Meet Jonny Coreson

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jonny Coreson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jonny, what’s the most important lesson your business/career has taught you?
Without purpose, passion wanes. Without passion, persistence fades. But when you’re building something that truly does good in this world, even the hardest days carry meaning. Hold onto that — because impact is the fuel that turns motivation into momentum.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I come from humble beginnings. With no prospect of paying for college out of high school, I enlisted into the United States Navy where I was given a chance to explore the world while exploring my options professionally. Within a few years of joining, I was offered an opportunity to help others by serving as a Navy Career Counselor. It was in this role that I realized the immense satisfaction from seeing others succeed. I wanted nothing more than to impact as many Sailors as possible.

As a Career Counselor, I was responsible for no more than 1,000 Sailors at any given time. I was also keenly aware of their challenges they faced in navigating the Navy’s internal mobility system. One of those barriers was an annual multiple-choice exam. I watched Sailors struggle to study, so I teamed up with another Sailor to start a product to solve this challenge. Bluejacketeer helped 50,000+ Sailors prepare for their advancement exams in the 5 years we operated it. We sold Bluejacketeer to Kaplan in 2021.

I used Bluejacketeer to usher me out of my military career. I built another company, Everprep, with the same founding team that didn’t get to product-market fit like we had hoped. We struggled in a tough fundraising environment and found it difficult to encourage others to trust the process. We put Everprep on the shelf about a year ago.

After Everprep, I was brought on to consult with a venture studio managing a spinout of Citibank. The product being spun out is called Worthi. It was launched by Citibank in 2020 as a career navigation tool specifically for those who were switching careers, a way to orient oneself to the market in order to make an informed switch. Citibank went through a massive reorganization in 2022 which saw the asset shelved and looking for a home. That home will be announced shortly.

My career has been marked by opportunities to lean into areas of interest. One might not consider the Navy as a place to explore professional interests, but it is very much so. Sailors are often given a primary role and then asked to fill in collateral duties where they are either curious or proficient. For example, Sailors who handle supply on ships might also organize social events to keep morale up.

It was in this environment that I found Career Counseling, but it was also in this environment that I; led twelve Marines through Jungle Warfare Training, coordinated 45 community relations projects in the Central and South America, and even participated in combat maneuvers on snow skis with the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force. I was always willing to toss my hand up when an opportunity presented itself. It is why I continue to remain curious about the vast landscape of roles that exist in the labor market and why I can’t help but say “yes” to every opportunity.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I grew up in Alaska wandering the vast landscape of trees and mountains and streams. My best friend did too, so I would absolutely take him to my favorite camping/hiking spots in the foothills and beyond. If we were confined to the city though, we could still fill a week!

Rather than an itinerary from start to finish, here are a few things I’d be sure we experienced while he was here for a week:

Food
Denver Biscuit Co.
49th Denver (since we’re from the 49th state…)
At least 3 breweries, but definitely Breckenridge Brewery
A5 Steakhouse

Fun
Some kind of sporting event, but probably Rockies
Puttshack or Holey Moley
Gotta see a show at Red Rocks!

Rest
I love the 90’s exhibit at History Colorado
Zoo of course…
And probably the Museum of Nature & Science

There are other “can’t miss” spots in the surrounding area that I enjoy, like Garden of the Gods and Lair o’ the Bear.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would not be where I’m at without the yin to my yang, Allen Wood. Allen and I have founded two companies together and spent countless hours collaborating on a number of ideas. Our first company was acquired and our second was accepted into the prestigious Techstars Workforce Development Accelerator. His vision for product and persistence to see it through is unmatched.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonny-coreson/