Veterans Entrepreneurship Program

Riata Entrepreneurship Center---Oklahoma State University

~ empowering veterans to take control of their futures through their own ventures ~

Dear Dr. Works,

I’m very sorry it has taken so long to respond to your inquiry to Paul Jordan about the Veteran’s Entrepreneurship Program, we had been having some email issues but they should all be cleared up now. I’d love to arrange a phone meeting with you to discuss our program further and how we may be able to relay this information to your network of America’s veterans. Please contact me at your earliest convenience.

My name is Stacey Brandhorst and I serve as the Event & Outreach Coordinator for the disabled Veterans Entrepreneurship Program (VEP) at Oklahoma State University. VEP was created to help disabled and service-distinguished veterans launch and grow their own businesses. Our purpose is to empower veterans to create their own futures through sustainable ventures that create jobs and wealth.

VEP offers cutting-edge, experiential training in entrepreneurship and small business management to veterans from all branches of the armed services. VEP trains veterans to recognize and embrace the entrepreneurial spirit and gives them the tools to act on their dreams and passion. This rigorous program involves some of the nation’s top educators and subject matter experts on topics such as business model development, funding, marketing, operations, accounting and legal issues. Since 2010, nearly 200 veterans have graduated from the VEP and gone on to use the knowledge they gained to start ventures or take existing ventures to the next level.

The VEP program is offered entirely free to any veteran accepted into the program. We cover the costs of transportation to Stillwater, OK as well as accommodations, courses, instructors, books, materials, food and outings associated with the eight-day program held in February each year.

We are looking for serious veterans with a dream. Please pass on this information to others who may be interested. A more detailed description of the program can be found in the attached brochure. For more information, or to apply to VEP, please visit our website business.okstate.edu/riata/vep.html To have printed brochures or applications mailed directly to you please call us at (405) 744-7552. Thank you in advance for your support.

Sincerely,

Stacey Brandhorst

Events and Outreach, VEP

Riata Center for Entrepreneurship

405-744-7552; vep@okstate.edu

“Successful entrepreneurs are hard-working, dedicated, disciplined, multi-skilled, and self-sufficient. They are problem solvers who aren’t afraid to get their hands dirty, and who stop at nothing until goals are reached. They are bold risk-takers, and they are passionate, strong-willed individuals who put the mission before the man. While all of these characteristics describe entrepreneurs, they also apply to many members of another very capable group: America’s young veterans of the military.”- Scott Gerber, TIME Magazine

IMAGINE > BELIEVE > CREATE

Veterans Entrepreneurship Program - VEP

(405)744-7552

business.okstate.edu/riata/vep.html