Josh Dunlap serves small business clients at four branches in the Reno, Nevada area.
Reno, Nevada-based business banker Josh Dunlap has been named a Boots to Business Instructor of the Year for his work teaching military members about small business
Key takeaways:
Drawing on his background in teaching and banking, Dunlap helps service members transition to civilian life by sharing real-world small business and financial insights.
Dunlap’s teaching builds lasting relationships — some former students later become banking clients — showing how education can lead to long-term economic opportunity.
His work reflects U.S. Bank’s commitment to supporting small businesses and military communities through education, relationships and local engagement.
When Reno-based business banker Josh Dunlap steps into a classroom at Naval Air Station Fallon, he’s helping service members prepare for life after the military — and earning national recognition for it.
Through his work in the local business community, Dunlap got involved in the Small Business Administration (SBA) Boots to Business program providing financial education to military members, and that led to him winning a national Boots to Business Instructor of the Year award from the SBA.
“It started from a networking event with Nevada entrepreneur group, where I met an attorney who was a Boots to Business instructor,” the Reno-based Dunlap said.
Boots to Business is designed to help members of the military learn about starting and running a business when they leave the service.
“I was a teacher before I got into banking and teaching was always a passion of mine,” Dunlap said. “When I found out there was an opportunity to teach service members at the Naval base, I knew I’d have things to help them transition to civilian life.”
Helping small businesses grow
A big part of Dunlap’s job is meeting with his clients and identifying opportunities for them to grow their business.
“I cover clients at four branches here in Reno,” he said. “Reno is still a relatively small city, so meeting with people face-to-face is still very important. People like to see someone in person and talk to someone who’s local.”
While Dunlap works with clients across different industries, he will sometimes focus on a particular industry or two when there are opportunities to bring them value, he said.
For example, he works with a number of manufacturing and construction business owners who still use a lot of paper checks when they deal with clients or other businesses. Dunlap said that presents opportunities to help them incorporate electronic payments that can save money and time.
“My biggest goals are helping them save money, make money and make life more convenient,” he said.
“I think what sets me apart is I don’t just go from slide to slide in a presentation. I can bring in real-world experience on topics, such as what a P&L (profit and loss) or balance sheet actually looks like.”
– Josh Dunlap
Teaching service members
Dunlap began participating in the Boots to Business program more than two years ago, providing classes to service members at Naval Air Station Fallon.
The combination of a teaching background plus experience working with small business owners as a banker helped Dunlap excel in the program, he said.
“I talk about how to raise capital, how to borrow capital, earning and growing business, and more,” he said. “I think what sets me apart is I don’t just go from slide to slide in a presentation. I can bring in real-world experience on topics, such as what a P&L (profit and loss) or balance sheet actually looks like.”
Participants in the classes often have specific ideas on businesses they hope to start, and Fallon is able to provide customized lessons for them, he said.
Some of Dunlap’s Boots to Business students have gone on to contact him for banking services later, he said.
“The educational piece is what drives me,” Dunlap said, “and business relationships are sometimes a happy byproduct.”
Learn more about how U.S. Bank supports military servicemembers.
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