New entrepreneurial workshops help veterans, military

  • Published
  • By Ryan Stark
  • Nucleus writer
The first of a planned series of entrepreneurship workshops for veterans and active-duty military took place July 23 at the New Mexico Veterans' Memorial, adjacent to Kirtland.

Retired Navy Capt. Grayson Lee Trussell has partnered with the Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce to present the workshops.

"I'd like to expand these workshops statewide and work with the chamber as a base to get more vets involved in business," Trussell said. "Because we see such a need in the veteran community for these workshops, we want to attract as many veterans and veteran spouses as possible."

The workshop covered a number of business- related issues, including financing, marketing, taxes and law. Participants were challenged to ask themselves if they are really ready to be their own boss and "Why in the world would you want to go into business for yourself?"

Tom Dawe, a member of the memorial's board of directors, Army and Vietnam veteran and a practicing attorney, said the workshop can help people who have a passion for a particular type of business get prepared.

"So many times you see someone with a skill, but they might not know what a bank is looking for when you ask for a loan," Dawe said. "This course can help with that."

Capt. Ray Campos, an active-duty Airman at Kirtland's Air Force Nuclear Weapons Center, attended the workshop. Although he is not separating from the Air Force any time soon, he said his interest in the workshop is with an eye toward long-term career planning.

"I've always thought of starting a business," he said. "I want to know what the options are and learn how to go about getting a business set up."

The Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce Program Development and Grant Administrator Tino Zamora said it is a priority for the chamber to get more veterans involved in the business community.

"We want all veterans to have an opportunity to become entrepreneurs," Zamora said. "We need all kinds of new business owners, and this workshop is one way we can help with that."

The chamber is planning other classes for veterans, including an upcoming organic and aquaponic farming session.

To learn about upcoming workshops, go to www.ahcnm.org.