Meet Your Business: David Sauer of Mesa founder of SauerPower Veterans Empowerment Alliance

Mesa resident David Sauer — who served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 2010 to 2014 as an infantry rifleman and completed two combat deployments to Sangin, Afghanistan — started the SauerPower Veterans Empowerment Alliance in February to help remove barriers that keep veterans and their families from getting mental health care when they need it most.

Whether those barriers are cost, long wait times, stigma, or not knowing where to turn, the nonprofit’s goal is to connect veterans and their families with trusted local providers and community support.

Name: David Sauer

Age: 35

Occupation: Founder/CEO of SauerPower Veterans Empowerment Alliance

Hometown: Jacksonville, North Carolina

Family: Wife Lilian Sauer; three sons; expecting twin daughters in July.

What brought you to Mesa?: Work originally brought me to Mesa, but life gave me a reason to stay. This is where I met my wife, started building a family, and put down roots. Over time, Mesa became more than just where I lived — it became home.

Business: SauerPower Veterans Empowerment Alliance

Hours of operation: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday and on-call Saturday-Sunday.

How can people contact you? (Email, phone, website, etc.): david@sauerpowervets.org, sauerpowervets.org

When and why did you start a nonprofit focused on veterans and mental health?: I officially started SauerPower Veterans Empowerment Alliance in February 2026, but the reason behind it started years earlier during my time in the U.S. Marine Corps. I served from 2010 to 2014 as an infantry rifleman and completed two combat deployments to Sangin, Afghanistan. When we came home, many of us thought the hardest part was behind us, but for several Marines and Navy corpsmen I served beside, the battle followed them home.

Over the years, I watched too many veterans struggle with mental health, trauma, isolation, alcohol use, anger and the silent weight of what they carried. Some of the strongest men I knew lost their lives after returning home, not overseas, but here at home where they should have been safe.

I started SPVEA because I wanted to help remove the barriers that keep veterans and their families from getting mental health care when they need it most. Whether those barriers are cost, long wait times, stigma, or not knowing where to turn, our goal is to connect veterans and their families with trusted local providers and community support. This mission is personal to me, and it is rooted in the belief that no veteran or family member should have to fight alone.

What services does SauerPower Veterans Empowerment Alliance offer?: SauerPower Veterans Empowerment Alliance helps veterans and their families access mental health support by removing common barriers such as cost, long wait times, stigma and not knowing where to turn.

Our primary service is connecting veterans and eligible family members with trusted local mental health providers. Through our provider partnerships, SPVEA works to help fund therapy sessions and support care when veterans may be facing delays through the VA, cannot afford private treatment, or need help finding the right resource.

We also provide community navigation and referral support by connecting veterans and families with local organizations, nonprofits, providers and resources that can help with their overall well-being. Our goal is to build an alliance of support around each veteran and family, so they do not feel like they have to face their struggles alone.

At its core, SPVEA is focused on mental health access, family support, community partnerships and restoring hope for those who served.

What I am promoting: What I am promoting is more than just a nonprofit. I am promoting a movement to make sure veterans and their families know they are not alone.

Through SauerPower Veterans Empowerment Alliance, I am promoting access to mental health care, stronger community partnerships and a support system that meets veterans where they are. Too many veterans face barriers like cost, long wait times, stigma, or simply not knowing where to turn. SPVEA exists to help close those gaps by connecting veterans and their families with trusted providers, local resources and a community that truly cares.

At the heart of this mission, I am promoting hope, healing and the belief that asking for help is not weakness. It is strength.

What is something many people don’t know about you?: If you can’t find me, there is a good chance I am out exploring Arizona with my camera, capturing photos and videos of the incredible scenery this state has to offer.

How are you involved in the local community?: I am actively involved in the local community through chamber events, nonprofit partnerships, veteran outreach and relationship-building across the East Valley. I serve as a Mesa Chamber of Commerce ambassador, where I help welcome and support local businesses while staying connected to community needs and opportunities.

Through SauerPower Veterans Empowerment Alliance, I have also been building partnerships with local providers, nonprofits, businesses, veteran organizations, and community leaders who care about supporting veterans and their families. I attend ribbon cuttings, networking events, community meetings, fundraisers, and local outreach opportunities to share SPVEA’s mission and connect with others who want to make a difference.

I am also involved with community efforts focused on mental health, service, and collaboration, including the Mesa Chamber Health Care Committee’s mental health work and Mesa’s Together in Service Leadership Team. For me, being involved in the community is about showing up, building relationships, and creating a stronger support network for veterans and families across the East Valley.

What drew you to your community?: What drew me to this community was the people. The East Valley has a strong sense of connection, service and pride. Whether it is through the Mesa Chamber, local nonprofits, veteran organizations, small businesses, or community events, I have seen how willing people are to show up for one another.

As I started building SauerPower Veterans Empowerment Alliance, that stood out even more. Everywhere I went, people were open to hearing the mission, offering support, making introductions, and finding ways to help veterans and their families. That kind of community support is powerful.

For me, this community represents opportunity, partnership and purpose. It is a place where relationships matter, where service still means something, and where I believe we can build a strong network of care for veterans and families across the East Valley.

What do you most cherish from your childhood?: The simple memories — being outside, exploring, spending time with family, and learning to appreciate the people and places that shape you. Looking back, I think those early experiences helped build the sense of service and responsibility that drives me today.

What is your most quirky talent?: I can take almost any situation and make it lighthearted. Life gets serious enough on its own, so I try to bring humor, perspective, and a little “Whyyyy So Serioussss?” energy when people need it most.