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OKVetWorksMarch 2022NewsletterInside this IssueWomen's History MonthBusiness LegacySmall Business Grants for VeteransVerified VOBMaking the Connection ConferenceBoots to SuitsVeteran Owned Businesses - Working for Oklahoma

Out of OfficeWell, at the time of you receiving this newsletter I will be out of the office for a little while on medical leave. I will beperiodically checking email and doing what I can when the doctor approves.Please feel free to leave me emails that I can respond to and continue moving forward with the project that you and wehave going. While I am away from the office I will be working on a new class curriculum for Boots to Suits. One of the suggestionswas to turn it into a 3-4 day program spread out over 3-4 weeks. With this suggestion there will be homeworkassignments that will be discussed upon returning to class and other areas can be expanded as we grow this curriculum. I also want to encourage you to attend a VBOC Boots to Business or Reboot class. VBOC puts on an excellent class thatcan definitely make a difference in you business. There will be 2 Reboot classes in March. The first one is March 18-19at the Altus AFB and the second one is in Tulsa (as soon as I know the location I will let you know). The next Boots toBusiness class is April 19-20 at the Fort. Sill AFB.I am also working on a MAJOR training/networking event for the entire state. This event will also include an awardsceremony and much more. In fact, I am looking for some major sponsorships if you know anyone interested in helpingout. Hope see and talk to everyone soon!

HOT Off the Presses!

How Small Business Owners Can Build a LegacyWhen we think about a small business, we often think of companies that are started from a kitchen table orin a garage. We also often think of building a legacy with that business for the ones that will come after us.The idea of leaving behind something bigger than ourselves or the business we started is a very enticingconcept for many entrepreneurs. What a Legacy Means in BusinessBuilding a legacy for your business rather than your personal legacy is slightly different. Your personallegacy is the impact your actions will have after you are gone. Your business’ legacy is the impact it willmake on its culture, community, and customers after you have either sold or passed on your business tosomeone else. Mission statements often are based on the legacy an entrepreneur is hoping to achieve withthe business. Although family businesses have low rates of success in the second generation and even lower in the thirdgeneration, family businesses are still one of the big draws of entrepreneurship in the first place. In thesecases, a legacy can be about building something that can easily be a vehicle for success and growth forloved ones.Mars candy is an example of a business legacy rooted in family ties. Started by Frank Mars in 1911, itremains a privately owned company with the Mars family making up the board of directors.

Building a Legacy for Your IndustryCreating a business legacy for your industry can be a little more involved than a generalbusiness legacy. General business legacies are about the impact on communities and culture,but an industry legacy is about the people and organizations that are a part of your specificbusiness niche.In many ways, an industry legacy is more difficult to build. This is because your industry isprobably full of other businesses that do exactly what you do, too. The key here is to beexceptional in ways your competitors and colleagues are not. In theory, this should already be onyour to-do list because your unique selling proposition (USP) relies on you doing something theothers don’t do. But in practice, your industry legacy must also affect the industry in a way that isbigger than your business. One example of an industry legacy is Apple’s introduction on the iPhone in 2007. Thesmartphone was the first of its kind, introducing a number of new innovations. It took years forother phone companies to introduce comparable innovations. At this point, no matter whathappens in the future, the iPhone has cemented Apple’s legacy in the mobile handset industry.Legacy and Goal SettingLeaving a legacy means living a legacy. The day-to-day actions of you and your business will be thebricks on which the legacy is built. It starts with a long-term mindset. Define what matters and makesure that you have long-term visions that match it. That vision will become your business’ guidinglight. All decisions, all product development, all marketing campaigns will come back relate back tothe vision, which is related to what matters most to your business legacy. Goal setting is an important part of building a business legacy. By setting goals, you’ll define your pathand also have a benchmark to compare your progress. Here are some things to keep in mind whenyou’re setting these goals: Each goal must tie back to the vision of the legacy you want to build.Goals must be descriptive, specific, and measurable to be effective.Smaller, defined goals are better than large sprawling goals because you are more likely toachieve them when they are realistic.

Remember that goals are only as valuable as they are achievable. If you purposely set goals thatyour business is unlikely to meet, you’ll just set yourself up for failure. This can impact companymorale and future initiatives to build your business legacy.Although the meaning of legacy can vary depending on whether you are looking at yourself, yourbusiness, or your industry, the goal is the same––make an impact that stands the test of time.

Boots to SuitsThis four day class isdesigned to empower andeducate veteran businessowners every step of the way.Whether you’re looking to start a small business orexpand your current one, OKVetWorks has everythingyou need for entrepreneurial best practices.Mondays in May(May 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd)2132 NE 36th St. Oklahoma City, OK 73111https://forms.office.com/g/H1hKcRvzP3Register

Veteran Owned Businesses

March is Women’s History Month and well over 200,000 women serve on active duty in the U.S. military. Thecontributions of women to military history (and well beyond) cannot be ignored. While Women’s History Month isn’t atime to focus exclusively on the contributions of women in military service, the contributions of female veterans arecertainly an important part of American history.There are many observances which usually happen as base-level events and as community-wide observations. Overall,the U.S. military makes a serious effort to raise the awareness level of this important occasion by paying respect towomen who have made history whether serving in the military or not.How The Military Observes Women’s History MonthIn some ways, the military goes out of its way in March to recognize the contributions of women; in other cases, everymonth is Women’s History Month as we’ll learn below.The U.S. government leads the way in honoring Women’s History Month thanks to the official site,WomensHistoryMonth.gov. Various branches of the United States Military make the observations their own ways, but ingeneral, you’ll find organizations such as the National Museum of the Air Force featuring the roles of women in uniform, asmilitary volunteers, activists, pilots, researchers, and many other critical areas.Other sites, including the Air Force official site (AF.mil), list the accomplishments of current and former women in uniform,such as the contributions of “Major Jennifer” an otherwise-anonymous-for-security-reasons member of a history womenonly flying mission called Dudette 07. This was “the first F-15E Air Force combat mission comprised entirely of femaleaircrew members” according to the U.S. Air Force. Recognition and observances like these are common in militarycommunities.

The U.S. Army has excellent examples of how that branch of the service honors the contributions of women; the Armyofficial site has videos, news, and resources about and for women in the military and beyond. The Army also maintainsThe United States Army Women’s Museum in Fort Lee, VA. According to the museum’s web page, it is “the only museumin the world dedicated to preserving and sharing the history of the contributions of women to the Army”.The Navy and Marine Corps also have plenty of activities in March and beyond. The United States Navy designates atheme for each year’s Women’s History Month, and in 2018 U.S. Navy commands were instructed to organize around thetheme “Honoring Women Who Fight All Forms of Discrimination.” Navy/Marine Corps history owes a great deal to thecontributions of women; according to the Navy official site, women have served in one capacity or another since the1800’s.

Small Business Grants for VeteransStreetShares Foundation. The StreetShares Foundation is a nonprofit organizationthat aims to support entrepreneurial members of the military, including veterans. TheVeteran Small Business Award grant program connects qualified veterans with thefunds they need to start and grow their businesses, while also providing educationalresources and events.The Global Good Fund Veterans Leadership Program. Offered through apartnership with The Smithfield Foundation (Smithfield Foods Inc.), The GlobalGood Fund supports veteran business owners through funding and leadershipresources. Eligible veterans get access to leadership resources, a global network oflike-minded peers, and professional leadership coaches and business mentors, aswell as targeted funding.Hivers & Strivers Angel Fund. Though not technically a grant program, Hivers &Strivers is an angel investment group that provides funding between $250,000 and$1 million to companies led by military veterans. In addition to financial investments,Hivers & Strivers provides businesses with the guidance and expertise needed tosucceed.There are also a number of business resources tailored to the needs of entrepreneurialveterans and military spouses. For example, Bunker Labs’ Launch Lab Online offersonline courses and programs to teach veterans about the fundamentals ofentrepreneurship through an online learning platform.In addition to small business loans available to veterans, there are several grants that canhelp entrepreneurial veterans and military spouses start and grow their businesses. Unlikeloans, grants do not require repayment, though some cash infusions may require anexchange of ownership interest. Here are some veteran-specific grants to consider:

Oklahoma Verified VOBThe following two pages explain how to apply to be a "Verified Veteran Owned Business". We are implementing this Verification program to help protect Veteran Owned Businesses.Unfortunately, the world that we live in does not always produce the most honest people and many willtake advantage of the systems that are in place to assist those who truly deserve these benefits. By implementing this program, the ODVA will verify each VOB and verify them as a qualified VOB forthe state of Oklahoma. We are working with the state Central Purchasing department and individualagencies to assure them accurate information and, most importantly, assure you the benefits you aredue for your business.This program will also be able to use the information gathered to create data that will be presented tothe legislature and other interested parties. We will also use the information to develop an annualawards ceremony and other areas.Please complete the "application" and return it to OKVetWorks@odva.ok.gov to get "VERIFIED" today!

2022 Making the ConnectionConferenceThe Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs will be hostingthe first Annual Making the Connection Conference September7-9, 2022.This conference will include 18 breakout sessions, numerousguest speakers, fireside chats, panel discussions, resourceexposition, and MUCH more!There will be many opportunities for networking and willconclude with an annual awards ceremony and dinner.THIS IS A FREE EVENT FOR OKLAHOMA VETERANS andSPOUSES!!!Many more details to come!

2132 NE 36th St.Oklahoma City, OK 73111855-701-6382 or 405-523-4000Https://ODVA.OK.GOV/OKVetWorks