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Do you want to start a business? Expand your existing business? Find all the resources in one location at this FREE conference for veteran entrepreneurs! Operation: Start Up & Grow is the premier veterans business conference in Upstate New York for our veterans and members of the military community who want to start or expand their own small business. The half-day event includes breakout workshops, networking sessions with 40 exhibitors, awards ceremony and lunch (see agenda).
VETERAN-OWNED BUSINESS ACHIEVEMENT (VOBA) Award
The 2013 winner of the Veteran-Owned Achievement (VOBA) Award will be recognized for their entrepreneurial success and service to our country at the conference on March 21. Thank you to all who submitted nominations of exemplary veteran entrepreneurs!
SPONSORS
The sixth annual Operation: Start Up & Grow conference is made possible by support from the following cosponsors: Institute for Veterans and Military Families, M&T Bank, New York Business Development Corporation, Onondaga Community College, Onondaga Small Business Development Center, Syracuse SCORE, The Falcone Center for Entrepreneurship at Syracuse University, The Tech Garden, U.S. Small Business Administration, and WISE Women's Business Center.
REGISTRATION
To register, please contact SBA at 315-471-9393 ext. 233 or stephanie.ubowski@sba.gov. Registration will close on Wednesday, March 20.
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KEYNOTE ADDRESS from Veteran Entrepreneur Terry Brown |
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Graduating from Clarkson University with a degree in engineering, Terry Brown joined the U.S. Marine Corps. Terry served as a battalion logistics officer, constructed an airfield in the Philippines, served as a base utilities officer and achieved the rank of Captain. Following his discharge in 1975, Terry joined O’Brien & Gere in Syracuse where he rose from a construction engineer to chairman and CEO. O’Brien & Gere provided an opportunity for many of its employees to be intrapreneurs (entrepreneurs within an existing company). Terry was a part of the organization’s development, assisting with the start-up of a number of companies and promoting many unique business initiatives. Upon leaving O’Brien & Gere, Terry started his own company, TLBrown Management Group in 2011. His consulting company focuses on providing solutions to businesses, colleges and municipalities for environmental programs, renewable energy and innovation. Terry also has a passion for entrepreneurship. He is currently the executive director at the Syracuse University Whitman School Falcone Center for Entrepreneurship, where he prides himself not only on teaching entrepreneurship, but on connecting the students with community and business opportunities. |
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KEYNOTE ADDRESS from SBA Deputy Administrator Marie Johns |
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Nominated by President Obama and confirmed unanimously in the Senate, Marie Johns has served as SBA’s Deputy Administrator since June 2010. Under her leadership, SBA had back-to-back record years in lending, supporting more than $30 billion in loans annually in 2011 and 2012. As the economic recovery takes root, Deputy Administrator Johns is focused on ensuring that underserved communities, including women, minorities, veterans and young people, have the tools and resources they need to start businesses and create good-paying jobs. She also works closely with President Obama’s most senior advisors at the White House to ensure that more federal contracts are awarded to small businesses. In addition to other duties, the Deputy Administrator has the privilege of serving as the chair of the President’s Interagency Task Force on Veterans Small Business Development. Prior to joining SBA, Johns served as President of Verizon Washington and then went on to start her own small business in Washington, DC. A member of the Greater Washington Business Hall of Fame and one of Washingtonian Magazine’s “100 Most Powerful Women,” Deputy Administrator Johns is an outstanding champion for America’s small businesses and entrepreneurs. |
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INTERVIEW with Veteran Entrepreneur Jeff Yaro |
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Raised in Camillus, Jeff Yaro served six years in the U.S. Army from 1979 until 1985. During his time in the Army, he served as a Combat Engineer in the 82nd Airborne Division’s 307th Engineer Battalion and then as a Special Forces Senior Engineer on an Operational Detachment A Team in the 5th Special Forces Group (ABN) at Fort Bragg. As a Special Forces Senior Engineer, Jeff was extensively trained in construction, fortification, demolition and explosives techniques. After the military, Jeff successfully transitioned into a civilian explosives career. In 1997 Jeff was promoted to management for the Imperial Chemical Industries International Division, Atlas Powder Co. International. His responsibilities included all operations for the explosives corporation in 28 countries across the Caribbean and parts of South America, and the management of all port facility operations. After years of travel away from his family, Jeff returned to the Syracuse area and worked as a consultant while earning his M.B.A. from LeMoyne College. Jeff became a certified NYS Residential Real Estate Appraiser, working at his wife’s company before deciding to start his own construction business in 2009. His company VET4U, LLC won its first federal contract with the Syracuse VA Medical Center in 2010 and has quickly established itself as an up-and-coming general contracting firm, winning numerous contracts. |
Allgaier Law Firm, AXA Advisors, Broadband Academy/OCC, Clear Path for Veterans, Cortineo Business Technology, Easter Seals Vets2Jobs, ESGR, Empire State Development, Empower Federal Credit Union, Falcone Center for Entrepreneurship at Syracuse University, Homes for Heroes, Institute for Veterans and Military Families, Jeff Roney Homeselling Team, KeyBank, K.I.S.S.-IT, M&T Bank, New Country Wolf 105.1, New York Business Development Corporation, NYS Department of Labor Business Services, NYS Division of Veterans Affairs, NYS Office of General Services, North Country Procurement Technical Assistance Center, Onondaga Community College Office of Veterans Affairs, Onondaga County Veterans Services Agency, Onondaga Employee Leasing Services, Onondaga Small Business Development Center, Site-Seeker, Inc., Soldiers & Saddles, Start-Up NY & SBA PRIME, Syracuse City School District Literacy Zone, Syracuse SCORE, Syracuse Veterans Center, Syracuse VA Medical Center, The Tech Garden, U.S. Department of Agriculture/Rural Development, U.S. Small Business Administration, U.S. VA Western NY Healthcare System, Watertown Veterans Center, and WISE Women's Business Center.
| 8:30-8:55 | Registration, Continental Breakfast & Networking with Exhibitors |
| 8:55-9:05 | Opening Ceremonies |
| 9:05-9:15 | Opening Remarks from Cathleen McColgin, USA veteran, PhD, Onondaga Community College Provost and Senior Vice President |
| 9:15-9:45 | Keynote Address from Terry Brown, USMC veteran, Executive Director at the Falcone Center for Entrepreneurship at Syracuse University,President of TLBrown Management Group, LLC |
| 10:00-11:00 |
Workshops:
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| 11:00-11:45 | Networking with Exhibitors |
| 11:45 | Lunch |
| 12:00-12:15 | Keynote Address from Marie Johns, SBA Deputy Administrator |
| 12:15 |
Awards Presentation:
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| 12:30-1:00 | Emcee Interview with Jeff Yaro, USA veteran and owner of VET4U, LLC |
| 1:00 | Conclusion |
Cosponsorship Authorization #13-0248-27. SBA's participation in this cosponsored event is not an endorsement of views, opinions, products, or services of any cosponsor or other person or entity. All SBA programs or cosponsored programs are extended to the public on a non-discriminatory basis. Reasonable arrangements for persons with disabilities will be made if requested at least two weeks in advance. Contact: Stephanie Ubowski at 315-471-9393 ext. 233 or stephanie.ubowski@sba.gov.
