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VITAL
Virginia Israel Tech Alliance
VITAL Co-Directors:
Joe Meredith, Ph.D.
1-540-961-3600 ext. 2013
meredith@vitalva.com
Ralph Robbins
1-703-481-7494
robbins@vitalva.com
VITAL
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VIAB’s Mission
-Promote Partnerships and Opportunities Between Companies in Virginia and Israel
-Help Maximize the Nearly 40 Incentives for Israeli Companies to do Business in Virginia
-Facilitate High-Level Connections Throughout Virginia and the Washington, D.C. Area
-Help Ensure an Israeli Company’s Success Once it is Established in Virginia
-Act as a Critical Interface for Israeli Companies with State and Local Officials
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Mentoring Program Offers Business Advice to Israeli Companies
Seasoned Pros in Virginia Available to Help
by Fred Diamond
VIAB Executive Director Ralph Robbins announced that the VIAB is developing a "business mentor" program. The program will feature a bank of business experts with 25 or more years of practical experience in business that will be available to help Israeli companies looking to move to Virginia. The VIAB will match Israeli companies that have an office and/or will establish presence in Virginia with mentors.
The program will offer free and confidential business advice and mentoring to executives in emerging Israeli companies. Volunteers work with Israeli companies looking to enter the US market and perhaps pursue business with the US Government. The mentors are available to help through every phase of their market entry: generating and assessing ideas, giving pointers for preparing a business plan, making suggestions on raising capital and managing the operations and finances of the growing venture, for example.
Robbins said, “Markets in the US provide tremendous opportunities for Israeli high-tech firms, that’s been proven. What everybody knows is that there are so many things an Israeli company needs to do to effectively and profitably grow their business.
“Growing a successful business takes a balanced mix of entrepreneurial vision, business management know-how and specialized knowledge. We’re now offering Israeli companies who are looking to settle in Virginia free, small business counseling and support services. We’ve enlisted a blue-chip group of mentors to work with these companies and keep their business going and growing.”
Many of the mentors have either worked for the US Government and understand intimately how the Government, known as Fortune One due to its huge IT budget, operates or have sold into the Government. One of the first mentors to join the program, Sherman L. Naidorf, has experience on both sides of the fence. He worked for Burroughs (which merged with Sperry to become Unisys in the mid-1980s) for over 20 years marketing, selling, and supporting large-scale systems. After accepting early retirement from Burroughs, Naidorf started his career with the Government at the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) before moving to the Veteran’s Administration (VA), which later became the Department of Veterans Affiars (DVA). At VA, he worked on and led numerous government wide cross-functional teams frequently at the front end of technology acceptance and implementation.
Naidorf said he and others like him would be a valuable resource for Israeli companies looking to move into the US market due to his 50 years in Washington and his vast knowledge of how the Government operates and buys products. Naidorf has also been to Israel and is well-connected in the Washington DC area Jewish community.
Said Naidorf, “The key thing is that companies must know how the Government works if they want a chance at success. We have the background and knowledge to help a company understand this process.”
For more information on the mentor program and/or if you would like to be a mentor, please contact Ralph Robbins at the VIAB.
[PRINTER FRIENDLY VERSION]
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Mentor Sherman Naidorf
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