An organization’s mission, objectives, vision and personality all start in the “Corner Office”. The Chairman’s blog provides a glimpse into how Andy Gibbs is driving Veterans Business Institute.
Congressman Fortenberry Introduces Landmark GI Bill
On Oct. 12, 2011, Congressman Jeff Fortenberry (NE-1) introduced the Veterans Entrepreneurial Transition (VET) Act of 2011, a landmark new GI Bill that would allow veterans to use their already budgeted educational benefits earned under existing GI Bills, to start up new small businesses.
Congressman Bob Filner, Ranking Member of the House Committee for Veterans Affairs, signed on a co-sponsor on Oct. 14th.
The VET Act (H.R. 3167) is a GI Bill aimed at addressing the unacceptably high veteran unemployment rate, as well as to help quickly re-build a new generation of veteran-owned small business enterprises across America as the backbone of new job creation.
This GI Bill was written as a revenue-neutral piece of legislation, meaning that enactment of the new bill and payout of veterans benefits would have a nominal effect on the Federal Budget, perhaps generating a budget surplus. In fact, the new GI Bill simply provides a small business ownership option to which veterans can apply the value of educational benefits earned under existing GI Bills.
Patriot Enterprise Project, Inc, a nonprofit GI Bill advocate, estimates that the VET Act could foster tens of thousands of new small businesses, and upwards of five hundred thousand new jobs veteran and civilian.
Key immediate and long-term objectives of this landmark, non-partisan GI Bill are:
· A self-employment veterans benefits option for the over 1,000,000 unemployed veterans
· It would return 100% of the veterans benefits back to the Federal budget through new employee payroll tax revenue.
· Produce an estimated $100 billion reduction in long-term veteran health and senior care.
· As a new recruiting incentive, this GI Bill would reduce the Department of Defense’s $5 billion recruiting and retention budget, while increasing the quality of new recruits.
Veterans and small business service organizations supporting the new GI Bill include Federal Allies Institute, National Guard Association of the United States, Partnership for America and Vietnam Veterans of America.
Fortenberry said "Giving veterans entrepreneurial opportunity by giving them access to capital through a benefit that's already defined by the federal government to us seems a way to meet multiple policy objectives of job creation, assistance to veterans and empowerment of small business entrepreneurs"
The new GI Bill was originally authored by Andy Gibbs, Chairman of Patriot Enterprise Project, a nonprofit advocating passage of the Vet Act of 2011.
Creating a landmark GI Bill that could change the future for a million veterans should be the job for a national veteran service organization with a huge budget and legal staff, not for an ex-combat medic working on a shoestring budget. I could sit back and hope, or learn the legislative process and lead out. I’m not one to sit back and hope.
Palm Springs, CA is about as far removed from Capital Hill as you can get. I applaud Congressman Fortenberry for bridging the distance, and introducing America’s next GI Bill.
According to the Department of Veterans Affairs, 40 percent of returning veterans will never earn a degree under the existing GI Bill, and more than 35 percent want to own a small business.
Under the VET Act, veterans could quickly start small business, becoming farmers, ranchers, plumbers, heavy equipment operators, small town doctors, and nurses.
Daniel Baldwin Directing New Documentary WARFIGHTERS
Actor Daniel Baldwin tells NBC television‘s “The Talk” about filming a segment for his new feature documentary WARFIGHTERS during Chicago’s Veteran’s Welcome Home 2011 event.
The new documentary film is promoting the passage of the new GI Bill that will allow veterans to use their educational entitlements to start veteran-owned businesses.
The Veteran’s Business Ownership Act of 2011 was authored by VBI Chairman Andy Gibbs as an alternative career track for many veterans who are not interested in pursuing college, or those who understand that a degree doesn’t guarantee a job in this sagging economy, will allow veterans to use their entitlements to take charge of building a new career after war.
Baldwin’s Documentary “Warfighters™” is not only set to chronicle the legislative path this new Vet Biz GI Bill will take to the White house, but to drive the passage of this important bill.
Baldwin is following his father’s advice to “never be afraid to do the right thing”, and he believes that this Bill will not only help the million unemployed veterans begin earning an income when they get back home, but the growth of new veteran businesses will drive the creation of 100s of thousands of badly new jobs.
Stay updated on the latest news about this landmark bill at www.2011GIBill.org
See Baldwin's interview at http://tinyurl.com/BaldwinNBC
April 23, 2011
Talk is Cheap. Here's now one Non-profit is Stepping Up,
On April 12th, President Obama, Vice President Biden, First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden introduced the “Joining Forces”initiative that challenged America to not only say “thank you” to our troops, but to step up with real programs.
Yep - we all know that actions speak louder ... now, you can join me in taking action ... at www.2011gibill.org/help.php
VBI is a sponsor of Non-profit Patriot Enterprise Project that just announced a new Apple iPAD2 Giveaway. Actually, a huge giveaway of 1,000 iPAD2s. Donations go directly to support large scale veterans advocacy programs: legislation and hands-on career-building programs.
"Advising" veterans on how to get a job, or how to start a business, or to "go to a website" for resources does little to move the needle on national veteran unemployment. In fact, the unemployment rate continues to rise!
During the 40 hours that you worked last week earning your paycheck, 40 million man-hours (veteran hours) were wasted - unused - because a million of my fellow veterans sat jobless.
40,000,000 hours!
I've spent considerable time analyzing the real cost to America for allowing one million veterans to remain jobless. The cost to these veterans and their families is extreme.
Enough. Big problems require bigger solutions - and we've launched a very big one. The 1,000 iPAD2 Sweepstakes is intentioned to provide a very nice incentive to donating the cost of just ONE Starbucks coffee: An Apple iPAD2 valued at $599.
Every one of the 1,000 Sweepstakes is limited to just 2,000 entries - find another sweepstakes with those chances of winning an iPAD!
I'll echo the First Lady's challenge: Either get behind this initiative, or get out of the way. We have big problems to solve, and we don't have much time. This week, another 40 million hours will be wasted, and a million veterans will edge closer to homelessness, and hopelessness.
Do you have other very large scale program ideas? Let me know how I can help get them launched.
January 18, 2011
Legislative Advocacy: New GI Bill for Veteran Owned Small Business
According to the latest figures real unemployment for young veterans is twenty percent – about double the national average!
By 1950, 6.7% of Americans had earned a bachelor degree, with veterans accounting for about half. The small percentage of degree-holding Americans at that time enjoyed a significant employability advantage over non-degreed job seekers, and veterans with degrees rode the wave; veterans became America’s new consumer middle class.
A recent VA report indicated that a “GI Bill degree“ does not correlate to higher earnings, responsibility, or placement in senior management ranks, and given the high percentage of degreed Americans, coupled with a 2010 population over 310 million, nearly double the population in 1950, the US workforce doesn’t need more college graduates.
Further, 30 percent of veterans in their 20s, and over 40 percent of veterans in their 30s are interested in starting and owning their own businesses, as opposed to a primary motivation to pursue a college degree. That goes to 80 percent for veterans who supervised personnel during active duty.
But that’s not the scary part.
Since 2001, the quality of military recruits has declined, and the recruiting and retention costs for today’s all volunteer military have skyrocketed. Current recruiting programs now pull a disproportionate number of recruits from America’s economically struggling rural areas. The lack of jobs is feeding the military system.
When these veterans finally go home, they still face the same tough job market that induced them to join the military in the first place.
And then, there’s the rising tension with China and North Korea. Conflicts with these countries, should they come about, will be a technological competition. America’s military must have the highest quality personnel, and the best equipment.
A GI Bill that provides immediate small business start up entitlements would be a powerful lure to intelligent and driven would-be businessmen and businesswomen to consider military service.
Rather than spending billions of dollars on advertising, the DOD may be best served by directing that money to improved military hardware and better personnel protection systems.
Rather than spending what is now estimated to be $1 trillion in long-term veteran health and senior care, the VA may be better served to redirect funds to help put veterans on a self-sustaining career path – one that would allow them to quickly start their own small business, obtain private insurance health coverage, and build a self-directed retirement program for their families.
There’s more – but hopefully you can begin to see that our advocating for a comprehensive GI Bill that solely provides veteran entitlements that smooth the way for fast business start up and ownership can solve real problems now, and avert a solidly predicted economic and Armed Services crisis in the future.
If you, your veterans service organization, or your Congressional representative would like more information on the proposed Vet Biz GI Bill of 2011, please contact us here. I’ll make sure you receive the short FACT SHEET, the proposed TEXT of the Bill, and the underlying White Paper that details the urgent need for a solid solution.
December 14, 2010
Government Silos
The Department of Veterans Affairs has a keen interest in reducing veteran unemployment. Unemployed veterans slip into homelessness, have lower morale and higher incidents of domestic violence and divorce. They carry with them higher long-term health care costs. But don't expect the VA to shoulder the problem alone. The real solution is a robust multi-agency program - one that connects the silos.
In April, President Obama created the Interagency Task Force for Veteran Business Development. The Task Force includes delegates from the Department of Veterans Affairs, Defense, Labor, OMB, GSA, SBA, the Treasury and other agencies. Six month after formation, the Task Force conducted it's first Interagency meeting.
During our D.C. meetings last week, VBI met with many of these agencies, campaigning for a unified approach to large scale veteran small business development and jobs creation.
We believe that the solution to unemployment is creating more veteran-owned and service disabled veteran owned businesses (VOBs/SDVOBs).
Unfortunately, the Interagency Task Force is charged with increasing the volume of government contracts awarded to existing veteran-owned and service disabled veteran owned businesses (VOBs/SDVOBs). Dangerously, this exclusive focus could create thousands of veteran-owned small businesses overly dependent on government contracts. Government budget cut-backs could create thousands of failed veteran small businesses overnight. Of course, we know the government never runs out of money.
The President's mandate all but ignores good old American capitalism. It should foster 10s of thousands of new veteran owned business that serve America's private section. I envision good old American capitalism in which enterprising veteran build self-sustaining businesses, compete, grow, and hire more veterans.
The Task Force is not capable of, nor authorized to create VOBs/SDVOBs - it can only direct more of our tax dollars to be spent on VOBs/SDVOBs. Offhandedly, that's growing government, not commerce. It's charter completely misses the target of American economic recovery and veteran self-reliance!
Veterans return from years at war with little or no credit, no assets, and no savings. So let them use their GI Bill benefits to collateralize and repay the SBA's small business loans. VA and DOD have no authority over SBA lending programs, they operate in completely disconnected silos.
The SBA has no authority to tap veterans' GI Bill benefits for veteran small business loan repayment - GI Bill benefits are locked away in the fortified silos of Congress and the VA.
The Treasury silo could consider a short term tax moratorium for new VOBs/SDVOBs, but "tax" doesn't fall within the VA, SBA, or DOL silos.
And so it goes ... government and legislative inefficiency.
The simple solution suddenly becomes complicated. But, it's a critical issue that must be solved with a "White House Solution", one that connects the silos, focusing multi-agency people, money and mandates to solve America's veteran unemployment. To help boost innovation, capitalism and the economy overall.
My next round of veteran small business development meetings are now being scheduled after the 112th Congress settles in. We'll build conveyors between the silos.
December 2, 2010
Breaking Eggs
Today, I had a discussion with a respected government policy advisor, explaining the scope and reach of VBI’s veteran business and jobs development programs. After a moment of reflection, he soberly said that we will have resistance – VBI will be breaking many of the “establishment’s” eggs.
Indeed – we’re committed to fight on the home front for a better life for those who fight to protect our way of life. Broken eggs will invariably be a casualty of war.
Change happens when someone steps out to take charge of a new mission – and eggs are broken.
Change happens when voters step out to alter the course of Democracy. On November 2nd, eggs were broken.
Reflecting on this concept, it became crystal clear that before the veteran’s golden goose can hatch, an egg must be broken.
I think that breaking eggs may be a good thing.
November 23, 2010
On Skilled Leadership
Gunny’s instructions were clear: “If I say ‘put your head down’, then put your #$@## head down or you will die”. You could hear .50 cal bullets whizzing by – I didn’t question his leadership and direction.
As military professionals, we’re trained to follow directions, and we pursue our missions with vigor and determination. We succeed.
Civilians who have never “been there” will never understand the level of trust, support and the importance of command leadership experienced during military service.
In many respects, the civilian job and business environment is more hostile than the battlefield – at least in war, we know our enemies.
I have committed VBI to be the leadership beacon for veterans seeking entrepreneurial opportunities and successful careers. Our targets are to create and support 10,000 new veteran and service disabled veteran owned business leaders, employing 20,000 more veterans.
To put this in perspective – by 2014, our objective is to create the civilian equivalent of a full Army Corps (2 Divisions), with all of the equivalent battalion infrastructure, logistics and specialized support systems … from stratch. No private sector enterprise has ever attempted this scope of small business and job creation.
VBI will provide the strong leadership for veterans preparing to enter battle in the business world. Seasoned corporate executives, and battle-scarred entrepreneurs bring the skills and experience needed to help our veterans succeed. I will constantly seek out exceptional leaders to join VBI at every level.
Once again, our veterans will be the best-trained, best-equipped, mission-focused professionals in the world. But this time, we’ll make sure they win the battle on the home front.
November 2, 2010
Hey Politicians: "Veteran" is Not a Political Party
Today, we saw democracy in action once again.
Regardless of your political party affiliation, remember that your constituency includes thousands, perhaps 10s of thousands of veterans of America’s Armed Services who fought for your right to hold office.
While you hold the responsibility of office, you will asked time and again to vote on new veteran legislation.
When considering purring your support behind powerful new bipartisan legislation that affirmatively helps veterans create new veteran and service disabled veteran owned small businesses, and legislation that helps to create 100s of thousands of new veteran jobs, you CAN’T vote along party lines.
Simply vote “Veteran”.
October 22, 2010
All's Not Quite on the Western Front
Noticing that I haven’t entered an update in a while, I thought it important to say why. It’s not because it’s quite on the Western Front – it’s because we’re busy here in California.
Developing the mission, and executing on the tactical operation takes time – and careful planning. VBI’s program objectives are huge. Despite the scope and complexity of our operational logistics, this is an operation that we are compelled to follow through.
In another 18 months or so, 100,000 servicemen and service women will return from Afghanistan. Many will determine that their service is completed, and will transition from military professional, back to “civilian”.
Their challenges back at home may be bigger than their challenges in battle – we have a lot of work to do if we’re going to change the balance in their favor.
More thoughts soon – but right now, we have work to do.
September 27, 2010
Just the Facts
As I pass through the nation’s airports, and shopping malls, and flip through magazines, I see “Support the Troops” messages everywhere.
America’s most enduring asset is her population of 24 million military veterans – they should be supported.
But the facts tell a different story.
VBI is not a member of the Slogan-Of-the-Month Club. These facts and figures establish our operational performance targets. The entire VBI team is committed to reversing these out-of-control trends – one performance metric at a time.
September 11, 2010
VBI: Out of the Box Thinking
On September 11, 2001, I watched the World Trade Center buildings collapse. I tasted the dust, witnessed the pain and sorrow, and saw co-eds in SOHO crying in front of post card stands full of photos of the World Trade Center – the twin towers and 3,000 lives were gone.
The next day, watching the rising smoke nearly fill my hotel view, I wrote about the power of American Ingenuity as our ticket to recovery. Read the article here.
Today, a decade later, I still write about problem solving innovation. But this time, it’s not about motivation – it’s about action.
I formed Veterans Business Institute as a company formed around large-scale problem-solving invention and innovation. The current system to help veterans is broken, and I simply won’t accept status quo.
VBI’s process and systems that solve massive veteran unemployment are the result of Out-Of-The-Box thinking. Our mission is to make the most significant change in the lives of today’s military veterans since the original GI Bill.
Our ability to execute on our mission is proven – we’re thought leaders, we’re innovators, we’re business executives, we’re Armed Services Veterans!
Watch as our programs evolve. Join us to make positive change happen faster.