Entrepreneurship Program Offers Veterans Skills to Launch their Own Business
By: Marlisa Goldsmith
Updated: February 28, 2013
"A year ago it was just a dream," says Christine Brochman.
For many, entrepreneurship is just that, a dream.
Statistics show it is especially difficult for veterans trying to enter the civilian workforce after serving our country.
Richard Garza says, "I was kind of lost and I was coming up to the workforce and putting in for jobs."
Garza served in the US Army during the Vietnam era and discovered how hard it was for him to find a job in the civilian workforce; which is what prompted him to start thinking about creating his own business.
He continues, "I always thought I had a good idea, and I always really wanted to start my own business, but I had limitations."
With no formal training in how to start his own business, Garza had no where to go.
"A lot of entrepreneurs just go out and do it. That's why you have a 70-80% failure rate of new businesses," says Michael Mikeworth.
Mikeworth is the project manager of the FastTrac New Venture Program in Abilene and he is on a mission to help those people succeed.
Mikeworth continues, "We hope to be able to educate people, especially merging entrepreneurs so that we can reduce that rate."
Garza completed the program's first course last year and is now a proud business owner with his own patented design.
Although the road to success is not always an easy one, Garza knows hard work does pay off.
He says, "It's a little bit of a struggle, but I think I'm making some headway. I really am making some head way."
For more information regarding the program, click here.
For many, entrepreneurship is just that, a dream.
Statistics show it is especially difficult for veterans trying to enter the civilian workforce after serving our country.
Richard Garza says, "I was kind of lost and I was coming up to the workforce and putting in for jobs."
Garza served in the US Army during the Vietnam era and discovered how hard it was for him to find a job in the civilian workforce; which is what prompted him to start thinking about creating his own business.
He continues, "I always thought I had a good idea, and I always really wanted to start my own business, but I had limitations."
With no formal training in how to start his own business, Garza had no where to go.
"A lot of entrepreneurs just go out and do it. That's why you have a 70-80% failure rate of new businesses," says Michael Mikeworth.
Mikeworth is the project manager of the FastTrac New Venture Program in Abilene and he is on a mission to help those people succeed.
Mikeworth continues, "We hope to be able to educate people, especially merging entrepreneurs so that we can reduce that rate."
Garza completed the program's first course last year and is now a proud business owner with his own patented design.
Although the road to success is not always an easy one, Garza knows hard work does pay off.
He says, "It's a little bit of a struggle, but I think I'm making some headway. I really am making some head way."
For more information regarding the program, click here.
