MARINE VETERAN USES SOCIAL MEDIA TO ‘MAKE FRIENDS AND INFLUENCE PEOPLE’

U.S. Marine veteran Elizabeth Hartman served nearly four years as an Arabic linguist and now finds herself building a business and establishing a loyal following of other veterans on social media channels.

“Liz ” as people know her currently works as a financial advisor for Edward Jones helping people develop retirement strategies. Prior to that, she was living overseas in Israel and working for the Department of State as a program specialist managing the Middle East Regional Cooperation Program based in Tel Aviv

Hartman started her journey from Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, and served as a Leatherneck from 2011 to 2014 in Monterey, California, learning Modern Standard Arabic at a time when our nation was sending young, smart troops through the Defense Language Institute in case they were needed for service downrange.

She’s married to an active duty Marine, Forest Hanke, and they are stationed at Cherry Point, North Carolina, and have one daughter, Cora. Hartman has been posting videos and sharing her story with positive encouragement and tips for veterans out there searching for fellowship.

2011 | FAMILY DAY WITH HER MOM

2019 | THE WALL THAT HEALS BOARD MEMBERS

2019 | FAMILY PHOTO

2018 | INTERNATIONAL DISCUSSION

Elizabeth Hartman served in the Marines from 2011 to 2014 as a linguist and was stationed at Monterey, California. She learned Modern Standard Arabic at her MOS school which helped her land a position as an analyst for the Middle East Regional Cooperation Program with the State Department in Tel Aviv, Israel. She served in that position from 2017 to 2019. She serves on the board for the Wall that Heals and is married to an active duty Marine, Forest Hanke, and they have one daughter, Cora. He is assigned to Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, near Havelock, North Carolina.

Her on-camera presence is welcoming and warm and has caught the attention of other social media influencers and podcasters who are liking, sharing, and commenting on her content.

After she left active duty, Hartman graduated from University of Mississippi with a Bachelors in International Relations in 2016 and then went on to attend Penn State University and earn her Master of International Affairs in 2017.

Her advice is usually geared towards transitioning military, entrepreneurs and veterans searching for their next career. She often incorporates analogies to professional football, the Cleveland Browns, in particular. She incorporates her charm, wit and sense of humor that delivers an uplifting and inspiring message. She has increased her following on LinkedIn by 3,500 followers in the past six months by consistently posting short and inspiring videos.

Here’s her advice for creating content for LinkedIn “Be you. Be unapologetically yourself. Talk about the things you love. Share your passions. Be authentic. The rest is easy.”

Q & As:

How are you using social media to share your story?

I primarily use social media to bring awareness to veterans’ initiatives. As the Vice Commander for American Legion Post 539, one of our biggest challenges has been recruiting new members, especially younger members. LinkedIn has been very helpful in reaching younger generations of veterans.

What has surprised you about the response from people?

The biggest surprise is genuine connections. Other social media platforms feel so forced and contrived. With LinkedIn, you’re building real, lifelong connections. There are a handful of people I reach out to on a weekly basis to discuss life and business.

What are your key messages you’re sharing on social media?

I’m primarily talking to transitioning military, entrepreneurs, and veterans about business, building wealth, and sustaining a positive network of supporters.

How do you feel that your 'influence' has helped others?

In November, we hiked 22 kilometers with 22 lbs, to bring awareness to veteran suicide rates. All money raised went to a first-of-its-kind project, which allows veterans to get a free dinner every month. I was overwhelmed with the support found on LinkedIn. Individuals I had only known through LinkedIn hiked the route with us. It was an incredible event, and much of it was from the network we had built online.

Amy Forsythe

U S M A R I N E C O R P S N A V Y

Award-winning multimedia journalist and military veteran with more than 25 years of experience in storytelling, public speaking, and multimedia content creation. TV anchor and host, global traveler, and adventure enthusiast, who loves to meet new people.