Endicott & Small Business Association to Offer Entrepreneurship Workshop for Veterans
Continuing a dedication to providing support and services to veteran students, Endicott College will host Boots to Business Reboot, a free entrepreneurship training program for veterans and their spouses on September 27. Acknowledging that veterans have the character, discipline, and skills needed to succeed as small business owners and entrepreneurs, the program provides a two-step training process encompassing entrepreneurship classes, online follow-up, a practical exercise in opportunity recognition, and an introduction to available public and private sector resources.
The workshop will be put on by the U.S. Small Business Association in conjunction with the Van Loan School at Endicott College and the Endicott College FUEL Entrepreneurship program. Participants will receive an overview of business ownership as a career vocation and an outline and knowledge on the components of a business plan, before being provided with additional resources to assist with follow-through on ideas. There is no prior experience in business or business-ownership necessary for participation.
Eligibility to participate extends to veterans of all eras, service members (including members of the National Guard and Reserve) and their spouses, and is not limited to students or those affiliated with Endicott College or the Van Loan School.
"Endicott College is very honored to host the Small Business Administration's 'Boots to Business Reboot’ training program,” said Deirdre Sartorelli, Assistant Dean for the Angle Center for Entrepreneurship at Endicott College. “Through our work with veterans on campus who are part of our undergraduate and graduate programs, we've come to appreciate the strength of their entrepreneurial spirit. The skills they learn on the battlefields and the seas make them uniquely qualified to assess opportunities, identify challenges, and then figure out winning solutions. The Small Business Administration's Boots to Business Reboot program gives participants and their spouses an overview of entrepreneurship and practical exercises they can undertake to begin launching viable businesses. Endicott College is known for being a welcoming institution for veterans and this program is a perfect addition to the portfolio we offer to service members."
Endicott was recently acknowledged by U.S. News and World Report on their list of Best Colleges for Veterans (#10 in Regional Universities North).
Speakers and teachers for the Boots to Business Reboot program include representatives from the U.S. Small Business Administration, Veterans Business Outreach Center for New England, Center for Women and Enterprise, SCORE Business Learning Center (SBLC), and America’s Small Business Development Center (ASBDC), as well as a franchise coach, SBA Lender, and a panel of veteran small business owners.
Boots to Business Reboot will be held on Endicott College’s Beverly campus on Thursday, September 27, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Those interested in more information may contact Oreste Varela at the U.S. Small Business Administration at oreste.varela@sba.gov or sign up directly online at https://bit.ly/2pnbLDX. Pre sign-ups are accepted through Wednesday, September 26 at noon; participants will also be able to register at the door. Participation is free and refreshments and lunch will be provided by Endicott College.