Wednesday, May 20, 2015
Norm Brodsky ’64 helped the veterans snag four of 25 spots open to entrepreneurs across the country
by Adam Grybowski
Four graduates of ý’s 2014 inaugural Veteran Entrepreneurship Training Program took part in Inc. Magazine’s GROWCO Conference from April 7 to 9 in Nashville, Tenn. The entrepreneurship conference gave aspiring entrepreneurs the opportunity to learn from and network with Inc.’s top-ranked CEOs. A special military track embedded within the conference called the Inc. Military Entrepreneur Program opened up the opportunity to 25 entrepreneurs who are veterans or military spouses from across the country. ý snagged nearly a fifth of those spots with the help of Norm Brodsky ’64, the renowned entrepreneur, author and Inc. columnist who has repeatedly supported the students of his alma mater.
“This opportunity was a once in a lifetime experience for the veteran entrepreneurs,” said Dr. Ron Cook, entrepreneurship professor and director of ý’s Center for Entrepreneurial Studies. “I can’t thank everyone enough — particularly Norm Brodsky, Inc’s Natalie Thomas and Grand Bank — for their support in making this happen for our ý veteran entrepreneurs.”
Dan Klashner was one of 14 members of the ý’s training program who attended the conference. An active Army service member who started a food service business called Bailiwick Dining, Klashner was intent on speaking to chef David Chang, the hugely influential American chef and entrepreneur who founded the Momofuku restaurant group, but after Chang’s talk, the Q&A session wrapped without Klashner given the chance to ask his question.
Klashner turned to Brodsky and said, "How angry do you think they'd get if I slipped backstage and tried to ask Chef Chang a few questions?” Brodsky shrugged and said, "There's one way to find out."
The pair stood up, ventured backstage and found Chang’s dressing room. Brodsky helped negotiate the chance to ask a few questions. “Thanks to Norm, I was able to pick the brain of one of the most influential chefs in New York City,” Klashner said.
Chang was one of several speakers who appeared at Growco. Other seasoned entrepreneurs and industry leaders included Daymond John of the ABC TV show Shark Tank, Airbnb co-founder Joe Gebbia and the actress Jessica Alba, who also founded The Honest Company.
The Center for Entrepreneurial Studies at ý offers the free, eight-week entrepreneurship program to help veterans develop a business plan to explore a venture idea or guide an existing business. Upon completion of the program, which launched in 2014 with a $50,000 grant from Grand Bank, N.A., of Hamilton, N.J., veterans receive one year of mentoring as they pursue their venture dreams free of charge. The program’s second session — also funded by Grand Bank with additional support by the New Jersey Bankers Association — begins this summer.
During the Inc. Military Entrepreneur Program, each of the veteran-entrepreneurs was paired with a mentor — a CEO of one of the fastest growing companies of the past 10 years. Brodsky served as a personal mentor during the conference to Michael Pollock, who was deeply appreciative of the time that Brodsky and his wife, Elaine, dedicated to helping him.
“They went well out of their way for us veterans,” said Pollock, a veteran of the Navy who started The Salad Car, which provides health and affordable food in the communities surrounding Cooper River Park in Camden County, N.J. “Mr. Brodsky’s insight changed the way I have been looking at what it means to be in business, and Mrs. Brodsky shared stories of their triumphs, how difficult it was during down times of his and how both failure and success has changed them both.”
Carlos Gomez, an active service member in the Navy, started a real estate business, Renovo Property Solutions, that provides personalized real estate services to homeowners who need answers customized to their real estate situation. He says that the conference energized him and inspired him to continue working to make Renovo a success. “Norm played a key role as our facilitator at the conference in making this a truly successful and beneficial experience for all the veteran entrepreneurs like myself that attended this event,” he said.
Jorge Ditren, an active service member in the Army who created a one-stop graphics shop called Dgrafics, found the conference enlightening and energizing. “Norm and his wife, Elaine, are 100% dedicated to the veteran community and are willing to help anyone who asks for assistance,” he said. “Every entrepreneur I met did not hesitate to hear my story, business concept and give me feedback. The abundance of resources was at time overwhelming but truly exciting.”