About

In partnership with the SBA, VBOC of the Dakotas equips Veterans, active duty service members, and their families with the resources needed to help them start, purchase, or grow their businesses. VBOC of the Dakotas serves the states of North Dakota and South Dakota. The main office is located in the Center for Innovation, Ina Mae Rude Entrepreneur Center on the University of North Dakota Campus. Advising sessions can be in person or virtually.

 Meet the Staff

Wendy Klug is the Veterans Business Outreach Center Director which serves both North Dakota and South Dakota. She provides entrepreneurial focused training workshops both on and off installations that teach key concepts for starting, running, and operating a small business. Wendy also provides no-cost advising, webinars, and subject specific workshops tailored around a community or client’s interests and needs. She specializes in creating workshops and events that are interesting, upbeat, and filled with vital information. Wendy has a creative knack that allows her to assist with marketing, social media, and other business aspects that involve creative thinking. She brings 15 plus years of teaching, over 10 years of small business ownership, and more than 5 years of small business consulting to this program. Klug holds a Bachelor of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies and a Bachelor of Science in Education from the University of North Dakota.

 

 

Liza Clough is the Outreach Specialist for the Veterans Business Outreach Center of the Dakotas. She provides support at community events, veteran functions, online workshops and technical assistance for the program. Her grandparents emigrated from China and became entrepreneurs by opening a restaurant. Growing up with the daily hustle of a family owned restaurant, Liza learned firsthand what it takes to be a successful entrepreneur. Liza has experience with all aspects of business ownership from customer service and bookkeeping, to marketing products online for a family owned art business. Liza has a Bachelor’s of Business Administration from the University of North Dakota.

 

 

 

 

Julie Hinker is the Veterans Business Specialist for the VBOC of the Dakotas with a focus on South Dakota. She implements workshops, webinars and trainings that are entrepreneurial focused to help you kick start your small business journey. Julie also provides free business advising and resource connections to anyone interested in launching a business or anyone that has a pre-established business looking for new or innovative ideas. She brings you her experience in digital marketing, communication, strategic leadership, finance, small business ownership, and much more to help you take your business or career to the next level! Julie earned a bachelor’s degree in Mass Communications from Briar Cliff University in Sioux City, IA. She also acquired her master’s degree in Strategic Leadership from Black Hills State University in Spearfish, SD.  

 

 

Network Partners

VBOC of the Dakotas is part of UND's Center for Business Engagement and Development which also hosts the ND SBDC and ND PTAC programs through the Nistler College of Business and Public Administration. 

Funding through the SBA also brings in resource partners ND WBC and SCORE.