FORT BRAGG, N.C. – While owning a small or home-based business is not for everyone, it is quickly becoming a popular entrepreneurial choice for many military Families, especially since the pandemic drastically changed the way the workplace is viewed.

Thanks to being able to work from home, make one’s own schedule and take it with when it’s time to make a permanent change of station move, self-employment has become quite enticing to many.

But what about the some of the more complex concerns of owning one’s own livelihood?

To answer that question, the Army Community Service Employment Readiness Program is working with the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the Women’s Business Center of Fayetteville to host the Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property, Director of the USPTO and former military child, Kathi Vidal, from 10 a.m. to noon, Nov. 7 at the Soldier and Family Readiness Group Center for a workshop of vital importance to small business owners!

“Many within our military spouse community have taken the next step in their careers by becoming small or home-based business owners,” says Melanie Tucker, ACS ERP manager. “It’s an exciting venture that opens a lot of new doors for our spouses, but we want to make sure they start or continue their business journeys using the best practices possible to protect all their hard work and assets.”

Vidal is the nation’s top executive in intellectual property and will provide important information to military spouses and other interested military personnel on how to strengthen their businesses by safeguarding the associated trademarks, patents, and copyrights.

“Some of our brightest, most dedicated and most creative Americans are currently serving in the military, are part of military Families, or are veterans,” remarked Vidal. “We want to make sure all of them have access to the innovation ecosystem and the important intellectual property protection that can help them launch businesses and scale their ideas. This is about opportunity, as well as, further serving the country by creating jobs and fostering economic prosperity.”

The event will incorporate a short networking reception and resource fair where attendees can meet with each other as well as professionals from various fields.

The reception will be followed by a panel of successful military spouse entrepreneurs and experts in the field of business and intellectual property, including Director Vidal, who will hold a discussion on best practices and guidance through the process. There will also be time for one-on-one questions and discussion.

“We are extremely excited to welcome Director Vidal and her panel to speak with our audience,” says Tucker. “This will be the first event of its kind here, and the expertise and enthusiasm this group of professionals is bringing to our spouses is profound. Our attendees will leave with the knowledge they need to protect their business ventures and intellectual property.”

Department of Defense identification cardholders who are interested in attending this informational session must register for the event at https://FortBraggACSERP.TimeTap.com.

The panel discussion will be broadcast live from the venue via the main Fort Bragg ACS Facebook page @FortBraggACS for anyone unable to attend; however, coming to the event in person affords attendees the opportunity to network, ask their questions directly to the panel, and stop by the informational booths present for additional resources and information.

The ACS Commercial Solicitation Officer will be available on-site as well, to answer questions on how to apply for and initiate the home-based business application process.

The ACS ERP offers employment assistance to military spouses throughout their entire job search process and can connect small business owners with great resources for their ventures.

Anyone looking to start a home-based business on Fort Bragg should contact the ACS FRP as their first step in the process for the checklist and application.

Stop by the third floor of the Soldier Support Center, or call 910-396-2390/2507 for more details. Military spouses are encouraged to follow ERP on Facebook @FortBraggACSERP or connect via LinkedIn.

Connecting military spouses with the success of obtaining their employment goals is the ACS FRP mission!

Written by Audra Satterlee, ACS Marketing Specialist