ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) — Returning home is always challenging for those who have served our country. An annual event in Albany steps in to alleviate a particular challenge for veterans — starting a business.
“I was in the Navy. I served over in the Middle East and stationed in Georgia for a little bit as well” Tim Wakefield told NEWS10's Zion Decoteau.
The ex-nayman is one of many veterans gathered at Albany's Crowne Plaza Desmond Hotel, for VETCON. Following a state law passed in 2014, New York aims for 6 percent of state business contracts to be awarded to service-disabled veteran-owned businesses. VETCON wants to ensure New York reaches that goal by helping service-disabled vets obtain state grants, resources, and networking to launch a business.
"10 years ago there was no set aside for disabled veteran-owned businesses in New York State" recalled Greg Rinckey.
For that reason, this has been a cause close to the veteran Rinckey’s heart. His law firm, Tulley Rinckey, sponsors the event.
“And really where the magic happens is in the matchmaking room where the service-disabled veteran-owned businesses sit down with a state representative, and they try and match to land state contracts and do work for the state,” Rinckey explained.
For John Hopka, who left the Air Force in 1984, effort must meet quotas. “It narrows the field down but you still have to be on your game,” said Hopka.
Wakefield runs a commercial diving business specializing in everything from underwater construction to archeology. The veteran turn business owner understands the unique challenges people like him face.
“It's a huge culture change because you're going from having this camaraderie and brotherhood and sisterhood where you feel like as soon as you get out you have nothing," said Wakefield. "So finding something where you're starting a business and feel like you're absolutely again alone, I think that's a huge difficulty," he continued.
Rinckey says he wants to see the number of state contracts issued to those veterans surpass the 6 percent goal. He also wants the program to stay in Albany to keep its intimate size as opposed to growing in a city like New York where it might get overwhelming for new vets.
