SOUTHERN MARYLAND SPRING 2014 CLASS – Consulting, Training, and Development Services partnered with The Tri-County Council for Southern Maryland, the DLLR Veterans Representative, and the Southern Region SBTDC to provide Project Opportunity^SM to veterans who reside in Calvert, Charles, or St. Mary’s Counties. The Orientation Session was conducted on April 4, 2014 with a total of twelve (12) veterans in attendance. Eleven (11) of the veterans at the Orientation Session indicated a desire to move forward to the next screening process, the telephonic assessment. . After the completion of the telephonic screening assessments a total of nine (9) veterans were accepted into the program. One veteran had to withdraw prior to the start of classes due to medical illness. Here is a summary of their business ventures:

• Arts & Crafts/Thrift Store
• Organic Coffee and Tea
• Background Investigations
• Thrift Store/Custom Wreaths
• Transportation Advocate
• Child Abuse Awareness
• Business Support Services
• Security Business

Classes started on April 24, 2014 at the College of Southern Maryland LaPlata Campus. The Southern Region Small Business Technology and Development Center partnered with us on this project by assisting in the coordinating of scheduling subject matters experts and guest speakers.

The Graduation Ceremony was held on June 30, 2014 at Middleton Hall in Waldorf. A total of seven (7) veterans completed the course and graduated. One had to withdraw due to medical issues. Here is a summary of their business ventures:

• Arts & Crafts/Thrift Store (Queen of Hearts)
• Organic Coffee and Tea (God’sGurl Enterprises, LLC)
• Background Investigations
• Thrift Store/Custom Wreaths
• Home Based Services for Elderly
• Child Abuse Awareness (Need You to Survive)
• Security Business

Lawrencia Pierce, Deputy Secretary, Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs, was the Guest Speaker.