SALISBURY, Md., December 1, 2025 – On November 13, 2025, Project Opportunity conducted its Sixth Annual Business Pitch Competition for graduates of our program. We are pleased to announce the winners of the competition.
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Grant provides veterans alternative to traditional employment and offers chance to hone and utilize the skills and training received while on active duty.
Project Opportunity Prince George’s County Spring 2019 graduating class.
TYSONS Va., December 12, 2024 – The PenFed Foundation, a national 501(c)3 founded by PenFed Credit Union, today announced it awarded a grant to Project OpportunitySM , a free entrepreneurship training program offered to veterans in the State of Maryland. The grant supports the spring classes currently open for registration.
“The PenFed Foundation is proud to support Project OpportunitySM in providing entrepreneurship training for veterans and ultimately creating more jobs for veterans,” said PenFed Foundation President Andrea McCarren. “The military community’s resilience and entrepreneurial spirit is invaluable for our nation’s business sector.”
Project Opportunity’sSM training is offered to active duty, reserve, guard, and veteran small business owners. 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.
The program is a 10-week intensive course designed to prepare participants to research and complete a business plan. They use the NxLevel Curriculum, a nationally recognized entrepreneurship training program, and supplement course material with presentations by subject matter experts in topics including marketing research and analysis, cash flow analysis, credit for small businesses, commercial insurance, a tax based and legal based review of the four business entities, sales presentations, web site design, and procurement opportunities on the state and federal levels for veteran owned businesses.
“Funding for Project OpportunitySM 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 OpportunitySM Joe Giordano. “We are very honored to receive funding from the PenFed Foundation to help us provide our free course of instruction.”
Project Opportunity is currently accepting applications here for upcoming classes including:
- Prince George’s Spring 2025 Class – Thursday evenings starting on 3/13/2025 and ending on 5/22/2025 from 6:30 to 9:30 PM at Prince George’s Community College (Lanham Hall Room 203) located at 301 Largo Road in Largo
- Howard County Spring 2025 Class – Thursday evenings starting on 2/20/2025 and ending on 5/8/2025 from 6:00 to 8:30 PM at the Maryland Innovation Center (Silver Room) located at 6751 Columbia Gateway Drive, Columbia, Maryland 21046
About Project Opportunity
Project OpportunitySM 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 OpportunitySM has since expanded to Annapolis, Baltimore, Columbia, Glen Burnie, Prince George’s County and Southern Maryland. Contributions from county economic development authorities, local banks, fraternal organizations and private foundations help ensure that the classes are free to veteran participants. To learn more, visit www.project-opportunity.com.
About PenFed Foundation
Founded in 2001, The PenFed Foundation is a national nonprofit organization that supports veterans in their transition from service to success. Affiliated with PenFed Credit Union, the Foundation has provided more than $55 million in financial support to veterans, active-duty service members and military families. PenFed Credit Union covers the salaries and administrative costs of The PenFed Foundation, so more of your donation goes right to our programs. To learn more, please visit www.penfedfoundation.org.
On November 9, 2023, Project OpportunitySM conducted its Fourth Annual Business Pitch Competition for graduates of our program. We are pleased to announce the winners of the competition.
On November 9, 2023, Project OpportunitySM conducted its Fourth Annual Business Pitch Competition for graduates of our program. We are pleased to announce the winners of the competition.
Project OpportunitySM is pleased to announce the completion of its initial Mentoring Pilot Program which was conducted with graduates of Harford County Veteran and Military Spouse Classes. A total of nine (9) individuals were selected to participate with seven (7) completing the program and graduating on September 14, 2023.
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CONTACT: Suzanne Fischer-Huettner
EMAIL: [email protected]
Baltimore (October 9, 2023) — The Daily Record has named Joe Giordano, the Founder of Project OpportunitySM, one of the inaugural Veterans in Business & Law Award winners.
This new award honors military veterans who are making a significant impact on Maryland business and legal fields and also continuing to give back to their communities. To be considered for the honor, the nominee must be a former member of the U.S. military, living and working in Maryland, and in a senior leadership position at a company or firm. A listing of the winners is below.
“The 2023 Veterans in Business & Law honorees are extraordinary leaders. These military veterans are innovators, combining what they learned in the military and applying that knowledge to their professions and to the community,” said Suzanne Fischer-Huettner, managing director of BridgeTower Media/The Daily Record. “We at The Daily Record thank them for all they have done and will continue to do to make our community a better place to live and to work.”
The 2023 Veterans in Business & Law recipients will be recognized at an online awards celebration on Nov. 10. The program will feature inspiring interviews with each honoree, a message from key sponsors and storytelling about the impact the honorees are having on Maryland and how that impact ties to their military service. The honorees will also be profiled on Nov. 13 in print and online at TheDailyRecord.com. The awards celebration hashtag is #TDRevents.
Sponsorship packages feature various benefits including admission to the online event, marketing in the winner videos, logo usage, downloadable interview segments, print, digital and social media recognition, and more. Once sponsorships close on October 23, tickets to the online event will be available for purchase. To secure a sponsorship, contact Suzanne Fischer-Huettner at [email protected].
For an updated listing of sponsors and more information about the 2023 Veterans in Business & Law, visit TheDailyRecord.com/event/veterans-in-business-law/.
About The Daily Record
The Daily Record is a digital first, daily news media company focused on law, government and business at TheDailyRecord.com. The Daily Record publishes a print edition on weekdays in addition to more than 25 special products a year in a variety of industries. The Daily Record hosts 11 annual events to recognize excellence and provide leadership opportunities. These events include Maryland’s Top 100 Women, Most Admired CEOs, Influential Marylanders, Health Care Heroes, Icon Honors and more. The Daily Record also facilitates webinars bringing local experts from the business community together to discuss current topics and trends. Its Digital Marketing Solutions helps customers with social media, search engine marketing and optimization, retargeting and email marketing among other services. The Daily Record, with 135 years of editorial excellence, is part of BridgeTower Media, the leading provider of B2B information, research, events and marketing solutions across more than 25 U.S. markets and industries.
2023 Veterans in Business & Law Honorees
- Thomas Barnard, Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell and Berkowitz
- The Honorable Wayne Brooks, Howard County District Court
- Michael DeMos, C360 Agency & The Victory 360 Agency
- Erica Dobbs, Dobbs Defense Solutions
- Harold Dwin, Cohen & Dwin P.A.
- Nicholas Eremita, UMGC
- Joshua Gayfield, Miles & Stockbridge
- Joe Giordano, Project Opportunity
- Andrew Gross, Law Office of Andrew P. Gross
- Wes Guckert, The Traffic Group Inc.
- The Honorable Geoffrey Hengerer, District Court of Maryland for Baltimore City
- Donta Henson, Los Hermanos Tequila
- Ryan Kules, Strong Deeds MD LLC
- Hugh McClean, University of Baltimore School of Law
- Ryan McLean, Public Service Commission of Maryland
- Rory Murray, Providence Strategies
- Emmett Roberts, Maryland Veterans Chamber of Commerce
- Jeremy Scholtes, Miles & Stockbridge
- Caleb Sebra, C. K. Signals Inc.
- Ronald Steptoe, Warrior Centric Health Inc.
- Artie Travis, Frostburg State University
- The Honorable Halee Weinstein, State of Maryland Judiciary
- Eric Wyss, Heritage Financial Consultants LLC
About Project Opportunity
Project OpportunitySM 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 OpportunitySM has since expanded to Annapolis, Baltimore, Columbia, Glen Burnie, Prince George’s County and Southern Maryland. Contributions from county economic development authorities, local banks, fraternal organizations and private foundations help ensure that the classes are free to veteran participants. To learn more, visit www.project-opportunity.com.
SALISBURY, Md., December 8, 2022 – On November 16, 2022 Project OpportunitySM conducted its Third Annual Business Pitch Competition for graduates of our program. We are pleased to announce the winners of the competition:
Early Start-Up Category:
- Lindsay Kinslow – CEO Optimal Business Solutions – $5000.00 Award
- Mollie Nelson – CEO Wilde Lake Botanicals LLC – $2500.00 Award
- Krystal Waters-Howard – CEO Sky Krystal Krafts $500.00 Award
Established Business Category:
- Samuel Acquah – CEO A.B. Consulting, LLC – $15,000.00 Award
- Adrienne Somerville – CEO Somerville Consulting Group – $6,000.00 Award
- Victoria Buggs – CEO Center for Health Education and Safety Specialists LLC – $2000.00 Award
- Danielle Johnson – CEO The Platinum Gallery, LLC – $500.00 Award
We would like to acknowledge and thank the Business Pitch Competition Judges:
- Carlene Cassidy – CEO Philip and Carole R. Ratcliffe Foundation.
- Ryan Del Gallo – Business Consultant, Maryland Small Business Development Center, Northern Region.
- Tim Wilson – Vice President, Finance Think Consulting
- Tiffany Davis – Owner, Washington Accounting Services, Inc., and Project OpportunitySM Facilitator for Southern Maryland and Prince George’s County.
- Joel C. Bakal, Chief Financial office, H&M Wagner and Sons Foodservice
Project OpportunitySM has formed an Educational Partnership with Pitch Creator to provide the Pitch Creator Foundation Course to program graduates to assist them in preparing for the Project OpportunitySM Annual Business Pitch Competition. Business pitch participants were provided the Pitch Creator Foundation Course at no charge along with eight (8) hours of individual coaching/mentoring by our facilitators. Special thanks to our Business Pitch Coaches:
- Brenda Dilts, Owner Next Step LLC and Senior Project OpportunitySM Facilitator for Anne Arundel and Howard Counties.
- Patricia Newby, President Strategic Business Partnership and Project OpportunitySM Precentor for classes in Baltimore City, Anne Arundel, and Howard Counties.
- Warline Bryant, Chief Executive Officer, BHL Group, LLC. and Project OpportunitySM Facilitator for Harford County
- Elizabeth Doubleday, President Doubleday Concepts, LLC and Project OpportunitySM Presenter for Classes in Baltimore City, Anne Arundel and Howard Counties
Funding for the Business Pitch Competition was provided by the Philip E and Carol R Ratcliffe Foundation. The Ratcliffe Foundation is based in Annapolis Maryland and operates as a charitable organization designed to encourage and reward entrepreneurship, create jobs and expand economic opportunities.
To learn more, visit the Ratcliffe Foundation at https://www.ratcliffefoundation.com/
In this episode, Joe Giordano, retired Army Master Sergeant and founder of Project Opportunity- a free ten-week entrepreneurship training program for veterans based in Salisbury, Maryland shares the challenges to overcome to become a successful veteran entrepreneur. In a world where entrepreneurship is COOL, to be a true success it goes deeper than just an idea. We discuss things like, business plans and the components of them i.e. market research, financial modeling, SWOT analysis, and competitor analysis. Along with how to test your assumptions of product market fit and forecasted revenue growth and fundraising.
By the end of this one Ambitious VET, you will understand what it takes to be a TRUE veteran entrepreneur and why it’s important to take programs like Project OpportunitySM to ensure you aren’t wasting your time or resources on a pathway with no GOLD at the end of the tunnel!