NaVOBA Celebrate 2024 Service-Disabled Veteran's Business Enterprise of the Year

July 12, 2023

Who is the 2023 Service-Disabled Veteran's Business Enterprise of the Year?

The 2023 Service-Disabled Veteran's Business Enterprise of the Year recipient has been announced! On July 12th NaVOBA held the event to present the award to the Service-Disabled Veteran's Business Enterprise of the Year (SDVBEOY) at the 2023 Disability:IN Global Corporate Disability Inclusion Conference in Orlando.  The event, sponsored by Accenture, was held at the Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes.


In partnership with Accenture, NaVOBA's award ceremony & mixer, attended by corporate sponsors, diversity allies, and other veteran business owners was a platform to celebrate several businesses for their achievements and contributions to the veteran business community.


Mimi Lohm, NaVOBA's Chief Development Officer, opened the event with remarks.


Keynote speakers included Nedra Dickson, Managing Director Global Supplier Inclusion & Sustainability Lead at Accenture, William Mingione from Bancroft Capital and Brian Auden from Superbeo, LLC.

Notable Awards presented include:

- 2023 Service-Disabled Veteran's Business Enterprise We Love - Awarded to William Mingione, Bancroft Capital.

About William, Managing Director of Bancroft Capital

Photo of William

William (Bill) G. Mingione is Managing Director of Capital Markets at Bancroft. Mingione has had a successful track record on Wall Street for 27 years, beginning his career with boutique investment bank Nicholas, Safina and Lerner. He moved to Fidelity Investments and quickly ascended to Vice President of the Equity Trading division. After 10 years with Fidelity, Mingione joined another boutique shop where he further honed his institutional sales trader skills before being invited to run the corporate access team at Collins Stewart. In 2012, Drexel Hamilton brought Mingione in as an Institutional Research Salesman, where he had been a consistent top producer and climbed the ranks to eventually oversee the equity group as well as managing the firm’s diversity initiatives.


He currently resides on Long Island with his three sons. In his spare time, Mingione has served as a firefighter for the Merrick Fire Department, baseball coach and director of a youth hockey organization. Mingione has a passion for helping veterans in and out of the office as he currently an advocate for the VIB Network.  He is a part of a network of veterans serving as advocates for service-disabled veterans and veteran small business throughout the United States.


Mingione earned his M.B.A. with concentrations in Finance and Management, he has received a B.S. in Finance from LIU C.W. Post Campus.  He holds FINRA series 7, 24, 57, 63 & 79.


Learn more about Bancroft Capital in their VBE Spotlight.

- 2023 Service-Disabled Veteran's Business Enterprise We Love - Awarded to Brian Auden, Superbeo, LLC.

About Brian, Founder of Superbeo

Photo of Brian, Founder of Superbeo

Brain Auden founded Superbeo to meet a growing need amongst candidates and companies to connect candidates and clients in diversity, equity, and inclusion in environments of belonging.  He is passionate about knowing that a person gains employment daily, supports families, and improves incomes and lives.  To know that he has that opportunity every day is a blessing to him; further, to know that he can serve those disadvantaged in some way is humbling for him.


It didn’t come easy; as a gay male who grew up socially and economically disadvantaged, frequently moving around the country, Brian has been exposed to many different biases and walks of life.  In each location, he faced new challenges.  


Working in the Staffing Industry since 1996, he also had the opportunity to see every industry sector from the inside out, from the Fortune 50 to ‘Mom and Pop’ organizations. This, paired with his volunteer service after 9/11 (2004-2007) as a US Army Combat Engineer and Paratrooper deployed to Afghanistan, has provided him with unique insights into employment challenges facing civilian and government organizations and their candidates/workforce.


After his service, due to misconceptions about PTSD, acquired physical disabilities, and Veteran bias, he found limited opportunities as a Veteran who had served honorably. It took him four years to re-enter the workforce at his previous status after three years of service.


Superbeo, as a company, seeks to not only provide diverse spending for clients and meaningful engagement with diverse communities but the placement of diverse candidates in support of creating more inclusive cultures with a sense of real belonging.  Ensuring clients and all candidates have meaningful access to opportunities in the communities where they reside and do business. 

- 2023 Service-Disabled Veteran's Business Enterprise of the Year - Awarded to Brandon Hlavka, JEMNI, Inc.

About Brandon, President / CEO of JEMNI Inc.

Photo of Brandon CEO of Jemni Inc.

Brandon has been in the sales realm since 1997 when he launched his first company. He received his formal education from the University of Minnesota and graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Communications. Brandon served for 10 years in the US Army National Guard as a Combat Engineer, and is a proud serviced-disabled veteran. He is an entrepreneur, and the diverse businesses he has been part of include; roofing, restaurant, and event centers. Brandon has owned JEMNI Inc. since 2021 and has successfully increased business by over 20% annually since purchasing the business. Brandon enjoys outdoor activities such as boating and fishing and he loves golfing although he is in desperate need of lessons! Brandon lives in Florida with his wife and 2 children.


JEMNI Inc. is a nationwide packaging distribution and design company that hires disabled veterans, and people with disabilities. 


Learn More about Brandon and JEMNI Inc. in their VBE Spotlight.

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By Events NaVOBA November 4, 2024
On October 22, NaVOBA celebrated the Minority Veteran's Business Enterprise of the Year Awards Ceremony during the 2024 National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) Conference in Atlanta. Hosted at Cuts Steakhouse, a sponsor of the event alongside Accenture, Shell, and Hilton, the event was complete with a full course meal, drinks, and networking. Mimi Lohm, NaVOBA's Chief Development Officer, kicked off the event and set the stage for the awardees. Keynote speakers included Brandi Rauch, General Manager of Supply Chain for Shell, Che' McFerrin, Associate Manager, Global Supplier Inclusion & Sustainability at Accenture, and Matthew Pavelek, NaVOBA's President. Before the announcements of the winners, NaVOBA surprised Don McKneely, Chairman & CEO of Minority Business News, with the 2024 Veteran's Business Champion Award. The program then went on to highlight two companies who have demonstrated excellence within their industries with the 2024 Veteran's Business Enterprise (VBE)® We Love Awards. The first VBE We Love Award went to Demond Crump, CEO of REIGN Premium Sanitary Napkins. Founded in 2019, REIGN Premium Sanitary Napkins specializes in providing innovative sanitary napkins and panty liners infused with a Nobel Prize-winning material featuring a super absorbent system. The key to REIGN's success lies in prioritizing their mission over profits, ensuring that the focus on empowering women and young girls takes precedence. Demond served honorably in the U.S. Navy from 1990 to 1994, achieving the rank of E-5 and specializing as an Operations Specialist. He is Aegis system qualified and brings a wealth of strategic expertise from his military service to his entrepreneurial journey. You can read more about this VBE spotlight here . The second VBE We Love Award was presented to Paden Sickles, CEO of SickFit. Founded in 2021, SickFit specializes in wholesale and custom socks, as well as murals. SickFit caters to a diverse customer base that includes service members, athletes, corporate partners, active individuals, and government entities. The key to SickFit's success lies in its commitment to innovation and authenticity. As a veteran-owned, woman-owned, and minority-owned company, SickFit represents a movement focused on resilience and empowerment, particularly for those in underrepresented communities. Paden served from 2014 to 2024 in the Army, achieving the rank of Captain and earned the Expert Soldier Badge and Air Assault Wings. You can learn more about this VBE spotlight here . NaVOBA then celebrated the 2024 Minority Veteran's Business Enterprise ® of the Year: Robert Swain, CEO of Swain Enterprises. Established in 2020, Swain Enterprises specializes in federal projects, including restoration and renovations for military bases, federal facilities, and hospitals in the Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, DC areas. Swain Enterprises is committed to providing the highest level of service to government, commercial, educational, and institutional clients. The key to the success of Swain Enterprises has been a focus on integrity, hard work, and strong relationships. From the outset, the company has committed to delivering high-quality work and exceeding client expectations. As a fully veteran-owned business, Swain Enterprises is dedicated to empowering veterans and creating opportunities for those moving from military to civilian careers. You can read more about NaVOBA's 2024 Minority Veteran's Business Enterprise of the Year here .
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