Moderated by Maj. General Genaro (Gino) Dellarocco (Ret.), the Veterans Transition Initiative program’s business panel was geared toward veterans who are interested in entrepreneurship or learning how to boost their businesses. Featuring representatives from the Department of Veteran Affairs, Lockheed Martin Corporation and the U.S. Small Business Administration, panelists motivated attendees and provided the ins and outs for business success.
2. MISSION:MISSION: To Provide Experienced-Based
Entrepreneurial Training and Mentoring to
Veterans & Non-Veteran Members
VISION:VISION: To be the Small Business
Entrepreneurial Training Institute of
Choice
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3. GOALSGOALS
•Help Grow the Economy by Increasing the total
number of successful SDVOSB, VOSB and other
businesses
•Increase Income opportunities for Veterans & RMOA
Members
•Increase RMOA Membership
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4. Overall ConceptOverall Concept
• Phase I – RMOA Pilot Program (10 RMOA Fellows
Max)
• Phase II – Separate RBI Non-Profit (100 RMOA
Fellows Max)
Continuous on-ramp and off-ramp
Annual Graduation Ceremony
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5. Phase IPhase I (18 Feb 13)(18 Feb 13)
• Instructional Delivery Methods
On-line
Lecture/Demonstration
Individual Mentoring
•Select/Develop On-line Curriculum –New York State
SBDC Entre Skills
•Finalize Curriculum Contract
•Enroll RMOA Fellows
•Identify and Schedule Platform Instructors
•Establish Mentors Group
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6. Phase IPhase I (Cont.)(Cont.)
• Establish RBI as a 501(c)(3) Educational Non-
Profit
• Establish MOU’s (SBA, SBDC’s)
• Begin Community Outreach &Publicity Campaign
• Begin to Identify Funding Sources ( Grants,
Sponsorship, GI Bill, MOU’s, Other)
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7. Promotion and RecruitmentPromotion and Recruitment
ApplicationApplication
Intake & AssessmentIntake & Assessment
Completion of CurriculumCompletion of Curriculum
Internship at RMOA Member
Company
Internship at RMOA Member
Company
IncubationIncubation
GRADUATIONGRADUATION
Support of
RMOA
Advisor/Mentor
Support of
RMOA
Advisor/Mentor
Support of
RMOA
Advisor/Mentor
Support of
RMOA
Advisor/Mentor
Support of
RMOA
Advisor/Mentor
Support of
RMOA
Advisor/Mentor
RBI ProgramRBI Program
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8. Phase IIPhase II (TBD)(TBD)
•Activate RBI as Separate Organization
•Hire (Volunteer-to-Hire) Executive Director
•Develop Business Plan W/Budget
•Finalize Organization and Functions Manual
•Add Staff (When Affordable)
•Operate RBI as Self-Sustaining Educational non-
Profit (Reports to RMOA)
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9. On-line Course
•RBI uses the New York State Small Business
Development Center’s (SBDC) EntreSkills for
Veterans™ curriculum
•Interactive Web-based educational tool developed
by Veterans for Veterans
•More than 17 interactive chapters
•Self-paced, designed to be supplemented by one-
on-one counseling with an SBDC Veteran Business
Advisor.
•EntreSkills for Veterans™ facilitates the
development of a complete Business Plan. 9
10. Lecture/Demo Instruction
•Legal Form of Organization – Instructor: Darryl
Jordan/Donnellda Rice
•Finance and Tax Considerations for Start-up –
Instructor: Greta Tosi-Miller
•Human Resource and Benefits Planning –
Instructor:?
•Technical Proposal Preparation – Instructor:?
•Price Proposal Preparation – Instructor: Annette
Johnson
•Bank Package Preparation- Instructor?
•Marketing and Capture Planning – Instructor?
•Other
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11. One-on-one Mentoring
•Serves as a role model and confidante
•Provides guidance, advice, and encouragement
•Imparts technical knowledge and other expertise
•Refers Fellows to needed supportive services
•Shares resources and networks
•Challenges the Fellow to move beyond his or her
comfort zone
•Focuses on the Fellow’s total development
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12. Summary
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• Primarily aimed at veterans committed to becoming
entrepreneurs—those who have been working and
also those who recently left the military
• Self-paced on-line study, platform instruction,
mentors
• Continuous on-ramp entry, off-ramp at online
completion
• Annual graduation ceremony
• Phase I Pilot – no charge w/RMOA membership
• Phase II Price – TBD
• 501(c)(3) Educational non-profit organization
• Sponsorships, grants, donations, MOU’s are key