VR Small, is the founder and chief executive officer, for the Veteran Women’s Enterprise Center (VWEC), a national initiative, launched in southern Dallas, to empower entrepreneur women associated with the military to scale for success. VR testified for the original House Bill to make June 12, Women Veterans Day in Texas. In 2020, she led the launched of the first annual, statewide Women Veterans Day Pitch Competition, highlighting the innovations, and economic impact of current/potential women veteran entrepreneurs. VR also participated in the Texas “I Am Not Invisible” Campaign. VR serves on the Advisory Committee for TWU’s Center for Women Entrepreneurs, and is a fellow of SMU’s Hunt Institute for Engineering and Humanity—Inclusive Economy, Dallas Public Voices, the Bush Institute Stand-to-Veteran Leadership Program, and is featured in Dallas Innovates 2020: The Future 50 North Texans. VR is the SBA’s DFW District 2020 Veteran Small Business Advocate of the Year, serves on the 30th Congressional District Veteran Advisory Committee, is a Department of Veteran Affairs (VA), Center for Women Veterans (CWV), 2021 Trailblazer “Women Veterans Leading the Way” and was recently announced as a Dallas Business Journal’s 2021 Women in Business Awardee. Most importantly, VR is a Navy Veteran, proud stepdaughter, and sister to U.S. Army Retired Vietnam & Iraq Veterans, respectively. Living her personal slogan “Changing the way we see the world and do business,” as a motivational speakers, moderator, educator, and dedicated advocate, specifically for women veteran, as well as women, and small businesses in general—driving social, and economic change across our nation.
