Syracuse University recently hosted the 2nd Annual ‘CUSE50 Alumni Entrepreneur Award Ceremony, which celebrates the accomplishments of alumni who have excelled as business leaders and innovators who have enjoyed significant growth in the last year. Among the honorees this year were four graduates of the D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) entrepreneurship programs, whose entrepreneurial spirit and dedication to excellence continue to make an undeniable impact in their local communities, and the veteran entrepreneur ecosystem.
The IVMF graduates were recognized for their achievements in creating, and leading, businesses that reflect the values of dedication and innovation cultivated during their time in military service. Through their ventures, these alumni showcase the transformative power of veteran entrepreneurship, and why the IVMF continues to be the leading provider of entrepreneurial training programs for veterans, service members, and their spouses.
The four IVMF ‘CUSE 50 award recipients are:
- Haotian Bai – Patriot Conceptions
- Kateri Gabriele – Sim2Grow, LLC
- Kelo Makelele – RedTrace Technologies, Inc.
- Sheena Parker – 4SYTIndustries
This year’s list of IVMF Alumni among the ‘CUSE50 recipients included newcomer Kateri Gabriele, a military spouse and co-founder of Sim2Grow, LLC.. The Ohio-based company produces an educational simulation device that teaches nursing students procedures for dispensing medication.
“As nurses and nurse educators, my co-founder and I deeply understand the needs of our customer base when it comes to providing an easy-to-use educational tool for teaching student nurses how to safely administer medications. However, like many in our field, we quickly realized that nursing school doesn’t cover business basics or best practices, that’s where the support from the IVMF has been invaluable,” says Gabriele. “Being recognized as a ‘CUSE50 honoree is truly a ‘pinch me’ moment. I’m honored and grateful to be included in such a hard-working, successful group of Syracuse University alumni.
Bai, Makelele, and Parker are repeat recipients of the ‘CUSE50 Award, the three were among the inaugural 2023 cohort. Their continued growth is a testament to the entrepreneurial spirit they have all embraced upon departure from military service. As graduates of the IVMF, all three have benefitted from and contributed to the impactful IVMF alumni network of veteran and military entrepreneurs.
For Makelele, growth over the last year has put him in a position where his cyber security company, RedTrace Technologies, Inc. is now seeking acquisition of a Managed Service Provider (MSP) after having experienced significant organic growth over the course of the last few years.
“I’m a technologist by trade, and I’m pretty good with interpersonal skills but the business acumen I was lacking. The IVMF programming really closed the knowledge gap that I had, and provided me with the confidence to pursue my entrepreneurial dreams,” said Makelele. “Right now we’re looking at adding some additional capabilities and expanding faster, so we’ve identified acquisition as the fastest and most cost-effective way to do that, so we’re on the hunt right now for an MSP, or an MSSP (Managed Security Service Provider).”
Much like the ‘CUSE50 program, the IVMF will celebrate the 100 fastest-growing veteran owned businesses from Inc. Magazine’s iconic Inc.5,000 list with the Vet100 Awards. Patriot Conceptions, owned by U.S. Army veteran Haotian Bai, will also be honored during the Vet100 awards dinner held during the IVMF’s premiere entrepreneurship event, Veteran EDGE.