News 8 wtnh.com – One marine from Connecticut will be attending Tuesday night’s ‘State of the Union’ in person. After serving for more than a decade, Lieutenant Colonel Michael Zacchea is making veterans’ issues his focus.
Michael Zacchea
Brookfield Veteran, Purple Heart Recipient, to Attend State of the Union
Stamford Advocate – Mike Zacchea has another commendation to add to his Purple Heart and two Bronze stars — an invitation to the State of the Union.
The retired Marine lieutenant colonel from Brookfield will be the guest of U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn, Tuesday, when President Barack Obama addresses Congress.
EBV Director Invited to State of the Union Address
U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., announced Thursday that Michael Zacchea, director of UConn’s Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities (EBV), will be his guest at President Obama’s State of the Union address on Jan. 12. Zacchea, who served in the Iraq war, is a retired Marine Corps lieutenant colonel and a Purple Heart recipient.Continue Reading
Combat-wounded Brookfield Veteran to Attend State of the Union
Stamford Daily Voice – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) announced Thursday that Michael J. Zacchea of Brookfield will be his guest for the President’s State of the Union address on Tuesday, January 12.
Veteran-owned Connecticut Businesses Express Disconnect Between Job Opportunities for Veterans, Hiring
The Day of New London – Stephen Gifford, an Army veteran who is the recent owner of Hartford Wire Works, explained it this way: At the executive-level, corporations will make commitments to hire veterans, but those aren’t the same people who are reviewing resumes.
Honoring Veterans 365 Days a Year

UConn’s Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans Helps Military Heroes Become Business Moguls
The UConn School of Business has a strong and proud history of serving the educational and career needs of military leaders and veterans, a tradition that dates back to its earliest days.
After WWII, the university offered business classes at Fort Trumbull in New London to serve returning GIs. The creation of a full-time MBA program on the Storrs campus in 1960, another milestone at the School of Business, occurred as a direct result of a contract to expand educational opportunities for members of the Air Force.Continue Reading
How Veterans Can Sign Up for Entrepreneurial Training Through College Initiatives
New York Post- Last year, Army Reserves veteran Dr. Stephannie L. Addo-Zuniga was knee-deep in the trenches on a daily basis from 8 a.m. to midnight, relying on her tenacity and perseverance to pull her through.
This wasn’t army bootcamp, but an intense learning initiative offered through Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities at the University of Connecticut.
‘Bootcamp’ Helps Meriden Veteran to Put His Life Back Together
Record-Journal- Since returning from a two-year tour of duty in Iraq a decade ago, Rafael Castro has been trying to piece his life back together. Not long after his return, Castro, of Meriden, was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder. In April, he was laid off from his job at a car dealership.
‘Top Notch’

UConn Graduates 25 from EBV Program; Veteran Entrepreneurs Poised to Start Own Businesses
After the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, retired U.S. Marine Corp. Staff Sergeant Lawrence “LD” Dapo’s assignment was to fly then-Vice President Cheney to an undisclosed, secure location.
“It was all business that day,” Dapo recalled. “I had no time to reflect on the tragedy until afterwards. But that was the day I knew I would marry my wife. She was quite the trooper.”Continue Reading
Video Interview: UConn EBV’s Michael Zacchea
WHPX-TV – Michael Zacchea ’12 MBA, discusses UConn’s Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities in an interview with Shawn Murphy on ‘For The Record.’ Airing July 14.