Photo By Master Sgt. Alexandra Hays | Actress Ann-Margret accepts the Charles Durning patriotism award at the Disabled...... read more read more
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BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. – Veterans, celebrities and guests stood in applause as Daniel “Doc” Jacobs accepted the 2015 Tommy Lasorda veteran service award at the Disabled Veterans Business Alliance (DVBA) Salute to Veterans Day breakfast Nov. 13.
Jacobs, a Veteran Navy corpsman, lost his left leg below the knee in an improvised explosive device blast while deployed to Ramadi, Iraq in 2006, and has endured more than 50 surgeries as a result — yet no hint of a prosthesis could be detected as he confidently took the stage to accept the award Friday.
A baseball player, Jacobs is pursuing one of his dreams—playing major league baseball. He tried out for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2013, the Chicago White Sox in 2014, and the Detroit Tigers this year. Jacobs is also a member of the U.S. Paralympic sitting volleyball team, an author, and co-founder of VETSports, a nonprofit organization aimed at helping veterans achieve better physical, mental and emotional health through sports.
Jacobs was just one of several sports and entertainment representatives awarded at the event for their work in support of veterans. Additional awards included the Louis Zamperini inspiration award, and the Charles Durning patriotism award, awarded to actress Ann-Margret.
The event also included a swearing-in ceremony for 100 new military recruits.
Leaning on its “honoring service, empowering success,” catchphrase, the DVBA, created 24 years ago, is a great resource for veterans looking to start their own businesses, explained DVBA Executive Director Mike Sabellico.
“We help disabled veterans and veteran business owners start and grow their businesses and become successful entrepreneurs, and hopefully achieve the American dream: being their own boss,” Sabellico, a Coast Guard veteran, said.
To be considered a disabled veteran business owner and participate in federal programs, one simply needs to own a business and have a zero percent disability rating through the Veterans Affairs, said Sabellico. In the state of California, the VA disability rating is ten percent to participate, he continued.
Once identified as a disabled veteran business owner, the veteran can participate in bidding for state contracts only open to disabled veterans. The state of California sets aside three percent of its annual budget to purchase products and services from disabled veterans, Sabellico explained.
The DVBA helps walk veterans through the process starting their own business, becoming qualified as a disabled veteran business owner and offers coaching and mentoring.
Brigg Goodwin, a veteran of both active duty Army and the Army Reserve, explained that help from the DVBA saved his business.
Goodwin, who runs IT company Granite Data Solutions, said that 90-95 percent of his business is government contracts — contracts he may not have won without the DVBA’s help.
“It’s been huge,” Goodwin said of the effect of his DVBA membership on his business, explaining that legislation pushed by the DVBA helped saved his once small-business from going under.
Goodwin, now also co-chair of the DVBA’s legislative committee, said that new legislation the DVBA is advocating for includes a survivor benefit, where a veteran’s next of kin will be able to run the veteran’s business for up to three years after the veteran passes away. The DVBA is also proposing a resolution to allow veterans to use the G.I. bill as “seed money” to start their own businesses rather than for education if they so choose.
“I got to the point where I was reaping the rewards of past members of the alliance and their efforts in legislation, and so I jumped in and helped out about a year and a half ago,” Goodwin explained of his volunteering with DVBA.
Goodwin now also speaks at Beale Air Force Base once per quarter to retiring service members as part of the “boots to business” program, and mentors disabled veteran business owners who need assistance.
“As an Army active duty and Reserve veteran … there’s a fraternity that’s undeniable and that’s hard to explain,” Goodwin said. “I’ve been blown away at how many people that come out of the woodwork to help. It’s just that sense of belonging, that camaraderie. We get out [of the military] for many different reasons … this is a chance to continue that kinship.”
Along with recognizing veterans for their service and recognizing those who give support veterans, Sabellico gave advice to any service member planning to start their own business.
“If you’re passionate about something, I believe that anybody can own a business,” Sabellico said. “Make sure you use the resources around you. There’s the DVBA, there’s other opportunities for free services, small business development centers … all you need to do is ask.”
| Date Taken: | 11.13.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 11.16.2015 20:43 |
| Story ID: | 182100 |
| Location: | BEVERLY HILLS, CA, US |
| Hometown: | BEVERLY HILLS, CA, US |
| Web Views: | 332 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, Disabled Veterans Business Alliance honors veterans, promotes entrepreneurship, by MSG Alexandra Hays, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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