Mike Dooley Photography is a veteran owned business, founded and operated by a military couple whose lives were shaped by service, responsibility, and teamwork. Under this business, we create meaningful art and products, including Dooley Cards, a creative brand born from shared values, discipline, and heart.
Before we built a business together, we served together.
A Veteran Owned Business Built by a Military Couple
Roni and I are both proud military veterans. I served eight years in the Rhode Island Air National Guard, and Roni retired after twenty-three years of service with the United States Air Force and the Rhode Island Air National Guard. Together, we run a veteran couple owned business grounded in integrity, precision, and care for others.
Our story began in uniform. Our first date took place at the NCO Club at Howard Air Force Base in Panama. It may not sound romantic to most people, but to a military couple, it made perfect sense.
Those shared years of service now form the foundation of Mike Dooley Photography, and by extension, the principles behind Dooley Cards.
Life on the Flight Line
During my Air Force career, I worked avionics on C-130 A and E aircraft. I loved the flight line—the pace, the responsibility, and the trust required to get things right. From marshaling aircraft full of paratroopers heading out for training jumps, to standing in pouring rain rewiring navigation systems, the work demanded focus and accountability.
Those lessons didn’t stay on the flight line. They live on in this veteran owned business, shaping how we approach creativity, craftsmanship, and service.
Details matter. People matter. And when something matters, you do it right.
Logistics, Leadership, and “Sarge”
Roni spent her career in supply and logistics, keeping systems running smoothly under pressure. When she gets moving, we call her “Sarge,” and we get out of the way.
Her leadership and organizational skill quietly power Mike Dooley Photography and every brand under it, including Dooley Cards. From planning to execution, her ability to run an efficient operation is one of the cornerstones of our military couple owned business.
Service Beyond the Uniform
Military service doesn’t end when the uniform comes off—it evolves.
When I needed spinal cord surgery on short notice, Roni coordinated appointments with cardiologists, pulmonologists, rheumatologists, neurologists, and psychologists. Surgery required travel to Dallas, Texas, along with hotels, transportation, and care planning.
She handled every detail flawlessly, while caring for me with compassion and patience I still don’t think I deserved.
That same heart, dedication, and attention to detail flow directly into everything she does—especially Dooley Cards, where every piece is created with intention and care.
Why Being Veteran Owned Still Matters
Calling ourselves a veteran owned business is not a marketing tactic. It is an identity.
It means we value:
- Integrity over shortcuts
- Precision over volume
- People over transactions
- Service over ego
As a veteran owned, couple-run business, we bring those values into every photograph, every card, and every creative decision.
Creating With Purpose
Mike Dooley Photography exists to create work that brings calm, meaning, and connection into the world. Dooley Cards is one expression of that mission—art you can hold, send, and share.
Our home reflects our fond memories of life in uniform. Our work reflects the values that service instilled in us.
The mission has changed.
The commitment has not.