In the War of the American Revolution, the “Elite” were defined as that group of warriors whose disabling wounds “must keep them forever again from the field of battle.” A tradition dating back to the Battle of Hastings in 1066, immediately prior to the start of hostilities, opposing commanders met to arrange for those who would be maimed in duty. Excluded from further fighting, these patriots were returned to society and were named the Elite for the status they’d earned on the battlefield. With a nod to military history, the Elite SDVOB Network was named in recognition of veterans who have been disabled in connection with their military service and seek to contribute to this country’s business enterprise.

A non-profit 501(c)19 corporation, the Elite SDVOB Network was established over fifteen years ago. After serving their country, veterans have historically found themselves struggling as business owners. With a desire for independence and the ability to contribute to a national business community, a group of veterans established an organization to advocate on behalf of service-disabled veterans and veteran-owned small businesses: The Elite Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Business Network. Elite enjoys a national presence that encompasses 45 states and the Territory of Puerto Rico. With chapters continuing to form across the nation, the Elite SDVOB Network has attracted the participation of thousands of companies whose collective voice is gaining attention throughout the federal procurement space.

Some of our local accomplishments in working with government policy makers to promote veteran business engagement:

• Provided testimony at a Cook County Board meeting concerning steps the County (which has a FY 2014 operating budget of $3.2 billion) can take to better engage veteran owned businesses, and facilitate bid incentive and set-aside programs
• Worked with Cook County Contract Compliance in streamlining its veterans business program and implementing procedural methods to enable VOB/SDVOB companies to take advantage of bid incentives
• Worked with the City of Chicago’s Chief of Procurement in the City’s bid incentive program for companies that team with VOB/SDVOB companies
• Facilitated the State’s recognizing CVE verification as a streamlined path to State certification of VOB/SDVOB status
• Met with State legislators in promoting legislations that benefits veteran-owned companies
• Provided testimony to the State’s Chief Procurement Officers in promoting veteran owned business-centered initiatives
• Participated in sessions of the Discharged Service Members Task Force (assembled by the State’s Governor) dealing with veteran business engagement
• Responded to requests from the Governor’s office on recommendations for veteran business engagement
• Chapter president was appointed by the Director of the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs to sit on the Veterans Business Program Certification Committee, which handles appeals when a company’s certification for VOB/SDVOB status is denied