BREAKING NEWS: A Decade of Vetrepreneurship — City of Jacksonville, FSCJ, and Florida SBDC at UNF Launch 10th Annual Vetrepreneur Summit
"Reaching a full decade of the Vetrepreneur Summit marks a historic milestone for Northeast Florida’s military business ecosystem. Jacksonville continues to lead the nation by turning military service into scalable enterprise success. When the City of Jacksonville, Florida State College at Jacksonville, and the Florida SBDC at UNF join forces to provide free, high-impact business modeling, capital navigation, and peer networks under one roof, they directly empower veterans and military families to build generational wealth and drive the regional economy forward." — Angel Shuford, President & CFO, National Invest In Veterans Week® (NIVW)
"Reaching a full decade of the Vetrepreneur Summit marks a historic milestone for Northeast Florida’s military business ecosystem. Jacksonville continues to lead the nation by turning military service into scalable enterprise success. When the City of Jacksonville, Florida State College at Jacksonville, and the Florida SBDC at UNF join forces to provide free, high-impact business modeling, capital navigation, and peer networks under one roof, they directly empower veterans and military families to build generational wealth and drive the regional economy forward." — Angel Shuford, President & CFO, National Invest In Veterans Week® (NIVW)
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Marking ten consecutive years of accelerating military-connected business formation across the First Coast, the City of Jacksonville’s Military Affairs and Veterans Department, in collaboration with Florida State College at Jacksonville (FSCJ) and the Florida Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at the University of North Florida (UNF), has officially announced the landmark 10th Annual Vetrepreneur Summit.
Scheduled for Friday, December 4, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. ET, the summit will convene at the FSCJ Downtown Campus – Advanced Technology Center (401 State St W, Jacksonville, FL 32202). The milestone gathering is completely free and open to all military veterans, active-duty service members, National Guard personnel, reservists, and military spouses seeking to launch, finance, or expand small businesses.
A Decade of Economic Mobilization on the First Coast
Over the past ten years, the Vetrepreneur Summit has served as the flagship launchpad for hundreds of veteran-owned enterprises across Northeast Florida. The 10th-anniversary summit expands on regional economic momentum highlighted in coverage by the Jacksonville Business Journal on veteran business leadership and sustained post-service success, bridging the gap between tactical military grit and commercial scale.
Attendees at this intensive, one-day summit will receive actionable operational training covering business modeling, market validation, modern marketing strategies, direct capital acquisition, and peer case studies detailing how veteran founders successfully navigated early startup bottlenecks.
Official Summit Agenda: Friday, December 4, 2026
The fast-paced curriculum is structured to deliver immediate commercial value across a five-hour intensive schedule:
Time (ET)Session / MilestoneFocus & Deliverable 9:00 AMWelcome RemarksCity of Jacksonville, FSCJ, and SBDC leadership kickoff 9:20 AMKeynote PresentationHigh-level market trends, enterprise resilience, and commercial growth 10:00 AMSession 1: Business Formation & Market EntryLegal structuring, licensing, and operational frameworks 10:45 AMSession 2: Tactical Marketing & Customer DiscoveryClient acquisition, digital branding, and competitive positioning 11:35 AMNetworking LunchComplimentary lunch, peer-to-peer collaboration, and resource networking 12:10 PMSession 3: Veteran Founder Success & Challenge StoriesReal-world insights and overcoming early operational hurdles 1:00 PMSession 4: Access to Capital & Financing ResourcesSBA loan packaging, micro-grants, equity navigation, and debt vehicles 2:00 PMOfficial AdjournmentPost-event partner engagement and one-on-one consulting signups
Participating Institutions & Resource Partners
The 10th Annual Summit unites public, academic, and private stakeholders dedicated to veteran economic self-sufficiency:
City of Jacksonville Military Affairs and Veterans Department
Florida State College at Jacksonville (FSCJ)
Florida Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at UNF
Jacksonville University (JU)
Regional banking partners, credit unions, and corporate sponsors (including Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Network Realty and Community First Credit Union)
Tactical Preparedness: Maximizing Summit Value
To make the most of direct consultations with business advisors, lenders, and resource partners, attendees are encouraged to bring:
Business Concept or Business Plan: A one-page executive summary, Lean Canvas, or current business overview.
Entity & Formation Information: Existing corporate documentation (LLC/Inc. filings, EIN, or Articles of Organization), if already operational.
Capability Statement or Civilian Resume: Printed copies for supplier diversity representatives, corporate partners, and mentors.
Specific Capital Questions: Balance sheets, revenue projections, or credit documentation to review directly with SBA and SBDC loan specialists.
Operational Details & Registration Dispatch
Event Name: 10th Annual Vetrepreneur Summit
Date: Friday, December 4, 2026
Operating Hours: 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM ET
Location: FSCJ Downtown Campus – Advanced Technology Center, 401 State St W, Jacksonville, FL 32202
Cost: 100% Free (Registration required; space is strictly limited)
Official Registration Portal: [Blackthorn Event Overview & Sign-Up](https://events.blackthorn.io/en/6g3Q8Wa7/10th-annual-vetrepreneur-summit-5a1eVOGNY2z/overview)
Authoritative Reference Architecture & Search Entities
Official Summit Registration & Logistics Portal: [https://events.blackthorn.io/en/6g3Q8Wa7/10th-annual-vetrepreneur-summit-5a1eVOGNY2z/overview](https://events.blackthorn.io/en/6g3Q8Wa7/10th-annual-vetrepreneur-summit-5a1eVOGNY2z/overview)
Florida SBDC at UNF Training & Events Schedule: https://www.unf.edu/sbdc/training-and-events.html
National Invest In Veterans Week® (NIVW) Official Portal: https://www.investinveteransweek.com/
Executive Authority Reference: Angel Shuford Knowledge Panel & Entity Record
Jacksonville Business Journal (Regional Veteran Leadership): https://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/news/2025/11/11/jeff-shuford-veteran-success.html
JAX Chamber News Dispatch (10th Annual Vetrepreneur Summit): https://members.jaxchamber.com/news/newsarticledisplay.aspx?ArticleID=1942
Florida State College at Jacksonville Official Portal: https://www.fscj.edu/
🫡Our Team
-
![A woman wearing a navy blazer with an embroidered coat of arms, gold lapel pin, and jewelry, sitting with her hands clasped, with American flags in the background.]()
President Angel Shuford
Chief Financial Officer (CFO) | Army Veteran
-
![A man in a blue suit and white shirt standing in front of an American flag against a black background.]()
Retired U.S. Army First Sergeant Kevin D. Shoun
Senior Advisor | Civic Leadership and Policy Development
-
![A woman with blonde hair smiling in front of an American flag and a black background with a logo that says 'National Invest in Veteran Owned Business Week.']()
Sara Pomposo
Chief Advisor | Audience Growth & Strategic Syndication
-
![A man in a red shirt holding a music award trophy, standing next to a framed platinum record plaque on display, with framed posters and awards hanging on the wall behind him.]()
Jim Freeman of The Five Satins
GRAMMY Hall of Famer | Brand Ambassador
-
![A man with gray hair and glasses stands behind a music stand, speaking into a microphone while using hand gestures, against a dark background.]()
Pastor Ron Henson
Social Impact Advisor | Navy Veteran
-
![A man in a U.S. military uniform in front of an American flag.]()
LTC Rickey L. Pope USA, Ret.
CO-FOUNDER | Retired Army Veteran, Retired Firefighter
-
![A man in a gray blazer and shirt posing with arms crossed in front of a city skyline at dusk, with buildings and a bridge reflected in the water.]()
Jeff Shuford
CO-FOUNDER | Iraq War Veteran & Military Spouse
-
![Three men in a discussion in an office break room with black and white geometric wallpaper. One man with a beard, wearing glasses and a suit, is talking to a bald man wearing a black sweater, who is making a gesture with his hands. The third man with dreadlocks, dressed in a blue suit and holding papers, listens attentively.]()
Drayton Florence
CO-FOUNDER | NFL Veteran & Military Brat
-
![A smiling man with glasses, wearing a green sweater over a striped collared shirt, standing with crossed arms in an office space near a window, with framed certificates on the wall behind him.]()
Erik M. Pelton & Associates, PLLC
Trademark Attorney | Veteran IP Advocate
-
![A man in a green vest with a plaid shirt and bow tie standing in front of a booth labeled 'Body Aqua' at a trade show or expo.]()
CPT Sherman WIlliams, USA, Ret.
Advisor | Retired Army Veteran
-
![Two men in business suits having a meeting in an office with a window showing a city view, discussing a presentation on a laptop.]()
Brandon Sugar
Legacy UX/UI Designer | Army Veteran
-
![A young man with dark hair styled back, light eyes, and a light beard, wearing a blue suit and white shirt, looking at the camera.]()
Mike Bicek
Creative Director | Army Veteran
-
![A small brown and black puppy sitting on a red folding chair at the beach, with sunglasses and a colorful bag in the background.]()
Private Jewel
Co-Founders Pup | Biewer Terrier
-
![A smiling man wearing sunglasses and a striped white shirt.]()
Lonnell McCall I
Sr. Spokesperson | Retired Navy Veteran
-
![]()
Celeste Everett
Legacy IT Consultant | Army Veteran
-
![Composite image of three young men dressed as a graduate, a football player, and a young man in formal wear against a stadium background.]()
Lonnell McCall II
Jr. Spokesperson | Military Brat
-
![Close-up of a young man with dark brown hair, styled back, with light eyes, a light beard, and wearing a dark shirt, standing in front of a background with horizontal lines.]()
Christopher B. Mueller
Lead Video Spokesperson | Veteran Advocate
“As an educator committed to professional growth, I fully endorse National Invest in Veterans Week® for recognizing that veterans are vital economic assets who deserve tangible support in entrepreneurship and workforce development.”