When retired Army Sgt. 1st Class Latisha Holmes saw the look on the woman’s face, she knew her shoes had given her away.
The woman raised her hand at the meet-and-greet event in North Carolina and asked a question: “Are you the founder of Combat Boots 2 Red Bottoms?”
Holmes is, with her feet clad in tennis shoes from the famous Christian Louboutin line with striking red soles. But she would far rather talk about her Mississippi-based nonprofit aimed at female service members than her footwear, despite its obvious connection to the charity’s name.
“We want female veterans to have the support they need in life or business, that they never feel like they’re alone,” said Holmes, a former career counselor. “CB2RB is a lifeline to women who have served our country.”
That has certainly been the case for Montoya Baylis, a retired enlisted soldier now serving as the CB2RB state representative for Mississippi. She found the group through Facebook during COVID-19 lockdowns and eventually took their business bootcamp course. She says the experience gave her courage to launch her own tax notary business in 2021.
“CB2RB motivated me to do what needed to be done and start my business ASAP,” Baylis said. “The course made me realize my reason for waiting was fueled by fear of the unknown. Sometimes you just have to jump and if you stick with it, you’ll land on your feet.”
Retired Air Force nurse Donna Hoffmeyer got a business boost, too. She had just started her own when she found CB2RB’s small business grant online.
“I filled it out on impulse and was pleasantly surprised when I won,” said Hoffmeyer. “Since then, I have become a VIP member of CB2RB and have enjoyed learning about the similar challenges we [female veterans] face, cheering on our successes and encouraging each other when we feel overwhelmed, not only in business but our everyday lives.”
That’s the goal for Holmes, whom Baylis called “a behind-the-scenes leader pushing us to get out there and build our dreams.” The charity’s name came about because Holmes wanted a feminine symbol of transitioning from military to civilian life.
“In our society, when you see women on television or somewhere and they have Red Bottoms; it evokes a certain status, a certain amount of success,” she said. “You’re succeeding in everything you do, whether it’s in life or business.”
That’s precisely what Holmes wants for all CB2RB members, which now number more than 1,200 strong. Any past or currently serving female service member is eligible, including guardsmen and reservists. CB2RB offers business grants and directories, networking opportunities, an online store, and as of September, its first official conference.
Engage H.E.R. will be held in Flowood, Mississippi, on Sept. 13-14, and the theme is “Mind Your Business.” One need not be a business owner to attend, however, because there are a myriad of professional development and networking opportunities. To date, attendees from a dozen states have registered. Holmes and the CB2RB team dream of taking the organization to a national level, including representatives in every state.
“We serve and support the most amazing women on the planet. There is nothing female veterans and military women can’t do,” Holmes said. “Whether we are out front or behind the scenes, we are a force.”
That force isn’t solely focused on business, either. Former Navy reservist Lidesyan Lincoln found herself without food or safe transportation during “The Great Texas Freeze” in 2021. Another CB2RB member found out and dropped off $300 of groceries for Lincoln and her children.
“CB2RB, and specifically Ms. Latisha, changed my viewpoint on life after the military,” Lincoln said. “Even while actively in the military, I never experienced a sister-in-arms until I met her.”
Visit Combat Boots 2 Red Bottoms to learn more about Engage H.E.R.
