Second class of aspiring business leaders complete veteran entrepreneurial training program

As this summer began and most students left class for break, a cohort of 15 veterans from all branches of the armed forces started their own Rider classroom experience. The free eight-week program is designed to assist veterans in learning how to start or expand their own business. Over the past two months, veterans attended seven sessions of classroom training taught by professors from Rider’s entrepreneurship department, along with two workshops on business research tools and accounting fundamentals.

“We learned from the first class of veterans in 2014 and for this year, have changed some aspects of the experience,” says Dr. Ronald Cook, director of Rider’s Center for Entrepreneurial Studies.  “We expanded the classroom aspect of the program, and assured that each veteran has a formulated business concept in place from the very beginning of the program.  We also brought the professional business mentors into the classroom in the beginning to review the concepts while establishing a relationship with the veterans from the start. ”

When the classroom instruction is completed, each veteran’s mentor will work closely with them for a year as they finalize and implement their business plan.  A panel of experts are also available to all veterans, who can answer technical questions on a variety of topics.

As July came to a close, those veterans came back to campus for a ceremony and celebration which marked the completion of the first phase of the program. 

“Tonight is a celebration – and you should all be extremely proud of your accomplishment, but your journey doesn’t end here,” said Elad Granot, newly-appointed Dean of the College of Business Administration, who attended the celebration. “Continue learning, continue taking advantage of the knowledge and guidance your mentors can provide, and continue pursuing your dreams of running your own businesses.”

In 2014, Grand Bank, N.A., of Hamilton, N.J., provided Rider University with a $50,000 grant to establish its first Veterans Entrepreneurial Program and once again provided $50,000 this year so the program can continue and expand. The New Jersey Bankers Education Fund, Inc. has also contributed an additional $5,000 to support the program, which will now be called Rider University’s Veteran Entrepreneurship Training, or VET program.

Russel Melville, Rider’s director of Military and Veterans Affairs, added, “This is an outstanding opportunity and is a wonderful way to thank veterans for all that they do for our country.”

For more information on all of the programs and services offered to veterans at Rider University, visit Rider's Office of Military Affairs website.