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Summary

Virginia Beach entrepreneur Robert Nolan experienced an inspiring upbringing that encouraged him to pursue careers in both the military and in business. The story of Nolan’s childhood is the subject of journalist Saxon Henry’s proposed book, Hindsight: One Family’s Journey of Hope and Betrayal. Growing up in Pennsylvania, Robert Nolan relocated with his family to Nicaragua’s Miskito Coast at age 12. The move marked the end of Nolan’s childhood and formal education, as he was neither homeschooled nor schooled in Nicaragua, where he and his family lived among the Miskito Indians in the jungle. However, he did learn to speak fluent Spanish and the language of the Miskito people. During Nolan’s teenage years, Communist forces captured him and his family during the overthrow of Nicaragua by the Soviet and Cuban military, and accused them of spying for the U.S. government. Sentenced to death, they escaped with the help of the Miskito Indians and made a harrowing journey across Nicaragua to the Honduran-Nicaraguan border, where they swam across the Coconut River into the safety of a Red Cross refugee camp in Honduras. Throughout his life, Robert Nolan has used his childhood as a catalyst to energize him in life. For example, during the nine years he served as a sailor in the U.S. Navy, Nolan was involved in the 1986 airstrike against Libya and in the First Gulf War. For his contributions to both campaigns, he received a Sailor of the Year award, which was presented by then-Congressman Newt Gingrich, and the honor of throwing the 1988 season-opening pitch for the New York Mets at Shea Stadium. Following his departure from the military, Nolan went on to private business ventures in construction, exports, and aviation. In 2000, Nolan was selected as a finalist for the prestigious Entrepreneur of the Year award by Ernst & Young.

Work experience

Jan 1998Present

President/CEO

OmniTrade International, Inc

Has negotiated international contracts with fisheries and shipping in USA, Iceland, Ireland, Norway, Morocco and Egypt

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