Morgan and Lynch are Marine Corps veterans, best-selling authors and co-founders of , a business that provides leadership training to corporations and organizations. Both women look forward to advocating entrepreneurship among fellow female veterans, a population in the United States that exceeds 1.8 million.

“In 2010, the SBA reported that the success rate of a veteran-owned business is higher than that of the general population,” says Mike Haynie, national executive director of veteran outreach programs in the Whitman School. “However, many women veterans do not engage in business ownership due to limited access to education and, as a result, startup capital. The V-WISE program was founded in partnership with the SBA as a means to ensure that women veterans have all the tools and resources they need to be successful business owners. We could not be more delighted that Angie and Courtney are promoting our program to this important population in our country.”

V-WISE is an intensive training program positioned to offer world-class, hands-on training in entrepreneurship and small business management to women veterans of any branch and any era of military service—National Guard or Reserves—and also active-duty military who may want to leverage business ownership as their transition from military to civilian life. The V-WISE initiative offers conference-style training that includes comprehensive instruction and mentorship focused on areas such as profit models, business plan development and unique funding opportunities for women veterans.

The inaugural V-WISE program will take place in San Antonio on May 5-7. Subsequent V-WISE programs will be offered in six additional U.S. cities over the next 24 months. All costs, including food, lodging and materials, are fully funded. Participants are only responsible for their transportation to the event and a $75 registration fee.

“Historically, entrepreneurship has been an avenue for our veterans to make a meaningful way for themselves and their families, and ultimately re-engage the economic engine of our nation,” says Lynch. “Angie and I can attest to the benefits of entrepreneurship and we look forward to sharing with other women veterans the resources V-WISE can offer them to launch their businesses.”

V-WISE represents one of the first significant partnerships since World War II among one of the country’s most prestigious business schools, Syracuse University and the federal government specifically focused on opening the doors to entrepreneurial opportunity for female veterans.

The V-WISE program is part of the administration’s “Strengthening Military Families Initiative,” focused on efforts to strengthen and better coordinate federal government support for military families.

“The expertise and portfolio of services that CorpCo can offer EBV graduates will help them launch their venture the right way,” says Mike Haynie, national executive director and founder of EBV programs, Barnes Fellow and assistant professor of entrepreneurship at SU. “CorpCo is strongly committed to helping our veterans realize their entrepreneurial dreams and we are thrilled to have them join the EBV family.”

EBV graduates from around the United States will now be able to receive guidance from CorpCo professionals about different types of business forms, and which is most appropriate for their venture. “From the moment we were introduced to the EBV program and the tremendous training and support they offer their participants, we wanted to be part of it,” says Alison Kochie, marketing manager for CorpCo. “We are very proud to be partnered with the EBV program and excited to work with and support their graduates.”

Visit for more information on EBV.

The EBV program offers cutting edge, experiential training in entrepreneurship and small business management to soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines disabled as a result of their service supporting operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.�� The program was founded at SU in 2007, and over the past four years has expanded to a network of world-class business schools that includes the UCLA’s Anderson School of Management, Florida State University’s College of Business, the Mays School of Business at Texas A&M University, the Krannert School at Purdue University, and the College of Business at the University of Connecticut.�� More than 300 wounded warriors have graduated from the program since its inception, and the training continues to be offered without any cost to participants.

“The expansion of the EBV Consortium of Schools to include LSU represents a great example of the ongoing commitment of higher education to serve and honor our veterans,” says Mike Haynie, entrepreneurship professor at the Whitman School and the founder of the EBV program.�� “LSU, just like the other EBV universities, is strongly committed to helping our veterans realize their entrepreneurial dreams and we are thrilled to have them join the EBV family.”

Further, in recognition of ground-breaking work being done by the Whitman School and Syracuse University in the area of veterans’ entrepreneurship, the University has entered into a $2.6 million cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) for the design and delivery of two new programs positioned to advance business ownership for America’s veteran community and their families.

The first new program is called Women Veterans Igniting the Spirit of Entrepreneurship (V-WISE). Modeled after two existing and successful outreach programs offered by the Whitman School, V-WISE focuses on the training, networking and mentorship of women veterans in pursuit of successful entrepreneurship and self-employment, post military service. The V-WISE initiative will be structured as a three-day training program, combined with online training and network support.  Each program offering will accommodate up to 200 veterans and will be delivered seven times in seven cities over a 36-month period.

The second program, Operation Endure and Grow, is a training program in entrepreneurship offered to the family members of guard and reserve personnel.�� The National Guard and Reserve play a major role in U.S. defense and security, yet for many of these citizen-soldiers, lengthy and unanticipated deployments have caused severe family strain and economic hardship. The Operation Endure and Grow training will leverage the Whitman School’s top-ranked online MBA program (iMBA) to deliver an eight-week educational experience focused on the fundamentals of launching and/or growing a small business.

“With tens of thousands of U.S. military personnel returning home disabled from conflict, our Entrepreneurial Bootcamp for Veterans is more critical than ever,” says SU Chancellor and President Nancy Cantor. “We’re proud SU is leading the way in integrating this type of support for veterans and their families into a national university’s mission. SU’s legacy has always been one of access and inclusion and this new SBA grant will allow this groundbreaking program to expand its efforts to serve those who have so honorably served our nation.”

“We are pleased that our partnership with the SBA gives us the support we need to successfully launch such a comprehensive, national and innovative program,” says Haynie. “Under the leadership of our dean, Melvin T. Stith, a U.S. Army veteran, we are able to continue a strong Whitman legacy of serving the veteran community and providing them with valuable entrepreneurial skills.”

“In partnership with the SBA, the Whitman School is well positioned to leverage both its top-ranked entrepreneurship program, and also our ongoing commitment to veterans and their families, to design and deliver an impactful program that will pay lasting dividends to our veterans and this nation,” says Stith.

Nationally recognized as an innovator and leader in entrepreneurship education, the Whitman School is in a unique position among America’s institutions of higher learning to serve both the SBA and the veteran community through implementing entrepreneurship practices.�� SU has a long-standing tradition of educating military veterans and active duty personnel, demonstrated by several important military- and veteran-related programs administered around the University. The $2.6 million award from the SBA will help the Whitman School leverage its long history of serving veterans, its national ranking in entrepreneurship, and its history of developing and executing world-class entrepreneurship training programs, in order to make both new programs successful.

The U.S. Small Business Administration was created in 1953 as an independent agency of the federal government to aid, counsel, assist, and protect the interests of small businesses. Through an extensive network of field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations, it delivers its services to people throughout the United States. SBA programs include financial and federal contract procurement assistance, management assistance, and specialized outreach to women, minorities and armed forces veterans.

Media queries can be directed to Ray Toenniessen at the Whitman School, at (315) 443-0256 or rmtoenni@syr.edu.

The EBV was first launched at the Whitman School of Management in 2007, and is a world-class training program in entrepreneurship and small business management offered to post-9/11 veterans with disabilities resulting from their service.��The program has since expanded to a network of other business schools across the United States that includes UCLA’s Anderson School of Management, Florida State University’s College of Business, the Mays School of Business at Texas A&M University, the Krannert School at Purdue University, and the College of Business at the University of Connecticut.��  

One of the honorary captains, Canella, a 24-year-old Marine Corps veteran, graduated from the EBV program at Syracuse University in 2010.��He says, “At 15 years old, I remember seeing the smoke from the fallen Trade Center towers out of the window of my school bus on Sept. 11, 2001, and swore to enlist and fight for my country. I enlisted in the Marines with written consent from my parents at the age of 17, and left for boot camp 12 days after graduating high school in 2004.” 

Canella deployed to Al An Bar province of Iraq as an infantry rifleman, and while deployed he conducted more than 180 missions.��Canella came to the EBV program to learn the skills he needs to launch a not-for-profit venture called HonorVet, an online forum where veterans can share their transition-related struggles and experiences with other veterans and professional counselors.��In addition to representing the team on the field at the start of the game on Saturday, Canella will also speak to the players and coaches during their final practice before the game on Friday.��

The EBV graduates will also take part in a very special presentation during halftime of the game. On behalf of the Dream Machine recycling program, Jeremy Cage, senior vice president of Innovation and Insights at Beverages Americas, will present the EBV with a $500,000 donation.��The Dream Machine program—a multi-year collaboration between PepsiCo (NYSE: PEP), Waste Management (NYSE: WM) and Keep America Beautiful—was designed to drive success around PepsiCo’s goal of increasing the U.S. beverage container recycling rate from 34 to 50 percent by 2018.��The program is introducing thousands of recycling bins and computerized kiosks at popular locations across the United States to offer people a convenient and rewarding way to recycle their bottles and cans while on the go.��The more that people recycle in a Dream Machine, the more support PepsiCo can provide EBV. To learn more visit: .��

“Recognizing these four outstanding veterans as a part of Courage Day is a small gesture on our part, when compared to everything they have sacrificed for this nation.��It will truly be a special day here at Syracuse University,” says Melvin T. Stith, dean of the Whitman School.

Modeled after the (EBV), a similar initiative first launched at SU in 2007, the EBV Families program is offered without any cost to participants.��The EBV Families program represents a novel and innovative educational initiative designed to leverage the flexibility inherent in self-employment to personally and professionally empower military family members.��Military families face daunting challenges in maintaining a stable home life, while supporting a family member who has transitioned to civilian life with significant and enduring disabilities resulting from military service.��

The EBV Families program consists of a four-week online course, followed by a week-long residency program at SU, and then 12 months of small business mentorship.��The program is open to military family members who now find themselves in a full-time caregiver role for a wounded warrior, and also to the surviving spouse of a soldier, sailor, airman or Marine who lost their life in service to the country.

“The U.S. is welcoming home more veterans with serious disabilities than at any other time in our country’s history.��Many of these men and women will depend on the support of their families, both in terms of managing the activities of daily living, and also financially,” says Mike Haynie, director and founder of the Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans program and assistant professor of entrepreneurship at the Whitman School of Management at Syracuse University.��

Eighteen caregivers and military family members will participate in the inaugural program, including: 

• Leyda Rivera, from Canovanas, Puerto Rico: Rivera’s husband was severely injured during a mortar attack while deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, and has required more than 18 surgeries throughout his recovery.��Rivera has always had a passion for business ownership and hopes that the EBV-F program will give her the tools she needs to support her family.�� “This is my time to step up to the plate and take charge of the future,” says Rivera.��
• Nelida Bagley from Tampa, Fla.: Bagley is the mother of Jose Poqueno, an Army staff sergeant who was severely injured while deployed to Iraq in 2006. Poqueno suffered severe traumatic brain injury and lost use of the left side of his brain during an IED attack. Bagley and her family provide 24-hour care for Poqueno and are responsible for everything that contributes to his well-being.��Bagley hopes she can take the knowledge that she gains from the EBV-F program, and pair it with her experiences as a caregiver, to lessen the burdens on fellow caregivers through a venture that offers resources and networks for the community of caregivers.
• Kristin Grubb from Louisville, Ky.: Grubb is the wife of Brian, who lost his right eye in June 2004 and has endured more than 10 surgeries at multiple hospitals.��Although Brian can drive, Kristin must be in the vehicle, and takes an active role with helping him to judge traffic, distances, etc.��Kristin says that through opportunity and dedication, anyone can learn a skill to better their lives and that of the community in which they live.��She hopes to use her strong sense of dedication and the skills she will learn in EBV-F to open a café to not only benefit her family, but her entire community.

Ernst & Young is the founding sponsor of the EBV Families program.�� “As part of our long-standing commitment to entrepreneurship, and our support of the men and women who have sacrificed so much for our country, we’re proud to sponsor a program that helps family members of recently deceased or disabled veterans,” says Steve Howe, Ernst & Young LLP, Americas Area Managing Partner. “By providing funding for the program and hands-on assistance, we’re helping these families start and build successful businesses.”

Speakers at the welcome dinner that kicks off the program on the evening of Nov. 7 include Col. Daryl Williams (commander of the U.S. Army’s Warrior Transition Command) and Col. (ret.) Jill Chambers (former special assistant to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs and the 2010 Department of Defense “Senior Professional Woman of the Year”).�� Performing at the opening event will be country music star Michael Peterson, a multiple Grammy and CMA nominee who was also the 2008 recipient of the USO’s Bob Hope “Spirit of Hope Award” for his tireless support of our military, veterans and their families.

About the Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities
The Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities (EBV) offers cutting edge, experiential training in entrepreneurship and small business management to soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines disabled as a result of their service supporting operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.��The program was founded at Syracuse University in 2007, and has since expanded to a network of world-class business schools that includes the Whitman School of Management at Syracuse University, UCLA’s Anderson School of Management, Florida State University’s College of Business, the Mays School of Business at Texas A&M University, the Krannert School at Purdue University and the College of Business at the University of Connecticut.��

About Ernst & Young
Ernst & Young is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services. Worldwide, 141,000 people are united by shared values and an unwavering commitment to quality. Ernst & Young refers to the global organization of member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. For more information, visit .

Media queries can be directed to Ray Toenniessen, national managing director of EBV Programs, at (315) 443-0256 or rmtoenni@syr.edu.