Empowering Veteran Entrepreneurs
in New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands

About Us

The Veterans Business Outreach Center Region 2 Empowers Veteran Entrepreneurship in New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands

The Veterans Business Outreach Center (VBOC) program is a one-stop shop for active duty service members, transitioning service members, veterans, and military spouses looking to start, purchase, or grow a business. Training opportunities, counseling and mentoring in-person and online, referrals to partners and programs, and monthly network events are available at no cost.

Amy Amoroso

Amy serves as Program Director for the McNulty Center’s Veterans Business Outreach Center covering the territories of NY/NJ/Puerto Rico/US Virgin Islands. She is the initial point of contact for VBOC program clients and is responsible for facilitating and delivering Boots to Business, B2B: Reboot training programs, conducts client counseling services, case management, performance reporting, compliance, serves as POC for stakeholder and collaborative partners, and as moderator for network and outreach events.

Amy is a subject matter expert in business plan development, financial analysis, starting/growing and or selling a business, business lending, marketing, SDVOSB certifications, Boots to Business instruction, and networking.

Amy trains and works closely with VBOC staff in strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, program and event planning and marketing to spread awareness of available services. Amy is a board member of UMAC, VETCON Alliance, Stakeholders, NVSBC. She volunteers with the American Red Cross, Veterans Administration and AMVETS Post 35. Amy also owns her own small business and is a military spouse with over 20 years’ experience in business development.

aamoroso@mcnultycenter.org

 

 

 

 

Kathy Caruso

Kathy CarusoKathy Caruso is the Executive Director of the McNulty Veteran Business Center, and also serves as VBOC Administrator. Her responsibilities include management of the 501(c)3 nonprofit organization including strategic planning, grant administration, coordination of Board activities, project management, marketing, budgeting, and overseeing the organization’s daily activities. From 2003-2020 Kathy served as Administrator of the Arsenal Business and Technology Partnership, the McNulty Center’s predecessor, and previously worked as a production office coordinator in feature film production for major studios. Kathy is a graduate of The Leadership Institute Class of 2019 as well as Leadership Tech Valley Class of 2011, and has served on LTV’s Steering Committee 2011-2012, Averill Park Education Foundation Board 2008-2017, VETCON Alliance, and Veteran Connect Center Advisory Board.​

kcaruso@mcnultycenter.org

 

 

 

 

 

Jennifer Beston

Jennifer BestonJennifer Beston is the McNulty Center’s Administrative Coordinator serving the VBOC Region II staff and operations since August 2020. Her duties include client intake for counseling and training, travel arrangements, assisting with management of website, digital media marketing, webinars and social media posts, event planning, and to provide general office support. She also assists clients with editing business plans, cash flow statements, and loan or grant options. Jennifer brings a strong work ethic and organizational skills from a varied work background that includes entrepreneurial experience and from being a wife and mother of 4 children. Along with her passion for helping our veterans, she has become a valuable member of our VBOC team!

jbeston@mcnultycenter.org

 

 

 

 

 

Juan Marrero

Retired US Army Sgt. 1st Class Juan Marrero joined the VBOC Region II team in April 2019 as Outreach Specialist to provide business training, counseling and mentoring to veteran entrepreneurs in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Juan is bilingual in English and Spanish and brings a unique skillset and familiarity to the population he serves in the region as they start or grow their own small business. Juan was an active duty service member for 22 years. He has an extensive training background, skills as a highly qualified professional in the manufacturing industry and experience providing ERP, or enterprise resource planning, services such as software testing, production support, training, and solutions implementation. Juan completed a Technical Degree in Computer and Network Repair/ AutoCAD from the Universal Technology College of Puerto Rico and studied Chemistry at Interamerican University of Puerto Rico.

juanmarrero@outlook.com

 

 

 

The McNulty Center’s Veterans Business Outreach Center is partially funded by the U.S. SBA’s Office of Veterans Business Development (OVBD). The OVBD exists to help veterans become full partners in economic development through small business ownership.

You can visit their website at www.sba.gov/offices/headquarters/ovbd.

Funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration.