UTSA hosts fifth annual Veterans Business Summit Oct. 30

By Amy Dalrymple
Communications Coordinator, Institute for Economic Development

(Oct. 27, 2014) -- The UTSA Veterans Business Development Program is partnering with Momentum Texas Inc. to host the fifth annual Veterans Business Summit from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 30 at the Norris Conference Center, 4522 Fredericksburg Rd.

All current and former military members and their spouses are invited to attend the summit aimed at empowering veterans who wish to start or grow a business by providing them access to the tools and resources they need to succeed.

Topics addressed will include the nuts and bolts of starting a business, local and state certifications, federal and corporate opportunities, Vetbiz certification, access to capital and more. More than a dozen veteran entrepreneurs and small-business experts will be in attendance. Lt. Gen. U.S. Army (ret.) Ricardo S. Sanchez, CEO of Optech Enterprise Solutions LLC, will be the featured luncheon speaker.

"Veterans will have an excellent opportunity to gain knowledge on what it takes -- not to just become an entrepreneur, but a successful entrepreneur," said James Roundtree, UTSA SBDC Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC) veterans business development specialist. "They will also learn the importance of networking with key decision makers as well as establishing resource partners for the overall mission in business expansion."

Session speakers include veteran entrepreneur John Avila, CEO Thomas Byrne Construction Co., the largest Hispanic-owned construction company in the United States, and Hall T. Martin, director of the Texas Entrepreneur Networks, a nationally recognized expert on crowd funding. Representatives from Accion Texas, People Fund, Wells Fargo and Frost Bank also will be on hand to provide insight into gaining access to capital.

>> View the full agenda for the Veterans Business Summit.

"As veterans make the transition from the military or look for other opportunities, they find the option of starting a business or contracting very challenging," said Terri Williams, UTSA SBDC PTAC director. The Veterans Business Summit will provide attendees a unique opportunity to learn about business and procurement opportunities leading to financial impact."

Through a partnership between UTSA and Momentum Texas Inc., the summit is being offered at no cost to attendees and will include breakfast, lunch and a reception. The Veterans Business Development program is funded by the JPMorgan Chase Foundation and is hosted by the UTSA Institute for Economic Development.

The UTSA Institute for Economic Development is dedicated to creating jobs, growing businesses and fostering economic development. Its 12 centers and programs provide professional business advising, technical training, research and strategic planning for entrepreneurs, business owners and community leaders. Programs serve San Antonio and the Texas-Mexico border area as well as regional, national and international stakeholders. Together with federal, state and local governments, and private businesses, the UTSA IED fosters economic and community development in support of UTSA's community-engagement mission.

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Registration is required. To register, visit the Veterans Business Summit website.

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Events

Friday, May 3, 11:30 a.m.

McNair Scholars' Spring Celebration

This event will acknowledge graduating seniors from the McNair Scholars program at UTSA before inducting the new cohort of scholars into the program.

North Paseo Building (NPB 5.140), Main Campus

Wednesday, May 15, 6:00 p.m.

Doctoral Conferral Ceremony

At this memorable celebration, UTSA graduates will be introduced one-by-one to cross the stage and accept their doctoral degrees.

Arts Building Recital Hall, Main Campus

Thursday, May 16, 3:00 p.m.

Roadrunner Walk

Roadrunner Walk is an event for graduating students to have a memorable walk on campus to celebrate an important milestone and their achievements. Graduates will walk along the Paseo while being celebrated by the UTSA community, friends, and family members.

Student Union Paseo, Main Campus

Friday, May 17, 10:00 a.m.

Commencement: Ceremony One

Celebrate the accomplishments of College of Education and Human Development, College for Health, Community and Policy, College of Sciences and University College.

Alamodome, 100 Montana St.

Friday, May 17, 4:30 p.m.

Commencement: Ceremony Two

Celebrate the accomplishments of Alvarez College of Business, College of Liberal and Fine Arts and Klesse College of Engineering and Integrated Design.

Alamodome, 100 Montana St.

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Spotlight

UTSA’s Mission

The University of Texas at San Antonio is dedicated to the advancement of knowledge through research and discovery, teaching and learning, community engagement and public service. As an institution of access and excellence, UTSA embraces multicultural traditions and serves as a center for intellectual and creative resources as well as a catalyst for socioeconomic development and the commercialization of intellectual property - for Texas, the nation and the world.

UTSA’s Vision

To be a premier public research university, providing access to educational excellence and preparing citizen leaders for the global environment.

UTSA’s Core Values

We encourage an environment of dialogue and discovery, where integrity, excellence, inclusiveness, respect, collaboration and innovation are fostered.

UTSA’S Destinations

UTSA is a proud Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) as designated by the U.S. Department of Education .

Our Commitment to Inclusivity

The University of Texas at San Antonio, a Hispanic Serving Institution situated in a global city that has been a crossroads of peoples and cultures for centuries, values diversity and inclusion in all aspects of university life. As an institution expressly founded to advance the education of Mexican Americans and other underserved communities, our university is committed to promoting access for all. UTSA, a premier public research university, fosters academic excellence through a community of dialogue, discovery and innovation that embraces the uniqueness of each voice.