SYRACUSE, N.Y., March 11, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Eighteen military spouses and family members from around the country will converge on Syracuse, New York, and the Syracuse University campus over the next eight days, March 12-19, to take advantage of cutting-edge, experiential training in entrepreneurship and small business management during the Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans' Families (EBV-F).

As part of the EBV-F opening ceremony (to be held on Saturday evening, March 12, in Syracuse University's Whitman School of Management), Syracuse University, IVMF, and First Data (NYSE:FDC), a global leader in commerce-enabling technology and solutions, will publicly announce the creation of the national Center of Excellence (CoE) for Veteran Entrepreneurship. The CoE will work to unite veteran owned businesses, researchers, small business program managers, policymakers, resources, and private and public companies in an organized effort to make transitioning service members, veterans, and their families successful business owners.

An invitation-only "Fireside Chat" will precede the public announcement and will feature national leaders from the public and private sectors, including Frank Bisignano, Chairman and CEO, First Data; Barbara Carson, Associate Administrator, Office of Veteran Business Development, U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA); and Dr. J. Michael Haynie, Vice Chancellor of Veteran and Military Affairs, Syracuse University; Executive Director and Founder, Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF), who will discuss the value of a Center of Excellence, SBA's programs for veteran and spouse owned small businesses, First Data's commitment to our military, veterans and their families, and Syracuse University's focus on veterans' post-service career preparation and entrepreneurship training.

Following the launch of the CoE, and headlining the EBV-F Opening Ceremony dinner will be Barbara Carson, Associate Administrator, Office of Veteran Business Development, U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), who will deliver keynote remarks. Ms. Carson brings a unique perspective and first-hand insight to her position. She is currently a Colonel, U.S. Air Force Reserve, with more than 20 years of military experience, assigned to the Secretary of the Air Force Office of Public Affairs. Additionally, Ms. Carson is a military spouse. During a family military assignment to Japan in 2006, she embarked on her first entrepreneurial adventure where she co-developed an outdoor personal training business with another military veteran.

"The EBV-F program leverages the flexibility inherent in small business ownership to provide a vocational and economic path forward for military spouses and family members," says Dr. Mike Haynie, Vice Chancellor of Veteran and Military Affairs, Syracuse University; Executive Director and Founder, Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF). "It is fitting that on the opening night of such an impactful entrepreneurship program that we join together with First Data and SBA to create a center that will function as the national hub of veteran business ownership."

"First Data's partnership with the Institute for Veterans and Military Families is about the intersection of our support for the military community and our commitment to entrepreneurs," said Frank Bisignano, Chairman and CEO of First Data. "We are thrilled about the launch of the Center of Excellence and look forward to continuing to support veterans and military families launch, build, and grow their businesses."

Among the military spouses and family members attending the CoE launch and the EBV-F at Syracuse University is Clarice Lopez, of Destin, Fla. The spouse of a U.S. Army officer, Lopez founded Roost in Green – an online business platform that serves as the point of reference for sustainable interior design and architecture, offering purchasable eco-friendly home decor solutions at a user defined price point. 

WHAT:

• The opening ceremony/dinner of the  Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans – Families (EBV-F)
• The public announcement, national launch of the Center of Excellence (CoE) for Veteran Entrepreneurship at Syracuse University
• "Fireside Chat" with national leaders (from the private, corporate and public sectors) in veteran entrepreneurship, who will discuss the value of a Center of Excellence for Veteran Entrepreneurship

WHEN: Saturday, March 12, 2016

• Fireside Chat:  5-6 pm (EST)
• Interviews:  6-7 pm (EST)
• Formal Announcement of the Center of Excellence for Veteran Entrepreneurship: 7 pm (EST)
  (Remarks will precede the Opening Ceremony/Dinner of the EBV-F)

WHERE:  Syracuse University, Whitman School of Management

MEDIA CONTACT:

Wayne Westervelt, Director of Communications
Institute for Veterans and Military Families at Syracuse University
O: 315-443-5690  /  M: 315-558-9483  /  wwesterv@syr.edu

ABOUT THE CENTER OF EXCELLENCE (CoE)

The Center of Excellence (CoE) for Veteran Entrepreneurship will work to unite veteran owned businesses, researchers, small business program managers, policymakers, resources, and private and public companies in an organized effort to make transitioning service members, veterans, and their families successful business owners. The Center will be designed to be, and function as, the nucleus of veteran business ownership.  This will be accomplished by leveraging the resources and established networks of Syracuse University, the Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF), and their partners and the bringing together of all relevant stakeholders and networks into a cohesive ecosystem focused on veteran/spouse-owned small business.

ABOUT THE ENTREPRENEURSHIP BOOTCAMP FOR VETERANS' FAMILIES (EBV-F)

Delivered by the Institute for Veterans and Military Families at Syracuse University (IVMF) in partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), the Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans' Families (EBV-F) is an education and self-employment training program in entrepreneurship and small business management offered to military spouses, family members, or for the surviving spouse of a military member who gave his/her life in service to our country. Founded in 2010 at the Whitman School of Management at Syracuse University (SU), EBV-F expanded to Florida State University in 2012. The program was built off of the successful Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities (EBV) program, which has now expanded to a total of ten EBV Consortium Schools: Syracuse University, Texas A &M, Purdue University, UCLA, the University of Connecticut, Louisiana State University, Florida State University, Cornell University, Saint Joseph's University and the University of Missouri.

EBV-F integrates training in entrepreneurship with caregiver and family issues, positioning participants to launch and grow a small business in a way that is complementary or enhancing to other family responsibilities. EBV-F is a three-phase program, beginning with a 30-day online instructor-led course. During the second phase, participants will complete an intensive nine-day residency at SU, learning the "nuts and bolts" of business ownership from established entrepreneurs and educators. Following the residency, EBV-F graduates will receive access to a year-long support and mentorship program through the EBV-F Technical Assistance Program.

ABOUT THE INSTITUTE FOR VETERANS AND MILITARY FAMILIES (IVMF)

The IVMF is the first interdisciplinary national institute in higher education focused on the social, economic, education and policy issues impacting veterans and their families post-service. Through our focus on veteran-facing programming, research and policy, employment and employer support, and community engagement, the institute provides in-depth analysis of the challenges facing the veteran community, captures best practices and serves as a forum to facilitate new partnerships and strong relationships between the individuals and organizations committed to making a difference for veterans and military families. For more information, visit http://vets.syr.edu/.

ABOUT FIRST DATA

First Data is a global leader in commerce-enabling technology and solutions, serving approximately six million business locations and 4,000 financial institutions in 118 countries around the world. The company's 23,000 owner-associates are dedicated to helping companies, from start-ups to the world's largest corporations, conduct commerce every day by securing and processing more than 2,300 transactions per second and $1.9 trillion per year.

Photos accompanying this release are available at:
http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=39400

CONTACT: Wayne Westervelt
         Director of Communications
         Institute for Veterans and Military Families at Syracuse University
         O: 315-443-5690
         M: 315-558-9483 
         wwesterv@syr.edu