Blog Post

IAVA and the Fullbridge Program Announce First Cohort for the January 2013 Program
Posted by Christina Kim on December 5

In November 2012, IAVA and the Fullbridge Program announced a new partnership to connect ten IAVA Member Veterans with the opportunity to attend an exclusive veterans-focused Fullbridge Program -- a rigorous, three week business and entrepreneurship course.

Thanks to the generous support of the Fullbridge Program, IAVA has awarded ten Member Veterans all-expenses paid scholarships, which will run from January 2-18, 2013 in Cambridge, MA. The program will give IAVA members the chance to translate skills they learned in the military to the civilian workplace, while also providing them with resources to help them build their own businesses or enter into other entrepreneurial ventures. Through skills assessments and a personalized coaching model of learning, veterans will gain a better understanding of their strengths, identify areas where they can further develop their skills and gain insights on possible career paths.

We would like to extend a special thanks to the 300+ veterans who applied for the January 2013 cohort. And make sure to stay involved with IAVA. Not a member, yet? Make sure you sign up today -- membership is free and easy.

Meet the veterans who will be representing America's New Greatest Generation:

JESSICA ARANDA, New York, NY. Jessica served as a U.S. Marine Sergeant from 2006-2010. She deployed as a public affairs specialist and photojournalist in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2008. Jessica completed her B.A. in Journalism and Public Relations from San Diego State University in 2011 and now anticipates the completion of her M.S. in Public Relations and Corporate Communication from New York University in May 2013. She currently interns in the public relations department of high fashion brand Proenza Schouler and hopes to leverage the skills learns from the Fullbridge Program to gain a competitive career edge and an increased knowledge of the modern business world.

KEVIN BOOHER, New Orleans, LA. Kevin served as a Marine Captain and route clearance company commander in Operation Enduring Freedom in 2009, and First Lieutenant and engineer platoon commander in Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2008. By participating in the Fullbridge Program he plans to gain skills in business strategy, financing, and successful model implementation. With this knowledge he intends to create a venue to assist individuals during major life transitions through physical fitness, with an initial focus on veterans and their transitions from military to civilian life. He is excited about the focused nature of the Fullbridge Program and the potential for his experience there to lend towards personal growth similar to that of his military deployments. He received an MS in Physics from Case Western Reserve University in 2006 and a BS in Physics from the United States Naval Academy in 2004.

EVAN BRUNO, Ithaca, NY. Evan is currently the Director of Baseball Operations at Cornell University. From 2008 to 2012, Evan served as the Naval Intelligence Officer attached to units on Whidbey Island, WA and in Northern Virginia. He deployed to Iraq and Qatar in 2009-2010 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Arabian Gulf Operations. Evan hopes to gain a financial and business management foundation at the Fullbridge Program that will enable him to succeed in entrepreneurial ventures in the environmental and energy technology start-up sector. He graduated with honors from Amherst College in 2008 and lives in Ithaca, NY.

JOSHUA CARROLL, Laconia, NH. Josh is the Co-Founder of Flying Scarfs Inc., a non-profit, social business designed to empower female Afghan artisans through international trade. Josh served as a Captain and Intelligence Officer for the 335th Fighter Squadron in Operation Enduring Freedom from 2011-2012. He is the recipient of the Presidential Service Award and the Military Volunteer Service Medal for his contributions to microeconomic development in Afghanistan. In addition to being a social entrepreneur, Josh is a marathoner and endurance athlete who completed his first Ironman Triathlon last May. Josh’s goal for the Fullbridge program is to learn the best practices from experts in the business field and to apply those lessons to his own company right away. At the conclusion of the program he will be headed to Haiti looking to expand his business through new handicraft products. He received his BA in Political Science from Merrimack College in 2005 and his MA in Organizational Leadership from Gonzaga University in 2010. He lives in Raleigh, NC. 

NICK COLGIN, New York, NY. Nick served as a combat medic for Bravo Company of the 82nd Airborne for 15 months in Afghanistan. He took part in over 700 combat patrols within the Bagram security zone, and later moved to Firebase Morales-Frazier in Tagab Valley. He received the Bronze Star for his service as a medic. Upon returning home, Nick was diagnosed with a TBI, but is now almost completely recovered.  He is a native of Chesterfield, VA, but now lives in New York City. Through Fullbridge, Nick hopes to develop new tools and resources to aid in his quest to help all veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan.

PHOEBE GAVIN, New York, NY. Phoebe is a 26-year-old combat veteran of the U.S. Army. She served on active duty for four and half years while stationed at Fort Lewis, WA, and deployed for a 15 month tour in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Phoebe is pursuing a Bachelors degree in Management with a concentration in Human Resources at LIM College. Her interests include fashion, technology, mixed martial arts and racial justice. Through the Fullbridge Program Phoebe hopes to learn about branding, marketing and funding new business ventures. She also hopes to consolidate her long list of entrepreneurial ideas.

TODD HENDRICKS, Austin, TX. Todd enlisted in the United States Navy in 2004 under the National Call to Service program. He served an eighteen-month tour of duty onboard the USS Ronald Reagan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Upon completion of his tour, he enrolled in the University of Houston and graduated with honors in Political Science program. In 2010 he was recalled to active duty to support with the drawdown of troops in Iraq, serving in the tactical operations center for the Navy logistics detachment in-theater. In May 2012, he completed his Masters of Public Affairs from the University of Texas-Austin. Through the Fullbridge Program Todd is interested in gaining knowledge about how to succeed in business in today’s economy, and networking with other veterans seeking professional growth.

TIMOTHY MCCARTY, College Station, TX. Tim is a firearms trainer, student, and aspiring entrepreneur. Tim served as a US Air Force Tactical Air Controller in Iraq in 2008 and as a Joint Terminal Attack Controller in Afghanistan in 2010-2011. He received a BA in Criminal Justice from Michigan State University in 2004 and lives in College Station, Texas. Tim looks forward to expanding his business skills and gaining tools to succeed in his entrepreneurial goals, while connecting with other veterans and helping them achieve theirs.

JEFF PARK, New York, NY. Jeff is the Operations Associate at Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America. He deployed with his California Army National Guard unit in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from 2007-2008, where he served as an infantry company executive officer conducting convoy security missions. In 2005, Jeff received his bachelor's degree in political science and earned his commission through ROTC at the University of California, Berkeley. Through participation in the Fullbridge Program, Jeff hopes to learn and develop business-relevant skills as well as develop lasting relationships with fellow veterans. A California native, Jeff has lived in New York since 2011.

JAMES WANG, Troy, MI. James currently serves as a Communication Watch Officer at the National Military Command Center. Previous assignments include: Communication Planner for III MEF G-6 Operations in Southeast Asia, Embedded Training Advisor to the Afghani National Army, and Executive Officer for a Headquarters and Service Company in Iraq. Prior to being commissioned in the Marines, James received a BA in Economics and English from the University of Michigan in 2006. Besides gaining a better understanding of how to evaluate businesses and business proposals, he looks forward to the interaction that comes from working with dedicated individuals who are being instructed by subject matter experts in field of Business. He also hopes to understand the fundamental differences and similarities between military organizations and business organizations. James currently lives in Alexandria, VA and holds the rank of Captain.

And be sure to meet the Fullbridge Coach who will be working with the first cohort.

BOB FOGEL. Bob has taught in corporate, university, and government programs, on strategy and organizational culture, change management and execution, leadership and innovation, and the customer service profit chain. He is the former Executive Vice President and Executive Dean of Babson College, Dean of Administration for the Harvard Graduate School of Education, President and CEO of Harvard Business School Interactive, and Executive Director of Executive Education at Harvard Business School. As former Chief Operating Officer at the Conservation Law Foundation, and manager at Coopers & Lybrand Consulting, LLP, Bob was responsible for managing the Government High Tech Consulting Practice. In 2010, Bob was recalled to the Coast Guard to help lead Crisis Communications & Public Relations for the BP Oil Spill. Bob has his BS in Government from the United States Coast Guard Academy and an MBA from the Harvard Business School.

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