Summary
Amanda's background and upbringing @ 0:00
Amanda was born and raised in Houston, Texas, the
only girl in a family of three brothers. She had a challenging upbringing,
with an absent father who was a convicted felon. Her grandparents and a
supportive high school teacher, Miss Foster, were influential in her life and
inspired her to want to help others. Amanda was initially
interested in becoming a doctor, but later pursued firefighting and joined
the Army, though her military service was cut short due to injury.
Transitioning from military to entrepreneurship @ 5:23
After leaving the military, Amanda worked as an
executive assistant at the Houston Boat Show, where she gained valuable
experience in sales, marketing, and entrepreneurship. This experience,
combined with her desire to help veterans, led her to start her own
organization, Veterans Helping Veterans MOCO, in April 2022.
The Veterans Helping Veterans MOCO organization @ 32:14
Veterans Helping Veterans MOCO is a semi-annual event that
provides resources, employment opportunities, and recreational activities for
veterans and their families. The organization aims to help veterans navigate
the transition to civilian life, access benefits and services, and prevent
veteran homelessness. The events feature vendors, live music, food, and
activities for children, all in a secure and comfortable environment for
veterans.
Challenges and lessons learned @ 47:41
Amanda has faced challenges in her entrepreneurial
journey, such as dealing with rejections and learning to accept
"no" responses from potential sponsors or vendors. However, she has
learned to be persistent, network effectively, and adapt her sales pitch to
overcome these obstacles. She emphasizes the importance of learning from
setbacks and maintaining a positive, grateful attitude.
Future plans and event details @ 55:31
Amanda plans
To continue hosting these events twice a year, with the larger fall event
focused on growing the organization and potentially moving to a larger venue
like the Montgomery County Fairgrounds in the future.
