Moderated by Maj. General Genaro (Gino) Dellarocco (Ret.), the Veterans Transition Initiative program’s business panel was geared toward veterans who are interested in entrepreneurship or learning how to boost their businesses. Featuring representatives from the Department of Veteran Affairs, Lockheed Martin Corporation and the U.S. Small Business Administration, panelists motivated attendees and provided the ins and outs for business success.

1. Small Business Engagement with
VA
Chanel Bankston- Carter, Director, Strategic Outreach
Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Black Engineer of the Year Award (BEYA)
Conference
February 7, 2014

2. Small Business Challenges
Awareness
Risk
Mitigation
Access
Procurement
Mechanism
Performance
Your business is “procurement ready,” what
stands between you and a contract award?

3. Risk Mitigation
How?
Non-VA Resources
• PTACs
• MBDCs AND SBDCs
• SCORE
• SBA Programs
VA Resources
• Veteran Entrepreneur Portal
(VEP)
• Federal Contract Certification
(FCC)
• Verification
Become procurement ready to
mitigate risk.
Next Step: Verification
Veteran Entrepreneur Portal (VEP): http://www.va.gov/osdbu/entrepreneur/

4. VERIFICATION
• What is verification?
• What businesses are eligible under
the program?
• Why get verified?
• What assistance is available for
Veterans?
4

5. ACCESS
Opportunity
Showcases
National
Veterans
Small
Business
Engagement
(NVSBE)
5
VA provides direct access to Procurement Decision Makers
(PDMs)

6. Important Contacts
6
OSDBU:
http://www.va.gov/osdbu
Phone: (202) 461-4300
(800) 949-8387
Verification Assistance:
http://www.Vetbiz.gov
Verification Helpdesk:
Phone: (866) 584-2344
Apply for Verification online at http://www.VetBiz.gov
Veteran Entrepreneur Portal (VEP): http://www.va.gov/osdbu/entrepreneur/