By Gwen Green (gagreen@ualr.edu)
Oct. 1, 2009
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - You could say Herb Lawrence and Timothy Lee are on a mission.
The retired military men were at the forefront of Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center's veteran project aimed at active, retired and reserve military personnel who are small business owners or aspiring entrepreneurs. Funded by a grant from the U.S. Small Business Administration's Veterans Assistance and Services Program, the year-long project concluded Sept. 30.
Lawrence, director of the ASBTDC office at Arkansas State University since 1996, spent seven years on active duty in the U.S. Army Signal Corp and served 13 years with the Arkansas National Guard. Lee, ASBTDC training specialist since 1995, served 18 years on active duty in the Air Force, retiring as a master sergeant.
"As military veterans, Herb Lawrence and Timothy Lee have brought great passion and expertise to this project," said Janet Roderick, ASBTDC state director.
Lawrence helped develop ASBTDC's Ready to Go business mobilization planning guide in 2008. Since January, he has participated in 13 reintegration meetings across the state for more than 2,000 National Guard troops returning from deployment and has been active in the Yellow Ribbon Task Force.
He estimates he has talked with more than 200 veterans and their spouses interested in small business since the project began.
"As a retired officer and father of a currently serving Army officer, our volunteer military holds a special place for me, especially our National Guard and Reservists who have been called upon to provide ongoing combat tours for extended periods of time away from family, jobs and their normal lives," he said. "The strain on Guard members and Reservists who are business owners or trying to start a business has been extremely difficult for them. I want to do all I can to thank them for their service and to help them acclimate back to civilian life as much as possible."
Lee led the development of ArkansasVeteran.com, helping ASBTDC utilize cutting-edge communication technologies to reach Arkansas veterans living in the state as well as those serving on active duty in Afghanistan and other far-flung locations. ArkansasVeteran.com is a Web portal that brings together in one place veterans-related resources, news, information and contacts for veterans and their families. Lee also created two online training programs for veterans interested in small business. This summer, Lee and Lawrence teamed up to conduct six live webinars for veterans on starting a business, writing a business plan and business financing.
"When I visit ArkansasVeteran.com, I am keenly aware of the many men and women now standing in my place overseas," Lee said. "The veteran project gave me the opportunity to 'pay forward' the support I received as a Desert Storm veteran. I simply recalled my own family's need and experiences and proceeded accordingly."
Lee and Lawrence capped the project by sharing highlights at the 2009 Association of Small Business Development Centers annual conference in Orlando Sept. 14-18.
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