The call is officially open for competitors in this year’s Battle of the Pitches at the 2022 Veterans Florida Expo Presented by Bank of America. https://www.veteransfloridaexpo.org/

The winners selected in the video competition will compete at the statewide finals to be held on 18 June at the Hilton Orlando. Please encourage all of your alumni and Florida veteran entrepreneurs who meet the requirements and are available to pitch in person in Orlando on June 18 to submit a video and application as detailed here  https://www.veteransfloridaexpo.org/battleofthepitches/

Jeremy Sinnemaki

Veterans Employment and Training Services (VETS) Director

Office: (850) 296-7553‬

Email: mailto:sinnemaki@veteransflorida.org

#################################################

Subject: Calling Florida’s top veteran entrepreneurs

The 2022 Battle of the Pitches features Florida’s best veteran entrepreneurs vying for cash awards at the Veterans Florida Expo presented by Bank of America. We’re looking for the top sixteen small veteran-owned businesses to compete in the finals, regardless of whether they’ve participated in our programs. 

This isn’t your average pitch off — it’s statewide and past winners have pitched at national events and won industry awards. 

Submit your pitch video by Monday, May 9 to see if you’ve got what it takes to pitch live, on-stage at the Expo on Saturday, June 18.

View the eligibility requirements and submission guidelines here  https://www.veteransfloridaexpo.org/battleofthepitches/

#######################################################

Veterans Florida

930 Thomasville Road, Suite 100

Tallahassee, FL 32303

Main: 850-296-8116

veteransflorida.org

Our member, Vince Loran is doing great things to raise needed funds to fight blood cancers.  

Join Team Dante to help those affected by  blood cancers as all benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

#HopeRising4LLS, #MWOY, #FightBloodCancer

Let's beat cancer together and thank you in advance for all your support!

 We are having a virtual Race, Run or Walk from April 16th to May 1^st! I added the flyer and you can register here: https://runsignup.com/endbloodcancer

Those in central Florida, we will have a 5K run/walk on Saturday, April 16th at 7 AM at Black Hammock 1571 E State Rd 434, Winter Springs, FL 32708! Who will join Bridget Lake, Amy Robl, and Dante?

How about curing cancer one laugh at a time?! Come out to one of our Comedy Nights!  Flyers attached

 April 14th-SAK Downtown Orlando @ 7:30 PM  www.sak.com/lls

 May 1^st-West End Trading Co. @ 5PM

https://www.ticketweb.com/.../laughs-for-a-cure.../11848765

·       If the workout or comedy does not tickle your fancy,

Donate $30+  Pick one item (T-shirt, bandana or lapel pin)

Donate $60+ Pick two items (T-shirt, bandana or lapel pin)

Donate $90+ Pick three items (T-shirt, bandana or lapel pin)

Use this link: https://pages.lls.org/mwoy/ncfl/orlando22/vloran.

Please let me know which items you would like. 

 

Come out and hear from ACTION ZONE Alumni who have been successful with their endeavors, network with other AZ alumni with light bites.

041422 1700-1900

About this event

After a 27-year career in the United States Air Force, Clifton Fischer searched for a business opportunity he could be passionate about. Today, Clifton Fischer, CEO of Doggery Craft Ice, provides wholesale and retail large format clear ice products and ice sculptures for the entire state Florida. Expertly filtered, carefully frozen, and neatly stored, their ice undergoes an intricate process to ensure that taste and clarity are unbeatable.

Join Action Zone Tampa in a networking opportunity for participants in the current and previous Action Zone programs, as well as any service member thinking of starting a business. The event is open to all participants in Action Zone cohorts to share in the success of our Spotlighted Alumni and network with everyone who works in support of the Action Zone Community.

We look forward to seeing you in-person soon.

*During the COVID 19 pandemic, always defer to local CDC regulations for in-person gathering regulations and attend in-person events at your own discretion.

Registration on Eventbrite is required.

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/action-zone-alumni-spotlight-networking-event-tickets-304168354737

This event is in partnership with Veterans Florida and the Florida Association of Veteran Owned Businesses. Action Zone is a member of FAVOB and supports their efforts in building up the military and veteran entrepreneurship community in Florida.

March Post Meeting: Join the SAME Space Coast Post for its March General Membership Meeting and Presentation. It'll be held, Thursday, April 21; Networking 11:30AM – 12Noon  Meeting/Presentation 12:00 – 1:00PM, at the Courtyard by Marriott, Cocoa Beach.

Presentation: "Cyber Security for Defense Contractors" presented by Alexander 'Alec' Hall, PMP, CMMC-RP  & Retired Chief Master Sergeant (CMSgt.) USF.
 
Registration Fee: $10 for DoD and Military attendees, $20 for Industry attendees.

To register, click here.  On site registration is also acceptable.
This presentation is worth 1 PDH.

Regional 

SAME Tampa Bay membership luncheon, Wednesday, April 13, 11:30AM - 1PM. "Let's Talk Trenchless" - if interested, click here

SAME Jacksonville membership April meeting: Wednesday, April 20, 11:30AM-1PM. "Sustaining the Nassau County Shoreline through Maintenance Dredging of the Naval Submarine Base Kings Bay Entrance Channel" - if interested,  click here

Kennedy Space Center Virtual Outreach

Tuesday, April 5

VOSB/SDVOSB: Learn How Veterans Can Help NASA and KSC Reach the Moon and Beyond

Session Description: Veterans, learn more about recent changes with the VA and how to get your VOSB/SDVOSB Certification!!

Scheduled topics include:

• Advancing Racial Equity at NASA
• Overview of Veteran's Administration
• VOSB/SDVOSB Certification Update
• SDVOSB Small Business Insight

Please note that while this event is focused on veteran-owned small businesses, attendance is not limited to veterans.  All are welcome to participate.

Space is limited for this virtual session, and is on a first-come, first-served basis.  Log-in information will be sent after registration, and a reminder sent prior to the event.

Click here to register.

We look forward to your participation!

Join Ron Tarro, President of New World Angels, for an interactive discussion how investors view early-stage startups, how they make investment decisions, and the most common reason entrepreneurs receive a ‘no interest’ from New World Angels. Q&A Immediately following Presentation.

Wednesday April 20th 1200.  Virtual. 

Registration link. https://evt.to/agmeagugw

For more information go to Groundswell's LinkedIn Page. 

https://www.linkedin.com/company/groundswell-space-coast-startups/

This is a virtual presentation via Google Hangouts: https://meet.google.com/omv-hsas-mna

The annual Florida Supply Chain Summit is happening 21-23 March in Tampa. This is a new event on our radar. Here are the basics:

March 21 – 23, 2022 at Hotel Alba Tampa, Tapestry Collection by Hilton

Registration (In Person)
$350 Inclusive - All Three Days
$195 Single Day Only - 22 March or 23 March; Includes Breakfast, Lunch and Evening Networking Social

Registration (Virtual)
Links will be sent to registrants by Noon on 21 March
$195 - Full Summit Access: 22-23 March
$ 95 - Daily Access: 22 March or 23 March

Register here: 2022 FloridaSupplyChainSummit - 2022 Floridasupplychainsummit

Check out the planned program here: 2022 Program - 2022 Floridasupplychainsummit

The mission of the Florida Supply Chain Summit is to provide a platform for statewide collaboration among key representatives from industry, professional organizations, government, economic development agencies, and higher education for the purpose of advancing the state of Florida as a global trade hub.

The vision of the Florida Supply Chain Summit is to facilitate and strengthen partnerships in the trade and logistics industry by providing opportunities to network, address industry issues, and share knowledge about critical issues including emerging trends, technology innovations, and workforce development.

The 3rd Annual FDOT DBE & SBE Winter Expo takes place virtually on Wednesday, 16 February, from 9 am to 1 pm (EST). This is a no-fee event to attend and focuses on disadvantaged (women, minority, veteran) and small businesses who want to learn how to do business with the Florida Department of Transportation.

As we regularly point out regarding supplier diversity opportunities, do not automatically think that your company's products and services are not a good fit for this agency. Along with construction contracts, FDOT is an agency that also contracts for many administrative and other technical products and services. Additionally, small businesses involved in Government contracting often outsource for business services like accounting, finances, marketing, legal services, payroll, employee benefits, etc.

This virtual expo offers:

• Networking with Fellow Business Owners
• Connecting with Prime Contractors and Agency Contacts
• Learning about Upcoming FDOT Projects
• Attending Practical Training Sessions

Use this link to register: https://www.accelevents.com/e/fdotforum2022

Here is the expo agenda:

9:00 am Opening Session – Main Stage

9:30 am 1-1 Video Networking Begins and Exhibitor Booths Open

10:00 am Breakout Session: Increasing Capacity

10:30 am Breakout Session: Effective Estimating

11:30 am Breakout Session: Post-Pandemic Business Growth Strategies

12:00 pm Breakout Session: I’m a Certified DBE/SBE… Now What? (FDOT)

12:30 pm Closing Session – Main Stage

1:00 pm 1-1 Video Networking & Exhibitor Booths Close

FAVOB will be attending the expo. Please stop into our booth and leave your contact information if you'd like to learn more about FAVOB or to meet our new CEO. Let's grow together!

The University of West Florida Department of Social Work is looking for a veteran organization willing to work with a small group of students on getting some sort of project up and running this semester. This can be a project the organization has been wanting to start and hasn't been able to yet, or you can work with the students to come up with a completely new idea. Some ideas include: starting a veteran support group, using new mediums such as discord or googlemeet to set up game nights or book clubs with veterans, or setting up a clothing and food locker for veterans experiencing financial instability. You can also take this opportunity and make it your own, doing something completely new and different!

If you're interested, please reach out to Alleia Davila at adavila@uwf.edu with your organization name, contact name, phone and email.

Charina Narciso

Coordinator, Military & Veterans Resource Center

University of West Florida
11000 University Pkwy.
Pensacola, FL 32514

850.474.3459

850.474.2671 fax
uwf.edu/mvrc

Starting out the new year with some great news about the AAFES/ NDVSB eMarketplace! We have heard from the Air Force and they are ready to begin the rollout and training process by the end of January. To quote, “We have worked with Air Combat Command (ACC) and are planning on a government only meeting with the commanders, DBOs, and small business professionals late January to educate them on AF FIRST LOOK. I expect from that we will start a rolling education campaign for ACC bases"

Informational webinar on January 20th. The webinar is open to any supplier who is interested in learning more about the ePS/NDVSB Program and business growth opportunities. We invite you to attend as well! During the webinar, we will be sharing the update from the Air Force including the strategy for the rollout and training for the bases listed below,

Please register for ePS-NDVSB Program Update: Private Sector and Federal Program on Jan 20, 2022 1:00 PM EST at: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/6249545347507466512

ACC bases include:

Beale AFB, CA

Davis Monthan AFB, AZ

Dyess AFB, TX

Ellsworth AFB, SD

Holloman AFB, NM

Langley AFB, VA

Moody AFB, GA

Mountain Home AFB, ID

Nellis & Creech AFB, NV

Offutt AFB, NB

Seymour Johnson AFB, NC

Shaw AFB, SC

Closely following, these bases will launch:

Los Angeles AFB, CA

JB Andrews, MD

JB San Antonio, TX

Travis AFB, CA

Wright-Patterson, OH

Edwards AFB, CA

Vandenberg SFB, CA

Goodfellow AFB, TX

Laughlin AFB, TX

Sheppard AFB, TX

Tyndall AFB, FL

Patrick SFB, FL

Naval Air Station, FL

MacDill AFB, FL

Hulburt Field, FL

Eglin AFB, FL