working relationships
• The military's emphasis on collaboration and coalition-building translates directly to business leadership
• Sales is often the biggest challenge for veteran entrepreneurs who naturally identify as helpers and educators
• Creating intellectual property is essential for business scalability and legacy
• Partnering with complementary experts can accelerate growth and impact

Guest: Ira Koretsky, Founder and Chief Storyteller of The Chief Storyteller®
Military Service: US Army Captain (5 years active duty, 3 years inactive), Medical Service Corps
Business Website: The Chief Storyteller®
LinkedIn: Connect with Ira

About Ira:
Ira Koretsky served as a U.S. Army Captain in the Medical Service Corps, where he led healthcare IT initiatives and designed executive-level communications. After earning his MBA from the University of Maryland, he entered the tech industry in Silicon Valley. Following 9/11, Ira founded The Chief Storyteller® in 2002. Since then, he has delivered more than 590 programs across 11 countries and developed proprietary storytelling frameworks now used by Fortune 50 companies, nonprofits, and government agencies alike. He is also an adjunct professor at the University of Maryland's Smith School of Business and a long-time instructor for the Veteran Institute for Procurement.

Looking ahead:
Ira is creating a standalone library of storytelling tools and frameworks as he prepares to transition his business by 2026, aiming to leave a legacy that helps others communicate with impact.

The MILCOM Founders Podcast champions military community business owners. Each episode offers practical insights and lessons learned from successful veteran entrepreneurs.

Sponsored by One Degree Financial
www.onedegreefinancial.com

Support the Mission:
Learn about the Dick Loges Veteran Entrepreneur Scholarship Fund at milcomfounders.com