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.