Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA) is a solid strategy America’s veterans can utilize to enter the small business community as leaders. Small businesses remain the lifeblood of the U.S. economy and the primary driver of U.S. job growth. Veterans are known to be excellent business leaders. But America has a challenge: according to the U.S. Small Business Administration only 4.9% of U.S. veterans today become entrepreneurs, down drastically from the highs during the post-World War II era. Clearly, today’s veterans need more support from the public and private sector to successfully buy an existing small business.
Please join us for the first annual national symposium of veteran buyers and sellers, capital sources, service providers, business schools and supporters of veteran ETA. This inaugural program will feature successful veteran sellers and buyers, highlighting war stories and lessons learned; discuss available financing sources; the challenges of accessing that capital; and launch a national network of interested parties supportive of veteran ETA.
Registration is complimentary.
Virtual Hosts
Program Agenda
Featured Speaker:
Isabella Casillas Guzman
Administrator
U.S. Small Business Administration
Opening Remarks:
Scott Jensen
Executive Director, National Veteran Small Business Coalition
Former Colonel, Naval Aviator and Chief of Behavioral Programs, U.S. Marine Corps
Welcome:
Tommy Moreno
Co-founder & CEO, Pareto Labs
Former Operating Partner, Colony Capital
U.S. Air Force Academy
Stories from the Trenches: Veteran Buyers and Sellers
Moderator:
Sharon B. Heaton
CEO, sbLiftOff
Success Stories:
Patrick Dunagan
CEO, NorthWest Construction Control
Former Ground Intelligence Officer, U.S. Marine Corps.
Kevin Williams
Partner, Lometa Capital Partners
Former Officer and SEAL, U.S. Navy
John Hubbard
Owner & President, Express Trailers
Founder and Manager, Blue Cord Capital
Former Special Operations Command, U.S. Army
Profile: One Vet’s Journey – The Next Generation of Entrepreneurship
Andy Rougeot
Owner, RG Maintenance Services
Former Officer, U.S. Army
A four-minute film that captures one veteran’s journey from army officer to successful entrepreneur
Panel Discussion: Capital Sources for Veteran Acquisitions: Debt & Equity
Moderator:
Jamie Warlick
Founder and Managing Partner, Hidden River Partners
Former Officer, U.S. Marine Corps
Panelists:
Alexander Mears
Principal, The Carlyle Group
Co-Founder, Search & Acquire
Former Lieutenant, U.S. Navy
Lisa Forrest
Director of Sponsor Finance, Live Oak Bank
Mike Mahre
Operating Partner, Anacapa Partners
Former Officer, Nuclear Mechanics Division, U.S. Navy
Live Q&A
Sharon B. Heaton (Moderator)
CEO, sbLiftOff
Sponsored by
For more information, please contact Nancy Langer at nancy@sbliftoff.com.