VETERAN MENTORING – BUSINESS MENTORS
Veteran Business Project’s staff and Business Mentor provide hands-on guidance and mentoring to Military, Veterans, and Spouse small business owneroperators including, but not limited to, entrepreneurship training, business opportunity referrals and more. This ongoing commitment to our military veterans underlies the essence of what the Veteran Business Project is all about – making a positive contribution in the lives of our veterans – by Getting Veterans into Business.
GENERAL RECOMMENDATION
We strongly encourage all who care about our veterans to get actively involved in helping them lead productive lives. In many cases, it is as simple as finding and befriending one veteran. It is as simple as taking a sincere interest in that veteran and any day-to-day challenge she/he may be facing. A good message on why this is so very important is set forth in this video message:
Mike Haynie at TEDx University of Nevada
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oSWhIUiGang
If you’re a veteran, and would like to begin investigating business ownership, register here! You’ll also receive ongoing News and Events updates.
If you’re a business, and would like to potentially sell your existing business to a veteran, register here! You’ll also receive ongoing News and Events updates.
For News and Events updates only, register here
In the News
Marine Veteran Mike Tucker Brings Military Humor and Camaraderie to Cannoneer Apparel
Marine Corps veteran Mike Tucker is turning military humor and camaraderie into Cannoneer Apparel, an online clothing brand inspired by his service and designed for veterans, service members and military families. With support from Veteran Business Project, Tucker hopes to grow the business into something bigger—a community that helps veterans reconnect, find resources and build meaningful connections.
Where Economics Meets the Road: Army Veteran Dean M. Prestegaard Brings 30 Years of Expertise to His Own Firm
Army veteran Dean M. Prestegaard is drawing on more than 30 years of military, economic and transportation expertise to build his own consulting practice. His story highlights how veterans can recognize and translate the skills they developed in service into entrepreneurship, with mentorship from Veteran Business Project helping him navigate the challenges of building a business.
Clean Clothes, Community Roots: Navy Veteran Ralph Venturanza Opens Laundry Works Laundromat
Navy veteran Ralph Venturanza and his wife turned an entrepreneurial idea into Laundry Works, a community-focused laundromat built on the values of service and connection. With support from Veteran Business Project, Ralph navigated the early challenges of launching the business while bringing his military and supply chain experience to entrepreneurship—and making community service a central part of the business.
Veteran Business Success Story: Ignacio Gonzalez, DreamCatcher Café
Ignacio Gonzalez went from serving in the Marine Corps to running a neighborhood coffee shop, carrying with him the discipline, determination, and sense of service that shaped his life. After serving his country in both the military and law enforcement, he turned a lifelong passion for coffee into a business. That passion led to DreamCatcher Café, a favorite neighborhood spot where every cup comes with a chance to slow down and connect.
Jonathan Roldan’s Entrepreneurial Journey with Brightside Car Wash
For Jonathan Roldan, a proud veteran and family man, the road to business ownership has been a testament to adaptability and a relentless pursuit of a better quality of life. Having served in the Army from 2009 to 2013, which included an 11-month deployment to Iraq as a field artillery crew member, Jonathan transitioned from his military service to a demanding career in logistics. As of July 1, he has embarked on a new mission: breathing new life into Brightside Car Wash in Naperville, Illinois.
A Veteran’s Success: Crafting Community After Service
From combat to craft beverages, JT Robertson's journey is a testament to the power of resilience and community. Find out how this veteran turned a pandemic-induced frustration into a thriving mead business, and how you, as a veteran or military spouse, can follow a similar path.
