PORT ST. LUCIE PEOPLE
After a stint with Naval Legal Services, Kahle transferred
to the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs employment
team for the Treasure Coast.
“That year, we set a goal to find employment for 100 vets
by Veterans Day,” he recalls. “In 100 days, we had 435 vets
back to work.”
Kahle also put his nuclear capabilities to work for area
power companies but currently works to empower individuals
and businesses. He’s a Six Sigma black belt the organization
teaches techniques for process improvement, an
equity partner with Rock You Academy — a panel of experts
helping others succeed — and also owns 4DV’s Consulting,
a team of disabled veterans that identifies gaps in excellence
and areas of waste or inefficiency for businesses.
“Sometimes the lowest person on the totem pole can save
a company. You have to listen; what bothers an employee
impacts your bottom line,” Kahle says.
One of Kahle’s mentors was the late Senior Chief Ron
Zimmerman who encouraged veterans to figure out “how to
serve, after their service.” In that spirit, Kahle volunteers with
several nonprofit organizations.
As president of T.C. Sandlot, an organization that teaches
kids to play — and love — baseball, he says, “We focus on
the fundamentals but break into sandlot-style teams and let
kids be kids. Some of them have never played; some love it
but can’t afford league fees.”
One of the projects Kahle is passionate about is Stabilize
Revitalize Fort Pierce, patterned on the 30-year success of
Detroit Blight Busters, a group revitalizing that city. And
before his death in May, Zimmerman gave his blessing to the
formation of a foundation in his name.
JORDAN PATRICK KAHLE
Age: 40
Lives in: Port St. Lucie
Occupation: Entrepreneur and nonprofit organizer
Family: Wife, Eugenie; daughter, Emily, who is in U.S.
Navy Reserve training; daughter, Gabriella 11; and
son, Tyler 6
Education: Melbourne High School; Naval Master
Training Specialist
Hobbies: “Every now and then I go fishing. Sometimes
I play golf — I’m not good at it.”
Who inspires me: “My wife and children inspire me to
be a better human, a better father.”
Something most people don’t know about me:
“I’ve lived a good chunk of my life under the ocean’s
surface.”
“Many veterans organizations don’t know what the others
are doing,” Kahle says. “This foundation will create synergies
throughout the community and connect the resources.”
Kahle leans down to scratch the ear of his service dog,
Nova, as he explains that “trauma is trauma,” whether experienced
by children whose environment normalizes guns and
gangs or a sailor whose comrade commits suicide.
“My wife is a veteran too. She knows — if a vet calls at
two in the morning, I’m gone,” Kahle says. “You have to
give back.” E
Port St. Lucie Magazine 41
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