The world’s largest celebration of veteran talent lands in Dallas, Texas, on December 10 to spotlight outstanding former service members driving American business forward.

CHICAGO, Nov. 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Morgan Conque, Vice President of Go-to-Market at Ashling, a leading global provider of AI and Automation consulting and development services, has been named a finalist for SMB Leader of the Year at the 2026 U.S. Forces in Business Awards. Now in its ninth year, the program is the world’s largest celebration of military veterans in the civilian workforce, with this year’s shortlist selected from hundreds of nominations.

A U.S. Army officer commissioned through ROTC, Morgan served with NATO forces in Germany, ran personnel operations in South Korea, and advised an Afghan army hospital, where she helped cut the medical evacuation cycle from 17 hours to 3. She concluded her service as the Medical Operations and Logistics Officer for the First Cavalry Division, supporting more than 18,000 soldiers.

Morgan’s military experience translated into business leadership from the start. Following her service, she led branch operations for a large specialty infusion pharmacy team, then moved into intelligent automation and rapidly expanded her scope from bid manager to leading sales platforms, enablement, content, and strategy. Her education supports that trajectory, including a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Seattle University, a Master of Science in Biosecurity and Disaster Preparedness from Saint Louis University, and an Executive MBA from Baylor University’s Hankamer School of Business.

Today, Morgan leads go-to-market strategy at Ashling, aligning sales, marketing, and partnership teams to drive the fast-paced growth and navigate the ever evolving market landscape. “I look back on my transition into AI and automation as serendipitous,” Conque said. “The discipline I built in the Army, leading teams, making decisions with incomplete information, and staying accountable to the mission, carried directly into this field and suited me well. I remain fascinated by the conversations I’m part of and excited about where the industry is headed.”

More than 200,000 service members leave active duty in the United States each year, yet research by ZipRecruiter and the Call of Duty Endowment found that almost one-third of veterans are underemployed, a rate 15.6% higher than among their non-veteran peers. Morgan’s career is a testament to what that talent can achieve. Established in 2018, the Forces in Business Awards celebrate veteran role models like her, reflecting the breadth of industries and professional disciplines where former service members are making their mark.

Rear Admiral (Ret.) Milton “Jamie” Sands III, President and CEO of Special Operations Warrior Foundation, official charity partner of the U.S. Forces in Business Awards, said: “Congratulations to this year’s finalists, whose achievements demonstrate the value military experience brings to business. Service develops leaders who take responsibility, build strong teams, and deliver under pressure. These finalists are putting those qualities to work in new ways, strengthening their organizations and communities while helping others see what is possible after military service.”

Marshall Sied, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Ashling, said: “Morgan’s experience as a military veteran has clearly laid a strong foundation for the evolution of her career.  At Ashling, she balances our fast-paced industry and constantly evolving capabilities with enthusiasm and clarity.  Morgan has the unique ability of being a creative thinker, inspiring team leader, and strong operational executor all at once. We are honored to have Morgan help lead the charge on many of our most mission-critical initiatives. She is a very deserving finalist.”

Winners will be announced on December 10, 2026, at a black-tie gala in the Lincoln Ballroom at the Hilton Dallas Lincoln Centre, hosted by longtime CBS News anchor and Gold Star son Doug Dunbar.

About Ashling

Ashling is a global AI and automation consulting and development firm specializing in digital process transformation. They align on what value means for enterprises, design, build and manage solutions that work from pilot to production, and architect an operating model designed for rapid deployment and compounding success.

Ashling’s delivery accelerators get clients to production 5x faster and prove ROI sooner, backed by a delivery team of forward-deployed AI pods and award-winning innovation. Ashling is the firm enterprise clients trust, with over 400 clients across industries, an 86 NPS, and an unwavering commitment to the business outcomes they deliver.

About the Forces in Business Awards

The Forces in Business Awards is the world’s largest business celebration of the military community. Taking place in the United States and United Kingdom, the Awards program is the leading platform for uncovering and showcasing the achievements and talents of veterans, presenting them as visible role models for transitioning service members and recognizing aspirational employers for current and former servicemen and women. The prestigious events promote the value that veterans add to the economy after service.

Media Contact

Madison Ramsay, Senior Marketing Manager, Ashling madison.ramsay@ashlingpartners.com

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SOURCE Ashling Partners