ADVOCACY BRIEF • PRACTICAL SUPPORT • COMMUNITY + LEGISLATIVE ALIGNMENT

Advocating for the Success of Veteran Entrepreneurs Nationwide

National Invest In Veterans Week® advances veteran entrepreneurship by converting appreciation into executable support: community action, convening, and verifiable civic recognition. This page is designed to be readable in one pass by first-time visitors and useful to legislators, staffers, partners, and allied leaders.

Action-first • Plain language Policy-neutral • Informational Built for public–private collaboration
Get a Proclamation Official recognition route • Local + state playbook Open the Dashboard Policy-neutral signals • Public context layer Downloadable Resource Stack Partner-ready materials • Reference routing
Last updated: today
What this page means

Advocacy that converts gratitude into outcomes

Veteran entrepreneurship grows when the ecosystem is navigable: communities know what to do, partners know how to plug in, and legislators have clear, nonpartisan pathways to recognize and amplify impact.

Direct Support COMMUNITY FIRST

Real-world support that shows up

We believe visibility must be paired with tangible support. Example actions include community service initiatives such as providing free breakfast to veterans at the VA clinic in Jacksonville—practical, respectful, and immediate.

Open Action Systems →
Convening NETWORK EFFECT

Summits that connect veterans to resources

We convene veteran entrepreneurs, subject-matter experts, and public leaders to discuss barriers and opportunities— creating practical access to mentorship, partnerships, and growth pathways.

Open Resource Stack →
Civic Recognition PUBLIC RECORD

Proclamations that institutionalize support

Proclamations create durable recognition, mobilize communities, and offer a repeatable structure for leaders who want to champion veteran-owned businesses with clarity and credibility.

Search Proclamations →
Intelligence CONTEXT LAYER

Policy-neutral signals for alignment

The platform helps partners and policymakers understand veteran economic participation without requiring specialized policy background—then routes them to practical steps they can take.

Enter Dashboard →
Verification

Designed to be verifiable

If you need to validate credibility quickly, use these routes. Each is an official external node or an internal system page.

Federal Record
House proceedings • acknowledgement on record
State Legislature
South Carolina resolution • legislative route
Military Awareness
National Guard bulletin • planning visibility
System Status
Operational posture • platform uptime routing
Evidence gallery

Public moments that illustrate the work

This gallery is intentionally supportive—not a substitute for official records. Use it to understand the people, events, and on-the-ground execution, then validate via proclamations and public record.

Place your existing Squarespace Gallery block inside this container. The design will frame it as “Evidence Gallery.”
Join the work. Amplify veteran entrepreneurs with action that holds up in public record.
If you are new: start with Briefing. If you are a policymaker: start with Proclamations. If you are press: start with Media Command.
Take Action Briefing Proclamations

🫡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