Behind the Logo: The Process That Built a Brand That Works

Before you ever build a brand that grows, you have to build one that fits. Not just visually—but strategically, functionally, and personally. This is the story behind the logo I chose for Resilience Repurposed LLC, and what it taught me about alignment, systems, and sustainable identity.

🎯 From Too Many Ideas to One Aligned Identity

When I started Resilience Repurposed LLC, I didn’t expect the hardest design choice to be my logo. Over the span of a year, I created over 78 drafts—some clean, some raw, and most of them wrong.

At first, I tried fun symbols, abstract icons, and edgy graphics. They looked cool—but when I mocked them up on product packaging or laser engravings, something felt off. They didn’t say “this is a business that uses engineering, design, and advanced manufacturing to solve real-world problems.” They said, “this might look good on a sticker.” And I needed more than that.

So I went through every version—erased parts, repurposed lines, simplified shapes. I took notes. I tested how they looked on screens, in vector files, and on real-world items like business cards and workshop signage. One by one, I ruled out every option that didn’t reflect what I actually do.

Eventually, I landed on a design that looked like a 3D printer head—but also resembled a CNC router and laser engraving tool. It worked across every service I offer. And it was simple, strong, and scalable.

I chose red, white, and blue not just for contrast, but because of what they stand for. As a U.S. Army veteran, that color palette connects to my roots. The text below the symbol lays it out clearly: 3D modeling & printing, laser engraving & cutting, programming & consulting.

This logo now lives on my products, proposals, and professional identity. And it’s working—because it does what every good system does: it communicates clearly, performs consistently, and grows with purpose.

💡 Final Takeaway

A logo isn’t just a design. It’s a decision. If your branding doesn’t communicate who you are and what you deliver, it’s just decoration. Form follows function—even in business identity.

🔁 Coming Next

I’ll be sharing the principles behind how I systemize my work—from custom fabrication to client onboarding—and how these systems support my mission to serve veteran entrepreneurs and small businesses alike.

💬 Share This With a Future Founder

Know someone struggling with branding? Send this their way. Especially if they’re caught up in “cool-looking” instead of “clear-working.”

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The Resilience Repurposed Podcast

Episode: Veteran Resilience, Innovation, and Leadership – An Interview with Brent Parker

Host: Jeff McDaniel
Guest: Brent Parker, Owner of Resilience Repurposed LLC

🎧 Listen to the Interview

🎙️ Introduction

In this episode, Jeff McDaniel interviews Brent Parker, a combat veteran, engineer, and founder of Resilience Repurposed LLC. Brent shares the journey from military service to engineering leadership and small business ownership. They explore how military training, adversity, and a mindset of constant adaptation shape resilience, innovation, and entrepreneurial success.

🌱 Icebreakers & Personal Passions

Brent discusses his love for plants, art, reading, and spending time with family. He talks about how a bonsai tree helps him gauge his mental health and how creativity, nature, and service ground him outside of work. If he could travel anywhere, he’d visit Sri Lanka to reconnect with a friend and gain fresh perspective.

🪖 From Infantry to Engineering

Brent explains how infantry life instilled a mindset of “adapt and overcome,” essential to problem-solving in engineering and business. He draws parallels between military patrols and real-world manufacturing: planning, improvising, and stretching resources when needed.

🧠 Intelligence & Operational Planning in Business

His background in HUMINT and SIGINT taught him how to gather information before acting. Brent applies this to project planning through tools like mind mapping—especially helpful in managing ADHD and organizing engineering tasks in civilian roles and entrepreneurship.

🏗️ The Launch of Resilience Repurposed LLC

Initially starting in software consulting, Brent shifted toward physical product creation to feel more connected to his work. Today, his business spans 3D printing, laser etching, and CNC prototyping using plastics, polymers, metals, and more.

🎓 Educational & Technical Foundation

Brent holds an AAS in Welding and Building Construction and a BS in Welding Engineering Technology from Ferris State University. Inspired by material science and exposure to innovators like Mike Rowe, he pursued welding as a medium for applied science, not just skilled labor.

🤖 Robotics, CNC, and AI Integration

The conversation shifts into future tech: Brent’s building multi-axis robots, automating manufacturing, and helping family businesses evolve. He discusses cobots, collaborative design, and the potential of AI to close the skill gap in the trades.

💡 Translating Complexity for Clients

Brent explains how he breaks down technical solutions for customers by adapting to their communication style. Using analogies and sketches, he transforms client ideas into tangible CAD models and iterative prototypes they understand and trust.

🌍 Veteran Perspective & Leadership

He reflects on how military hierarchy shaped his approach to leadership, collaboration, and emotional intelligence—emphasizing learning from both good and bad leaders. Brent believes strongly in treating everyone with respect and humility, regardless of rank or title.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Business, Family, and Personal Growth

Brent discusses the balance between running a business and honoring family. After experiencing divorce, loss, and caretaking, he’s learned the importance of putting on his own “oxygen mask” first—taking care of himself to better serve others. He now helps his father and sister expand their own businesses through automation and engineering support.

⚖️ Reflections on Service, Struggle, and Self-Worth

Brent emphasizes that real strength comes from knowing when to step back, be kind to yourself, and cut ties with people or systems that no longer serve your growth. His story is one of learning through hardship, leveraging trauma into innovation, and creating meaning through service and resilience.

📌 Final Takeaway

This conversation captures what it means to be a veteran, an innovator, and a lifelong learner. Brent's journey reminds us that healing, building, and leading are not separate paths—they’re part of the same mission.

Recorded and transcribed with permission. Podcast produced by Resilience Repurposed LLC.