In an effort to do more than just thank veterans for their service, Centenary University announced an initiative that will help them transition to civilian life as an entrepreneur.
The Hackettstown-based university announced last week that it has launched the Veteran Ventures Program, a free virtual program offering comprehensive training and coaching for veterans planning to start their own business.
Through the VVP, established entrepreneurs and industry leaders guide participants through the process of conducting a feasibility study for their idea, developing a business plan and presenting their plan to potential investors and the public.
Open to veterans and their family members, the VVP includes eight hybrid training sessions, hands-on clinics, a speaker series and workshops with credentialed consultants. In addition, participants will take part in a required presentation session and receive 10 months of free business review and coaching by industry leaders.
The next session will run from Sept. 24-Nov. 19, with weekly virtual meetings from 6-9 p.m. Tuesdays.
“Centenary University has a reputation for outstanding business programs, as well as an extensive menu of offerings designed to support veterans furthering their education and career,” retired Army Maj. George Paffendorf, the executive director of special initiatives, said.
“We are proud to offer this free program to veterans who have given so much for our country. A cornerstone of the Veteran Ventures Program is the university’s partnership with business leaders whose insight and experience are invaluable to veterans seeking to start a business.”
In addition to the VVP, Centenary provides extensive support services for veterans, their dependents, active-duty military and reservists through the school’s Office of Veteran Services. The office works one-on-one to connect veterans with federal benefits such as tuition reimbursement through programs including the GI Bill, and assists them in navigating internal and external systems, obtaining educational goals and helping to facilitate a seamless transition to the academic arena and successful integration to the campus community.
The VVP is a signature program that will be offered through the Centenary University Veterans Institute, one of seven Centers of Excellence under development to establish the university as a national hub for innovative programs designed to engage and inspire college students and members of the broader community. Established through contributions to “Centenary Now: The Campaign for College & Opportunity for Everyone,” other Centers of Excellence moving forward include the Centenary University Center for Student Engagement, Centenary University Human Performance Center, Centenary University Learning Institute, Centenary University Post-Traumatic Growth Center and Centenary University Teaching Excellence Center. Last spring, the university dedicated the first of its new centers, the Centenary University Institute for Entrepreneurship.
“The Centers of Excellence we are establishing at Centenary are part of the university’s strategic initiative to reinvent higher education and share our rich resources with a broader audience,” President Dale Caldwell said.
“Leveraging the expertise of our faculty and business leaders, Centenary is creating a new national model that builds a stronger society helping people to flourish intellectually, professionally and emotionally.”
For more information and to enroll in the Veteran Ventures Program, click here.
