Mark R. Smith, a Senior Writer for The Business Monthly published this article for the December 2019 issue of The Business Monthly, www.bizmonthly.com.

What’s Next for Vets? For some, it’s business ownership – PDF Version, and the online article can be found here.

Reprinted with permission.

Robert Worthington, an Air Force veteran, worked as an air traffic controller with the military and as a civilian. He wanted to make a career switch.

Thinking about what he loved – teaching kids the basics of basketball – was the easy part. Figuring out how to turn that passion into a successful business was a daunting task.

Worthington is one of many veterans who want to work for themselves once they retire but many are unclear how to make a dream become reality. With help from a statewide program called Project Opportunity^SM, Worthington founded the Columbia based Hoops Drills For Skills Basketball (HCFS) Camp.

He knows he couldn’t have arrived at his current happy station in life simply on sweat equity running the youth basketball program that also includes camps and travel teams.

‘A Roadmap’

As someone “who is passionate about what I do, I still had no way to know what I had to do to make my business a success,” Worthington said. “Project Opportunity^SM provided a roadmap about how to turn that passion into a business. It also gave me an opportunity to network with many professionals,” including a videographer who shot and edited videos used in tournaments and created three promo videos.

Project Opportunity^SM “is a fantastic way to go,” Worthington said of Joe Giordano’s program.

Giordano founded Project Opportunity^SM in 2010. The retired master sergeant gradually built the nonprofit and now offers classes all around Maryland.

“We see an increase in interest from veterans in becoming entrepreneurs every year,” he said. “In recent years, we’ve seen some of these small, veteran-run businesses hit the wall, so we help those owners redirect with a 30-hour course where we teach how to research, write and finalize a comprehensive business plan.”

And the retired vets can’t beat the price.

“It’s free of charge,” Giordano said, noting that some organizations make donations and offer grants as do private foundations and corporate sponsors like BB&T and PNC Bank, which also provide subject matter experts in the areas of commercial lending and cash flow analysis.

“The economy is great and the number of small businesses is growing so we expect to see individuals who have great ideas make them come to life,” he said, pointing to Project Opportunity’s extensive network that include state agencies, economic development entities and fraternal organizations.

Project Opportunity^SM uses the Next Level training program, which draws on theories from psychology, linguistics, neuroscience, sociology and organizational development to create transformation in individuals and teams and presents subject matter experts such as certified public accountants, lawyers and marketing professionals. Some are ex-military, but all have an active interest in military service through families and friends.

Time for Redirection

Chuck Davis, a U.S. Navy vet and 2014 Project Opportunity^SM grad, found himself at a career crossroads several years ago after retiring from UPS and wanted a more flexible schedule. He was a physical therapist and and is currently owner of Kiss My Glass in Annapolis, found out about Project Opportunity^SM via an article after he’d founded his company.

“I was feeling good about the business, had researched it enough, had a great concept and a foundation for my business model, but I lacked a plan of growth,” said Davis. “So, I knew how to start it but not how to build it and I knew I needed that roadmap.”

As it turned out, Project Opportunity^SM “was everything I thought it would be. That it was designed for vets made it even more interesting. My biggest takeaway was that every speaker wanted to be there and was thankful for our service.”

Project Opportunity^SM is just one option in the region where vet entrepreneurs can get a kickstart for their businesses. The state of Maryland runs the Veteran-Owned Small Business Enterprise Program.

By law, that program calls for more than 50 agencies to direct at least one percent of expenditures to small businesses that are at least 51 percent owned and/or controlled by a veteran. The program is about six years old and in fiscal 2018, state agencies and programs “accounted for two percent” of the spend, said the Governor’s Office of Small, Minority & Women Business Affairs spokesperson Alison Tavik.

“The program offers subcontracting procurement opportunities for the state,” said Tavik, noting that 2019 is the state’s Year of the Veteran.

To expand the program, legislation would be needed to increase the required 1 percent. “So today, we’re making veterans aware of the opportunity at hand and building our base of vendors. Our office never met the goal in six years before fiscal 2018. It was a great achievement in that relatively short length of time.”

Opening Doors

In Howard County, Lisa Terry, manager of the Office of Veterans and Military Families, said the number of vet-owned businesses “is increasing, especially given the number of the defense contractors and sub-contractors in the area.”

Howard County offers the Veteran-Owned Business Enterprise program and Terry said one percent of total procurement funding is set aside for vet-certified businesses by the Veteran’s Administration.

Like Giordano, she feels that veterans “are more likely to enter the workplace as entrepreneurs because they have a bigger cause in mind, leadership skills and are dependable.”

She said, “Entrepreneurship also provides a chance for service-disabled vets to pursue meaningful careers,” adding that support will increase from the MCE as well as the Small Business Administration, economic development authorities and incubators that support entrepreneurs.

Coming Soon

Coming up on the Project Opportunity^SM agenda next spring is a class in Howard County that will be held in Columbia Gateway Business Park at the Maryland Center for Entrepreneurship (MCE), which is providing training.

Larry Twele, CEO of the Howard County Economic Development Authority, said the county is home “to nearly 16,000 veteran residents who bring unique skills, experience and leadership to
our entrepreneurial landscape. We assist many veteran-owned companies to support their venture success in our business incubator and even more through our Catalyst Loan Fund. Supporting Project Opportunity^SM through the Innovation Center.”

Project Opportunity^SM was awarded a grant in the amount of $10,000.00 from the Kahlert Foundation to fund our Howard County Spring 2020 Class.

“Funding for Project Opportunity^SM is key to our success in supporting military personnel transitioning to the business world as they learn what it takes to start their own businesses,” said Army Master Sergeant. (retired) and founder of Project Opportunity^SM, Joe Giordano. “We are very grateful to the Kahlert Foundation for their generous grant and continued support so that we may continue to offer this program at no cost to those veterans and military personnel selected to participate.”

Project Opportunity^SM is a free entrepreneurship training program which has been designed solely for veterans, active duty, and reserve personnel who want to start a small business. The prerequisite for those who wish to be considered to participate is they must have a solid idea of what business venture they want to start because the course is designed to develop and complete a comprehensive business plan instead of exploring the possibility of entrepreneurship. The program is a 10 week (30 hour) intensive cohort style course designed to prepare participants to research and complete a business plan.

The program also accepts veterans who have a small business and are looking to expand. The prerequisite for these candidates is they must demonstrate the need to expand their marketing efforts or the need to review and revise their financial plan.

Project Opportunity^SM was awarded the Veteran Small Business Champion Award by the SBA Baltimore District Office in 2014. It provides veterans an alternative to traditional employment and offers them a chance to hone and utilize the skills and training they received while on active duty.  Entrepreneurship is an excellent path for many veterans to choose and we are looking to expand our course offerings in the State of Maryland.

Project Opportunity^SM has had a total of 54 businesses registered with the Maryland Department of Business and Taxation creating a total of 206 jobs.

To read the original article please click here to go to the Maryland VA Website.

Graduating Class: First Row Left to Right: John Way, Aris Dennard, Alfonso Ricks, Rodney Remson, Jr., Phillip Scott Second Row Left to Right: Devin Moss, Daniel Braswell, Talford Greene, Ronald Kelly, Larry Betz Not Pictured: Vincent Batteast, Sr., Craig Bush, Mary Heyward, Herbert Sowe

Project Opportunity^SM recently partnered with the VA Maryland Health Care system and presented our 2017 Project Opportunity^SM Graduation, Baltimore – Spring, for the first time in Baltimore, MD. The collaboration was funded by the VA Maryland Health Care System’s Mental Illness Research Education Clinical, Center (MIRECC), and provided the 10 week, 30-hour course to 14 Veterans at the Baltimore VA Medical Center.

Please continue to the Teaching Entrepreneurship article on the VA Maryland Health Care website to read the full scope and details for this project.

This story was written by Bobby Jones Staff Photojournalist for the Andrews Gazette, and originally appeared April 13th, 2016. This article is posted with permission and the original article can be read here: Andrew Gazette

Joe Giordano is a dedicated veteran whose passion about helping his fellow comrade-in-arms resonates today the same as he was when he served in coordinating security during Operation Eagle in support of the welcoming home of the 52 hostages from Iran after their release from captivity in January 1981.

After retiring from the Army in 1993, Giordano quickly became frustrated with trying to get a job, which eventually led him to starting his own business.

“I watched all of my fellow veterans come back from conflicts in Desert Storm trying to get a job and I just saw them struggle. The Maryland unemployment rate then was 16 or 17 percent,” Giordano said. “I just couldn’t understand why employers didn’t want to hire veterans.”

In 2010, the retired Army master sergeant’s commitment to helping veterans was further evidenced by him founding Project Opportunity^SM (PO), a free entrepreneurship-training program, based solely on the purpose for helping veterans who want to start their own business or want to expand their current small business.

According Giordano, who has 35 years of human resources and leadership management to his credit, the annual program teaches veterans how to develop, research and produce a comprehensive business plan. PO covers all nine counties of the eastern shore, and during the 10 weeks, classes are split between five in Easton, Md. and five in Salisbury, Md.

“We rotate to ease the commute for students,” Giordano, a 20-year Army veteran, said.

“With Maryland having the highest unemployment rate for among veterans in the country, many of us veterans who work with vets are concerned. The economy is a little stagnant,” Giordano said.

In addition to founding PO, Giordano has an extensive career as a personnel administrator and training supervisor with the Army; five years as the human resources administrator for the Wicomico County Department of Social Services; two years as an employment specialist with K&L Microwave; and twelve years as owner of Consulting, Training, and Development Services.

Giordano noted there have been numerous studies done on veterans to show that veterans are prime candidates to become successful small business owners and entrepreneurs.

“They possess what I consider the four most important qualities needed to be a successful business owner – they are extremely self disciplined, highly motivated; they know how to problem solve and they know how to multitask, ” Giordano said. “Those qualities are used in the military and translate well in the civilian world. That’s why I hire only veterans as instructors, because they relate better in the classroom as they get to know each other.”

Project Opportunity^SM accepts 12 veterans per course. The program is a 30-hour intensive course designed to prepare participants to research and complete a business plan.

Topics addressed over the 10 weeks range from business planning to effectively using social media and websites. The final week, participants present their business plans.

“My favorite part of the program is we have a formal graduation ceremony and each of the graduates have to get up in front of a room full of family and guests. It really is impressive to see from the first time when they walk into the classroom to actually having a fairly comprehensive developed business plan.”

Throughout the course, various performance measures are completed – like seeing how many veterans have registered their businesses with the state.

Giordano noted it’s difficult to keep tabs on all of the students once they graduate, but there are several success stories. One veteran stands out – Chuck Davis. Davis is a 2014 graduate of the course and now owns a window washing company called Kiss my Glass.

A Navy hospital corpsman 2nd class veteran, Davis is quick to tout the benefits of Program Opportunity.

“I was into my first year of starting a window cleaning service when I applied for Project Opportunity^SM in 2013,” Davis said. “It gave me a great foundation to build a business plan. It was extremely helpful to make sure that the direction I was going in was the right one. Every guy who gets out of the military who wants to go into small business should go to Project Opportunity. It is without a doubt, the most thorough, well thought out way to build a business plan that I’ve ever seen.”

The 12 veterans attending the Southern Maryland class April 13 have already been selected, but Giordano is working to get more classes scheduled.

“We’re hoping to have classes in the fall both in Southern Maryland and we’re in negotiations to have a class start in Prince George’s County during that time frame as well, Giordano said. “I have a waiting list of about 110 veterans, with 40 of them from Prince George’s County. I’m fairly confident that we’ll be able to make that happen.”

Other county locations slotted for fall classes include Easton, Anne Arundel and Howard. To get on the waitlist, veterans can visit the Project Opportunity^SM website.

To have the resources to make so many classes happen, Giordano said there is an immense amount of community support – including help from county workforce development offices. As a nonprofit, the company also writes grants and receives sponsorships from veteran-owned businesses.

Those wishing to get into the course have to pass a three-step process.

“We first schedule an orientation session were we explained the program,” Giordano said. “I like to call it the good, the bad and the ugly of entrepreneurship, to make sure they fully have a good idea of what they may be getting into. Then after, we have a candidate screening assessment of 20 questions where we ask for details to see how much thought they’ve given to their business venture and everything else that goes along with it. Once we get those assessments, we do a final telephone screening, and then we rank order them from top to bottom. We start at the top and offer seats in the class until we’re filled.”

Giordano advises anyone who wants to apply for Project Opportunity^SM to have a thorough understanding of their customer profile.

“They also need to understand cash flow analysis and run the numbers to see if the business concept is successful,” Giordano said. “They need to truly recognize that a business is a living, breathing, working document that is continually reviewed, updated and modified as the economy and business dictates.”

In the end, Giordano is pleased his program helps veterans- directly through business ventures and indirectly as well.

“Every single student has promised to hire veterans first. That makes me feel good to know that these veterans are providing future employment opportunities down the road,” Giordano said. “They deserve a reward and a break when they come back from serving our country.”

SALISBURY, Md., April 8, 2019 – Project Opportunity^SM, an entrepreneurship training program for veterans, active duty, and reserve military personnel announced today that it has received $5000.00 from Branch Banking and Trust Company (BB&T) Community Development Department to support Project Opportunity^SM entrepreneurship classes in 2019.

“Funding for Project Opportunity^SM is key to our success in supporting military personnel transitioning to the business world as they learn what it takes to start their own businesses,” said Army Master Sergeant. (retired) and founder of Project Opportunity^SM, Joe Giordano. “We are very grateful to BB&T for their generous grant to help us do just that so that we may continue to offer this program at no cost to those veterans and military personnel selected to participate.”

“BB&T’s support for Project Opportunity^SM has been a rewarding experience. The work that they are doing for our Veterans is very meaningful and impactful, and has made a difference in the lives of the Veterans they serve. I have enjoyed working with our Veterans to help them fulfill their dream of becoming an entrepreneur.”

– Ginger Donovan, Market Leader – Salisbury, MD.

About Project Opportunity

Project Opportunity^SM is a free entrepreneurship training program for active military and veterans who want to start their own businesses. The ten-week (30 hour) intensive course is designed to prepare veterans to research and complete a business plan. Founded on the Eastern Shore of Maryland in 2010, Project Opportunity^SM has since expanded to Anne Arundel County, Baltimore, Howard County, Prince George’s County, and Southern Maryland. Contributions from county economic development authorities, local banks, private foundations, and fraternal organizations help ensure that the classes are free to veteran participants.