John Hasler Receives 4th Annual Champions of Veterans Enterprise

John Hasler, bid assistance coordinator for Indian Capital Technology Center in Muskogee, was recently honored in Washington, D.C. The Bid Assistance Program is part of the Procurement Technical Assistance Center program, which is sponsored by the Department of Defense and Oklahoma’s CareerTech system. Hasler received the Transition Assistance Champion Award at the 4th Annual Champions of Veterans Enterprise awards ceremonies sponsored by the Department of Veterans Affairs in in June.

This award and event recognizes significant contributions by organizations and individuals who are dedicated to expanding business opportunities for veterans and service-connected disabled veterans. This prestigious honor recognizes firms whose quality performance provides advocates with specific success stories, a critical tool in promoting the program nationwide.

Hasler was nominated for this award, along with Sue Floyd, small business development instructor at Northeastern State University, Tahlequah; and Janis Balsters, from the Veterans Administration Regional Office, Muskogee by Sgt. Jerry Ezell. They are part of the Transition Assistance Business Start-Up Team.

Ezell enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1993, went to Airborne school at Fort Benning and eventually became an Airborne meteorologist. Transitioning from active duty to reserve status, Ezell’s unit was deployed to Iraq in January 2004. Three weeks later, while riding convoy, his vehicle was hit by explosives and the convoy began taking small arms fire. Ezell, struck by shrapnel in the head, back, hands and arms, was medically retired in September.

In December, while at the Road to Recovery Conference in Florida, Ezell met with a representative from VA Center for Veterans Enterprise to learn how to open a business that would provide improved armor plating so others in harm’s way might avoid serious injury. On May 4, in a remarkably short timeframe from concept to opening, he realized that vision and opened SPS Fabrication in Tulsa.

The speedy turnaround is due to Ezell’s personal initiative and to the network of support organizations created under the Federal Veterans Entrepreneurship Act to assist transitioning personnel.

Floyd, the first referral from VA Center for Veteran’s Enterprise, met weekly with Ezell to ensure his pathway to ownership was smooth and quick. She worked with the Small Business Administration’s lenders and with Janis Balsters at the Regional VA Office in Muskogee to assist Ezell with start-up capital. The VA Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Program contributed $55,000 for equipment. Start-up working capital was arranged through SBA’s Small Business Loan Guaranty program.

Once Ezell was in business, Hasler stepped in to map procurement opportunities for this new machinist. Ezell, the Transition Assistance Business Start-Up Team and SFS Fabrication will be recognized as proof that veterans in business are still serving America – and America’s citizens are still supporting them.