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.
Posted with permission.
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!
SALISBURY, Md., December 13, 2021 – On November 18, 2021 Project OpportunitySM conducted its Second Annual Business Pitch Competition for graduates of our program. We are pleased to announce the winners of the competition:
Start Up Category:
- Broderick Neel-Feller, Founder Jammin’ Together and Baltimore Fall 2020 Class Graduate – $2500.00 Award
- Michael Wilson, Founder/CEOL MP Fitness and Prince George’s Fall 2020 Class Graduate – $1500.00 Award
Established Business Category:
- Toni Tomlin, DOE Faith to Felicity LLC and Prince George’s Spring 2021 Class Graduate – $10.000.00 Award
- Jesse Sieff, Founder Sieff Studios and Howard County Spring 2021 Class Graduate – $5000.00 Award
Non Profit Category
- Patricia Wells, COE WeModel USA NWECalre, Inc. and Prince George’s Spring 2021 Class Graduate – $4000.00 Award
- Katie Kilby, Founder Reveille Grounds and Military Spouse Spring 2020 Class Graduate – $2000.00 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 – Manager, TEDCO Builder Fund.
- 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
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/
Hosted by the Governor’s Office of Small, Minority & Women Business Affairs
When: November 5th, 2021 at 10:00 AM.
Where: Zoom
Guest: Joe Giordano, Founder of Project Opportunity
ATTENTION VETERAN ENTREPRENEURS!
Veterans and military spouses have access to free training, coaching and support in pursuit of owning and operating a successful small business.
Project Opportunity is a free entrepreneurship training program designed solely for veterans (Active Duty, Guard/Reserve Personnel, and Veterans) who want to start their own business or expand their current small business. Program graduates are in various stages of their business ventures, ranging from finalizing their business plan to actual launch and earning income. They have successfully conducted this program for over 250 veterans all of which are currently pursuing their dream of owning a small business. Military spouses are welcome, too!
What you need to know:
- This is a quick overview; we promise to keep it under 1 hour.
- There is no cost to attend; advance registration is required.
- This session will be recorded; by registering, you are consenting to be recorded.
- Upon receiving a registration confirmation, you will be given a unique link to join the event.
SALISBURY, Md., April 1, 2021 – Project OpportunitySM, an entrepreneurship training program for active-duty military, reserve personnel, and veterans who reside or are stationed in Maryland, announced today that it has formed an Entrepreneurial Partnership with Chow Corp. (“Chow”) to provide vocational and business formation / planning education to participants in Chow’s Food Truck Fellowship.
“Project OpportunitySM is excited to begin working with Chow Corp. to afford those veterans and military spouses enrolled in their program business plan preparation and business planning tools and resources said Joe Giordano, Retired US Army Master Sergeant and Founder of Project Opportunity”.
“Chow partnered with Project OpportunitySM because it is the perfect capstone for our Food Truck Fellowship. Chow is rethinking vocational training. Our Fellows are on a track to become business owners in the culinary industry. With Project Opportunity’s help, it is only a matter of time before a Chow Fellow becomes a James Beard Award winner,” said Jordan Foley, Founder and CEO of Chow and active-duty Navy Officer.
Chow has partnered with Project OpportunitySM, a free entrepreneurship training program designed for veterans, active duty, reserve personnel, and military spouses who want to start their own business or expand their current small business. Chow’s Fellows will concurrently and after completion of the Food Truck Training Program enroll in Project Opportunity. Chow offers the vocational culinary experience and Project OpportunitySM provides the business skills. This partnership is a major step in preparing Chow’s Fellows for successful business ownership in the culinary industry!
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.