Veterans

Retired Professor Offers $100K Matching Gift to Save Veterans’ Entrepreneurship Program

Posted on by Claire Hall

UConn Today – United States Marine Corps veteran Tony Audette builds custom motorcycles for celebrities, business titans, and other enthusiasts who want a bike that’s unlike any other. His exclusive motorcycles sell for upwards of $130,000.

After two years in business, Audette Motorcycles, in Canton, is thriving. Audette credits much of his business knowledge and expertise to the School of Business’ Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans (EBV). The startup accelerator steered him away from several costly business mistakes, he said.

KeyBank Gives $75K to UConn Program for Veteran Business Owners

Posted on by Claire Hall

KeyBank has presented a $75,000 grant to the UConn School of Business’ Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans, which helps U.S. military veterans become small business owners. Pictured from left to right are UConn EBV program graduates Jorge and Jessica Rodriguez, KeyBank Corporate Responsibility Officer LaKisha Jordan, KeyBank Market President Jim Barger, and UConn EBV Director Michael Zacchea. (Contributed Photo)
KeyBank has presented a $75,000 grant to the UConn School of Business’ Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans, which helps U.S. military veterans become small business owners. Pictured from left to right are UConn EBV program graduates Jorge and Jessica Rodriguez, KeyBank Corporate Responsibility Officer LaKisha Jordan, KeyBank Market President Jim Barger, and UConn EBV Director Michael Zacchea. (Contributed Photo)

The KeyBank Foundation on Thursday presented a $75,000 grant to UConn in support a School of Business program that helps U.S. military veterans become small-business owners.Continue Reading

EBV Alum: ‘To Do What You Love is Priceless’

Posted on by Claire Hall
EBV alumnus Jason Otrin (Nathan Oldham/UConn School of Business)
EBV alumnus Jason Otrin (Nathan Oldham/UConn School of Business)

Imagine a young child wandering alone in the woods on a frigid afternoon, with each passing minute decreasing the likelihood of a successful rescue.

UConn alumnus Jason Otrin would like to encourage emergency responders in Connecticut, and across the nation, to adopt the use of drones for such public-safety emergencies. Continue Reading

EBV Prepares Veterans for New Jobs as Business Owners

Posted on by Claire Hall
Veterans in the 2018 EBV program (from left): Richard Nebelski, Jonathan Norton and David Paradis get acquainted during the opening day reception. They are among 20 veterans in this year’s program. (Nathan Oldham/UConn School of Business)

Shaun Anderson ’16, a retired Navy petty officer first class, started a sound, lighting and audio-rental company in his garage in Vernon, Conn. Now “Off the Ground Sound” has moved to a storefront, and he’s considering expanding to more locations. Continue Reading

UConn to Hold First-Ever Giving Day from April 4-5

Posted on by Tiffany Ventura Thiele
UConn Gives: 36 Hours. All Paws In.
UConn Gives: 36 Hours. All Paws In.

UConn Gives. 36 Hours, All Paws In.

For the first time in history, UConn Nation is putting all paws in to support the University during a 36-hour online giving event.

UConn Gives will begin on April 4 and continue through April 5, encouraging supporters to make a gift of any amount to their UConn passion project: from student scholarships, to groundbreaking research, and beloved schools, colleges, and academic programs. Continue Reading

Students Prepare Almost 800 Tax Returns—For Free

Posted on by Claire Galvin
Sameir Rankins '17, right, helps a client with her tax return (Devin Basdekian/UConn School of Business)
Sameir Rankins ’17, right, helps a client with her tax return (Devin Basdekian/UConn School of Business)

VITA Volunteers Eliminate Frustration, Expense of Taxes

Yvette Eley, a native of the United Kingdom, had to file U.S. taxes for the first time this year and just the thought of it was daunting.

Eley, a post-doctoral fellow in geosciences, turned to UConn’s Voluntary Income Tax Assistance Program (VITA), which helped her prepare her return for free. Adjunct faculty member Leanne Adams spearheads the program. Continue Reading

‘Like Building an Airplane in Mid-Flight’

Posted on by Claire Hall
U.S. Marine Lt. Col. Michael Zacchea, director of the School of Business' Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities (EBV) (Nathan Oldham/UConn School of Business)
U.S. Marine Lt. Col. Michael Zacchea ’12 MBA, director of the School of Business’ Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities (EBV) will be signing copies of his book, “The Ragged Edge” on April 25 at the Graduate Business Learning Center in Hartford. Proceeds from books sold that evening will benefit the EBV. (Nathan Oldham/UConn School of Business)

UConn’s Mike Zacchea Describes Many Challenges He Faced as First U.S. Military Adviser to New Iraqi Army

In his new book, “The Ragged Edge,” set for release on April 1, U.S. Marine Lt. Col. Michael Zacchea ’12 MBA shares the staggering hardships and unique challenges of the U.S. mission to build an Iraqi Army virtually from scratch. Continue Reading

EBV Graduates 22 Veteran Entrepreneurs

Posted on by Claire Hall
The 2016 Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities (EBV) Class. UConn's EBV is a 10-day program that gives veterans the knowledge, skills and helping hand they need to create their own businesses. (Lisa Ducharme)
The 2016 Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities (EBV) Class. UConn’s EBV is a 10-day program that gives veterans the knowledge, skills and helping hand they need to create their own businesses. (Lisa Ducharme)

‘I Can’t Believe How Lucky I Am!’ Veterans’ Plans Include Cookie Business, Animal Shelter, Counseling Center

U.S. Army Lt. Col. Damone “D” Garner has a secret weapon for his post-military career.

Hailing from a family that boasts three generations of talented bakers, Garner has a collection of secret, family-cookie recipes that will make other bakers quake in their aprons. Continue Reading

Alums Inducted Into Hall of Fame

Posted on by Claire Hall
2016 Hall of Fame Alumni Inductees Robert Hughes '92, Drew Figdor '83, and Corliss Montesi '85 (Nathan Oldham/UConn School of Business)
2016 Hall of Fame Alumni Inductees Robert Hughes ’92, Drew Figdor ’83, and Corliss Montesi ’86 (Nathan Oldham/UConn School of Business)

School Honors Three Top Business Leaders Who Also Make Time to Give Back

The UConn School of Business honored three of its top alumni on May 6, inducting them into the School’s Hall of Fame during an elaborate and festive ceremony at the Hartford Marriott Downtown.

Those honored included: Continue Reading