UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Hazel Diaz, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and a Penn State alumna, has been named the director of the new Veterans Business Outreach Center (VBOC) at Penn State. The recently opened center provides entrepreneurial development services to veterans, active-duty service members, National Guard members, reservists and military spouses across the commonwealth.
The Penn State VBOC is Pennsylvania’s first VBOC focused solely on Pennsylvania.
In this role, Diaz will oversee the center’s operations, consult with veteran entrepreneurs, and lead efforts to connect Pennsylvania veterans, transitioning service members, and military spouses to entrepreneurial resources and opportunities.
“I am thrilled to join this initiative and continue to serve veterans across the commonwealth, helping them achieve their entrepreneurial goals,” Diaz said. “Veterans bring unique skills and perspectives to the business world, and I’m passionate about empowering them to succeed.”
Through her work in public policy, higher education, and veteran advocacy, Diaz brings extensive experience supporting veterans. As the Military Voices Initiative manager for NPR’s StoryCorps, she cultivated partnerships, managed programming, and advocated for veterans and their stories. Most recently, she served as an economic development analyst for the commonwealth at the Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development (DCED), further demonstrating her commitment to community development and impact.
“Hazel’s expertise and leadership will ensure that this center becomes a critical resource for veterans across Pennsylvania,” said James Delattre, associate vice president for research and director of the Office of Entrepreneurship and Commercialization at Penn State.
The establishment of the VBOC at Penn State was made possible through a competitive grant awarded by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). This grant will enable the University to deliver entrepreneurial development services tailored specifically to the needs of Pennsylvania’s veteran community.
“This partnership with Penn State reflects the SBA’s dedication to supporting veteran entrepreneurs,” said Kelly Hunt, SBA Pennsylvania district director. “We are excited to see Hazel bring her expertise and passion to this role, and we are confident that the center and Hazel will be a transformative resource for Pennsylvania’s veteran business community.”
About Veterans Business Outreach Centers
The Veterans Business Outreach Center (VBOC) program is a U.S. Small Business Administration initiative lead by its Office of Veterans Business Development and spans across the country with 31 VBOC locations. This small business program features a number of success stories and offers business plan workshops, concept assessments, mentorship, and training for eligible veterans. Find your nearest center.
About the U.S. Small Business Administration
The U.S. Small Business Administration makes the American dream of business ownership a reality. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow, or expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.