We’re excited to have been asked to participate in Seymour Johnson Air Force Base’s 2012 “Family Day” program for active duty service-members, reservists, veterans, and their spouses; held at the Corrosion Control Hangar on October 27th in Goldsboro, NC. The program allowed us to not only extend the reach of our “Momentum” Career Series (through which our firm attempts to directly engage the needs of local, North Carolina military installations), but it also allowed us to further our mission of sharing information and entrepreneurial resources with those in our military community who are attempting to navigate through the difficult process of transitioning from active duty service, to civilian life. For a full list of participating agencies or for more information about the event, please contact the Seymour Johnson Air Force Base Communications Department.
Just a few months earlier, nearly 200 service-members of the US Army Reserve Center in Cary, NC attended our workshop on Small Business Development, Government Contracting, Military Employment Resources, and Workforce Readiness at the Army Reserve Center of Cary, NC. The event was the first installment of our workshop series, allowing us to further our “2012 Momentum Expo;” a platform developed with the help of New Century Planning to establish a pathway by which our veterans, reservists, and military spouses can gain access to on-the-spot hiring opportunities, entrepreneurial resources, and educational information to help launch their careers post military service.
We’d like to issue a special thanks to TheLadders.com; one of the nation’s most comprehensive job-matching firms; for providing us with Military Employment Guides and free membership cards for accessing their database of executive-level positions. And of course, we are especially grateful to the Army Reserve Center’s leadership for allowing us the opportunity to share resources for the benefit of assisting our men & women in uniform as they attempt to transition into the next stage of their careers.
eMerging Entrepreneurs, Inc. Chairman, T.J. Breeden was recently featured on UNC-TV’s “North Carolina Now,” to speak about his 2012 White House “Champions of Change” acknowledgement, as well as the organization’s “Veterans’ Economic Advancement” initiative, which is highlighted by its 2012 “Momentum” Series of small business expos and career fairs catered to transitioning service-members, veterans, reservists, and their spouses.
“Our men and women of the US military are the most talented among us. The message we hope to convey is that ‘you’re not in this thing by yourself…’ After you’ve served, and you’ve committed your time, and you’ve done so much in support of us, now it’s our turn to take the baton and run with it!! The one thing I that wanted people to know (during my recent visit to the White House) is that we (civilian organizations) care and want to support our veterans… and if we can provide a way for them to be able to provide for their families, to find a job, start a business, or to go back to school… if we can be the resource for that, then we would have done OUR duty.”
Please visit: www.unctv.org/ncnow to view the broadcast in its entirety.
In conjunction with President Obama’s “Winning the Future” initiative.
Official Bio, Press Announcement, & Personal Contribution to the White House Blog:
”MOMENTUM: Passing the Baton of Service” by T.J. Breeden.
“On Thursday, May 24th, the White House Office of Public Engagement honored eleven individuals within the veterans’ community; those who served in Vietnam as well as those whose organizations support veterans’ advancement; who are Champions of Change. These individuals have shown continued support for efforts to end veterans’ homelessness, boost veterans’ employment, treat problems with substance abuse, and develop treatment programs for those dealing with PTSD.”
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TJ Breeden is being recognized as a Champion of Change for his dedication to service and his continued support for efforts to boost employment among veterans.
On behalf of eMerging Entrepreneurs, Inc., I am honored to have been selected for the White House’s “Champions of Change” project, as part of President Obama’s “Winning the Future” initiative. It is a tremendous commendation to have simply been nominated, let alone to be awarded the distinction of being recognized alongside so many worthy individuals who have committed themselves to being of service to the welfare of others. I am perhaps most excited about the prospect of joining forces with others of like-minded purpose in advocacy of those who have sacrificed so much in defense of our country.
Even still, the contributions that our organization attempts to make in support of our veterans cannot bare comparison to the level of sacrifice that our service-members, reservists, and their families make every day on behalf of our freedom. Thus, I am humbled by this opportunity to share our work in an effort to galvanize support for our returning men and women in uniform, as they attempt to navigate through the difficult process of transitioning from active duty, to civilian life.
eMerging Entrepreneurs, Inc. is a North Carolina based 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that provides Small Business Training and Entrepreneurial Developmental services to military and minority communities. We operate strictly as a grassroots organization; partnering with state & federal agencies, chambers of commerce, and military installations in an effort to provide training & resource services to underserved entrepreneurial communities. The focus of our program comes in response to growing bipartisan, legislative efforts by the Obama Administration and members of Congress (i.e. the “Vow to Hire Heroes Act”as well as “The American Jobs Act”) to spearhead job growth and economic stimulation amongst returning veterans, amidst what many consider the harshest period of joblessness and socio-economic decline of this generation. These troubling conditions called our organization into action, and in support of these initiatives (as well as the President’s recently-signed Executive Order supporting the educational ambitions of our men and women in uniform), our firm (in partnership with New Century Planning) boldly took it upon ourselves to coordinate an ambitious, one-day career fair catered specifically to the professional needs and interests of not only our service-members, but their families as well.
Click here to read the rest.
“President Obama signs Executive Order Supporting Service Members, Veterans, Military Spouses, and Their Families.”
Article by Brad Cooper, Executive Director of Joining Forces
4/27/2012
www.whitehouse.gov/
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…Benefiting the Educational Interests of our Men and Women in Uniform.
The President and First Lady traveled to Fort Stewart to meet with soldiers and families — and to sign an Executive Order (EO) that will positively impact the educational benefits and opportunities for our nation’s heroes and their families — for a long time to come.
At Fort Stewart, the President renewed his commitment to fully fund the post-9/11 GI Bill. With that bill — and the Tuition Assistance program — more than 550,000 veterans and 325,000 service members pursued education last year. Additionally, nearly 38,000 military spouses used their Military Spouse Career Advancement Account (MyCAA) benefit to advance their education.
In short, the EO is designed to combat unscrupulous practices used by schools to gain access to the military/veteran education benefits; it protects the full range of military/veteran education benefits programs, including Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits, the Tuition Assistance program, and MyCAA; and, its provisions focus on ensuring students have the proper information, support, and protections they need to make informed decisions about their educational options.
Click here to read the entire article.
With Momentum 2012, we hope to assist in administering the kinds of programs that allow our service members to gain access to the types of resources, information, and tools that will advance the educational & professional interests.
Syracuse University
Institute for Veterans and Military Families
Case Study: “The Business Case for Hiring Veterans”
In association with JP Morgan Chase
March 5, 2012
1: VETERANS ARE ENTREPRENEURIAL
Academic research focused on the attributes characteristic of successful innovators and entrepreneurs highlights that high-performing entrepreneurs have in common strong self-efficacy, a high need for achievement, are comfortable with autonomy and uncertainty, and make effective decisions in the face of dynamic environments. Across multiple studies, research illustrates that these same attributes are generally characteristic of military service members and veterans. For example, research focused on the current all-volunteer force suggests that those who are drawn to military service are individuals with a high need for achievement (selfselection). Further, military training and socialization processes have been demonstrated to instill high levels of self-efficacy, trust, and a strong sense/comfort with autonomy and dynamic decision-making processes. These attributes, as they are linked to entrepreneurship and an entrepreneurial mindset among military veterans, have been consistently demonstrated in practice. According to multiple studies commissioned by the U.S. Small Business Administration and others, military veterans are twice more likely than non-veterans to pursue business ownership after leaving service, and the five-year success rate of ventures owned by veterans is significantly higher than the national average.
2: VETERANS ASSUME HIGH LEVELS OF TRUST
The ability to trust co-workers and superiors has been consistently highlighted in organizational behavior literature as a significant predictor of high-performing teams, organizational cohesion and morale, and effective governance systems. Research studies focused on both military personnel and veterans indicate that the military service experience engenders a strong propensity toward an inherent trust and faith in co-workers, and also a strong propensity toward trust in organizational leadership. In turn, the academic literature broadly supports the finding that organizations where trust between co-workers–and between employees and leadership–is strong, organizational performance is enhanced.
3: VETERANS ARE ADEPT AT SKILLS TRANSFER ACROSS CONTEXTS/TASKS
The ability to recognize and act on opportunities to transfer skills learned in a specific context, to a disparate context, represents a valuable organizational resource. Several studies focused on skills transfer have highlighted that military service members and veterans are particularly skilled in this ability. Research has attributed this finding to the fact that military training most often includes contingency and scenario-based pedagogy, and as a result service members and veterans develop cognitive heuristics that readily facilitate knowledge/skills transfer between disparate tasks and situations.
Click here to read the entire study.
President Obama unveils veterans jobs proposal.
Article by Alex Mooney, CNN White House Producer.
February 3, 2012.
“President Barack Obama unveiled a new $5 billion veterans jobs plan Friday that the administration says will put thousands of men and women who once wore their country’s uniform back to work.”
”The new Veterans Jobs Corps initiative, first mentioned in the president’s State of the Union address last week, involves partnerships with the Veterans Administration and the Interior Department, as well as state and local law enforcement agencies.”
”Under the blueprint, the administration will award $166 million in grant money to communities that show a preference for hiring post-9/11 veterans for new law enforcement positions. In addition, $320 million in grant money will be awarded to various fire departments who pledge to hire and train new veterans.”
—The unemployment rate for post-9/11 veterans is 11.1%, nearly 3 percentage points higher than the country’s overall unemployment rate.
Read the entire article at CNN.com
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On behalf of eMerging Entrepreneurs, Inc., New Century Planning, our entire Executive Committee, our Platinum Sponsor: TheLadders.com, our Registration Sponsor: Southern New Hampshire University, our exhibitors, and distinguished list symposium contributors I would like to thank each of you for supporting our attempt in assisting with the entrepreneurial, educational, and employment needs of our men and women in uniform.
This project allows us to express our sincerest thanks and gratitude to all of our service-members; both here and abroad; both now and in years past. It is truly an honor for our team to be granted the opportunity to demonstrate our appreciation for the sacrifices made by our brave men and women in uniform, and we thank them for their continued commitment in defense of our liberty.
“As I had the honor of mentioning in a piece I wrote at the request of the Office of Public Engagement for the White House’s 2012 “Champion of Change” program: ‘Momentum is passing the baton of service; where duty is transitioned from our soldiers onto us!’ Here, at last week’s expo (as well as through others we plan to coordinate in the future) is where we can demonstrate our appreciation, and we plan to do so with the same pride and respect as those whom we support.”
— T.J. Breeden | eMerging Entrepreneurs, Inc.
So again, we thank each of you for attending, and we hope that the resources being made available today will help to launch your career interests to the next level!
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eMerging Entrepreneurs, Inc., in association with New Century Planning, is proud to present “Momentum 2012”: North Carolina’s first Military-focused Small Business Symposium, Hiring Fair, & College Recruitment Assembly; providing those in our military communities with: direct access to hiring firms and employers, small business tools & entrepreneurial resources, opportunities to speak with university recruiters & advanced education counselors, and information regarding federal/state servicing programs in an effort to advance the professional ambitions of active duty servicemen and women, veterans, and their spouses.
“The primary focus of the “Momentum” series of expos is to provide those within our military community with the necessary developmental resources, and professional access to information & networking opportunities that will advance their career interests. This program comes in response to a growing national, bipartisan efforts to spearhead job growth and economic stimulation, amidst what many consider to be the harshest period of joblessness and socio-economic decline of this generation. Unfortunately, Veterans of the US Military represent one of the most under-served communities and have been stricken with disproportionately 
high rates unemployment. The “Momentum” expo will allow us to not only extend the valued knowledge of partnering agencies and corporations in an effort to accommodate the career needs of those within the military community, but it will also help to establish a pathway through which we can demonstrate our appreciation for the sacrifices made by those in uniform as they attempt to transition back into civilian life.”
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Partner with Us!!
We are actively seeking partners to join with us in support of our military community! Join some of our past contributors as we seek to advance the professional interests of our men and women in uniform.
