Two veterans who build
Veteran Built is an Army First Sergeant and an Air Force Security Forces airman running a roofing and construction company out of Cypress. Here is how they got here, mostly in their own words.
Veteran BuiltEst. 2024, Cypress, Texas
The service record
- 1997Leland enlists in the U.S. Army.
- OverseasAssignments in South Korea, two deployments to Iraq and one to Afghanistan.
- HoustonLeland recruits soldiers in his hometown.
- 2015Geoff, a former Air Force Security Forces airman, moves to Houston to build.
- April 2018Leland retires from the Army as a First Sergeant after more than 20 years.
- 2024Veteran Built opens in Cypress, Texas.
Swipe sideways for the rest of the record.
Leland A. Cannon, founder and owner
“I’m Leland A. Cannon, a Houston native, retired Army First Sergeant, and founder and owner of Veteran Built, LLC. I entered the United States Army in 1997 and retired in April 2018 after more than 20 years of service. My career took me from Texas to South Korea, through two deployments to Iraq and a deployment to Afghanistan.”
“In the Army, preparation, accountability, and teamwork mattered every day. As a First Sergeant, taking care of people and maintaining standards were responsibilities I carried together. Today, I bring that same approach to Veteran Built.”
“I understand that hiring a contractor is a significant decision. You’re trusting someone with your property, your money, and your vision.”
Leland was awarded the Bronze Star Medal and the Meritorious Service Medal. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Management and an Executive MBA with a concentration in Global Leadership. Ask him about the work, though, and he goes straight to the practical part: earn people’s trust, communicate clearly, take responsibility and follow through.
“Houston is home, and I’m proud to serve this community and the surrounding areas. Whether we’re renovating a home, replacing a roof, or improving a commercial property, the goal is the same: build something that lasts and earn a relationship that does, too.”
- Branch
- U.S. Army, 1997 to April 2018
- Rank at retirement
- First Sergeant
- Deployments
- Iraq, twice. Afghanistan, once.
- Also served
- South Korea, and Army recruiting in Houston
- Awards
- Bronze Star Medal
Meritorious Service Medal - Education
- BS in Management, Executive MBA
Service record
Geoff Schardien, owner and COO
Geoff was born in Roselle, New Jersey, and served in the United States Air Force as a Security Forces airman at Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana. After the Air Force he went into residential construction and has more than twenty years in the trade. He moved to Houston in 2015.
His soft spot is veterans who need their homes changed to fit them. He works on ADA modifications with the Wounded Warriors, the Semper Fi Fund, Combined Arms and Career Gear Houston: roll-in showers, grab bars, accessible vanities and the rest of what makes a house work again.
Day to day, Geoff runs the jobs. If you have a crew on your roof or in your kitchen, he is the one keeping the schedule honest. Questions for him go through the contact page like everything else.
Is Veteran Built really veteran owned?
Yes. Both owners are veterans, Leland in the Army and Geoff in the Air Force, and the Texas Veterans Commission has verified the company as veteran owned and operated. The company is service-disabled veteran owned.
How long has the company been in business?
Veteran Built started in 2024. The people running it bring a lot more than that: Leland served more than 20 years in the Army, and Geoff has more than 20 years in residential construction.
Do you hire veterans?
Creating jobs for fellow veterans is part of the company mission, in Leland’s own words.
Who do I call with a question?
Call (832) 364-6271. Leland or Geoff will answer it or call you back.
What organizations do you work with?
Geoff works on ADA modifications for veterans with the Wounded Warriors, the Semper Fi Fund, Combined Arms and Career Gear Houston, and the company sponsors Career Gear Houston events.