Penn State Berks LaunchBox holds veterans entrepreneurship panel

WYOMISSING, Pa. –– The Berks LaunchBox will hold a veterans entrepreneurship resource panel webinar from 6:30–7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 27. This event is free and open to the public but attendees must register in advance.

The webinar will feature two veterans whose organizations provide resources and two veterans with recent startups. Speakers include:

• Ken Vennera from Warrior Rising will share how his organization creates opportunities for veterans who want to become entrepreneurs. Warrior Rising provides free mentorship, training and financial support for veterans who aspire to be their own boss, maintain a business, and perpetuate the hiring of fellow veterans.
• Shannon Degiglio, a veteran business development officer and a lender relations specialist for the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), will share resources created specifically for veterans through the SBA. Degiglio has served in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard for nearly 20 years.
• Kevin Clark, CEO of Take Charge, an app platform that changes the way students plan and pursue their future. Clark has successfully launched two startups since 2017, both of which were boot-strapped to profitability. His experience includes seven years as a medic and medical officer in the U.S. Army.
• Daysha Smith is the founder of God’s Biggest Fan Apparel, a Christian-based business. She has served in the U.S. Army as a food inspection specialist for four years.

The mission of Berks LaunchBox, located in Suite 105 of the GoggleWorks Center for the Arts in downtown Reading, is to support economic development and entrepreneurship. Berks LaunchBox connects local entrepreneurs to the support, resources, and facilities that they need to build sustainable and scalable businesses with a viable plan for growth. Services include assistance with prototyping, conducting market research, and connecting with advisers. Berks LaunchBox offers entrepreneurship workshops, co-working space for startups, Meetups focused on business development, a makerspace with 3D printers for prototyping, and special youth programs. 

For more information, visit berkslaunchbox.psu.edu or contact Erica Kunkel, Berks LaunchBox interim director, at [email protected] or 610-396-6221.