HeroZona Launches HeroPreneur and Four New Experiences to Develop Veteran Careers and Entrepreneurship

Second Annual Series Honors Business Talent of Former Servicemen, Features Celebrity Appearances

HeroPreneur, a multi-day experience founded by U.S army Desert Storm Veteran Alan “AP” Powell”, for America’s veterans including Arizona’s 640,000 veterans and 1,000 veteran owned companies, will return to Phoenix November 9 through November 16 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Veterans Day.

The week-long engagement is spearheaded by the Checkered Flag Run Foundation and Arizona Department of Veterans’ Services in conjunction with Nielsen, Bunker Labs, VetFran, National Veteran Business Development Council and MBNUSA.

“MBNUSA is a proud partner of HeroZona. We are ecstatic that this national platform will allow us to launch the MBNUSA HeroPreneur awards, which will be given to the top performing Hero Friendly Corporations and veteran owned businesses. This experience will further efforts to support veterans in many ways,” says MBNUSA founder, Don McKneely.

“Nielsen is thrilled to return as a key supporter of HeroZona. We truly believe the HeroPreneur summit will expand opportunities for veteran owned businesses, and the new partnerships with organizations that passionately support veteran owned businesses will have a direct positive impact on the economy through job creation,” said Lamont Robinson, vice president of supplier diversity for Nielsen.

The series of events will kick-off with the 8th annual Honor Walk and 5k Fun Run at Indian Steele Park right next to the Carl T. Hayden VA Medical Center on Friday, November 9th in partnership with Stamina H2O, a functional beverage specially formulated to promote mental and physical stamina. The Honor Walk will be followed by the 4th largest parade in the United States, the 22nd Annual Phoenix Veterans Day Parade.

A portion of the proceeds from the HeroPreneur week of experiences will support the Checkered Flag Run Foundation, Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Honoring Arizona’s Veterans and the Arizona Department of Veterans’ Services veteran programs.

HeroZona has announced new experiences for 2018. More information about each is below.

HeroPreneur National Veteran Business Summit: A three-day experience focused on Veteran Supplier Diversity:

Wednesday, Nov. 14: HeroPreneur National Veteran Business Summit, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. at Phoenix Convention Center:
The HeroPreneur National Veteran Business Summit will kick-off with a press conference and opening ceremony. Participants will have the opportunity to network with a multitude of local and national companies which seek to do business with veterans. Participants will also learn about different professional opportunities through workshops and seminars.
To register for the summit, visit herozona.org

Wednesday, Nov. 14 Heropreneur MBNUSA Reception & Awards, 7 p.m.-10 p.m. at Orpheum Theatre:
Hosted by actor and stand-up comedian, Bill Bellamy, who is a supporter of the troops both statewide and abroad, HeroZona will hold the inaugural HeroPreneur MBNUSA Awards on Wednesday, November 14. The special night will kick-off with the National Veteran Business Development Council reception and a meet and greet, followed by the awards ceremony, which will honor the heroes who support veteran owned businesses and the community.

For more information on the awards ceremony, visit https://www.herozona.org/.

Thursday, Nov. 15: Heropreneur Veteran Business Summit Day 2 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.at Phoenix Convention Center:
The Heropreneur Veteran Business Summit will begin with the AZ Million Dollar Circle of Excellence Breakfast. The AZ Million Dollar Circle of Excellence was launched by the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and recognizes companies leading the way in supplier diversity by spending over $1 million annually with minority and women-owned business enterprises in Arizona.

After breakfast, guests will sit in on the “Hero Pitch”, which will be powered by the Bunker Labs accelerator, with special guest “Shark Group” entrepreneur extraordinaire, Daymond John, to witness veteran business owners seeking guidance on their ideas for business launch and expansion.

The event will be followed by the Nielsen Global Veteran Consumer Insight Report luncheon, with special guests Bunker Labs and the National Veteran Business Development Council, who will speak to the veteran community. The event’s 2018 keynote speaker will be “Shark Group” entrepreneur extraordinaire, Daymond John.

After the luncheon, the HeroPreneur Veteran Business Fair will begin. The fair will offer opportunities for veteran owned businesses to seek partnerships with corporations that are looking to collaborate with them. To register for the summit, visit herozona.org.

Friday, Nov. 16: VetFran at Phoenix Convention Center:
VetFran will feature a full day of franchise opportunities for veterans including networking, workshops, a veteran franchise fair and an opportunity luncheon.

For a full list of HeroZona events, visit http://www.herozona.org.

About HeroZona
Founded by Alan “AP” Powell, HeroZona is a week-long Veterans Day engagement that empowers and celebrates America’s Veterans in Arizona. HeroZona ‘s Annual Heropreneur Veteran Business Summit has created a multi-day networking experience to improve America’s support of veteran companies through workshops, seminars, networking, entrepreneurial connections, and seminars; culminated by various entertainment events including the Phoenix Veterans Day Parade, & other entertainment activities. For more information visit http://www.herozona.org.

About VetFran
VetFran member companies have grown into a large network of over 650 franchise brands that voluntarily offer financial discounts, mentor-ship, and training for aspiring veteran franchisees and veterans seeking employment. VetFran’s most recent survey shows that over 238,000 veterans and military spouses found opportunities in the franchise industry as either employees or franchise owners.

About MBNUSA
MBN USA is the No. 1 print and digital publication supporting the National Minority Supplier Development initiative. Founded in 1988 by veteran newspaper, magazine and radio communications leader Don McKneely, MBN USA magazine has received more than 75 awards for its work in supplier diversity development.

About Bunker Labs
Bunker Labs is a national not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization built by military veteran entrepreneurs to empower other military veterans as leaders in innovation.

About National Veteran Business Development Council
The National Veteran Business Development Council is the only third party Veteran Owned Business Certification program in the United States and is organized as a 501c3 not for profit foundation. The NVBDC was created for the purpose of providing a credible and reliable certifying authority that would ensure that valid documentation exists of a business’ Veteran ownership and control.