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Week of Feb. 9, 2009

Ever Dream of Starting a Business?

The Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities (EBV) is an program that offers cutting-edge training in entrepreneurship and small business management to post-9/11 military veterans disabled as a result of their service to our country. The intent of the EBV is to open the door to entrepreneurship and small business ownership to our veterans, by developing competencies in accounting, human resources, marketing, advertising, financing, small business law, government contracts, and business planning.

The EBV program is offered through a national partnership of exceptional universities: the Whitman School of Management at Syracuse University, UCLA Anderson School of Management, Florida State University’s College of Business, Mays Business School at Texas A & M, and the Krannert School of Management at Purdue University. Each of these world-class business schools will offer the EBV program on their campuses in 2009.

Eligibility

Applications are accepted from veterans that meet the following criteria: 1) a ‘service-connected disability’ as designated by the Veterans Administration Department of Defense, 2) military service after September 2001, and 3) a passion for entrepreneurship.

Cost & Logistics

This program is entirely without cost to the veteran, including travel, lodging, meals, and all program costs.

Application Procedures

Successful candidates for admission will demonstrate a strong interest in entrepreneurship, high motivation for owning and managing a business, and a high likelihood of successful completion of this intense training program. For specific application requirements, visit whitman.syr.edu/ebv or apply online.

Contact Information:

Ellie O'Neill

EBV Program Coordinator

Whitman School of Management

721 University Avenue, Suite 415

Syracuse, NY 13244-2450

Phone: 315-443-6007

E-mail: ebvinfo@syr.edu

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Veterans Inaugural Ball Scam Investigated

NavyTimes
Rick Maze
22 Jan 09

The promoter who failed to hold a promised Veterans Inaugural Ball on 20 JAN has left behind a trail of angry corporate sponsors and charities who contributed to the event, disappointed performers who were booked for entertainment, and 17 to 25 beauty queens who were told they would be ambassadors for their states at the ball and help raise up to $10 million for veterans’ causes. In e-mails, promoter Dante Hayes promised three or four “action-filled” days highlighted by the black-tie ball that Obama supposedly would visit because veterans were such an important cause. Among the fabrications Hayes used to get donations was a public relations plan he circulated about how the beauty queens, performers and sponsors would be getting attention from the news media with the help of an international communications company, Burson-Marsteller, which he claimed was retained 9 JAN and would stay on the job through 25 JAN. Paul Cordasco, a corporate spokesman for Burson-Marsteller, said Hayes did contact the company asking about a media plan. "We were never engaged by him or signed with him," Cordasco said, adding that the detailed media plan being circulated by Hayes was a fabrication.

The Secret Service and FBI are investigating what happened to the money donated by corporate sponsors and charities and raised through ticket sales to the ball. Also, what happened to Hayes, who heads an organization called the Congressional Education Foundation for Public Policy. He disappeared about the time that the performers and beauty queens were expecting to receive final details on their travel and lodging arrangements, and around the same time that the hotel where the ball was supposed to be held pulled the plug when it had not received payment. Many of those defrauded had spent money buying gowns and tuxedos for the many events and had even made a contribution to the cause because they were such big believers. Up until two days before participants were supposed to travel, Dante Hayes was still talking and promising everything was fine, but when asked about the travel arrangements, he promised to send an e-mail with details which never arrived. Hayes did not respond to telephone calls to three different numbers he had provided to people involved in helping with the inaugural, and he also did not respond to e-mail. Entertainers, the hotel where the ball was going to be held, the people invited to attend and those who bought tickets - which sold for up to $385 for veterans and $500 for nonveterans - said they have not heard from Hayes since they learned there was no ball, no visits with veterans and no money to be turned over to charities.

The person who convinced Nikki Slater and other beauty queens, charities and corporate sponsors to sign on to the event said she also is a victim. Beth Jannery, Ms. Virginia Galaxy 2009, an author, motivational speaker and public relations consultant, said she became involved after contacting Hayes last fall to volunteer to help with the event. "I have a lot of experience with planning events, especially those involved with veterans, and thought this sounded like a good idea," said Jannery, who lives in Great Falls, VA, "I called him because I want to support the troops and I liked the idea of a ball for veterans." Jannery said that when Hayes learned she was involved in pageants, he enlisted her to recruit pageant winners to take part in the event and also asked for her help in lining up corporate sponsors. Later, she also was promised a six-figure job that never materialized after a sales pitch in which Hayes took her to what ended up being a rented meeting room at an exclusive downtown Washington, D.C., hotel that he claimed was his office space. Jannery said she became suspicious when plans kept changing, conference calls to go over details were postponed or canceled, and Hayes kept finding excuses not to provide a tax identification number that would show his foundation was registered with the IRS as a nonprofit organization, something needed by corporate sponsors when making charitable donations.

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09 October 2009
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24 August 2009
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05 August 2009
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05 June 2009
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27 April 2009
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23 March 2009
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Vets object to billing private insurance for service injuries

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09 March 2009
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Senator Lieberman Addresses Rumored Tricare Cuts

02 March 2009
Powerball is Stimulus Ticket?

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16 February 2009
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09 February 2009
Ever Dream of Starting a Business?

Veterans Inaugural Ball Scam Investigated

02 Februrry 2009
Stimulus Bill Aims to Boost SBA Lending

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