Army veteran Jerry Flanagan managed to recover from bankruptcy seven years ago by starting JDog, the successful junk-hauling business based in Berwyn, writes Ali Montag for CNBC.

Flanagan and his wife owned a successful retail business, operating kids’ birthday party stores, until the recession forced them to close doors and file for Chapter 7.

“We literally hit rock bottom,” said Flanagan.

Still determined to own a business, Flanagan researched industries that survived the recession. He then gathered enough money to buy an old Jeep and started a one-man operation with his military nickname.

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Since then, JDog Junk Removal & Hauling has ballooned into 92 active franchises in 27 states owned by veterans or their family members.

The company also has a national agreement with the Veterans Health Administration. The goal is to help veterans get jobs at JDog through the Compensated Work Therapy program.

“I wanted to hire a veteran to work with me because our brand was a veteran-owned business,” Flanagan said.

Read more about Jerry Flanagan at CNBC here, and check out previous VISTA Today coverage of JDog here.

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