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Bee-long Together

How do bees, military service and community fit together? Steve Jimenez ’06 sees the powerful connection every day through the nonprofit he created.

By Lindsay Newcomer ’07

Photography by Arturo Olmos

Steve Jimenez ’06 has accomplished many things in his 40 years. Growing up, he spent most weekends on his family’s ranch in San Antonio, learning the values of discipline and hard work from his parents and grandparents. He excelled in school and sports, finishing high school as a three-time athlete, National Honor Society member and All-State Choir singer. Upon arriving at Texas A&M University, he joined the Corps of Cadets with a passion and drive to join the military. After graduation, he served eight years in the Marine Corps and deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Upon his return, he earned a master’s from the Naval Postgraduate School and had a successful career scaling Fortune 500 companies and creating his own consulting company.

But when asked what has most shaped his perspective on life, it’s bees.

“Bees quite literally saved my life,” Jimenez said. “They illustrate chaos to calmness and then calmness to contentment. We can learn a lot of lessons from them.”
 

Steve Jimenez ’06 founded Hives for Heroes to provide community and purpose for veterans who are reentering civilian life.

Despite all his academic and professional success after transitioning to civilian life, Jimenez battled post-traumatic stress (PTS) and gradually began isolating himself as he struggled on a personal level. At his lowest point, a friend and fellow veteran introduced him to a beekeeping club as an intentional therapeutic measure. In addition to the physiological benefits bees have on the human body, beekeeping also gave Jimenez a chance to connect with other veterans who were further down the path of healing. 

Building the Hive

By 2018, the beekeeping endeavors of Jimenez and his friends had garnered attention from outside observers interested in supporting the group through donations, inspiring him to found and become full-time CEO of Hives for Heroes, a nonprofit service organization with members in every state.

All members of Hives for Heroes are veterans or first responders (termed “NewBEEs”) who have a desire to experience bees. Each NewBEE is connected with one mentor and one hive to care for. While NewBEEs are often unfamiliar with beekeeping at first, there are many similarities between bees and military life that help acclimate them.

“The bees have a mission: They’re going to produce byproducts such as honey, wax and propolis and reproduce. But not a single bee could do any of that individually; it takes all of them as a whole,” Jimenez explained. “Similarly, in the military, you do all you can to grow, learn and grow some more. Everyone has a specific job to do whether you’re a sergeant major or the lowest on the totem pole. Everybody contributes to the greater good of the mission’s success.”
 

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Blooming Where Planted

While Jimenez’s fight with PTS intensified several years after reentry into civilian life, Derrick Wynne’s was nearly immediate after returning from the Army.

“I was pretty much homeless, incredibly stressed out and felt super alone,” Wynne reflected. “So, I started reaching out within my community and trying to get more involved instead of clamming up into my own depression. That’s when I found Hives for Heroes, which was lifesaving.”

Wynne is now in his second year with the nonprofit. In addition to taking on more responsibilities with his hive, he is also working toward his bachelor’s degree with plans to start a local community garden in Pasadena, south of Houston, to be maintained by disabled veterans. He hopes this effort will help tackle food insecurity in urban areas and provide skills and belonging for the veteran community.

“Hives for Heroes welcomed me with open arms when I was in a very dark place,” he said. “Even that small sense of belonging to something bigger than myself really helped me out when I needed it most. I’m forever grateful for this group and what we’re doing.”
 

We gave an endowment so we can continue to give back to our nation’s heroes in another way.
- Steve Jimenez ’06

Next Mission: Aggieland

In addition to impacting over 4,700 heroes and stewarding more than 3.5 billion bees, Hives for Heroes is also making a difference in Aggieland through a $25,000 endowed Aggie Veteran Honor Scholarship. This award will benefit veterans, ROTC members or Gold Star Family Members who are pursuing majors supporting environmental conservation or sustainability.

“We gave an endowment so we can continue to give back to our nation’s heroes in another way,” Jimenez said.

He sees similarities with the tradition of the 12th Man, where a fellow Aggie is always ready to step in for a friend, reflected in the organization’s willingness to stand alongside our nation’s heroes. “We’re connecting people, nature and technology to make the world a better place. But just like a hive, we haven’t done this alone,” Jimenez said. “The continued support of mentors and donors allows us the opportunity to serve. We have mobilized a cohort of amazing people around a rewarding mission, and together we are better.”

Support our nation’s heroes in Aggieland by funding a scholarship for student veterans or their spouses. Explore the three levels of veteran scholarship support by contacting David Bacot ’90, senior director of development, at the bottom of this page or download our brochure below.

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Contact

  • David Bacot '90

  • Senior Director of Development
  • Division of Student Affairs
  • Call: 979.845.3161

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