Veterans Business Network Launch Meeting September 2021

Description

Join us for our official launch of the ARCC Veterans Business Network with guest speaker Emil Baker, NYS Director Employer Outreach Department of Defense ESGR and honored guest Michael Hoag, Commander of Veterans of Foreign Wars Department of New York. 

After an educational speaking segment, there will be an opportunity to network in the relaxed atmosphere of The Queensbury Hotel with area Veteran business owners and Veteran employees of ARCC member businesses. 

Meet our Speaker

Emil Baker, NYS Director Employer Outreach Department of Defense ESGR: Emil Baker is a Vietnam Veteran, and is retired from Bell Telephone and AT&T. He has held various management and executive positions in sales, new product introduction, distribution and operational management. He retired as Bell Atlantic VP and GM of NY and VT and then founded a paging, reselling company that grew to a chain of 30 wireless phone stores, generating $27 million in sales the year he sold it. Currently, he owns and operates the Big Moose Deli & Country Store, a $1.4 million business in Hoosick Falls, NY. 

Special Guest:

Michael Hoag, State Commander New York Veterans of Foreign Wars
Michael went into the Army in 1966, and was trained as an artilleryman (13A10), and was deployed to Vietnam in April of 1967 in a 105-howitzer battery (B/1/29th), assigned to the 4th Inf Division (3/12th Inf).  Awarded the Vietnam Service and the Purple Heart, he was discharged in 1968. In 1972, he joined the Army Reserves. During that period of service, he was awarded several awards including the Meritorious Service and NCO professional Development medals and Battalion and Brigade Drill Sgt of the year. He retired in 1992 as a First Sergeant (E-8).
VFW membership began in 1986 in Post 2475 in Glens Falls.  Elected in 2010 as Post Commander and has continued in that capacity till June 2020, achieving All State status six times and All-American Post Commander in 2016. He led Post 2475 in raising many thousands of dollars that have been used to assist other organizations that help veterans such as Fisher House, Honor Flights, Vet Houses and more and the Post has directly helped many local veterans in need.  


About the Veterans Business Network:
The purpose of the Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce’s Veterans Business Network is to promote and to serve the affinity group of Veteran and military service personnel,  veteran and military member sole proprietorships, and veteran and military service professional members of the ARCC and to encourage increased business and collaboration among its ranks.
 
By promoting the ARCC’s four pillars of advocacy, education, connection and collaboration, we will have the ability to attract more veterans and military professionals to the ARCC with an intent to develop and track metrics that can be used by the ARCC to promote its support for veterans military service members in business, to support in collaboration the educational and mental health outreach and mission of other local veteran business communities, specifically, neighboring chambers, and to develop mentoring, educational and entrepreneurial opportunities for veterans and military service members while fostering growth opportunities with a focus on performance (revenue growth, employee growth, etc.) of service member-owned enterprises, military-owned sole proprietorships, and post-military professionals in the ARCC service area.

Interested in joining the VBN but are not an ARCC Member yet?
You're welcome to join us, meet some current members and learn how the ARCC works for businesses and Veterans in our region!