SRU's SEA and PNC Bank cohosting event for veteran entrepreneurs

Slippery Rock University's Sustainable Enterprise Accelerator will cohost a veterans and small business entrepreneurs event with PNC Bank, Nov. 6 at the Russell Wright Alumni House.

Nov. 1, 2017

SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. - Slippery Rock University's Sustainable Enterprise Accelerator and PNC Bank will cohost a veterans and small business entrepreneurs event at 6 p.m., Nov. 6 at the Russell Wright Alumni House. The gathering is being staged in recognition of National Veterans Small Business Week.

The event is free and open to the public and all entrepreneurs, especially veterans, are encouraged to attend.

The event will consist of two "how to" presentations designed for veteran entrepreneurs. Tom Weikel, small business administration business development officer at PNC Bank, and Victor Mega, a small business owner who is a veteran and a PNC customer, will present "How to Get the Fuel to Launch Your Business." John Golden, assistant professor of business and director of the SEA, will speak to attendees about "How to Make Your Big Idea Really Happen!"

"It's important for veterans to be involved because they might not be able to get this experience anywhere else," said Nicole Klimowicz, a senior environmental science major from East Aurora, New York, who is the SEA student ambassador for the event. "The first (presentation) will be about marketing a small business and starting it up and the second will be about making it come true."

The two presentations will be followed by networking and question-and-answer sessions. Light appetizers and refreshments will be provided.

The SEA is a University-owned, student-run business consultation firm that helps entrepreneurs start sustainable businesses and helps established businesses grow with sustainability in mind.

According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, approximately one out of every 10 veterans owns a business, and veteran-owned firms employ 5.8 million individuals. A recent SBA study found that military service exhibits one of the largest marginal effects on self-employment, and veterans are 45 percent more likely to be self-employed than non-veterans.

MEDIA CONTACT: Justin Zackal | 724.738.4854 | justin.zackal@sru.edu