HEROES TO CEOS
Supporting Veteran Entrepreneurs
Jump-Starting Veteran Businesses
Not surprisingly, Veterans make great entrepreneurs.
Leadership, commitment and courage are just a few reasons Veterans succeed as entrepreneurs. We’re proud to be able to support them in not only their endeavors, but also their transition from military service to civilian entrepreneurship.
This year, we’re excited to recognize three U.S. military entrepreneurs and highlight their fortitude through our ‘No Vet Left Behind’ initiative. Get to know our 2022 ‘Heroes to CEOs’ award winners!
2022 ‘NO Vet Left Behind’
Giving previous ‘Heroes to CEOs’ runners-up another chance.
Grants
Each of this year’s ‘Heroes to CEOs’ award winners will receive a $25,000 business grant to help support and grow their businesses. As each business has a unique narrative with distinctive needs, see their stories to learn how our winners will put their grants to use for success.
Quarterly Mentorship
Bob Evans Farms matches awardees with former ‘Heroes to CEOs’ winners who not only are successful business owners, but also understand firsthand what it’s like to be a Veteran. Awardees can take advantage of quarterly business mentoring meetings that provide great insights, support and networking opportunities.
2022 Award Winners
Meet This Year’s Veteran Entrepreneurs
BRETT D’ALESSANDRO /
ALEXA MODERO
Backpacks For Life is a New Jersey nonprofit that provides support for homeless and at-risk Veterans working to reintegrate into civilian life. One BFL innovation is a backpack specifically designed with a homeless Veteran in mind, featuring safety and security details, a fold out sleep mat, locking mechanism and detachable toiletry kit.
zEPHRINE (MITCHELL) HANSON
Hampden Farms works to strengthen the local food system’s capacity through diverse retail and wholesale products preserved and crafted from local growers and farmers – creating year-round revenue sources. Additionally, Hampden Farms amplifies and supports the work of local community organizations who advocate for food equity and community-wealth building.
HAL zAIMA
Sterilogy has developed a unique hand hygiene compliance system with a compact body-worn smart personal sanitizer device to ensure proper hand hygiene at the “point of care” in healthcare settings. Further developments include a system to alert the healthcare professional if he or she forgets to sanitize prior to entering the patient zone.
