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Florida Association of Veteran-Owned Businesses

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  • 06/12/2023 8:24 AM | Anonymous

    FAVOB Celebrates Women Veteran's Day


    Women’s Veteran’s Day is June 12, and recognizes the anniversary of the integration of the Women’s in Armed Services Act of 1948.  In honor of Women's Veteran’s Day, FAVOB is hosting events to celebrate the contribution of our sisters in arms for their accomplishments in business for each local FAVOB Chapter.   The events are an opportunity for women of diverse military backgrounds to come together to celebrate their individual contributions to the armed forces and acknowledge the leadership they continue to demonstrate in their communities.  The events are available to all current FAVOB members as well as potential members.  Refreshments will be provided to all guests while they experience an opportunity to connect with trailblazers who have paved the way for women in the military and beyond.  Continue reading to learn more about the featured speakers and each individual event’s details.


    Tampa - 06/11




    Salute to Sisters in Service - Tampa will be held at the American Legion Post #5 at 3810 West Kennedy Blvd, Tampa FL 33609 on Sunday, June 11 from 12:00 to 2:30 PM.  The event will feature Kimberly Newsome as the guest speaker.  Kimberly is an Army Veteran and award winning actress who has been featured in Fatal Attraction, Snapped, and Family Thanksgiving.  Kimberly was raised in Jasper, Florida and graduated from Hamilton County High School.  Kimberly served 7 years in the United States Army, and holds two Masters of Arts degrees from Webster University.  


    Register for Salute to Sisters in Service - Tampa 


    Space Coast - 06/12


    Salute to Sisters in Service - Space Coast will be held at the Legacy Angel Lounge, located at 1900 S Harbor City Blvd in Melbourne, FL on Monday, June 12 from 5:30 - 8:00 PM.  This networking celebration of women’s contribution to the armed forces will feature a panel of women veteran business owners who will share their insight and knowledge.  The panel will be moderated by Elizabeth Cassidy, an Air Force veteran and military spouse with a deep passion for helping service members and their families.  Elizabeth is a Mortgage Loan Officer with Future Loans who is passionate about providing VA loans to other service members.  The panel also includes: Susan Glasgow, CEO and President of Kegman, Inc, Susan Porter, owner of Blue Pineapple Appraisal Services, Gloria Weatherspoon, Air Force Veteran and Founder and CEO of Live, Laugh, Lead Coaching and Consulting, and Jeanette Comerford, Active Duty and Sports Chiropractic Health and Rehab professional.


    Register for Salute to Sisters in Service - Space Coast 


    Orlando



    Salute to Sisters in Service - Orlando will be held on June 12 from 5:30 - 8:00 PM at Dubsdread Golf Course, 549 W Par St in Orlando.  The keynote speaker for this event is Sonya Montgomery.  Sonya is an Army veteran and President & Chief Executive Officer at The Desoto Group, one of the nation’s fastest growing Engineering, Procurement and Construction companies.


    Join us to enjoy refreshments and the opportunity to connect with trailblazers who have paved the way for women in the military and beyond.


    Register for Salute to Sisters in Service - Orlando


    Jacksonville


    Join FAVOB on June 12 from 6:00 - 8:00 PM at USS Orleck Jacksonville Naval Museum, 203 E Coastline Dr, Jacksonville, FL.  This networking opportunity for both active and prospective FAVOB members will provide an opportunity to connect with trailblazers who have paved the way for women in the military and beyond.  This event’s featured speaker is Hellena Pugh, a United States Marine Corps Veteran who founded the Zahara Veterans Network, Inc.  This organization was established for women military veterans to create a nationwide professional network.


    Register for Salute to Sisters in Service - Jacksonville


    FAVOB is proud to honor all of the women who have served our country and continue to serve and lead within their communities.  This event recognizes Women’s Veterans Day and provides an opportunity to bring together women from diverse military backgrounds in recognition of their invaluable contributions.  


    Support Women’s Veteran’s Day For all of June - Order a Berry S-HERO!




    FAVOB is proud to partner with Fishlips and Rising Tide restaurants with the introduction of the delicious Berry S-HERO cocktail!  Proceeds from every Berry S-HERO purchased during the month of June will go to support Women’s Veterans.  The Berry S-HERO is a great cocktail for a great cause!  The Berry S-HERo is so delicious you won’t want to have just one, and since the proceeds are going to a great organization, you won’t feel bad about ordering two!  Stop by Fishlips and Rising Tide and order yours today!


    For more information about FAVOB, click here.


  • 06/09/2023 1:52 PM | Stuart Smith (Administrator)

    The Ovideo Winter Springs Regional Chamber is hosting Hometown Hill Day: A Central Florida Leadership Forum. This is your chance to meet with our federal representatives, state representatives and elected officials for Seminole County. As the political climate continues to evolve, it's more important than ever to stay informed and engage in meaningful discussions. From analyzing the current state of affairs to discussing the latest trends and predictions, this event promises to be an insightful and thought-provoking experience.

    We are excited to host panel discussions featuring some of the most prominent political commentators and experts in the field. Our federal, state and local officials will be available to discuss and promote awareness about different political issues affecting our community. With 5 different sessions, this is your chance to advocate for your business and meet with the elected officials who can help make change happen. All confirmed speakers are listed below to include our own Representative David Smith.


    • Cory Mills - U.S. State Representative
    • Jason Brodeur - Florida State Senator District 10
    • Rachel Plakon - Florida State Representative District 36
    • Susan Plasencia - Florida State Representative District 37
    • David Smith - Florida State Representative District 38
    • Doug Bankson - Florida State Representative District 39
    • Bob Dallari - Seminole County Commissioner District 1
    • Lee Constantine - Seminole County Commissioner District 3
    • Amy Lockhart - Seminole County Commissioner District 4
    • David Johnson - Seminole County Property Appraiser
    • Grant Maloy - Seminole County Clerk of the Courts
    • Sheriff Dennis Lemma - Seminole County Sheriff
    • Chris Anderson - Seminole County Supervisor of Elections
    • J.R. Kroll - Seminole County Tax Collector
    • Megan Sladek - Mayor of Oviedo
    • Kevin McCann - Mayor of Winter Springs


  • 06/02/2023 8:55 AM | Stuart Smith (Administrator)

    FAVOB Members are invited to attend

    Whether you're starting, growing or managing a business, taking a little time to hear about new trends and emerging strategies can have a big impact. Chase for Business is dedicated to helping you gain the in-depth knowledge your business needs to take the next step.

    We invite you to join us for an upcoming Business Insights Seminar event, featuring networking opportunities, complimentary breakfast and a presentation by our keynote speaker.

    Jay Baer

    The Time to Win:
    Grow Your Business by Exceeding
    Customers’ Need for Speed

    featuring Jay Baer

    • Find out why speed is the most important element of the customer experience and how consumers feel when businesses respond faster or slower than they expected
    • Discover the connection between responsiveness and revenue
    • Get specific plans of action to determine the optimal response time in any customer interaction

    Hyatt Regency Orlando
    9801 International Dr, Orlando, FL 32819
    Tuesday, June 13, 2023 | 8 a.m. – 11 a.m.

    Register here


  • 04/07/2023 6:22 AM | Stuart Smith (Administrator)

    JR Smith, VP of The Veteran’s Ranch recently announced their newest event, The Diamonds and Boots Gala. This exciting event will entail a full dining experience with full cash bar and a live DJ for dancing. 2 VIP speakers have been confirmed.

    The Veteran’s Ranch is a nonprofit that raises money for the purchase and creation of a large equine therapy ranch for veterans and PTSD survivors to heal. JR Smith, the son of a Vietnam Navy Veteran and JR’s wife Pam Smith founded The Veterans Ranch to honor America’s veterans.

    Overall, equine therapy can be a valuable tool for veterans who are struggling with mental health issues, providing a unique and effective approach to treatment that can help them regain a sense of emotional well-being and improve their quality of life.

    The event will be on May 12, 2023 from 5:30–10pm

    Find out more about the Diamonds and Boots Gala here


  • 02/08/2023 11:13 AM | Stuart Smith (Administrator)

    Building on a successful program that has helped more than 500 veterans open their own businesses in Florida, three more partners have joined the Veterans Florida Entrepreneurship Program.

    Beachworx, LLC, SWFL Inc., and the University of North Florida join our growing roster of partners providing veterans with a variety of entrepreneur resources at no cost, including startup and growth cohorts, exclusive workshop admission, veteran networking events, and more.

    They join Action Zone Inc., Florida Association of Veteran-Owned Businesses, Florida Atlantic University, Florida Gulf Coast University, and Veterans Entrepreneurship Initiative in partnering with Veterans Florida to connect veterans and separating servicemembers with support toward rewarding full-time employment.

    “The Veterans Florida Entrepreneurship Program served the most veterans in its six-year history last year. Adding to our statewide network of entrepreneurship partners builds on that success to meet veterans anywhere at every stage of their entrepreneurial journey,” said Veterans Florida Executive Director Joe Marino. “As the state’s largest creator of veteran-owned businesses, Veterans Florida continues to add partners and equip veteran entrepreneurs with the powerful tools and resources that make Florida the preeminent place for veterans to start and grow their businesses.”

    “Thanks to the support of Veterans Florida, we are able to provide quality and consistent business training to the Central Florida veteran community,” said Veterans Entrepreneurship Initiative Co-Founder Rafael Caamano. Through this partnership, we assisted and trained over 200 of our fellow veterans this past year. Such measures positively impacts the veteran community while supplementing economic development efforts that stimulate the generation or stability of tax revenues for the state and region, a win-win for everyone."

    Other partners include:

    Action Zone, Inc. (Tampa, South Florida) – Startup & Growth Cohorts, Virtual Startup Cohorts, Workshops, Networking Events

    Beachworx, LLC (Destin) - Workshops and Networking Events

    Florida Association of Veteran-Owned Businesses - Jacksonville, Orlando, Panhandle, Space Coast, and Tampa Chapters – Networking Events

    Florida Atlantic University (Boca Raton) – Startup & Growth Cohorts, Workshops, Networking Events, Coworking Spaces

    Florida Gulf Coast University (Fort Myers) – Startup & Growth Cohorts, Workshops, Networking Events

    SWFL Inc. (Fort Myers) - Workshops

    University of North Florida (Jacksonville) - Startup Cohort, Workshops, Networking Events

    Veterans Entrepreneurship Initiative (Orlando, North Florida) – Startup & Growth Cohorts, Workshops, Networking Events

    The Veterans Florida Entrepreneurship Program has served 2,372 veterans who have opened 504 businesses, hired 744 employees, and generated more than $124 million in revenue. Participants have received national recognition and numerous awards for their accomplishments.

    Veterans and partners interested in the Veterans Florida Entrepreneurship Program can visit veteransflorida.org/entrepreneurship or contact VETS Program Manager Amy Dudley at dudley@veteransflorida.org.

    About Veterans Florida

    Veterans Florida is a non-profit created by the State of Florida to help military veterans and their families transition to civilian life and to promote Florida’s status as the nation’s most veteran-friendly state. Veterans Florida is also the state’s designated DOD SkillBridge assistance organization. Visit veteransflorida.org for more information and follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube for updates on veteran opportunities in Florida.

    Facebook

    LinkedIn

    Twitter

    Instagram

    YouTube

    Copyright © 2023 Veterans Florida, All rights reserved.


  • 01/20/2023 12:40 PM | Stuart Smith (Administrator)

    NASA Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP)
    Virtual Networking Event

    Thursday, January 26

    1:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. ET

    • As NASA continues to innovate in the space exploration, scientific, and research & development industries, small businesses will be critical to its missions. Each entity plays a unique role in cultivating lifelong success.

      Join the NASA Office of Small Business Programs (OSBP) for a networking event – Research and Develop Your Small Business Opportunities at NASA. This event will host four networking rooms.

      Networking Room #1 - NASA OSBP and Center Small Business Specialists

      Networking Room #2 - NASA Office of Procurement

      Networking Room #3 – NASA Offices:

             Space Technology Mission Directorate’s Small Business Innovation Research & Small Business Technology Transfer Program (SBIR/STTR)
             NASA Partnership Office
             NASA Office of STEM Engagement

    Networking Room #4 – Agency Prime Contractors

    Click here to register for Research and Develop Your Small Business Opportunities at NASA.

    Log-in information and networking details will be provided after registration.  E-mail reminders will be sent the day before and the day of the event.

    Questions about this event?  Contact NASA OSBP at smallbusiness@nasa.gov or 202-358-2088


  • 01/20/2023 12:37 PM | Stuart Smith (Administrator)

    Kennedy Space Center Virtual Outreach

    Tuesday, February 7

    10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. ET

    SBA Updates on the 8(a) and SDB Programs 

    The U.S. Small Business Administration will share recent updates to the 8(a) and Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB) programs. 

    Click here to register.  (Duplicate registrations will be deleted.)

    Questions about this event?  Contact NASA OSBP-KSC at ksc-smallbusiness@mail.nasa.gov   

    Log-in information will be provided after registration, within the Eventbrite confirmation.  We look forward to your participation in our event! 


  • 01/18/2023 7:10 AM | Stuart Smith (Administrator)

    The SBA Veteran Small Business Certification program started to receive applications on January 9th at the following address:  veterans.certify.sba.gov

    Certification with SBA allows service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses (SDVOSBs) to compete for federal sole-source and set-aside contracts across the federal government. Certified veteran-owned small businesses (VOSBs) have additional opportunities to pursue sole-source and set-aside contracts at the Veterans Administration (VA) under the VA’s Vets First program.

    SBA’s new Veteran Small Business Certification program implements changes from the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (NDAA 2021) which transferred the certification function from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to SBA as of January 1, 2023. The transfer provides veterans with a central support point for their small business certification needs.

    The final rule, which provides program and governance guidance, was published in the Federal Register on November 29, 2022.

    Benefits of SBA certification

    o    Certification allows SDVOSB firms the opportunity to compete for sole-source and set-aside contracts across the federal government. Certified VOSBs may also compete for sole-source and set-aside contracts from the VA.

    o    Self-certified firms seeking these restricted-competition opportunities must apply to SBA for certification by December 31, 2023.

    Eligibility requirements

    To apply for certification with SBA as a VOSB or SDVOSB, a firm must meet the following requirements:

    o    Be considered a small business, as defined by the size standard corresponding to any NAICS code listed in the business’s SAM profile.

    o    Have no less than 51% of the business owned and controlled by one or more veterans.

    o    For certification as a SDVOSB, have no less than 51% of the business owned and controlled by one or more veterans rated as service-disabled by the VA. 

    o    For those veterans who are permanently and totally disabled and unable to manage the daily business operations of their business, their business may still qualify if their spouse or appointed, permanent caregiver is assisting in that management.

    For a full list of eligibility requirements, see the final rule published in the Federal Register.

    Certification transfer from the VA and one-year extension

    o    Firms verified by the VA Center for Verification and Evaluation (CVE) as of January 1, 2023, are automatically granted certification by SBA for the remainder of the firm’s eligibility period.

    o    SBA intends to grant a one-time, one-year extension of certification to current VOSBs and SDVOSBs verified by the VA as of the transfer date on January 1, 2023. This additional year will be added to the existing eligibility period of a current participant.

    o    New applicants certified by SBA after January 1, 2023, will receive the standard three-year certification period.

    Grace period for self-certified firms

    o    The NDAA 2021 grants a one-year grace period for self-certified SDVOSBs until January 1, 2024.  During the grace period, self-certified businesses have one year to file an application for SDVOSB certification and may continue to rely on their self-certification to compete for non-VA SDVOSB set-aside contracts.

    o    Self-certified SDVOSBs that apply before January 1, 2024, will maintain their eligibility through the expiration of the grace period until SBA issues a final eligibility decision.

    o    VOSBs and SDVOSBs seeking sole-source and set-aside opportunities with the VA must be certified – there is no grace period.

    How to apply for certification

    To establish an SBA account and apply for certification, visit the Veteran Small Business Certification portal.

    Through the application portal, you will be able to:

    o    Access checklists and pre-application guides

    o    Check your firm’s eligibility

    o    Request information

    o    Create an account, login and proceed with an application

    o    Search for a certified VOSB or SDVOSB

    To help prepare for your application and gather the correct documents, use this SBA Veteran Small Business Certification fact sheet.

    For more details about the transfer and SBA’s Veteran Small Business Certification, see our Frequently Asked Questions.

    For questions about the transfer and SBA’s Veteran Small Business Certification, please email vetcert@sba.gov or call the dedicated toll-free call center at 800-862-8088.


  • 12/07/2022 10:46 AM | Stuart Smith (Administrator)

    First Look & Live Demo: SBA Veteran Small Business Certification Program

    SBA Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman has updates to SBA’s Veteran Small Business Certification Program during a December 6 webinar.

    By SBA Office of Veterans Business Development

    Date and time

    Tue, Dec 6, 2022, 4:00 PM EST

    Location

    Online

    About this event

    • Duration = 1 hour

    Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman will share important updates about the SBA's new Veteran Small Business Certification Program and reveal the SBA's certification application portal in a live demonstration. The demonstration will be followed by a Q&A period.

    Get your registration done here: First Look & Live Demo: SBA Veteran Small Business Certification Program Tickets, Tue, Dec 6, 2022 at 4:00 PM | Eventbrite


  • 11/30/2022 3:22 PM | Stuart Smith (Administrator)

    All,

    Staff Sergeant Brent Maney’s, combat AF Pararescue Veteran was injured in a parachute accident.  His story is compelling.  

    Montel William's Military Makeover is assisting the family with a full house renovation in Melbourne, FL December 1-10.  

    They are in need of volunteers to help.  Carpenters, electricians, plumbing, drywall and general labor and clean up.  This is the schedule to volunteer. 

    Please consider volunteering and share this information with your social network and let's lend a hand to a hero's family in need.  


FAVOB

Creating opportunities for Veteran Business Owners to THRIVE.

CONTACTS

Email: ceo@favob.org
Physical Address: 835 Bennett Rd. 
Orlando, FL 32803

Mailing Address: PO Box 540447 
Orlando, FL 32854-0447

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