The VBOA, “Ten Years Later …”
October 30, 2013 – Jerry Pinsky and group will be presenting the story of the VBOA, “Ten Years Later …” sharing the history and success of the organization for a workshop on October 30th. The talk includes the success of the program locally and nationally as well as the patients and professionals involved.
VBOI, A Success in the Community.
October 4, 2013 – Bedford VA during its Mental Health Summit, featured Veteran Business Owners Initiative as an example of successful community organizations working with Veteran Affairs Business gets $300K from Patriot Express October 1, 2013 -Thursday 10:30 am a member Electrical Company received a Patriot Express loan of $300,000! Create Your Business! September 23, 2013 – Class at 251 Causeway Street is still creating new businesses! Every Tuesday 11AM room 355. Come and meet Kathy Doyle our very clever entrepreneur coach.
Milestone!
August 2, 2013 – The VA’s Causeway Clinic in downtown Boston completed its first of many-to-come 18-week training programs. In this economy veterans need their own businesses! February 11, 2013 – The country is trying to find ways to help its service men and woman. We at VBOI have found an ideal possibility! They, our veterans and service men and women, are searching for a way to be independent and generative at the same time. Going through the process of educating and joining the association has made a radical difference in veterans’ lives. Well over 70 businesses have been started in the past 6 years, most of which are still ongoing. The process continues at Bedford VAMC MA, West Haven VAMC CT and Brockton VAMC MA.
Michael Fitzgerald on SBA radio
September 12, 2012 – Michael Fitzgerald and Michael Niall will be heard on a SBA radio broadcast segment scheduled on November 13, 2012 at 10:20 AM. The SBA Massachusetts District Director, Bob Nelson, will be on the air with them for approximately half an hour. They will focus on veteran-owned small businesses and how the SBA has helped them get their businesses going. Tune in Tuesday on WBNW 1120, WPLM 1390, and WESO 970 and live over the Internet at http://www.moneymattersradio.net/live_radio.htm.
Veteran Business Self-Employment Classroom
September 1, 2012 – The VBOI will be opening its fifth Veteran Business Self-Employment Classroom at the Manchester, NH VA Medical Center. The classes will be held on the 1st floor in the Training & Education Room. Doors open at 5:30 PM. The class runs from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM. The Veteran Business Owners Initiative (VBOI) Business Gym meets every Wednesday night 6pm until 8pm in building 80 room 106 on the Bedford VAMC campus. All veterans who are interested in having their own business are welcome. Christopher Krebs, PhD psychology and Jerry Pinsky, LCSW are effective teachers and coaches offering their advice on starting businesses with low expense and high impact. The Veteran Business Owners Association (VBOA) meets every other Thursday at the Bedford VA Medical Center, Massachusetts in Building 80 room 106. (NOTE: some meetings are closed, so please check before hand.)
Michael Niall Reelected!
August 1, 2012 – Michael Niall was reelected on June 21, 2010 as the President of the VBOI Board of Directors. Also reelected to the Board were Jack Yellig and Michael Fitzgerald. Gary Carpenter was also elected to his first term to the Board of Directors.
Pinsky wins SBA Award!
June 15, 2012 – In May 2011, Jerry Pinsky LICSW received an SBA award. Checkout the Bedford Minuteman article.
VBOI Is Expanding!
February 2, 2012 – On February 9, the Veteran Business Owners Initiative will expand its successful business training program to the VA’s Causeway Clinic in downtown Boston; Activities will be directed by Tim Youmans, entrepreneur and select clinical staff under the guidance of Malissa Wattenburg, PhD psychology; Jerry Pinsky, LCSW will assist in early stages of the project.
Working with Student Veterans
January 15, 2012 – Bob Fera, current Department Chair of Human Services at Middlesex Community College, has been working with student veterans as a part of the college Veterans Center. He will be teaching a new course this semester called Stress and Resiliency for student veterans only on Tuesdays from 12-2 pm beginning on February 7, 2012. The course is based on Harvard’s Herb Benson’s Mind-Body Institute and is designed to expose the student to the concepts of stress and resilience. Specific strategies that promote resilience such as learning the ‘relaxation response’, mindfulness awareness, cognitive techniques, exercise, nutrition, and social support will be examined.
Fitzgerald Now on BOD
January 10, 2012 – Michael Fitzgerald has been elected to the Veteran Business Owners Initiative (VBOI) board of directors. Michael was the 2011 winner of VBOI’s Entrepreneur of the Year award.