Maryland Veteran Small Businesses Owners Honored During 3rd Annual Event

Industrial contracting, virtual therapy and even beef jerky manufacturing were just a few of the industries represented at the Maryland Veterans Small Business Week Celebration. For the third year, the Robert H. Smith School of Business joined with the Maryland State Office of Veteran Small Business Enterprise and the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Veteran Business Outreach Center for the Mid-Atlantic to host the event, where 12 business owners were recognized for their contributions to their communities.

The celebration, which took place in College Park on Nov. 5, 2025, is part of the U.S. Small Business Administration’s National Veterans Small Business Week 2025, which runs from Nov. 3-7. The week annually recognizes business owners who are active and retired members of the military, as well as military spouses. November is also National Veteran and Military Families Month.

Maryland Special Secretary of Small, Minority and Women Business Affairs Maria Martinez, Maryland State Sen. Benjamin Brooks, chair of the Senate Veterans Caucus, and Del. Mike Rogers, House chair of the General Assembly’s Veterans Caucus, spoke to honorees and attendees at the event along with Dean Prabhudev Konana, Smith’s Director of Federal and Veteran Affairs Frank Goertner and other distinguished local agency representatives.

The event was held at the College Park Aviation Museum, and during the introduction, Goertner commented on the history of the venue and the important role of Maryland’s veterans, not only in attendance but all over the state. “This is our Old Line … the legacy our honorees continue … a legacy, even in the most uncertain times, worth celebrating,” Goertner said.

“I’m very thankful to all of the veterans here and for what you do to keep us safe,” Konana said. He also praised Goertner for his work with Smith’s service-connected students and highlighted the school’s record veteran enrollment for this academic year. The Smith School has proudly worked with service members and veterans for more than a century.

The veterans and their businesses were recognized for exemplary service for their contributions across six state regions as well as contributions in the following categories: global exporter, workforce developer, startup, technology innovation and veteran-to-veteran support.

Del. Mike Rogers congratulated the honorees and said the event was an important reminder of what veterans bring to communities. Sen. Benjamin Brooks echoed that sentiment, calling the evening a “celebration of Maryland’s spirit of service, entrepreneurship and community.” Special Secretary Maria Martinez added that the state is “there to support” veterans.

Tina Edwards, director of the Mid-Atlantic Veterans Business Outreach Center, spoke to the audience about how veterans’ service “does not end when you take off your uniform.” It evolves and inspires the next generation of business leaders.

The celebration was a collaboration of the Dingman-Lamone Center for Entrepreneurship, the Center for Global Business and the Initiative for Veteran Lifelong Leadership at the University of Maryland, with a reception sponsored by WesBanco.

The veteran small businesses and owners honored at this year’s event were:

For exemplary contributions to Maryland business in the Baltimore region: Anderson Industrial Contracting, owned by Navy veteran Donald Anderson Sr. 

For exemplary contributions to Maryland business in the Corridor region: Transformation Systems Inc., owned by Navy veteran Shawn James 

For exemplary contributions to Maryland business in the Eastern region: Kingsbay Mansion LLC, owned by Navy veteran Jerry Philpott 

For exemplary contributions to Maryland business in the Northern region: Mindset Quality LLC, owned by Army veteran Arielle Jordan

For exemplary contributions to Maryland business in the Southern region: Platform Aerospace, owned by Navy veteran Kurt Parsons 

For exemplary contributions to Maryland business in the Western region: Chew on This Jerky LLC, owned by Army veteran Eric Bowlus

For exemplary contributions to Maryland business as a global exporter: GD Resources LLC, owned by Navy veteran Basso Ghee 

For exemplary contributions to Maryland business as a workforce developer: Lifting Labels Benefit Corporation, founded by Air Force veteran Chester France Jr. 

For exemplary contributions to Maryland business as a startup (less than five years old): Herb and Orchid, owned by Army veteran Terrika Knox 

For exemplary contributions to Maryland business through technology innovation: Good Idea Solar, owned by Navy veteran Justin Aydelotte 

For exemplary contributions to Maryland business through veteran-to-veteran support: Tobacco Barn Distillery, co-owned by Navy veterans Scott Sanders and Sean Coogan, along with Pit and Pendulum BBQ LLC, owned by Army veteran Dan Hatfield