Veteran Business Summit 2024 | Veterans Entrepreneurship Initiative | 9 May 2024 | GuideWell Innovation Center, 6555 Sanger Rd, Orlando, FL 32827, USA

This summit is an initiative by the Veterans Entrepreneurship Initiative (VEI), provides the military veteran business community with a platform to educate, empower and support early-stage, veteran-led companies with innovative products and services.

This summit convenes veteran business owners and leaders from across the region with the goal of fostering innovation and collaboration amongst the military veteran business community to further empower veterans in entrepreneurship.

Become Empowered:
• Learn from other successful veteran business owners, sharing a blend of perspectives on the most important issues facing them today.
• Learn and connect with organizations specialized in providing access to capital.

Be Inspired:
• Take away new ideas to help you or your organization grow, and be inspired to put those ideas into practice.
• Meet and learn from other successful stories.

Get Connected:
• Connect with other successful veteran business owners and executives.
• Meet decision-makers, leaders, entrepreneurs, resource partners and expand your network.

2024 Speakers

Buddy Dyer
Mayor, City of Orlando

Jerry Demings
Mayor, Orange County

Dr. Theresa Larson
Keynote Speaker, Founder, Movement Rx (Marine Corps Veteran)

Adler Archer, JD, MS
Managing Director, Inclusive Innovation Initiative
Associate Research Scientist, Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University (Air Force Veteran)

Carlos Navarro
Actor, Radio Personality

Ricardo Garcia
Co-Founder, Veterans Entrepreneurship Initiative (VEI) (Air Force Veteran)

Rafael Caamaño
Co-Founder, Veterans Entrepreneurship Initiative (VEI) (Army Veteran)

Carol Ann Dykes Logue
Director, Central Florida Tech Grove
Director, Programs & Operations, Innovation Districts & Incubation Program, University of Central Florida

Kyle Evans
Founder & CEO, REDCON Solutions Group (Army Veteran)

Cliff Ingari
President & CEO, STS Federal (Air Force Veteran)

Eric “Doc” Wright, PhD
Founder, Vets2PM (Navy Veteran)

Dennis Holste
Economic Development, Orange County Government

Amy Beaird, PhD
Innovation Ecosystem Builder, President, Amy Beaird Consulting

Dawn Ofodile
Regional Community Engagement Manager, VyStar Credit Union

Esteban Saldarriaga
Economic Development, Business Marketing Manager, Seminole County Government

David Smith
Member, Florida House of Representatives (Col, USMC, Ret.)

Willie Johnson
VP, Supplier and Workforce Diversity, VyStar Credit Union

Karla Ray
Anchor & Reporter, WFTV.com

2024 Sponsors

• Orange County Government Florida
• Veterans Florida
• Guide Well Innovation
• VyStar Credit Union
• Octanium
• National Entrepreneur Center
• Central Florida Public Media
• ADP
• Chad Barr Law
• Dominion Payroll