Alumni - Institute for Veterans and Military Families

Welcome to the Family!

As a graduate or participant of one of the Institute for Veterans and Military Families’ programs, you are a part of an ever-growing network of IVMF alumni across the globe! As IVMF was founded at Syracuse University and is headquartered on their campus, completing an IVMF program also makes you a Syracuse University alum! This extensive network is here for you to stay connected and leverage for your professional/entrepreneurial journey.

Take advantage of resources, webinars, and a community of veterans and military spouses that share the IVMF bond through their post-service lives. Long after you complete your course or residency, you are connected to the IVMF team for follow-up resources and opportunities as your professional goals evolve. No matter if you graduated from Onward to Opportunity or one of the eight ARESENAL entrepreneurship programs, the Alumni Services team supports all IVMF graduates in realizing and accomplishing their professional and personal goals.

Make The Connection, Reap the Benefits

Entrepreneurship can be a lonely journey. Add in a pandemic and solitude becomes the name of the game.

But for five military-connected small business owners, their chance meeting at the 2020 Veteran EDGE Conference led to a friendship that helped each other’s businesses to not only survive but thrive during an otherwise desolate situation. And the investment they have in each other’s success has been paramount to their overall outlook on a post-pandemic resurgence.

Read their story

Connect with Alumni
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn YouTube Instagram

In addition to following and connecting on IVMF Social Media Platforms, please join our private groups to connect with the alumni community!
Need helping adding IVMF as your education on LinkedIn? Here’s our guide for Arsenal & Onward to Opportunity.

For questions, please contact the IVMF Alumni Services team at ivmfalumni@syr.edu or 315-443-9602.
VetNet

VetNet is a free, convenient online-based webinar program geared to educate and advocate for veterans and military families. Watch new webinars live and find our archive of past webinars.
Volunteer

What does it mean to be an IVMF Alumni Volunteer?

Graduates from an IVMF program are the best people to tell the IVMF story and how the programs and resources are important for the military-connected community. We are not only looking for alumni to share their experiences with the IVMF, but also those who wish to remain connected after they graduate to help students who come after them and fellow alumni!

Interested in volunteering as an IVMF Alumni Volunteer? Submit your interest form and we’ll reach out when an opportunity is available in your area.
Support the IVMF
1. Tell us your story so we can share it to help those who are in the same position that you were once upon a time.
2. Volunteer your time and expertise to support fellow transitioning service members, veterans, and their families!
3. Of course, the simplest way to support our mission is by making a gift.

Alumni Resources

EBV Post Graduate Support Resource Log-in IVMF’s Post Program Support (formally EBV-TAP) helps EBV Program graduates start and grow their businesses. Following the graduation from the residency portion of the EBV and EBV-F programs, you are encouraged to take advantage of the post-program support offered by the Institute for Veterans and Military Families in collaboration with the EBV National program. The Post Program Support brings together professors, entrepreneurs, other individuals and companies who are willing to share their expertise in the different facets of business and entrepreneurship.

V-WISE Post-Program Support Resource Log-in The V-WISE Biz Support program helps V-WISE program graduates realize and accomplish their professional and personal goals. Following completion of the Phase II Conference, graduates have access to a wide network of professors, entrepreneurs, and other individuals who are willing to share their expertise in the different facets of business and entrepreneurship.

O2O Alumni Services

Library Resources

Register Your Veteran-Owned Business (CVOB)

Military-Owned Shopping Guide – View our extensive list of military-owned businesses and submit your own business to be represented on the list!

RISE

EBV SPARK

VPPCE – Veterans Program for Politics and Civic Engagement

Refer A Friend

Become A Resource Partner: Our team is at the ready with a myriad of follow-on support services. If you would like become a part of our follow-on support team and have resources to provide, let us know by filling out this form.

Questions? Contact us.

Update My Contact Information

I am Interested in Volunteering

Events

Learn more and register for IVMF’s upcoming webinars and events.

Date	Type	Name
2020	Virtual Ceremony	Veterans Day	View Ceremony
2020	Recording	Patriot Award	View Patriot Award Recording
September 30th	Webinar	Live from Veteran EDGE: The State of Veteran Entrepreneurship	Register Here
September 30th	Alumni Event - In-Person	Making the Connection: Networking Reception	Register Here
October 7th	Webinar	Master the Interview, Secure the Job	Register Here
October 19th	Webinar	Walmart Find a Future	Register Here

Other Opportunities

Learn about outside opportunities happening in your area such as career events, business plan competitions, and more!

Date	Type	Name
Open Now 2021	Grant	The Power Forward Small Business Grant program	Apply Here
2021	Funding	Restaurant Revitalization Fund	Apply Here
2021	California Rebuilding Fund	Loan program to support California’s small businesses	Apply Here
2021	Grant	Power of She Fund grant	Apply Here
2021	Grant	Small Business Builders	Apply Here

Meet the Team

The IVMF Alumni Services team is here to support you throughout your post-service journey. Have a question on what benefits you receive as an alum or simply want to connect? Reach out to the team today.

Ashley Cavender

Manager | Alumni Services amcavend@syr.edu

Elvis Avdic

Advisor, IVMF Post-Program Support eavdic@syr.edu

Onward to opportunity graduate Dan Walker.

“Leave your rank at the door, be prepared to start at the bottom. Your experience in the Military is invaluable, but with a new profession you are going to have learn new things, and there is no better place to do that in the trenches. Right now, that’s what I’m doing in the classroom. I’m using my vast leadership experience to help make me successful yet learning everyday about a new profession. O2O helped me get in the right mindset do that.”

Military Installation: Fort Carson
CISSP Graduate
Corpus Christi Catholic School Spanish Teacher, Since August 5, 2018

Dan Walker Jr.

Major, US Army