Conference re-energizes veteran entrepreneurship
Updated: May 17, 2022
Register for Veteran Owned Business Conference by May 19 at https://bit.ly/VBRC2022
By Michelle Bridges, VALOR Forge Publications Manager
The Veteran Business Resource Center at the Salt Lake Community College is excited to host the 2022 Veteran Owned Business Partnership Conference. Join us to learn about opportunities to start or grow your business. Come meet and network with other veteran business owners and entrepreneurs. The conference is happening 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, May 20 at The Mill at SLCC at the Miller campus in Sandy.
“We’re thrilled to be back after a two-year hiatus,” said Rick Brown, director of the UVBRC on SLCC’s Miller Campus. “The conference has an exciting agenda with inspiring speakers to help re-energize entrepreneurship and breakout sessions that ignite success for veteran owned businesses.”
Lunchtime keynote, Misty Stutsman Fox, will discuss “Common Myths and Veteran Entrepreneurship.” She is the Director of the Entrepreneurship and Small Business portfolio at Syracuse University’s Institute for Veterans and Military Families. She oversees nearly a dozen projects that promote veteran entrepreneurship nationwide through research, resources, supply chain opportunities and tools as well as training and program development. A new partnership with Syracuse University that expands the VBRC’s services will be announced.
Breakout sessions will have two new subjects, Crowd Funding and Patent Resources, joining stalwart topics of Government Contracting 101, Social Media and Cyber Security, all with the latest trends.
“Learning from experts can remove much of the guessing game, pinpoint gaps, and help grow your business,” said Brown. “Members of the Denver patent office are eager to share with our veterans. Understanding the patent process and protecting intellectual property and is vital to success.” Adding that technology is constantly changing and updating skills is always a good investment.
Brown noted crowd sourcing seems to be the go-to trend in raising funds to launch a business. He says options are available for veterans that some may not know about or how to access. UVBRC can help identify those resources and veterans how to utilize them.
Colby Jenkins’ keynote “Helping to Build Your ‘A’ Team” will top off the afternoon. Jenkins is a combat veteran and US Army Special Forces Green Beret. He has worked on Capitol Hill for the US Senate and the Pentagon in Silicon Valley Innovation Office. Jenkins resides in St. George, Utah, where he is the CEO of School Pulse, a local start-up that is helping schools engage positively with every student. He continues to serve in the Army Reserves as a Colonel assigned to the Special Operations Command-Pacific.
A reception and networking with fellow veteran entrepreneurs and business resources will round out the conference.
Conference partners include South Valley Chamber, Salt Lake Community College, Utah Veterans Business Resource Center, Utah Department of Veterans and Military Affairs, Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity and the Salt Lake Chamber.
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