Former Marine uses haircuts to support veterans in need

Valor Men’s Grooming’s Chuck Ondo helps struggling veterans get a second chance | Citizens Staff

Chuck Ondo served as a U.S. Marine for six years and as a Pennsylvania state trooper for 10 years. During that time, he worked as a SWAT team sniper and went undercover to fight the Philadelphia Mob. He was proud to serve, but like many veterans and first responders, his experiences left him with PTSD and substance and alcohol use disorder that tore his life apart.

“I lost my job and wanted to throw in the towel,” he says. “With my job went my identity and my career.”

Ondo eventually turned his life around, and he has made it his mission to help other veterans do the same. Today, he is the owner of the Pittsburgh barber shop Valor Men’s Grooming and the founder of the nonprofit Semper Fi Mission, which addresses veterans’ physical, mental, and spiritual needs.

“I live about 40 minutes from the shop, and when I’m driving to work, I often see veterans who are struggling,” says Ondo. “I tell them that if they want to get better, come in for a free haircut and let me connect them with folks who can help. I’m relatable, because I’ve been there.”

Valor Men’s Grooming is a winner of a 2024 Citizens Small Business Community Champion Award, which recognizes entrepreneurs striving to improve their community.

Ondo recently spoke with us about how his business has helped on his journey to recovery including how he started over, the importance of paying good deeds forward, and why you shouldn’t be afraid to ask for help.

Tip: It’s never too late to start a business.

Despite challenges — including struggles with addiction and a stint in jail — Ondo started an asphalt paving company in 2001, which he ran successfully until he sold it and began looking for a new opportunity.

Inspired by a friend who owned a thriving barbershop, at age 44 he enrolled in beauty school and then apprenticed under a barber to continue his training.

After cutting hair in a friend’s shop for a year, Ondo was able to open his own successful barbershop in the Philadelphia suburbs in 2013. But, despite his business’s success, his life spiraled out of control, and he descended into heavy drinking and near-homelessness.

That was when he asked for help.

During a 90-day treatment program at the VA, Ondo decided what his purpose and future business mission would be. “Since I had my tools with me, I started offering haircuts to other people in the program who, like me, were trying to rebuild their lives,” he says. “I realized that a haircut is a simple way to make someone feel better about themselves.”

When he got out of treatment and started working at a shop, he crafted cards to hand out to people he met, offering them the gift of a free haircut.

“If they can take that first step to come in, you have 30 to 45 minutes during a haircut which creates an opportunity to point them in the right direction,” Ondo says. “I can tell them how I have turned my life around 180 degrees, to the point where I am able to give back.”

Today, he has over 420 regular customers at the second iteration of Valor Men’s Grooming in Pittsburgh. The shop features a “Heroes Wall” commemorating the military careers of numerous family members, including his father and uncle.

“One of the first things I did was dedicate the shop to my family,” he says. “I wanted to honor the memory of those who had served.

Bottom line: Try to remember that the path toward reaching your goals may not be a straight line. If you face challenges or adversity, allow yourself to have a second chance by reminding yourself that many successful people have had to try more than once to reach their goals.

Tip: Look for meaningful ways to connect.

In addition to weaving hope and help into his business, Ondo founded a nonprofit to provide support: the Semper Fi Mission. Through his nonprofit, Ondo visits homeless shelters and prisons to talk with people who are struggling with the same challenges he overcame.

He also works with the Pennsylvania State Police as a consultant, relating his personal story to officers about the perils of PTSD and addiction. “There are unfortunately high rates of suffering and suicide among officers, and I want them to know they can turn things around.”

Ondo likes to say he turned his “mess” into a message. “It’s powerful for people to see. People who are struggling with mental health, substance abuse, and incarceration are also struggling with shame,” he says. “When you are walking, talking proof that you can come out of this, it speaks volumes.”

Eventually, he hopes to expand his shop and his mission. He would like to have a bigger shop in which he could train other veterans interested in becoming barbers. And, he would like to create a mobile barbershop he could use to meet veterans in need at places like recovery centers, homeless shelters, or tent camps.

“When I hand out cards offering people free haircuts, maybe one or two out of 20 will make it to my shop,” he says. “If I can meet them where they are, and connect them to food, clothing, housing, or leads on employment, it can be a first step.”

Bottom line: Most of us have received assistance at some point, and it’s important to return the favor. Take the time to offer advice, mentorship, or even just a sympathetic ear to someone in need. It can translate into a loyal following and repeat business.

Tip: Lean on available resources.

When Ondo came out of treatment, the VA’s Veterans Leadership Program was instrumental in helping him get his professional life back on track.

The program guided him through the process of regaining his barber’s license, as well as creating a résumé and purchasing equipment. “I had prior experience with things like financial planning and marketing, but it was nice to have a helping hand,” he says.

His current shop is located in one of Pittsburgh’s MY SALON Suites, a franchise that allows hairdressers and barbers to rent an entire room for their business, rather than just a chair. While the contract is for a year, he is able to pay for the space on a weekly basis.

Having his own suite also gives him scheduling flexibility to split his time 70-30 between the shop and Semper Fi Mission. “I use a scheduling app for the barber shop so I can be available when I need to work on the nonprofit or do outreach at shelters or prisons.”

He primarily markets the business through Facebook and Instagram, often posting before-and-after pictures. He also relies on his local personal network. “The veterans’ community in Pittsburgh is really strong and has helped me grow my business,” Ondo says. “I also get a lot of good reviews on Google, many not only touching on the haircut, but the impact I’ve had on their lives.”

Bottom line: Take advantage of local and national resources that can provide the training and business advice you need. Organizations such as the VA offer mentorship and support for everything from writing a résumé to securing funding.

Do you need guidance on your small business journey? Schedule an appointment with Citizens to receive personalized assistance for your business.