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In 2014, Grand Bank, N.A., of Hamilton, N.J., provided С����Ƶ with a $50,000 grant to establish its first Veterans Entrepreneurship Training Program. Grand Bank continued its support in 2015 and, impressed by this innovative program, the New Jersey Bankers Education Foundation, Inc. contributed an additional $5,000 to support the program. 

In 2016, the number of sponsors continues to grow as Saul Ewing LLP and Wilkin & Guttenplan, P.C. each contributed $5,000, while the NJ Bankers Education Foundation, Inc increased their support to $10,000.  Dr. Ronald Cook, director of Rider’s Center for Entrepreneurial Studies, said this year’s cohort of students will benefit from some constructive changes to the program. 

“First, we are expanding the classroom aspect of the program to provide hands-on worksheets at the end of each class, as we want the veterans to get a jump start on their homework assignments. We will continue the successful mentor concept of having them establish a relationship with the veterans during the classroom portion of the program, which will help them as they work with the veterans during the following year.” 
Second, Cook said, the mentorship aspect of the program will be expanded from just a one-on-one experience between mentor and veteran, to also include a panel of various subject-matter experts who will be available to all the veterans in the program. “With the addition of Saul Ewing LLP and Wilkin & Guttenplan, P.C. as partners, I anticipate the panel providing even more support to the veterans” Cook explained. “The participants in the program will be able to consult with all of these mentors, not just their individually-assigned mentor, for whatever assistance or advice they may need for their individual business.” 

Mark Wolters, President and CEO of Grand Bank, said, “I am deeply gratified that Grand Bank is able to repay in some small way, these veterans and active duty service men and women who give the best of themselves so that we can enjoy the freedoms we all too often take for granted.” 

Cook added, “As we moved into our third year of offering this program, we very fortunate to have a founding partner as dedicated and involved as Grand Bank. This is a distinctive and especially valuable opportunity for our veterans, and we are so grateful that Mark Wolters shares our vision of helping foster veterans’ personal and professional growth through entrepreneurial training.” 

He added, “Our additional partners, the New Jersey Bankers Education Foundation, the Saul Ewing law firm, and the Wilkin & Guttenplan CPA firm provide further resources for the veterans and their contributions are greatly appreciated as well.”  

The VET program is a free nine-week program which will have veterans develop a business plan to explore a venture idea or guide an existing business. Classes are held in the evening on Rider’s Lawrenceville campus and taught by professors from Rider’s College of Business Administration. 

The program is run in two phases. In Phase I, veterans will develop their business concept. Cook said this concept must be finalized before moving onto Phase II, the full business plan development. “Only veterans whose business concept is approved by the program can move into Phase II, as the pace of the program requires a solid concept to build a business plan around,” Cook said.  

Upon completion of the program, veterans will receive one year of mentoring as they pursue their venture dreams. Interested applicants can apply online. For more information or questions about the program email Kyle Anacker at [email protected].