VWEC Founder & CEO VR Small joins Cat Corchado host for the Sisters in Service Podcast

Sisters in Service is presented by Cat Corchado, also known as The Voice Connecting Women Veterans Nationwide.  Sisters-in-Service is a podcast that gives women veterans, military spouses, military brats, a chance to talk about the trials and triumphs that affected them in service and especially after service. This podcast also highlights Veteran Service Organizations (VSO) that help veterans with resources needed and women veteran entrepreneurs who are BOSSES in their business. Every Tuesday, Sisters-in-Service encourages women veterans to stand up and be counted because as a community - We have a voice!

Adriana Lopez, Co-host Texas Today on NBC 5 interviews VR Small, Founder/CEO, VWEC

VR Small is interviewed by Adriana Lopez, Co-host Texas Today on NBC 5 sharing inspiring stories of women who have served featured in the Color Freedom Traveling Exhibited opening at the African American Museum.

VR Small & Kristin Dickerson host NBC 5 Texas Today discuss supporting female veteran business owners

Kristin Dickerson host NBC 5 Texas Today meets with our Founder/CEO VR Small to discuss how the Veteran Women’s Enterprise Center (VWEC) Dallas, helps take female veteran businesses to the next level.

FOX 4 - Shaun Rabb - Here & Now: The Veteran Women’s Enterprise Center

A Dallas organization is working to empower women veterans through business. The Veteran Women’s Enterprise Center works to help women scale their businesses and thrive! FOX 4's Shaun Rabb learns more in this week's Here & Now.

Join Men Relationships and Other Fables with guest VR Small, Founder/CEO VWEC

We learn and grow from those who have done the work and manifested phenomenal success in business and in life. Today, Nicole chats with VR Small, Founder and CEO of the Veteran Women’s Enterprise Center (VWEC).

The VWEC is leading the charge to help Women Warriors Win the Business Battle. VWEC provides customized coaching, grants and tailored training to empower entrepreneur women associated with the military to scale for success.

Lawmaker and community leader weigh in on the importance of honoring veterans

Rep. Tony Tinderholt and our Founder/CEO VR Small join "In Focus Texas - Spectrum News 1" with Dr. Nicole Cross to share how they are supporting our veteran communities.

Each year, thousands of men and women enlist in our military to fight our enemies and protect our freedom. However, when our service members leave the battlefield, many need help and healing. Get connected!

https://spectruminfocus.com/section/in-focus/in-focus-shows/2021/07/04/lawmaker-and-community-leader-weigh-in-on-the-importance-of-honoring-veterans

Watch "VR Small Helps Women Veterans Find Their Entrepreneurial Spirit" on YouTube link

VR Small is an amazing and strong woman with an absolute determination to create opportunity for #womenveterans starting with her Center for #entrepreneurship in #Texas. Online participation is also available. Listen to VR as she talks about why she decided to develop this resource and what all they have going on. 

Living Learning Working 

The Frontrunners League

 Frontrunners Development, Inc. 

Center helps female veterans succeed with entrepreneurial help - Good Day Dallas - FOX 4 News features Women Veterans

https://www.fox4news.com/video/942856

WEDallas Mompreneur Event powered by Capital One | Funding with VR Small of VWEC

VR Small, founder & CEO of the Veteran Women's Enterprise Center, spoke about funding at this year's WEDallas Mompreneur Event powered by Capital One.

This year's event included incredible keynote speaker and mompreneur Catherine Lowe, breakout sessions on funding and marketing/branding, booths with information about speakers and their companies, and more. This event was hosted at Common Desk - Downtown Dallas with limited capacity and was also live-streamed virtually. We kicked off at 2:30 pm virtually. Keynote, Catherine Lowe, was in person and live-streamed at 4:00 pm.

WE (Women Entrepreneurs) Dallas is a signature program created by Capital One and The DEC Network. This year-round series is designed to equip, inspire and empower women entrepreneurs in North Texas. WEDallas Signature Programming will include a Mompreneur Kickoff Event, a WEDallas Inaugural Cohort, WEDallas Session at Women of Innovation Summit, and UTD Women’s Summit partnership all focusing on elevating women entrepreneurs by providing training and resources.

Join Transformation Matters with guest VR Small, Founder/CEO VWEC

Welcome to Transformation Matters !! Today we are interviewing VR Small the Founder and CEO of VWEC the Veteran Women’s Enterprise Center (VWEC)!

VR and the Veteran Women’s Enterprise Center are Transforming the lives of our Women Warriors as they tackle the world of business and create prosperity in their communities.

Visit www.veteranwomensec.org

City of Dallas - In Support of our Veterans Housing Rights Services, and Business Expansion

Mayor Johnson announced the creation of a Veterans Affairs Commission Veterans Day 2020. The Commission exists to represent the city’s military veteran community by evaluating and recommending programs, policies, and practices designed to alleviate veterans’ difficulties in meeting basic needs, obtaining housing, employment, and comprehensive mental health assistance, and serving as a clearinghouse for information relating to the status of veterans in Dallas.

To meet the needs of Dallas’ veteran community, the City of Dallas is hosting a “In Support of Our Veterans – Housing Rights, Services, and Business Expansion Summit” Thursday, April 29. The event will provide information on housing protections, business expansion, housing services, and general services for veterans.

The VWEC’s Founder/CEO VR Small will moderate a Veteran Entrepreneur & Nonprofit Resource Panel Discussions that begins at 1:59.59 during the YouTube Session

12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.            Veteran-owned Business Support and Expansion

 1:30 p.m. – 2:55 p.m.             Non-Profit Services Panel Discussion

MODERATOR - VETERAN ENTREPRENEUR & NONPROFIT RESOURCE PANELS

Name: VR Small

Title: Founder/CEO Veteran Women's Enterprise Center (VWEC)

Short Bio: VR Small, Founder/CEO, Veteran Women’s Enterprise Center, a national initiative expanding across our nation helping entrepreneur women associated with the military scale for success. Committed to advocacy, VR serves on the Advisory Committee for TWU, Center for Women Entrepreneurs, is a fellow of SMU, Hunt Institute for Engineering and Humanity—Inclusive Economy, Dallas Public Voices, and the Bush Institute Stand-to-Veteran Leadership Program. She is featured in Dallas Innovates 2020: The Future 50 North Texans, was selected as SBA’s DFW 2020 Veterans Small Business Advocate of the Year, and a Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) Center for Women Veterans (CWV) 2021 Trailblazers “Women Veterans Leading the Way.” She is also an active member of the Women Veteran Business Coalition.An experienced motivational speaker, moderator, and educator, VR has a history of success, driving social and economic innovations across our nation. She believes in designing strategies that promote her personal slogan “Changing the way we see the world and do business.” These include global strategies to ensure women possess the resources necessary to achieve their definition of success.

Veteran-owned Business Support and Expansion - Panelists

Name: Patrick E Alcorn, MBA

Title: Director, Veterans Business Outreach Center, University of Texas Arlington College of Business

Short Bio: Patrick E Alcorn is Director of the Veterans Business Outreach Center University of Texas Arlington.  He served nine years in the United States Army, including time as a Cadet at West Point. He is a small business owner who served as an NCAA athlete, a US Army combat engineer, a deputy city councilman, and an award-winning sales professional for Fortune 100 companies.  Patrick is a 2016 SBA Small Business Champion of the Year and a 2018 Fort Worth Business Press C-Suite Award recipient.  As a certified business adviser and leadership coach, Patrick knows how to empower you to get up, get out and keep moving—even under the most difficult circumstances.

Name: Bridget Moon

Title: Economic Development Specialist/Veterans Business Development Office, U.S. Small Business Administration

Short Bio: Bridget is from the Dallas/Fort Worth District Office serving Texas’s Northern 72 counties, as an Economic Development Specialist and Veteran Business Development Officer. Prior, Bridget began her SBA 20+ year career as an SBA Disaster Loan Officer, and served as a Public Information Officer, Supervisory Loan Officer for home and business underwriting, and included traveling the United States and Territories for direct disaster recovery efforts.In addition, Bridget has a degree in Entrepreneurship and over 30 years of experience as an entrepreneur. She has worked along manufacturing industries, fisheries, metal fabricating, real estate investments, and the entertainment industry, to name a few. She believes her mission is to help others succeed in all their endeavors.

Name: Anna Baker, MBA, PMP

Title: Manger, Veteran Entrepreneur Program

Short Bio:  Anna Baker is the Manager of the Veteran Entrepreneur Program at the Texas Veterans Commission.  After serving in the United States Air Force as a Korean linguist, Anna was awarded the prestigious Hatton W. Sumners Scholarship and graduated Magna Cum Laude from Schreiner University.  Since 2005, Anna has held a Project Management Professional Certification and in 2012 she received an MBA from Baylor University.  Before joining the Texas Veterans Commission, she led sales and operations for Dell Inc. and for Tech Data Corporation where over the 17 years she received various leadership awards and recognition.  As an entrepreneur, Anna has owned several small businesses including real estate and on-line retail, and as the manager of the Veteran Entrepreneur Program, she educates and empowers veterans to start and grow their businesses.

Non-Profit Services Panel Discussion - Panelists

Name: Alexa Petty

Title: North Texas Regional Manager, North Texas Network

Short Bio: Alexa Petty is a native Houstonian, proud Texan, and military spouse. After graduating from Texas

A&M University, she worked in Austin, Texas at the state capitol. During her time at the capitol, sheserved as a legislative and press assistant to a member of the Texas House of Representatives. Shefocused mostly on mental health and public education policy. Today, she serves as the North TexasRegional Manager of Combined Arms/the Texas Veterans Network. Every day she works to convenebest-in-class organizations to ensure our military community is receiving the resources they need. Aspart of the Texas Veterans Network team, Alexa is part of making Texas the first interconnected statefor veteran resources. Through her various roles, one common thread is Alexa’s passion forpositively impacting and serving her community.

Name: Mallory Morris

Title: North Texas Marketing Coordinator, Veterans Land Board

Short Bio:  Mallory is a South Carolina native and new transplant to the Dallas-Fort Worth area as of February 2020.  As political science graduate of Winthrop University, she has had the experience in working in political campaigns in every level of government at least twice before she moved over to the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office where she served constituents in the Post-Conviction Relief and Securities sections.   Mallory now serves as the North Texas Marketing Coordinator for the Texas Veterans Land Board under Navy Veteran Commissioner George P. Bush. As a granddaughter of a World War II Flying Tiger stationed in China, Mallory’s dedication, and passion for serving our nation’s military began at a young age.  During her time as a political science student at Winthrop University, Mallory began her career in trying to assist veterans by referring resources to them while working the campaign trails and has continued doing that in every job she has served to date.  Because the Texas Veterans Land Board is a state agency with so many resources besides land, Mallory is eager to use her resources and connections to help Texas veterans receive all of their benefits and help that they need.

Name: Yolonde Rocio

Title: Public Affairs Specialist, North Texas Department of Veteran Affairs

BIO: Yolonde Rocio served in the United States Army for over 13 years including her

participation in Operation Desert Storm. Yolonde is currently is a Public AffairsSpecialist with the VA North Texas Healthcare System. She has a bachelor’s in BusinessManagement and a master’s in Psychology.

In 2018 Yolonde began her career with the Department of Veterans Affairs where shewas given full reign to create a 2-year initiative to change the way the VA was viewed byVeterans and the community at large. She and her coworker reached an unprecedentedgoal within the first 6 months by enrolling over 800 new patients into VA’s Healthcareand educating well over 100,000 Veterans, stakeholders, and community leaders. Inaddition to educating the public they were able to bring the VA from zero VeteransEquitable Resource Allocation (VERA) dollars to well over $10 million which has yet tobe duplicated in the United States.

Before coming to the Department of Veteran Affairs Yolonde was the Office Manager atthe Fort Worth American GI Forum (AGIF) for 3 years. Yolonde says serving homelessVeterans was one of the most rewarding opportunities she has ever had.

Prior to AGIF, Yolonde was the Veterans Coordinator at Easter Seals where she createdthe first ever Veterans Services program for that organization and was monumental inthe organization receiving an enormous grant for Easter Seals to help assist Veterans.Yolonde hopes to retire in 5 years and says then her priority will be to completely fill allthe pages of her passport. Name: Catherine B. Smith

Title: Women Veterans Coordinator, Texas Veterans CommissionShort Bio: Catherine B. Smith (US Army Veteran) currently serves as the Women Veterans Coordinator atthe Texas Veterans Commission. Texas Veterans Commission (TVC) is the state appointedadvocate for Texas Veterans, their families, and survivors. Ms Smith educates women veteranson the benefits and services they’ve earned through their military service; assist womenveterans with accessing those benefits and services; and collaborates with federal, state, andlocal partners to provide existing services and create new services to meet unmet needs.

Prior to joining the Women Veterans Program, she worked as a Veterans Employer Liaison (VEL)working with employers to create job opportunities for Veterans and received the followingawards in the Veterans Employment Department: Texas Veterans Commission VEL TeamworkAward (North) and North Texas Region’s VER (Veterans Employer Representative) of theQuarter. Prior to joining TVC, Ms. Smith worked with the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC)as a Trade Adjustment Assistant, Eligibility Specialist with the Child Care Group, and a UIEmployment Consultant.

Ms. Smith served a little over 5 years in Personnel in the United States Army and Active ArmyReserve (Operation Desert Storm Veteran). Ms. Smith received the following awards while inthe military: Good Conduct Medal, Army Achievement Medal 1st OLC, Army CommendationMedal, NCO Professional Military Education Graduate Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, ArmyService Ribbon, and the National Defense Service Medal.

Prior to joining TVC, Ms. Smith worked with the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) as a TradeAdjustment Assistant, Eligibility Specialist with the Child Care Group, and a UI EmploymentConsultant. Ms. Smith holds a bachelor's degree from Hampton Institute University.

Celebrating Women Veterans for Women’s History Month River City Live, WJXT - Jacksonville, Florida. Rance Adams interviews VR Small, Founder/CEO, VWEC, Part 2.

The Brandon Holt Show: Actor Vincent Ward; CEO VR Small

Celebrating Women Veterans for Women’s History Month River City Live, WJXT - Jacksonville, Florida. Rance Adams interview with VR Small, Founder/CEO VWEC

Highlighting Women Veterans for Women’s History Month WFAA Weekend Daybreak-Dallas, TX

Daytime Diva Lynne Haze: Conversation with VR Small, Founder/CEO, Veteran Women's Enterprise Center (VWEC)

Known as “The Daytime Diva with the Voice,” celebrity radio personality, Lynne Haze, has one of the most recognizable voices and contagious personalities in radio today. A 21st Century Mary Magdalene, growing up, the native New Yorker had no clue that not only would “radio personality” be a description on her resume, but her path to life.

A mother-daughter heart-to-heart prompted the start of Lynne’s career in her hometown of Buffalo, New York, at WUFO-FM. There, she worked as a news and weekend broadcaster until she moved to WBLK and worked successfully as a late night host. Later, the Universe tilted her toward Dallas, Texas where, at KKDA-AM, Lynne found herself an on-air personality in the #5 radio market in the country.

At the peak of her career, Lynne decided it was time for a challenge and transitioned to a career in the record industry, where for 10 years she thrived considerably at RCA Records, Warner Brother Records and Mercury Records. Not stopping there, Lynne has used her sultry, contralto voice as her golden egg to become among the most sought-after voiceover talents in the industry. Frequently, she has recorded commercials for CBS Records, JC Penney and ABC Radio to name a few.

Upon her return to radio, Lynne’s career continued to soar as one of the few African American females on the air. When Radio One recognized her impenetrable talent and hired her at 94.5 KSOUL, Lynne’s popularity exploded in the D/FW Metroplex where she became known as the on-air “Daytime Diva.” There, she built a hugely loyal fan base, especially for the work she did in the community and for advancing the careers of women.

A former president for the National Black Programmers’ Coalition, Lynne’s voice became a movement for creating change among women. A strong advocate for women supporting each other, she developed an outlet called, Meeting in the Ladies Room. Through these sponsored events, Lynne encouraged women and gave them peace from work stress, children and day-to-day living through laughter, music, networking and love.

Adding to her list of accomplishments, Lynne has won numerous civic and entertainment awards, including Air Personality of the Year, Promotion Person of the Year at Mercury Records and a local award for the dedication at the West Dallas and Oak Cliff Boys and Girls Clubs.

Today, over the airwaves and through technology, Lynne’s voice is still magnetic on Smooth R & B 105.7 KRNB-FM and online at DFWiradio.com, where she hosts her own Internet radio program. A top-billed motivational speaker, Lynne’s infectious sense of humor amuses and startles audiences as she teaches using her real life experiences and thought-provoking stories as a platform for transformation.

Daytime Diva Lynne Haze: Conversation with VR Small, Founder/CEO, Veteran Women's Enterprise Center (VWEC)

Known as “The Daytime Diva with the Voice,” celebrity radio personality, Lynne Haze, has one of the most recognizable voices and contagious personalities in radio today. A 21st Century Mary Magdalene, growing up, the native New Yorker had no clue that not only would “radio personality” be a description on her resume, but her path to life.

A mother-daughter heart-to-heart prompted the start of Lynne’s career in her hometown of Buffalo, New York, at WUFO-FM. There, she worked as a news and weekend broadcaster until she moved to WBLK and worked successfully as a late night host. Later, the Universe tilted her toward Dallas, Texas where, at KKDA-AM, Lynne found herself an on-air personality in the #5 radio market in the country.

At the peak of her career, Lynne decided it was time for a challenge and transitioned to a career in the record industry, where for 10 years she thrived considerably at RCA Records, Warner Brother Records and Mercury Records. Not stopping there, Lynne has used her sultry, contralto voice as her golden egg to become among the most sought-after voiceover talents in the industry. Frequently, she has recorded commercials for CBS Records, JC Penney and ABC Radio to name a few.

Upon her return to radio, Lynne’s career continued to soar as one of the few African American females on the air. When Radio One recognized her impenetrable talent and hired her at 94.5 KSOUL, Lynne’s popularity exploded in the D/FW Metroplex where she became known as the on-air “Daytime Diva.” There, she built a hugely loyal fan base, especially for the work she did in the community and for advancing the careers of women.

A former president for the National Black Programmers’ Coalition, Lynne’s voice became a movement for creating change among women. A strong advocate for women supporting each other, she developed an outlet called, Meeting in the Ladies Room. Through these sponsored events, Lynne encouraged women and gave them peace from work stress, children and day-to-day living through laughter, music, networking and love.

Adding to her list of accomplishments, Lynne has won numerous civic and entertainment awards, including Air Personality of the Year, Promotion Person of the Year at Mercury Records and a local award for the dedication at the West Dallas and Oak Cliff Boys and Girls Clubs.

Today, over the airwaves and through technology, Lynne’s voice is still magnetic on Smooth R & B 105.7 KRNB-FM and online at DFWiradio.com, where she hosts her own Internet radio program. A top-billed motivational speaker, Lynne’s infectious sense of humor amuses and startles audiences as she teaches using her real life experiences and thought-provoking stories as a platform for transformation.

Women Veterans in STEM Convening - Keynote Speaker VR Small, Founder/CEO VWEC

THE CONVENING

Education Development Center (EDC) was funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) to hold an NSF INCLUDES convening on engaging and retaining women veterans in the STEM Workforce which took place virtually, March 2-5, 2021. We have created a Linked Women Veterans in STEM Convening Networking Group for attendees to continue to connect and share information and resources related to our goals.

Convening Materials

• Convening Program Agenda

• Convening Plenary Recording

  • VR Small Keynote Presentation

Follow the Leader Podcast: Helping Women Veteran Entrepreneurs Thrive with Guest Leader VR Small

Catch this episode of, Follow The Leader Podcast featuring Special Guest Leader VR Small. VR has dedicated her work to helping two groups she is passionate about - women and veterans. As a Navy veteran and a self proclaimed Army Brat, VR came back to the business world with a mission and a simple personal slogan of "changing the way we see the world and do business."

CW33 Morning After Featuring the VWEC

This business center is helping women veteran entrepreneurs during the pandemic!