In recent years, efforts to aid military veterans in the pursuit of employment and in the creation of businesses have been on the rise in the Wilmington area.

For example, Bunker Labs, a nonprofit that provides resources for veteran entrepreneurs, launched a Wilmington chapter in 2019 to help military veterans and military spouses start and grow successful businesses.

On the Veterans Day edition of WilmingtonBiz Talk, veteran Avery Washington II, the city ambassador for the Wilmington chapter of Bunker Labs, and fellow veteran Chayse Roth, founder of the Veteran Business Collective in Wilmington, discuss their organizations and the plight of veterans seeking opportunities to start their own businesses.

The panel:

AVERY WASHINGTON II, City Ambassador, Bunker Labs
Avery Washington II is the city ambassador for the Wilmington chapter of Bunker Labs as well as a real estate broker with Wilmington-based Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage’s Hampstead office. He is also the vice president of Suiting Warriors and a member of the board of Cape Fear Collective.

CHAYSE ROTH, President & Founder, Veteran Business Collective
Chayse Roth, who has started several businesses in various industries, founded the Veteran Business Collective in Wilmington and currently serves as president. The VBC has seen tremendous interest and growth from the veteran community with chapters open in New Bern and Asheville, and more openings scheduled throughout the Southeast.

WilmingtonBiz Talk is a weekly interview program on Facebook Live, which is rebroadcast on YouTube and numerous podcasting platforms. The Business Journal newsroom selects guests based on current events so our community can hear directly from newsmakers.