Mays Business School at Texas A&M University to offer disabled veterans free entrepreneurship training

Mays Business School, Texas A&M University • June 23rd, 2008
Summary

Approximately 20 men and women injured as a result of military service in Iraq and Afghanistan since September 11, 2001, will participate in a free program at Texas A&M University designed to assist veterans with disabilities in becoming small business owners. The program will take place August 15-23, 2009 on the A&M campus.

Highlights/Key facts
  • Mays Business School joined in 2008 a consortium led by Syracuse University in a program designed to assist veterans with disabilities. Also in the consortium are the business schools of UCLA, Florida State, and Purdue University.
  • Called Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities (EBV), this program offers training in small business start-up and management to servicemen and -women injured in the line of duty since 2001.
  • The program integrates world-class faculty, entrepreneurs, disability experts and business professionals in an educational program focused on training veterans in small business ownership.
  • The program is entirely free for the veterans, including travel and accommodations.
  • Applications are accepted on a rolling admissions basis, so there is no set deadline for applying to the program. More details and a downloadable application are available at http://whitman.syr.edu/ebv/.
  • Syracuse University created the EBV program and enrolled their first class of 20 participants in the summer of 2007. In 2008, 16 participants completed the program at Mays Business School
  • The EBV program is offered in three phases: an online self-study, a nine-day classroom session on campus, and 12 months of ongoing support and mentorship from the faculty experts at the EBV universities.
  • Throughout the EBV experience, students engage in experimental workshops to write business plans, raise capital, attract customers, and develop a marketing strategy that is most effective for their business model.
  • At all five institutions, the EBV curriculum is standardized, ensuring that all participants receive the same high-quality experience.
  • Mays Business School is continuing to raise funds to support the EBV program.
  • Graduate students from all departments at Mays Business School have participated in the fundraising effort for the program, as well as volunteered time to market the program and evaluate applications.
Quotes
  • “Our involvement in this very special program is a reflection of the values we hold dear at Mays Business School and the priority we place upon entrepreneurship education,” said Richard Lester, clinical associate professor and director of academic entrepreneurship programs at Mays. Lester says there is an “impending crisis looming for disabled veterans…as regards long-term employment opportunities,” and he hopes that Mays involvement in this innovative program will help the student-veterans “to take charge of their futures” through owning businesses.
  • “The EBV program is important because it prepares a veteran for the civilian life.” Anthony Morales, USAR, 2008 EBV participant
  • “Texas A&M University is at the forefront of entrepreneurship training. Workshops like the ones that we offer here are at the heart of what we do at the Mays Business School.” Texas A&M University President Elsa Murano
  • “In this eight days, I learned more than I had probably in the last ten years when it comes to the civilian side of doing business.” David Kiel, USAR, 2008 EBV participant
  • “[The EBV program] has given me the educational background I need to be successful.” Toni Williams, USMC (Ret.), 2008 EBV participant
Contact information

Richard H. Lester, Ph.D.
Clinical associate professor and Director of Academic Entrepreneurship Programs
Mays Business School, Texas A&M University
Phone: (979) 862-7091
E-mail: rlester@mays.tamu.edu

Photos

Videos
  • Video 1: Interim Mays Dean Ricky W. Griffin talks to BusinessWeek about bringing the EBV program to Mays Business School
  • Video 2: Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities promotional video featuring 2008 participants
Audio
EBV on Mays Business Online
EBV in other publications
Links and Additional Resources