“The VBOC has helped us tremendously with preparation for pursuing government contracts and business plan review. I am very impressed with the program and would recommend it to anyone coming out of the military."

-Iron Dog Inc. Owner Amy Foxworth is a Veteran Spouse, VBOC works with active duty, service connected disabled veterans, National Guard and Reservists, veterans and their spouses.

Your Source. From the readily available to the absolutely impossible.
                        

“VBOC helped us tremendously by providing research, through SBDC.Net. They helped us with contracting advice/counsel and also helped us to identity new markets – assisting us through the process.”

What would you say about the Veterans Business Outreach Center to a friend or a business acquaintance?

Use them!  They are friendly, supportive and very knowledgeable.   I never expected any help from the Government when I got out of the military.
Once I learned what the VBOC could do for me at no cost I was happy to accept their help.
As they told me “. . . You’ve earned it.”      

-Paul Zipes, E-RYT (Registered Yoga Teacher, E = experienced) Yoga for You, LLC

While researching various veteran groups I noticed somewhat of a void when it came to organizations that provide mentorship to aspiring veteran business owners.  I came across the Veteran's Business Outreach Center and the counselors have been very helpful in starting my own endeavor.  Not only do they respond, but they make a concerted effort to reach out, follow up and keep in touch which is rare.  Within a year an a half of starting Courtney Consulting Solutions, LLC, we have grossed over six figures in sales and have clients ranging from a three person team to a billion dollar company.  CCS is a service based firm centered on helping good, established companies grow through government sales from an 'insiders' perspective.   Basically if a company is interested in doing effective business with the government and asks the question, "Where do I start?' we take over. Since I used to be a buyer in the Army, I know what works as there are right and wrong ways to approach this marketplace, buyers and contracting officers.  We make sure our clients not only have the tools in place to 'play the game' but the know how to be successful.

Erica Courtney
www.courtneysolutions.com

Smoking Hog BBQ and Mobile Entertainment

"Starting my business was a daunting thought, what do I do first, how do I get my product to the customer etc. With the help of the SBA and VBOC I'm now up and running and continuing to build my 'On Site BBQ and Portable Paint business.' We love to cook on site as much as possible but will deliver food also. The 'Smoking Hog BBQ' Smoker can feed more than a thousand and as few as 10. Our Portable Inflatable Paintball Arena is truely unique entertainment venue, ideal for the middle school through high school crowd, but we also get mom and dad in there as well for an awesome heart pounding experience. The Arena measures 100' X 50' and is completely screened in so it doubles nicely for an indoor dodge ball field or can be used to served food to large groups wanting to keep the bugs away. The VBOC is a great resource and sounding board for your thoughts and ideas. So whether your right around the corner from their office as I am, or in the next give them a call they're staff is eager to help you get your business going. "

Scott Dempsey
www.smokinghogbbq.com

"These guys have really got my back!” says Clayton Poff, on working with the VBOC. “Conversations with Brent and the other VBOC staff bring back a feeling of camaraderie”. Poff continues “ . . . it is like VBOC gave me the field manual to go forth and have the ability to say the right things to the right people.”

Energy Cost Reducers, LLC, a service-connected disabled veteran owned company, has recently been awarded Commercial/Private Contracts totaling $125,000; Department of Defense Prime Contract awards of $32,000; and State Prime Contracts totaling $8,000. Energy Cost Reducers, LLC received assistance and guidance from the VBOC throughout the startup process. Owner, Clayton Poff, formed the Clean Energy Retrofitting Technologies Company, providing energy efficient solutions for buildings, in mid August of 2008. Poff, former Head of Maintenance in Charge of a 165,000+ sq. foot facility, Home Depot Electrical Department & Commercial sales, and Independent Electrician served in the United States Marine Corps. Energy Cost Reducers, LLC, has recently installed units in the U of M TERRA house project in Memphis, TN. Also, upcoming meetings have been scheduled with the Tennessee State Congress and TN Senate offices to advocate for common sense retrofitting technologies with fast ROI for energy efficiency projects. Among its most notable accomplishments, Energy Cost Reducers has been awarded a $125,000 contract for the Fed Ex Arena in Memphis, Tennessee, along with a $14,000 project at Little Rock Air Force Base, and a pilot project with Memphis City Schools. ECR continues to be driven by their mission of increasing its volunteer role in the community, both in helping the environment and the people who live in it.

http://www.energycostreducers.net/

Gary Harris
American Building Inspectors Corporation
 

"Inspect to Protect "
http://www.abicorporation.com

The Disabled-Veteran owned business founders of American Building Inspectors Corporation, Gary and Delayna Harris were invited guest of Florida Governor Charlie Crist at the signing of House Bill 687 into Florida Law at Tyndall AirForce Base on June 12, 2008.  American Building Inspectors Corporation was the only company selected to represent the
Service-Disabled Veteran Business Enterprises Act on behalf of all Florida veterans.
ABI Corp was created with several goals:  To provide a great service, give our family an excellent income, assist other Veterans, and help protect our environment.  Our services include local commercial and residential inspections, legal services and real estate inspections.  Our international services include acquisition inspections, consulting projects, and Government contracts.  Gary and Delayna Harris decided to open this Woman owned, Veteran operated business on November 1, 2007.  Gary has been doing commercial inspections for several years.  Gary felt that the experience Delayna had through school and other administrative jobs would be an asset to this business.  ABI Corp. is a very successful business because of Delayna and Gary’s experience.  We had challenges to meet before we could begin.  We needed working capital, but didn’t want to go into debt.  Since we had both been United Parcel Service employees we made the decision to utilize our retirement savings to fund our business start up.  This provided the working capital we needed to begin as a debt free company.  By using the no cost services of the Gainesville, Florida Small Business Development Center (SBDC) we had professional help us launch our Business Plan into action.  We would like to thank Pat from the Gainesville SBDC for all of his help and John Miller from the Lynn Haven, Florida Veterans Business Outreach Center (VBOC) for his involvement and assistance.  Florida Crown Workforce also helped to bring ABI into existence.  Delayna Harris attended the University of Kansas.  She also has experience in administrative jobs through Outback Steakhouse.  Gary obtained most of his education through the military.  He has extensive experience with commercial inspections through his military background.  He is committed to helping other Veterans with any assistance he can offer.  Delayna and Gary donate a portion of their profits to Veterans and their families.  They also support environmental awareness through use of our paperless inspection services.

Atlas Product Support

Since leaving the Army in 1965 Robert McCaughey has accumulated over 40 years of experience in private industry, i.e. manufacturing, as Quality Control inspector for Pratt and Whitney/United Technology, and as Quality Control representative for the Southeastern United States for AVCO Lycoming Aircraft until his position was eliminated at the conclusion of the Viet Nam conflict.
Following his employment at AVCO Lycoming Aircraft he joined the United States Air Force where  he worked as a military aircraft electrician.  This experience allowed him to acquire additional knowledge in the electrical field.  After retiring from the military (combined Army/Air Force service of 20 years), in 1985, he went to work as a Senior Nuclear Quality Control Representative for General Dynamics based on his earlier civilian employments.  There he assisted vendors all over the United States in the development of equipment for future submarines.  This effort required a “Q” security Clearance.
He left General Dynamics due to the constant, extensive travel and joined the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) as a civilian technician tasked with oversight of production at a nuclear manufacturing facility.  From there he joined the civilian workforce of the United States Navy as a Quality Control technician.  A major part of his duties included visiting Navy contractors for quality assurance and assistance in the development of equipment for research and development projects and the precision production of supplies for the fleet.  MR. McCaughey’s major concern was always that the fleet and its personnel were furnished with the highest quality supplies and equipment possible.
Due to this broad range of experience MR. McCaughey’s knowledge and experience is still sought by the United States Navy as a civilian contractor and subcontractor to ensure the production and development of needed commodities that met stringent Government specifications. 
This passion to make a difference and assure quality inspired Mr. McCaughey to start his own venture, Atlas Product Support, in Lynn Haven, FL in November of 2007.  After requesting assistance and receiving guidance from Tony Zacchio and John Miller of the Veterans Business Outreach Center, Mr. McCaughey started his business and received two government contracts valued at $49,500 and is in the process of bidding on two more contracts that seem very promising.  Mr. McCaughey states: “The VBOC was very, very helpful in their assistance and advice.  They also directed us to the right people for legal assistance.”

1. http://www.roadwarriormps.com/index.html  
2. Road Warrior Mike Hogan’s dream now is to teach fellow veterans how to stop being a wage slave and take control of their own financial destiny.  For many Veterans, the transition back into the Job Market can be stressful, disorienting and sometimes traumatic.  The civilian world does not understand nor appreciate the skills, the experience, the discipline and the motivation that military personnel bring to the market place.  Finding a job that pays enough to support your family and fulfills you professionally may be difficult at best.  Additionally, you will experience professional culture shock as you try to reintegrate back into the civilian market.  Road Warrior Mike Hogan can help you start our own successful mobile business.  For the past eighteen years, Mike has owned and operated several highly profitable “MOBILE SERVICES” businesses.  You have a right to your own productivity.  All you need is a business structure that will allow you to participate independently in the market.