SBA Viewpoint: Previewing the 2015 Operation: Start Up & Grow conference

Since 1776, our nation has been a land of opportunity and freedom. It’s a place where anyone can pursue and achieve that “American dream.” In our country, the only limit for the future is our imagination. We can enjoy these freedoms thanks to the steady defense provided by our men and women in the U.S. military.

I believe the best way we can honor our service members is to thank them for their sacrifice and help achieve their own dreams. The dream of being your own boss is one many veterans pursue. In fact, one of every 10 small businesses in America are owned by a veteran. For those who are ready to transition from service to startup company, there is no better time to explore entrepreneurship than right now.

We have coordinated another fantastic annual conference (called Operation: Start Up & Grow) for our veterans and active-duty members to take place at the SRC Arena at Onondaga Community College on Thursday, March 19. Do these events really matter? Just ask our Veteran-Owned Business Achievement Award winner for 2015, former Marine, Chris Dambach.

Chris started his lawn-care company in 2010 and attended the Operation: Start Up & Grow conference that same year. Each year that Dambach attended the conference led him to connect with a critical resource that helped him grow his business into the successful firm it is today. Operation: Start Up & Grow presents a unique opportunity for attendees to network with all the different program and service providers in a one-stop-shop.

We will honor his accomplishments at the event this year. And who knows — the next successful veteran entrepreneur might just be in the audience on March 19.

Bernard J. Paprocki is district director for the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Syracuse district office.