Women Veterans Conference!
Women Veterans Igniting the Spirit of Entrepreneurship (V-WISE) Conference Is Coming to Orlando, FL
U.S. Small Business Administration
And Syracuse University
Bring
V-WISE to Orlando, Florida
March 1-3, 2012

Women Veterans Igniting the Spirit of Entrepreneurship (V-WISE) is an entrepreneurial training program for female veterans of all service eras and branches with a passion for and interest in either starting a new small business or growing an existing one.

This unique entrepreneurship training program was designed specifically by Syracuse University with the Office of Veterans Business Development, U.S. Small Business Administration to encourage and support female veterans interested in pursuing careers as small business owners and entrepreneurs. V-WISE is committed to helping female veterans interested in pursuing careers as small business owners and entrepreneurs. This unique entrepreneurship training program is committed to helping women veterans by providing them the tools to become successful entrepreneurs; its goal is to integrate their leadership, integrity, focus and drive into a premier education training programs taught by accomplished entrepreneurs and entrepreneurship educators from across the United States.

V-WISE enables female veterans to find their passion and to learn the business-savvy skills to turn their ideas or businesses into growth ventures while recognizing entrepreneurship as an important part of economic growth nationwide. This program is key for female veterans to truly pursue their dreams and make them a reality!

V-WISE is a three-phase program

• Phase 1: What’s first? A 35-day online, self-study course focuses on the basic skills of entrepreneurship and the language of business.
• Phase 2: Ready, Set, Go! a three-day conference where participants are exposed to accomplished entrepreneurs and entrepreneurship educators from across the United States. This segment includes two tracks or training: a growth track, tailored to those participants already in business, and a startup track focused on potential future entrepreneurs. Courses include business planning, marketing, accounting/finance, operations/production, human resources and work life balance. (The online course segment is a prerequisite to conference training.).
• Phase 3: Keep Moving…provides ongoing support and mentorship delivered online and through a robust, comprehensive network of mentors and partners.

Admission is on a rolling basis so early application is highly recommended. Participants are responsible for a one-time $75 registration fee and their transportation to and from the on-site conference. All hotel and conference fees are covered through the support of the Small Business Administration.

If you are a female veteran, active-duty female transitioning within 24-months, spouse or female partner of a veteran who is running or growing a small business, or if you are interested in starting a new small business, then V-WISE is your answer!

To apply visit Whitman.syr.edu/vwise.
U.S. Small Business Administration
And Syracuse University
Bring
V-WISE to Orlando, FL
March 1-3, 2012
Female veterans should apply immediately!
Click here to view the V-WISE Brochure (PDF)

Click image above for more information or call us at: (609) 265-5073

Military men and women in Burlington County (New Jersey) now may have another “friend” waiting for them at the Burlington County Animal Shelter. Freeholder Mary Ann O’Brien recently unveiled the shelter’s “Free Pets for Vets” program, through which all county veterans may adopt a dog or cat free of charge. “It is well know that companion animals can help to reduce stress, depression and anxiety,” said O’Brien. “What we’re doing is reducing the barriers for adopting animals for those who, we believe, will truly appreciate the companionship.”

The typical cost of adopting from the shelter runs anywhere from $45 to $100, depending on whether it is a cat or dog, and the age of the animal. All animals are neutered or spayed before being adopted out. Veterans interested in adopting will need to fill out an application form and show a copy of their DD-214 or County Veteran ID Card. The typical waiting period runs anywhere from one to seven days, depending upon the animal.

“All County residents in the market for a pet should consider the shelter,” said O’Brien. “Visitors are welcomed to walk through the kennels, and acquaint themselves with our ‘occupants’ who are looking for new homes.”
The Animal Shelter is located on Pioneer Boulevard in the County’s Westampton Complex, off Woodlane Road. It has hours every day but Sundays and holidays. The phone number is (609) 265-5073. Information about the shelter and photos and data on pets available for adoption can be found on the County’s website at www.co.burlington.nj.us, by clicking on the Health Department and then Animal Shelter.

FREE Veteran Career Fair & Expo
Washington, DC

Date: January 18, 2012
Time: 8:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Location: Washington, D.C. Convention Center

Join the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and your fellow Veterans on Wednesday, January 18, 8:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m., at the Veteran Career Fair and Expo, a free event brought to you by VA for Vets.

The Veteran Career Fair and Expo is an exciting event designed to provide career and education opportunities for Veterans in Washington, D.C., Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. As a Veteran, you will be able to register for the benefits and services you have earned through your military service.

Prepare for a Civilian Career

VA and other federal agencies are looking to hire qualified Veterans. Hiring managers from VA and other federal agencies will be on-site to interview and hire Veterans for a variety of positions. Career Coaches will be available to help you:

• Translate your military experience into marketable skills
• Build a resume in the federal job application format
• Find career opportunities in the federal government that are a fit for you

Closer to the event, information about special non-competitive hiring authority positions will be posted on this website. You will then have the opportunity to submit your resume, DD214 and eligibility letter to qualify for an onsite interview.

Enroll in Veteran Benefits and Services

Join your fellow Veterans in exploring booths and attending learning sessions that will inform you about benefits, career advancement, and health and wellness services.

• Gain access to programs like eBenefits or the Post 9/11 GI Bill
• Receive medical and dental checks
• Meet with representatives from programs for Women Veterans, Survivors and Minority Veterans
• Learn how to chart a rewarding career path

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This is a public service announcement (PSA) brought to you by Veteran Owned Business.   Veteran Owned Business is in no way affiliated with the above organization(s). We do not in any way endorse the above business/organization or guarantee the above offer.  VeteranOwnedBusiness.com and the Veteran Owned Business Directory are simply providing information we feel is of interest to veterans, active duty military, reservists, service disabled veterans, veteran owned businesses, service disabled veteran owned businesses, families of veterans, families of our armed forces and any other person or persons directly or indirectly involved with the United States military.

If your business is (or you know of another business) owned by a veteran (VOB), active duty military, reservist or service disabled  veteran (SDVOSB) of the United States, Army, Air Force, Marines, Navy, Coast Guard or National Guard, please be sure to visit the VeteranOwnedBusiness.com sign up page to get your free listing.

The objective of our FREE Veteran Owned Business Directory is to continue to offer a growing list of products and services that are unique in the fact that they are all owned by, sold by and/or serviced by past and present military members.

WASHINGTON – Veterans now have on-demand access and can download official data about their military training and experience, which can be used to help them find jobs and continue their careers. Their service data can be uploaded to job search and networking sites to help identify employment opportunities.

“Savvy employers look to Veterans for the excellent training and unique experiences they bring to the civilian workforce,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. “Now, Veterans can have state-of-the-art access to official data about their military service that we will help them land meaningful jobs.”

Starting Dec. 3, Veterans can use the VA’s online My HealtheVet portal (www.myhealth.va.gov) to see official information about their military service, including deployment data, in-uniform experience, and Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) codes which define the type of work performed and skills learned during their tour of duty. Veterans can electronically download that information to their personal computers by using an enhanced version of the Blue Button. This new capability is the latest addition to a growing suite of job-hunting tools announced by President Obama on Nov. 14.

“Savvy employers look to Veterans for the excellent training and unique experiences they bring to the civilian workforce,” said Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki. “Now, Veterans can have state-of-the-art access to official data about their military service that we will help them land meaningful jobs.”

“The President and Secretary Shinseki have shown real leadership on Veterans Employment,” said Dr. Peter L. Levin, chief technology officer at Veterans Affairs. “The White House has been instrumental in guiding this public/private initiative to meet the needs of Veterans, and with promoting web-based services that help Veterans find jobs. With their MOS codes, Veterans can more easily substantiate that they possess the skills needed by employers.”

Several industry partners have signed up to create — or have even already implemented — third-party applications that can read military specialties or classification codes in Blue Button format, automatically translate those codes into civilian descriptions, and identify openings and other resources for Veterans, Levin added.

Military job information available to Veterans under this program will depend on discharge or retirement date.

· All Veterans discharged after 1980 will see military specialty or classification codes;

· Some Veterans discharged between1975-1980 will see military specialty or classification codes;

· Some Gulf War Veterans may see combat pay and deployment periods;

· All Post-9/11 Veterans will see combat pay and deployment periods

Veterans enrolled in VA health care can access their military service information through My HealtheVet. Veterans who have not yet signed up for My HealtheVet access can register for a My HealtheVet account at any VA medical center by completing a one-time identity-verification process to help assure their data privacy.

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This is a public service announcement (PSA) brought to you by Veteran Owned Business.   Veteran Owned Business is in no way affiliated with the above organization(s). We do not in any way endorse the above business/organization or guarantee the above offer.

VeteranOwnedBusiness.com and the Veteran Owned Business Directory are simply providing information we feel is of interest to veterans, active duty military, reservists, service disabled veterans, veteran owned businesses, service disabled veteran owned businesses, families of veterans, families of our armed forces and any other person or persons directly or indirectly involved with the United States military.

If your business is (or you know of another business) owned by a veteran (VOB), active duty military, reservist or service disabled  veteran (SDVOSB) of the United States, Army, Air Force, Marines, Navy, Coast Guard or National Guard, please be sure to visit the VeteranOwnedBusiness.com sign up page to get your free listing.

The objective of our FREE Veteran Owned Business Directory is to continue to offer a growing list of products and services that are unique in the fact that they are all owned by, sold by and/or serviced by past and present military members.

The Women Veterans Business Center (WVBC) celebrated its 1st Anniversary on Saturday, November 19, 2011 at The Palm Center in Houston. The WVBC, a non-profit organization, was founded in 2010 by Army Veteran and businesswoman Marylyn Harris to educate and empower women veterans and military families to start and grow veteran owned businesses.

The anniversary fundraiser event, included training for business owners, a youth entrepreneur challenge, an expo, a keynote speaker, and the recognition of local woman veteran owned businesses.

The Women Veterans Business Center presented the 2011 Woman Veteran Business of the Year Award to Ms. Linda Dailey. Ms Dailey, an Air Force Veteran, is the owner of Health Initiatives Learning Center (HILC) and the Founder of Restoration Ministries in Galveston. HILC is a school that trains and entry-level Healthcare and Technology professionals and Restoration Ministries is a shelter for homeless woman. “Ms. Dailey embodies the resilient spirit of Women Veterans.” says Marylyn Harris, Army Veteran and Founder of the Women Veterans Business Center. “Her strong faith and commitment to employing women and improving communities is contagious.”

The 2011 Veteran Friendly Company of the Year Award was presented to Dignity Memorial Funeral Services. Donese Greene, Sales Manager, accepted for Dignity. “Dignity believes that every Veteran should have a dignified burial,” she said.

Air Force Veteran and business owner, Jean Craig, was the event’s keynote speaker. Mrs Craig, a Nurse during the Korean War, wowed the audience with her military stories and useful “lessons learned” from her successful Mesquite Wood business. Event attendees received ‘top notch’ training from Houston SBA Deputy Director, Mark Winchester, Houston SCORE President, Beth Shapiro and a Bankers/Lenders panel that included representatives from Chase Bank, Peoplefund, Houston Business Development, Inc and 4P Enterprises, a veteran owned firm. Representatives from the Houston VA Hospital , Office of Acquisitions were onsite, along with representatives from the Texas Veterans Commission (TVC), Harris County Veterans Services, the Disabled American Veterans (DAV), Depelchin Veterans Program and Riverside General Hospital PTSD Program for Veterans.

The anniversary event provided entrepreneurship training for the entire military family. In the Boardroom, the WVBC’s Military Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge took place. Military youth (with Youth Coaches from Windsor Village Church Christian Millionaires in the Making Ministry), competed in teams and presented strategies to grow a local business. After the competition, Mr Willie “Skyy” Foreman, a former Harlem Globetrotter and owner of Swirlls Yogurt in Spring Branch’s CityCentre, remarked, “I want to hire the Military Youth Teams to train my staff on the strategies they presented today.” Foreman was among a panel of judges tasked with choosing the best strategies that would increase his customer base and annual revenue.

The anniversary attendees enjoyed an EXPO after the training and awards ceremony concluded. Woman veteran owned businesses and community vendors convened on the exhibit floor to showcase their products and services. The EXPO was co-sponsored by Goodwill Industries (Houston) Homeless Women Veterans Program and included free massages from Massage Envy, free makeovers by Modern Makeup Society, and WVBC Signature PINK CAMP Cupcakes by Organic Sweete Shoppe. The Newcomers and Neighbors of Greater Houston (NNGH) provided the “We Support Women Veterans” banners and donated business suits for homeless women veterans going to interview for jobs or to business meetings.

Houston is home to over 200,000 Veterans and home to over 30,000 Women Veterans. The Women Veterans Business Center serves as a conduit, connecting women veteran- owned businesses (Suppliers) to industry, government and the non-profit sector. WVBC services include: Event Planning (Outreach / Networking Events), Business Training and Business Coaching.

For more information on the Women Veterans Business Center, contact the WVBC at (713) 230–8926, on FACEBOOK or LINKEDIN, or via email at Director@WomenVeteransBusinessCenter.org.

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This is a public service announcement (PSA) brought to you by Veteran Owned Business.   Veteran Owned Business is in no way affiliated with the above organization(s). We do not in any way endorse the above business/organization or guarantee the above offer.

VeteranOwnedBusiness.com and the Veteran Owned Business Directory are simply providing information we feel is of interest to veterans, active duty military, reservists, service disabled veterans, veteran owned businesses, service disabled veteran owned businesses, families of veterans, families of our armed forces and any other person or persons directly or indirectly involved with the United States military.

If your business is (or you know of another business) owned by a veteran (VOB), active duty military, reservist or service disabled  veteran (SDVOSB) of the United States, Army, Air Force, Marines, Navy, Coast Guard or National Guard, please be sure to visit the VeteranOwnedBusiness.com sign up page to get your free listing.

The objective of our FREE Veteran Owned Business Directory is to continue to offer a growing list of products and services that are unique in the fact that they are all owned by, sold by and/or serviced by past and present military members.

SDVOSB National News – VetLikeMe

VA’s ‘VetsFirst’ Policy Under Attack
Violations of Law Questioned

(Washington, DC — SDVOSB News Services) — The U.S. House Veterans Affairs Committee Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations (Bill Johnson, (R-OH) Chair), heard testimony from several government officials regarding Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) and procurement priority at a joint hearing today. Lawmakers were troubled by the VA’s implementation of Public Law 109-461 and its adherence to the 2006 federal statute.

The Hearing was streaming live on the internet ( http://tinyurl.com/7nzzhaj ) as Mr. Tom Le-ney and VA counsel Mr. John Thompson responded to questions about the VetsFirst policy. Thompson appeared flummoxed as he attempted to defend the VA’s interpretation of PL 109-461 and SDVOSB priority in procurements ( http://tinyurl.com/7nzzhaj at 56:25).

“Could you please tell me, tell this Committee how the VA considers itself exempt from the mandates set out in Public Law 109-461?…The government cannot be sued for not meeting goals. The federal government can be sued for not adhering to the law. Why is there such reluc-tance by the VA to follow the law as interpreted by the GAO?,” Chairman Johnson asked the VA counsel. “I disagree, GAO disagrees…is there going to be a review? Because you‟ve been told by the GAO that your interpretation is wrong.”

GAO issued recommendations to the VA on its VetsFirst procurement policies in late Oc-tober of this year after Aldevra, an SDVOSB, appealed a VA decision to ignore their protest on a solicitation. Aldevra appealed to GAO, which sustained the protest, citing PL 109-461. Jan Frye, VA Deputy Associate Director for Logistics and Procurement Policy, issued instructions to VA Contracting Officers to ignore the GAO‟s recommendations and continue agency procurement as it has in the past.

Also testifying at the hearing: Ralph O. White, Managing Associate General Counsel for Procurement Law, Office of General Counsel, U.S. Government Accountability Office, who laid out PL 106-50 in plain terms and indicated that it is rare that GAO‟s recommendations are not fol-lowed. Referring to the debate over 109-461 and its directive that VA „shall‟put SDVOSB first for Department procurements, Chairman Johnson asked Mr. White a critical question about GAO‟s recommendations to VA: ( @ 1:33 ) “What is your interpretation of the word ‘shall?’” Mr. White drew laughter from the galleries when he responded: “It certainly isn’t ‘may.’”

The VA must respond to GAO’s recommendations and its rationale for rejecting their recommendations by December 15. Testifying witnesses included: Thomas J. Leney, Executive Director, Small and Veteran Business Programs, Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; John H. “Jack” Thompson, Deputy General Counsel, Office of General Counsel, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Gregory D. Kutz, Forensic Audits and Investigative Service, U.S. Government Accountability Office; Ralph O. White, Managing Associate General Counsel for Procurement Law, Office of General Counsel, U.S. Government Accountability Office.

VetLikeMe is produced by BluePoint Productions, Frederick, Maryland.
For further information, contact Hardy Stone, 301-845-1330
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VetLikeMe (VLM) is a publication focused entirely on service-disabled veteran owned business.  We feature National news that affects our community, interviews with federal government officials and agencies, legislative activities at the State level and editorial opinion.

Launched in October 2009, VLM is published by BluePoint Productions, a non-profit business certified and verified by the  Veterans Administration as a Service Disabled Veteran Owned Small Business.

Hardy R. Stone, the sole proprietor of BluePoint Productions, is a 100% service-connected disabled veteran (SDVOSB).

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This is a public service announcement (PSA) brought to you by Veteran Owned Business.   Veteran Owned Business is in no way affiliated with the above organization(s). We do not in any way endorse the above business/organization or guarantee the above offer.  VeteranOwnedBusiness.com and the Veteran Owned Business Directory are simply providing information we feel is of interest to veterans, active duty military, reservists, service disabled veterans, veteran owned businesses, service disabled veteran owned businesses, families of veterans, families of our armed forces and any other person or persons directly or indirectly involved with the United States military.

If your business is (or you know of another business) owned by a veteran (VOB), active duty military, reservist or service disabled  veteran (SDVOSB) of the United States, Army, Air Force, Marines, Navy, Coast Guard or National Guard, please be sure to visit the VeteranOwnedBusiness.com sign up page to get your free listing.

The objective of our FREE Veteran Owned Business Directory is to continue to offer a growing list of products and services that are unique in the fact that they are all owned by, sold by and/or serviced by past and present military members.

Just in Time For Veterans Day 2011:

In addition to the ability to search over 8,000 Veteran Owned Businesses by:

Status (VOB or SDVOSB)
Keyword
Business Name
State
County
City
Zip Code
Radius (x miles around a zip code)

VeteranOwnedBusiness.com site visitors are now able to easily search our members specifically by military branch.  If you want to take your support to an even more specific level, you can search for businesses owned by veterans who served in certain military branches.

To do an advanced search of our growing Veteran Owned  Business member-base of over 8,000: http://www.veteranownedbusiness.com/advanced_search.php.

If your business is (or you know of another business) owned by a veteran (VOB), active duty military, reservist or service disabled  veteran (SDVOSB) of the United States, Army, Air Force, Marines, Navy, Coast Guard or National Guard, please be sure to visit the VeteranOwnedBusiness.com sign up page to get your free listing.

The objective of our FREE Veteran Owned Business Directory is to continue to offer a growing list of products and services that are unique in the fact that they are all owned by, sold by and/or serviced by past and present military members.

Veterans Day Poster Gallery

2011 Veterans Day Poster

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This is a public service announcement (PSA) brought to you by Veteran Owned Business.   Veteran Owned Business is in no way affiliated with the above organization(s). We do not in any way endorse the above business/organization or guarantee the above offer. 

VeteranOwnedBusiness.com and the Veteran Owned Business Directory are simply providing information we feel is of interest to veterans, active duty military, reservists, service disabled veterans, veteran owned businesses, service disabled veteran owned businesses, families of veterans, families of our armed forces and any other person or persons directly or indirectly involved with the United States military.

If your business is (or you know of another business) owned by a veteran (VOB), active duty military, reservist or service disabled  veteran (SDVOSB) of the United States, Army, Air Force, Marines, Navy, Coast Guard or National Guard, please be sure to visit the VeteranOwnedBusiness.com sign up page to get your free listing.

The objective of our FREE Veteran Owned Business Directory is to continue to offer a growing list of products and services that are unique in the fact that they are all owned by, sold by and/or serviced by past and present military members.

On Sunday, November 13th at 5:00pm, Union Station of Kansas City and Veteran Directed Community Services (VDCS) will host the Inaugural Veterans Art and Poetry Gala – an event to encourage veterans to “show their stuff” in an “art-show” style setting. VDCS is a local non-profit organization planning and executing this event, which is a culmination of their developing Art program. This one-of-a-kind function will highlight and feature many forms of veterans’ artistic expression.

“Hosting events like this allows us to show veterans our appreciation for their service to our country,” commented the organization’s founder, Moses Artis. “This event will provide a platform to allow veteran-artists the opportunity to showcase their remarkable talents. Having Union Station join us in facilitating this gala really emphasizes our shared commitment to helping veterans in our community.”

This function is also geared towards bringing public awareness to the therapeutic benefits of art. This is NOT a “formal” event, as the dress for the evening will be business casual. There will be free give-aways and door prizes, and all donations will be accepted to fund continued homeless outreach efforts in the community and to develop their art program.

Display space is FREE for veterans and their dependents. Other local artists and poets may also participate for a $25 donation. To register visithttp://www.vdcs.org/programs/art or call (816) 358-1000. Tickets for general admission are $10 each (free for veterans), and tickets for priority seating (which includes a full-course dinner) are $40 each. To purchase tickets, please call us at (816) 358-1000 or visit http://www.vdcs.org/donation.

Veteran Directed Community Services (VDCS) is a not-for-profit, federal designated “501(c)(3)” organization. All contributions are tax deductible for individuals and businesses.  If you would like more information on becoming a volunteer or community partner, please call us or visit: http://www.vdcs.org/contact-us to send an e-mail.

“The mission of VDCS is to enrich the lives of all service members of the U.S. military, our veterans, and all their families, by using a comprehensive “solutions-focused” approach in addressing their vast array of ever-changing social needs; be it homeless outreach, facilitating housing, employment assistance, meeting educational goals, or improving overall mental and physical well-being.”

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This is a public service announcement (PSA) brought to you by Veteran Owned Business.   Veteran Owned Business is in no way affiliated with the above organization(s). We do not in any way endorse the above business/organization or guarantee the above offer. 

VeteranOwnedBusiness.com and the Veteran Owned Business Directory are simply providing information we feel is of interest to veterans, active duty military, reservists, service disabled veterans, veteran owned businesses, service disabled veteran owned businesses, families of veterans, families of our armed forces and any other person or persons directly or indirectly involved with the United States military.

If your business is (or you know of another business) owned by a veteran (VOB), active duty military, reservist or service disabled  veteran (SDVOSB) of the United States, Army, Air Force, Marines, Navy, Coast Guard or National Guard, please be sure to visit the VeteranOwnedBusiness.com sign up page to get your free listing.

The objective of our FREE Veteran Owned Business Directory is to continue to offer a growing list of products and services that are unique in the fact that they are all owned by, sold by and/or serviced by past and present military members.