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    Project Opportunity<sup>SM</sup> - Photo of class at a graduation ceremony.
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About Us

Project OpportunitySM is a free entrepreneurship training program designed solely for veterans (Active Duty, Guard/Reserve Personnel, and Veterans) who want to start their own business or expand their current small business. Program graduates are in various stages of their business ventures, ranging from finalizing their business plan to actual launch and earning income.

Starting in September 2010, we have successfully conducted this program for over 250 veterans all of which are currently pursuing their dream of owning a small business. Individuals status range from completing a business plan to actually starting and earning income.

Project OpportunitySM is a series of workshops planned to provide veterans with assistance in starting their own businesses. The first phase of Project OpportunitySM is to conduct outreach and educational sessions . These two and a half (2 1/2) hour workshops “Exploring Entrepreneurship” will include a discussion of why the individuals wants to start their own small businesses, characteristics of successful entrepreneurs, an overview of the 11 week training program, and an entrepreneurship self assessment.

The second phase will consist of a one hour assessment conducted either telephonically or in person to determine eligibility for the 3rd phase, Project OpportunitySM Business Boot Camp, the entrepreneurship training program for veterans who were selected based on the assessment results.

The Business Boot Camp training will take ten weeks. These classes will total thirty (30) hours of classroom instruction, 3 hours per week. A formal graduation ceremony will be held after completion of the ten week training program.

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Course Curriculum

The following topics will be addressed over the course of the eleven week program.

  • Week 1 – Assessing Your Business Idea and Business Planning
  • Week 2 – The Marketing Plan and Marketing Analysis
  • Week 3 – Developing Customer Profiles/ SWOT Analysis / Mission Statements
  • Week 4 – Credit for Small Businesses/Cash Flow Analysis
  • Week 5 – Business Entities from a Legal Perspective
  • Week 6 – Business Entities from an Accounting Perspective
  • Week 7 – Sales Strategies
  • Week 8 – Commercial Insurance / Website Design
  • Week 9 – Business Plan Review Session
  • Week 10 – Overview of Opportunities Available to Veteran Owned Businesses
  • Week 11 – Presentation of Business Concept and Graduation Ceremony

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We are currently accepting applications for upcoming Project OpportunitySM classes.

Register Today
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Program Testimonials

Over the years it has been my pleasure to not only support through letters but also as a participant at many of the graduations for Project OpportunitySM under the direction of Retired Master Sergeant Joe Giordano. The Program offers a second step towards an “after action” career for those retiring from or expecting to retire from our military. I have seen first hand many of the graduates go on to very successful entrepreneurial endeavors. I strongly encourage anyone who is interested in starting their own business and learning from a very talented core of professionals to contact Project Opportunity,” said Secretary George Owings, Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs.

Project OpportunitySM [PO] – The ultimate roadmap to planning your business. I had a catchy name. A good idea. A career with a Fortune 500 company. What I did not have was a plan to put it all together. 13 weeks later I had a plan and have never looked back. PO, like a roadmap guided me through everything from legal set up, to financial questions that I needed to ask myself. It gave me the opportunity to present my idea before successful business professionals and receive valuable feedback and insight. I was able to listen to others in the class discuss their ideas and learn from their experiences. I cannot count the number of times I have reviewed my initial PO plan just to confirm that I am on plan and on track. All this being said. The most impressive part of the Project was the enthusiasm and knowledge of the weekly guests who gave up their time to show their appreciation for a Vet. If you are seriously thinking of starting a business I cannot urge you enough the take this opportunity and make the most of it.

Author and encore to the entire Project OpportunitySM leadership team led by Founder, Joe Giordano and Tiffany Davis our instructor and the entire staff. My name is Paul Vann, Founder of Wealth Building Academy, LLC based in Prince Georges County, Maryland.

After being informed of Project OpportunitySM I wanted to be apart of something special because I was in the first class of veteran student in Prince George’s County and I wasn’t disappointed. What I enjoyed most about my experience in Project OpportunitySM was the comprehensive curriculum that provided an A-Z perspective and insight on entrepreneurship to current business owners like myself and prospective small business owners who participated in this amazing program.

Not only did Joe Giordano offer this second to none entrepreneurship program, he also ensured that attendees received in depth instruction from experts in the following industries: banking, marketing, legal, commercial insurance, accounting, website development, the SBA and much, much more.

I also developed an elevator pitch for my business. In the end Project OpportunitySM is a priceless program because I developed a business plan and financial plan for Wealth Building Academy, LLC that was reviewed and evaluated by local business experts and for this I’m grateful, thankful and my business is moving in the right direction because of this program. Thanks Joe and thanks Project OpportunitySM, you rock!

Project OpportunitySM helped boost my confidence in being a business owner at a time  when I was facing many challenges. Upon first thought, I wanted my initial brick and mortar business to be my exit strategy from my current employment. However, after going through the training I revised my business plan and realized that there was no way upon my first endeavor that was going to happen.

The course also helped with networking as I took great pleasure in hearing former graduates share their stories and I now realize how important it is to share my own.

I share this course every chance I get and also look for the day that I can be a sponsor to provide for a fellow Comrades scholarship.

Thank you Project Opportunity!

As a “Solo Vetrepreneur” the Project OpportunitySM workshop provided me with everything I needed  to build a strong foundation to get my business started of right! The workshop provided everything from self-assessment tools, to comprehensive business planning, financing options, e-commerce and business networking strategies and much more! I highly recommend the Project OpportunitySM workshop for any Veteran who has started, or is thinking about starting a business. It is well worth the investment!

Having had a 20-year radio broadcast career, I basically know the operation of commercial radio. what i didn’t know, however, was the business side of radio. enrolling, then subsequently graduating from PROJECT OPPORTUNITY in 2017, I , now , can speak with relative authority on business fundamentals. kudos to JOE GIORDANO  and his staff.

When I started  Project OpportunitySM, I could have been considered a serial entrepreneur. Project OpportunitySM helped me to take a realistic snapshot of my skillset, resources, and passion. As a result, I ventured out from my partnerships to start my consulting business that marries my knack solving problems with helping people to achieve their dreams. One of my clients is well on her way to owning a personal transportation fleet and expanding her service options after utilizing my services. Also, having the ability to flex between income streams has afforded me the opportunity to gross over $32K in my first full year on business. Joe Giordano and the Project OpportunitySM team has a program that promotes camaraderie and success.

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