# Event Details - **Event Name**: Southwest Michigan First Veteran Series - **Event Start and End Date**: Tue, 16 Dec, 2025 at 12:00 pm – Tue, 16 Dec, 2025 at 01:00 pm - **Event Description**: Join local veteran entrepreneurs for real stories, practical advice, and resources to help launch or grow your business.About this EventJoin Southwest Michigan First Chamber for a lunchtime program focused on the real paths veterans take when building and growing a business after military service. This session features a live panel discussion with veteran entrepreneurs who will share their challenges, lessons learned, and the opportunities that helped them scale their work in Southwest Michigan.You will hear firsthand insights from leaders across multiple industries, followed by practical guidance on certifications, procurement pathways, and state and federal resources that support veteran-owned businesses.What You Will Learn• How veterans transitioned their military skills into successful business ownership• Common challenges faced in the early stages and how to navigate them• Strategies for growth, community visibility, and building customer trust• How certification programs can open new doors for veteran-owned businesses• Local support systems and partners ready to help you take the next stepFeatured ModeratorTim WestrateUnited States Army VeteranRegional Director, AT&T BusinessTim brings a mission-focused leadership lens and extensive experience in technology, workforce, and community development.PanelistsBrian Methner, MBAUnited States Marine Corps VeteranFounder and Managing Partner, Kalamazoo MortgageMichael HyacintheUnited States Navy VeteranCo-Founder and Chairman, HAS HEARTDr. Turnera CroomUnited States Army VeteranHolistic Veterinarian and Founder, Army Vet ServicesBrian SchultzUnited States Marine Corps VeteranOwner, The Puppy Playground2024 Chamber Veteran-Owned Business of the YearAdditional PresentationFollowing the panel, Southwest Michigan APEX Accelerator will provide a short presentation on procurement readiness, certification pathways, and tools that help veteran-owned businesses compete for government and corporate contracts.Who Should Attend• Veterans exploring entrepreneurship• Current veteran business owners looking to grow• Service members preparing for transition• Community partners who support veterans in businessReserve Your SpotThis is a free program for veterans. Space is limited. Register today to secure your seat and lunch.Contact InformationFor questions, please contact:Kevin Crittenden269-553-9588 | kcrittenden@southwestmichiganfirst.com https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events5/banners/a8c81d70-c5a8-11f0-ad50-3fbfab6f8ff8-rimg-w1200-h300-dcffffff-gmir.jpg - **Event URL**: https://allevents.in/kalamazoo/southwest-michigan-first-veteran-series/100001974407874101 - **Event Categories**: business - **Interested Audience**: - total_interested_count: 0 ## Ticket Details - **Ticket URL**: https://consumer.pxf.io/c/1339408/3151484/39691?partnerpropertyid=1191892&MediaPartnerPropertyId=1191892&svlink=14105511&level=1&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.eventbrite.com%2Fe%2Fsouthwest-michigan-first-veteran-series-tickets-1974407874101 - **Ticket Price Range**: min: 0, max: 12.16, currency: USD ## Event venue details - **city**: Kalamazoo - **state**: MI - **country**: United States - **location**: The Catalyst Center - **lat**: 42.292893 - **long**: -85.58142090000001 - **full address**: The Catalyst Center, 180 E Water Street, Kalamazoo, United States ## Event Organizer details - **affiliate_id**: 10 - **organizer**: Southwest Michigan First and The Chamber (https://allevents.in/org/southwest-michigan-first-and-the-chamber/22534518) ## Event gallery - **Alt text**: banner - **Image URL**: https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events9/banners/1db611cc00cc3e02a3561728f8cf7aad1d81fad3dc3eacd3b737737983187296-rimg-w1200-h600-dcd8d7d8-gmir.jpg?v=1763598867 - **Alt text**: thumbnail - **Image URL**: https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events9/banners/1fd74c20cd19cc097bd9f035065cbe0d0ca0d83639f9518f97077a3880a468a2-rimg-w400-h400-dcd7d6d9-gmir.jpg?v=1763598865 ## FAQs - **Q**: When is the event happening? - **A:** Tue, 16 Dec, 2025 at 12:00 pm - **Q**: Where is the event happening? - **A:** The Catalyst Center, 180 E Water Street, Kalamazoo, United States - **Q**: What is the ticket price? - **A:** starting from 0 up to 12.16 USD - **Q**: Who is organizing the event? - **A:** Southwest Michigan First and The Chamber - **Q**: What type of event is this? - **A:** business - **Q**: Where can I find ticket details about Southwest Michigan First Veteran Series ? - **A:** You can find ticket details about this event on AllEvents. ## Structured Data (JSON-LD) ```json [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "Event", "name": "Southwest Michigan First Veteran Series", "image": "https://cdn-az.allevents.in/events9/banners/1db611cc00cc3e02a3561728f8cf7aad1d81fad3dc3eacd3b737737983187296-rimg-w1200-h600-dcd8d7d8-gmir.jpg?v=1763598867", "startDate": "2025-12-16", "endDate": "2025-12-16", "url": "https://allevents.in/kalamazoo/southwest-michigan-first-veteran-series/100001974407874101", "location": { "@type": "Place", "name": "The Catalyst Center", "address": { "@type": "PostalAddress", "streetAddress": "180 E Water Street", "postalCode": "49007", "addressLocality": "Kalamazoo", "addressRegion": "MI", "addressCountry": "US" }, "geo": { "@type": "GeoCoordinates", "latitude": "42.292893", "longitude": "-85.58142090000001" } }, "eventAttendanceMode": "https://schema.org/OfflineEventAttendanceMode", "description": "Join local veteran entrepreneurs for real stories, practical advice, and resources to help launch or grow your business.", "offers": [ { "@type": "AggregateOffer", "availability": "https://schema.org/InStock", "priceCurrency": "USD", "availabilityStarts": "2026-04-05", "availabilityEnds": "2025-12-16", "validFrom": "2026-04-05", "lowPrice": "0.00", "highPrice": "12.16", "price": "0.00", "url": "https://allevents.in/kalamazoo/southwest-michigan-first-veteran-series/100001974407874101" }, { "@type": "Offer", "availability": "https://schema.org/InStock", "priceCurrency": "USD", "availabilityStarts": "2026-04-05", "availabilityEnds": "", "validFrom": "2026-04-05", "url": "https://allevents.in/kalamazoo/southwest-michigan-first-veteran-series/100001974407874101", "price": 0, "name": "Veterans, active duty, and surviving spouses" }, { "@type": "Offer", "availability": "https://schema.org/InStock", "priceCurrency": "USD", "availabilityStarts": "2026-04-05", "availabilityEnds": "", "validFrom": "2026-04-05", "url": "https://allevents.in/kalamazoo/southwest-michigan-first-veteran-series/100001974407874101", "price": "12.16", "name": "Non Military General Admission" } ], "organizer": [ { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Southwest Michigan First and The Chamber", "url": "https://allevents.in/org/southwest-michigan-first-and-the-chamber/22534518" } ] } ] ```