Baltimore will take center stage for veteran-led entrepreneurship this fall as the Mid-Atlantic Veterans Business Outreach Center (VBOC) and the Maryland Small Business Development Center (SBDC) host the Veterans Manufacturing & Innovation Showcase on Thursday, October 23, 2025, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The event, held in partnership with Harbor Designs and Manufacturing, is free and open to the public.
The showcase will highlight manufacturers and product companies led or supported by veterans while connecting entrepreneurs with the tools, financing, and expertise they need to grow. Participants will have the opportunity to engage with resource partners, lenders, and manufacturing leaders from across the Mid-Atlantic region.
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A highlight of the day will be a keynote address by Dr. James E. West, a Purple Heart veteran, inventor of the electret microphone, and holder of more than 240 patents. Dr. West currently serves as director of the James E. West Foundation, which supports education and innovation among underrepresented communities.
@media ( min-width: 300px ){.newspack_global_ad.scaip-1{min-height: 100px;}}@media ( min-width: 728px ){.newspack_global_ad.scaip-1{min-height: 90px;}}“Veterans bring mission focus, technical excellence, and grit to manufacturing,” said Tina Edwards, Director of the Mid-Atlantic VBOC. “By partnering with SBDC and our SBA network, we’re spotlighting veteran innovators while opening doors to the programs, mentors, and supplier opportunities that accelerate their success.”
“Maryland’s makers are building the products and creating the jobs that keep our economy strong,” added Lora Brown, Director of the Maryland SBDC. “This showcase puts our manufacturers at the center, surrounding them with practical know-how, capital partners, and connections they can use right away to grow here in Maryland.”
Sponsored by Fulton Bank, the event emphasizes the value that veterans bring to the business community. “As they transition from military service to the civilian workforce, veterans provide valuable skills, experience, and teamwork to manufacturers and other businesses,” said Joe Durham, Fulton Bank Market President. “That’s why we’re excited to partner with the Mid-Atlantic VBOC and Maryland SBDC for this event.”
@media ( min-width: 300px ){.newspack_global_ad.scaip-2{min-height: 100px;}}@media ( min-width: 728px ){.newspack_global_ad.scaip-2{min-height: 90px;}}The daylong program will feature an overview of the U.S. SBA’s Made in America Manufacturing Initiative, a regional SME panel featuring manufacturers from Maryland, D.C., Delaware, and Virginia, and a fireside chat with veteran-owned manufacturers. A resource exhibit will include lenders, procurement specialists, and technical assistance providers focused on helping small manufacturers scale.
The event welcomes early-stage and growth-stage manufacturers, veteran entrepreneurs, supply-chain leaders, and anyone interested in Made-in-America innovation.
To register, visit:Veterans Manufacturing & Innovation Showcase Eventbrite page.
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