Naperville business leader Arun Vijay Mani has joined the advisory board of Veterans Business Project, a nonprofit based in Chicago that helps veterans become small business owners. Through mentorship, business matching and personalized support, VBP helps service members, veterans and military spouses buy existing businesses and build long-term economic independence.

Mani is the founder of Blue Leopard Ventures Inc., a consulting firm that helps entrepreneurs buy, grow and sell businesses, with a focus on veterans and minority founders. He also teaches at North Central College and chairs the Naperville Sister City Commission.

“Veterans have the leadership skills, the discipline, the experience, but too often they’re cut off from the networks and resources that make business ownership possible,” said Mani. “That’s the gap VBP fills.”

Mani is currently mentoring two veterans through vharmony, VBP’s one-on-one mentorship program that pairs aspiring veteran business owners with experienced professionals. The program provides support with business acquisition, financing and leadership transitions.

“Arun shows up for veterans,” said Lynn Lowder, Marine veteran and co-founder of Veterans Business Project. “He’s not in it for the spotlight. He’s in it for the impact.”

Veteran-owned businesses play a major role in the U.S. economy, but support is still needed. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, veterans own more than 1.9 million businesses across the country, employing over 5.4 million Americans and generating $1.3 trillion in annual sales.

Mentorship makes a measurable difference. A report from SCORE, a national network of volunteer business mentors, found that 87 percent of small business owners with a mentor survive their first year, compared with 75 percent of those without one.In addition to his advisory role with VBP, Mani teaches business at North Central College in Naperville and advises the Coffee Lab, a student-run entrepreneurship venture. He also chairs the Naperville Sister City Commission.

His motivation, he says, is personal.

“One of my grandfathers was a farmer. The other served in the Indian Air Force,” Mani said. “They both gave selflessly to their country. I came to the United States at the age of 20, and I was helped by so many people. Because of that, I want to give back and help others succeed.”