Locations/Headquarters: Arlington, TN; Memphis, TN
Business Accolades:
NaVOBA Certified
VBE Spotlight on: The Hat Pros
The Hat Pros
The Hat Pros was founded in 2002 by Joshua Dowden.
This week's VBE Spotlight features The Hat Pros, a proud Veteran-Owned, family-operated small business specializing in high-quality headwear. Established in 2002 and based in Arlington, TN, they have expanded their collection to include a diverse range of brands and styles, along with top-notch custom embroidery services. Committed to ensuring a perfect fit and exceptional quality, The Hat Pros understand the importance of a well-fitting hat for style, comfort, and functionality. They welcome visitors to their showroom in Arlington and Memphis, TN, to explore their wide selection and experience their dedicated customer service.
Learn more about The Hat Pros at www.thehatpros.com
About the Business - Veteran-Owned, Quality Headwear
What services do you provide?
"Blank and custom embellished headwear sales"
Who are your primary customers?
"Businesses, Schools, Sports Teams, Organizations, Military, Law Enforcement, etc."
When and how did you start your business?
"In 2002, we started as a small custom embroidery shop, operating out of our garage."
Business Growth Challenges - Growing Through Challenge and Change
What were some of the challenges in starting your business?
"In the early days, trying to balance growing the business, while serving on active duty, was the biggest challenge."
What is the key to the success of your business?
"The ability to start the business while not needing to rely on profits allowed the growth of this business possible."
What lessons learned can you share with people to make their business succeed?
"Know the business inside and out, and don't be afraid to take calculated risk."
What pitfalls should they avoid?
"Trying to grow too quick, and expecting to be profitable from the start."
What other information about you and your business would you like to share with the NaVOBA Community?
"Find a product or service that has proven demand, then be the best at it!"
Service information
Branch:
United States Navy
Service Years:
1991-2016
Highest Rank Attained:
E9/MCPO
Why did you join the military?
"Raised in a military family, and really didn't know what I wanted to do for a career."
Military Occupation:
"U.S. Navy EOD Technician"
Any significant military achievements / experience you would like to mention?
"2 x Bronze Stars, Command Master Chief, several combat deployments"
Biography/Fun Facts
People might be interested to know what?
"In my early Navy years, I was fortunate to be a part of the Navy Marine Mammal Program, training dolphins to locate and neutralize mines."
What do you do to relax?
"My favorite thing to do is riding motorcycles. I enjoy touring, as well as adventure riding off-road."
What would you be doing if you were not a business owner?
"If I could pick another field of work, I would be a Homicide Detective. I enjoy watching Dateline, Forensic Files, etc. and trying to solve murder mysteries."
Connect with NaVOBA on Social:
Veteran's Business Enterprise®: Headquarters: San Antonio, TX and Seatlle, WA Year Founded: 2016 # of Employees: 10 Website : www.opensecurity.com Service Overview: Cybersecurity assessment, training and education, expertise and consulting.
Meet Stuart
UPCOMING IVMF PROGRAMS & EVENTS Check out which IVMF programs and events are actively taking applications and registrations! Have questions about IVMF? Check out this video , or register for a free virtual consult with enrollment services on September 11th . Military Founders Lab Applications close August 17th! – Formerly the Veterans in Residence, Breaking Barriers in Entrepreneurship (BBiE), and Bunker Build Up (BBU) programs, these three virtual programs are now streamlined and combined into the Military Founders Lab! This ten-week workshop offers access to business tools, resources, mentorship, and a strong peer network. Applications close soon so apply today! IVMF Ambassadors Applications Open August 18th! – Become part of the 2026 IVMF Ambassador cohort! For 12 months, you’ll help veterans and military spouses in your neighborhood access the resources and networks they need to succeed. Add your name to the interest form to get notified when applications open. RSVP for Veteran EDGE 2026 – Fill out the interest form to stay informed about Veteran EDGE 2026 Conference as it happens! Veteran EDGE is a three-day event for growth-stage businesses filled with networking, keynotes, and training. Don’t miss it! EBV applications are OPEN! – Apply now for IVMF’s flagship program ! Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans combines a 30-day online business fundamentals course with a 9-day residency at one of our eight participating university campuses across the nation. RSVP to Military Entrepreneurship Forum in Williamsburg, VA on October 29 – Join us for a full day featuring insightful panels, fireside chats, breakout sessions, and networking opportunities powered by Fiserv and tailored for entrepreneurs at every stage of their business journey. Register today for this no-cost event! Register for Mission to Marketplace in San Diego on September 30th – Join us and sponsor Amazon for a day of learning and networking opportunities designed to help veteran entrepreneurs in the Philadelphia area connect and grow their businesses. RSVP today!
