How can veterans become entrepreneurs?
One place that helps veterans translate their skills from military service into success in civilian business is here on our campus - the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga - through the Veterans Entrepreneurship Program at the Gary W. Rollins College of Business.
Each year, VEP provides a multiday immersive experience for veterans - hands-on learning, personalized interaction and role models - featuring faculty, entrepreneurs and experts.
Dr. Frank Butler at UTC’s Rollins College is faculty director and mentor for the Veterans Entrepreneurship Program.
Norm LaVoie spent the first part of his adult life serving as an Engineer Officer in the United States Army, on both active duty and in the Tennessee National Guard.
He has participated in VEP - and he is the co-founder of New Terra Compost.
Sarah Mattson is a small business consultant at the Tennessee Small Business Development Center, which mentors veterans as part of VEP.
We sat down for this conversation at the TSBDC.
Our thanks to Madison McCann of TSBDC for recording and editing our conversation.