WHAT
Join us for this year’s premier event for veteran entrepreneurs! The virtual, statewide 15th Annual Veterans Small Business Conference will feature expert speakers, practical training sessions and relevant exhibitors for veterans at any stage in their entrepreneurial journey.
Those looking to start a business will learn how to utilize their existing skills to lay the foundation for a successful venture. Those who operate a business will be able to explore options to grow their current operation, including government contracting, improved marketing efforts, potential certifications and more.
Visit virtual exhibitor booths, listen to our expert speakers and meet with our roundtable hosts to learn more about how their organization assists veteran entrepreneurs.
When & WHERE
Wednesday, October 12, 2022
9:00 – 12:00 pm • Virtual
attend
Thanks to our sponsors, registration is FREE for attendees across the state. Attendees will have access to sessions, the virtual exhibit floor and the live roundtables.
exhibit
Veteran-owned businesses that have been in operation for at least one year are welcome to promote their business by registering for a virtual exhibitor booth at no cost. Spaces are limited and are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. As with general attendee registration, exhibitor registration includes access to sessions, the virtual exhibitor floor and the live roundtables.
9:00 am
OPENING REMARKS
9:15 am
CONCURRENT WORKSHOP SESSIONS
- Wisdom from the Best: What Successful Veteran Small Business Owners Wish They Had Known When Starting Out
- Maximizing Social Media with Limited Time (available in English & Spanish)
- Where Is Everyone? Hiring & Retaining Employees in a Challenging Economy
10:15 am
CONCURRENT WORKSHOP SESSIONS
- On the Move: Managing a Remote Business from Anywhere
- Capitalizing on a Veteran-Owned Business Certification
- So You Want to Start a Business (available in English & Spanish)
11:00 am
Live Roundtables (via Zoom)
11:55 am
Closing Remarks
Wisdom from the Best: What Successful Veteran Small Business Owners Wish They Had Known When Starting Out
If you can avoid a few common missteps while setting up a business, your path to success could be just a little smoother. Hear from established business leaders on how they navigated the jump from their military career to owning a business, what they did wrong, how they fixed their problems, and get insight on what they did right.
Rene Simard, Moderator
Duane Topping
Founder, Topping Design
On the Move: Managing a Remote Business from Anywhere
Your military career took you around the world. Your business should be able to do that too. Join a discussion on how to set up a business that is nimble, flexible and mobile so you can leverage your global expertise.
Maximizing Social Media with Limited Time (available in English & Spanish)
Social media can be a fabulous tool for business owners. While it can be free or low-cost, it can also suck up all your time. Learn from our social media experts and business influencers on how to tap into existing social media trends to ensure your business thrives.
Where Is Everyone? Hiring & Retaining Employees in a Challenging Economy
It’s no secret that hiring employees is more challenging than it’s ever been. Between the competition for qualified candidates, negotiations for higher pay, remote working and HR other questions, being a business owner looking for staff can be overwhelming. Join the conversation around not only how to hire the best people for your company—but how to keep them.
Capitalizing on a Veteran-Owned Business Certification
The State of Colorado offers programs to become certified as a veteran-owned business. This process can open doors to advantages for gaining government contracts and jobs. This session will share about the certificate process and how to leverage it.
So You Want to Start a Business (available in English & Spanish)
Looking to take the step into business ownership now that your service is complete? How do you start? The process can be daunting, but this session will guide entrepreneur-wannabees into successful business owners through idea generation, navigating the filing process with the State, certifications, writing a business plan and more.
John Armstrong
East Colorado SBDC
Aurora Chamber of Commerce
Rene Simard
Executive Vice President
CDOT Connect2DOT
Cathy Kramer
Program Manager
Colorado Enterprise Fund
Colorado Procurement Technical Assistance Center
Jim Kidd
Procurement, Senior Counselor
Colorado Small Business Development Center Network
Minority Business Office of Colorado
Antonio Soto
Director
U.S. Small Business Administration
Eric Phillips
Veterans Business Development Officer
presented by
premier sponsor
in partnership with
thank you to our pillar sponsorS
