Turning Stories Into Strength for Military Spouses
Behind every military family is a journey defined by resilience, service, and the power of shared experience.
Holly Dailey, an inspiring Army spouse, believes these stories can uplift, inspire, and spark meaningful change. Her own journey spans over 30 years, filled with roles as advocate, leader, teacher, and volunteer. For Holly, each role along the way has enriched her understanding of the invaluable contributions of military spouses.
As the Director of Family Readiness for the Association of the United States Army (AUSA), Holly champions military families with unwavering dedication. Her mission is clear: “My job is to tell my story and to tell your stories,” she says. She knows every military spouse’s journey is unique, yet their voices grow stronger together.
As an advocate, Holly shares both the struggles and victories of military spouses, showing how these stories can lead to real, lasting change. Eric Eversole, president of Hiring Our Heroes, described Holly’s passion and commitment for the military community as “second to none.”
Holly’s efforts extend through workshops, mentorship programs, and public speaking engagements. She consistently advocates for better employment resources and support networks for military spouses. Behind every success story are countless hours of perseverance and a willingness to lift others along the way.
Honoring Commitment: The Bonnie Amos Lifetime Achievement Award
This year, Holly Dailey was honored with the prestigious Bonnie Amos Impact Award for Lifetime Achievement in Washington, D.C. The award, presented at the 9th annual Hiring Our Heroes Military Spouse Employment Summit, honors individuals who go above and beyond to promote economic opportunities for military spouses.
Holly strives to ensure that military spouses receive the well-deserved recognition for their valuable skills and unwavering dedication. She accepted the award on behalf of all military spouses with humility and pride. In her speech, Holly emphasized her mission: to communicate the employment hardships faced by military spouses .
“My responsibility was—and still today is—to communicate that military spouses have valuable skills; they are loyal and they are dedicated, and they acquired this from the lifestyle that they serve.”
– Holly Dailey
Holly’s dedication is fueled not only by her personal experiences but also by those shared by her fellow military spouses. She has educated boards and councils about the unique challenges faced by military families. Her work reaches school districts, military support organizations, veteran support agencies, the Army, the Department of Defense, and the White House.
“She’s been a constant presence for Hiring Our Heroes since I’ve been here—always advocating for military spouses and their families, working hard to help them find meaningful employment opportunities, working behind the scenes to get the job done,” said Eric Eversole, praising Holly’s contributions to supporting military families.
With every story she shares and each role she embraces, Holly Dailey transforms experience into strength for military spouses. Her legacy stands as a living testament to what’s possible when a military spouse is driven by purpose, fueled by passion, and supported by community.
Impact Award Winners Take Stage at the 2025 Military Spouse Employment Summit
Each year, the Military Spouse Impact Awards celebrate the remarkable contributions of businesses, community leaders, and military spouses who champion economic opportunities for military families. This year’s event showcased inspiring stories of dedication and innovation. Read on to discover the achievements of the 2025 Impact Award winners.
Military Spouse Entrepreneur Impact Award Presented to Marine Corps Spouse
Before settling in Jacksonville, North Carolina, Hallie Hattabaugh faced the familiar challenge of finding stable work as a military spouse. With her husband’s unpredictable Marine Corps schedule and the demands of home life, Hallie struggled to find a job that fit her family’s needs.
After searching for flexible employment options, Hallie decided to create her own opportunity. “It was extremely hard to find a normal job being a military spouse—so that’s when I decided to start my own house cleaning company,” she said.
In 2019, Hallie launched Always Faithful Cleaning LLC, offering residential cleaning and junk removal services to Jacksonville and surrounding communities. The company provides standard cleans, deep cleans, move-in and move-out cleans, custom services, and junk removal—all tailored for military families facing frequent relocations.
Hallie’s business model reflects both creativity and compassion. By partnering with real estate agents and allowing payment at closing, she eases the financial burden of moving for her clients. And as word spread about Always Faithful Cleaning, Hallie discovered other military spouses seeking flexible jobs, too. Today, her team includes seven employees—all fellow military spouses—providing them with meaningful work and adaptable schedules.
Giving back is central to Hallie’s mission. Through Always Faithful Cleaning, she donates items from junk removals to local churches, outreach programs, and schools. Benjamin Parris of Grow with Google praised Hallie for her success, stating, “Always Faithful Cleaning is a beacon of what military spouse entrepreneurship can look like at its best: innovative, mission-driven, and community-centered.”
For Hallie Hattabaugh, entrepreneurship is more than just a career—it’s a community lifeline. Her vision earned her the 2025 Military Spouse Entrepreneur of the Year Impact Award presented by Google. “It’s exciting to know that I’ve created something not only for myself but for others,” she said.
Related: Learn More About the 4+1 Formula for Military Spouse Success and Adopt the Commitment
Navy Spouse Receives Military Spouse Advocacy Impact Award
Nicole Morrison is an example of leadership from the front lines.
As a Navy spouse and the Senior Program Manager for Military Programs at Amazon, Nicole has become a driving force for military spouse employment. Her journey is one of advocacy in action—transforming obstacles into opportunities for members of her community.
During the 2025 Military Spouse Advocacy Impact Award presentation, Selene Martin from CareSource praised Nicole’s dedication. “She is a person who has embraced the mission wholeheartedly. Her efforts have not only broken new ground but laid the foundation for lasting change.”
At Amazon, Nicole uses data-driven strategies and people-first initiatives to support military spouses. She champions workplace flexibility and leadership development worldwide.
Nicole’s impact goes far beyond her own success. She launched global focus groups and designed programs for military families. Her work helped make spouse advocacy a strategic business priority. She opened doors to career growth for thousands of others.
“Nicole’s vision, dedication, and impact are truly inspiring,” Martin emphasized. “Her work has positioned her organization as an industry leader while fostering career opportunities for countless military spouses.”
With deep appreciation for her global advocacy, Nicole Morrison received the 2025 Military Spouse Advocacy Impact Award. This honor recognizes her unwavering commitment to supporting military families worldwide.
Hampton Roads Virginia Wins Community of the Year Impact Award
Hampton Roads Virginia was honored with the Community of the Year Impact Award, presented by Lowe’s. The honor recognizes exceptional efforts in building a strong, inclusive community that supports military spouses. This prestigious accolade highlights the region’s dedication to empowering military families both inside and outside the gates.
Hiring Our Heroes’ Jenny Lynn Stroup praised Hampton Roads’ remarkable unity and collaborative spirit. “This year’s recipient is a place I’m proud to call home,” said Stroup, a native of the region and an active-duty military spouse currently stationed in this community. She commended the area’s connected ecosystem, which includes 18 military installations across seven cities representing all six service branches.
Michael Piper from Lowe’s echoed these sentiments during his speech. “At Lowe’s, supporting military families is not just a point of pride,” he said. “It is a core part of who we are.” Piper applauded the region for building a network of employers, organizations, and leaders who invest in military spouses. He emphasized how this strengthens the entire community.
Piper also recognized Sultan Camp, who accepted the award on behalf of the community. He credited Camp for breaking down silos and aligning community initiatives to ensure comprehensive support for military spouses. Camp’s leadership has united stakeholders across the region and provided thoughtful employment support for military spouses.
The 2025 Military Spouse Community Impact Award celebrates Hampton Roads as a national model, showing what is possible through collaboration and commitment. This recognition not only honors an outstanding community but also inspires others to follow its lead.
