About Us

Robin Smith currently serves as the Director of the North Carolina Veterans Business Outreach Center (VBOC) at Fayetteville State University. In this role, Robin oversees the overall operations and budget of the North Carolina State VBOC Program, which spans across all 100 counties within the state. The VBOC program organizes monthly Boots to Business and Reboots events on Fort Liberty, Camp Lejeune, Cherry Point, and Seymour Johnson, catering to transitioning Veterans. Robin provides supervision to business counselors who assist hundreds of transitioning Service Members, Veterans, National Guard & Reserve members, and military spouses, offering guidance in starting or expanding small businesses through counseling, training, mentoring, and referral services.

Before joining the VBOC, Robin served as a Government Contract Counselor with the Small Business Technical Development Center (SBTDC) at Fayetteville State University for nearly five years. During his tenure, he supported hundreds of business owners in navigating state and federal government contracting opportunities. Robin's assistance extended to various types of businesses, including small disadvantaged businesses, women-owned businesses, Historically Underutilized Business Zone (HUBZone) businesses, service-disabled veteran-owned businesses, and minority-owned businesses, contributing to economic growth in North Carolina. He personally facilitated registrations, certifications, and administrative requirements for government contracting opportunities.

Prior to transitioning to his current career path, Robin dedicated over 25 years of service as a Soldier in the United States Army. Throughout his military career, he oversaw logistical operations across 13 installations worldwide, providing comprehensive life cycle support to thousands of Soldiers and Department of Defense (DoD) Civilians. Robin's responsibilities included the management of multiple budgets and data systems totaling more than 1.5 billion dollars. He held senior advisory roles, offering guidance to executive officers overseeing brigade, battalion, company, department, and team personnel. Robin's exceptional service was recognized with five Meritorious Service Awards, three Army Achievement Medals, eight Good Conduct Medals, and numerous certifications and acknowledgments for his dedication to our Nation.

Sarah currently serves as the Program Coordinator and has been an integral part of the North Carolina Veterans Business Outreach Center (VBOC) at Fayetteville State University since 2012. With nearly a decade of dedicated service, Sarah has played a pivotal role in shaping the success of VBOC initiatives throughout the state. In her current capacity, Sarah demonstrates exceptional proficiency in strategizing, planning, and executing a diverse range of programs and events tailored to meet the unique needs of VBOC clients across North Carolina. Her strategic vision ensure that each initiative is impactful and aligned with the overarching goals of the center.

Beyond her role in program coordination, Sarah's dedication to excellence extends to providing invaluable support to the VBOC Director. She assists with performance reporting, ensuring that key metrics are accurately tracked and analyzed to continually optimize program effectiveness. Sarah's commitment to maintaining meticulous client files and ensuring accurate data entry further underscores her dedication to the success of VBOC's mission.

In her previous role as a VBOC Business Counselor, Sarah demonstrated a profound commitment to guiding a diverse clientele through the complexities of entrepreneurship. Her wealth of expertise in counseling was evident in her ability to analyze existing procedures and recommend impactful changes aimed at enhancing client outcomes. Sarah's empathetic approach and keen understanding of business dynamics enabled her to effectively address the unique challenges faced by each client, empowering them to navigate the entrepreneurial landscape with confidence.

Driven by a deep-seated belief in the transformative power of entrepreneurship, Sarah remains steadfast in her dedication to supporting individuals in realizing their business goals. Her proven track record of excellence in program coordination, and business counseling positions her as a driving force in fostering innovation and economic growth within her community and beyond. Sarah's commitment to empowering aspiring entrepreneurs underscores her enduring impact on the success and prosperity of the veteran business community.

Education:

• Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Fayetteville State University, 2011
• Associate in Applied Science in Business Administration with a Concentration in Marketing and Retailing, Fayetteville Technical Community College, 2007
• Associate in General Education, Fayetteville Technical Community College, 2007

Julius Cook III works as a Business Counselor at the North Carolina Veterans Business Outreach Center (VBOC), located at Fayetteville State University. In his role, Julius is responsible for conducting monthly Boots to Business and Reboot classes throughout the State of North Carolina. These classes take place at various locations such as Fort Liberty, Camp Lejeune, Cherry Point, Seymour Johnson, and the Elizabeth City Coast Guard. Julius assists active-duty service members, transitioning service members, National Guard, Reserve members, veterans, spouses, and widows of veterans who are interested in starting or growing a small business by providing them with counseling, training, resources, mentoring, and referral services. He has helped hundreds of people so far.

Julius is also an Adjunct Lecturer of Entrepreneurship at Fayetteville State University. In his classes, he helps students develop an entrepreneurial mindset and teaches them how to think and act creatively and innovatively. He also focuses on helping them develop initiative, enabling them to identify and seize opportunities for starting a business.

Previously, he worked as a Civilian Contractor and Director of Logistics (DOL) for Kellogg, Brown, and Root (KBR) in Houston. His responsibility was to provide logistical guidance and support for 24-site operations that covered over 160,000 square miles. These operations directly supported a population of more than 90,000 military and civilian personnel who were operating throughout Iraq and the Northern and Southern Theaters of Operations.

Julius is an accomplished professional who dedicated over 23 years of his life to serving in the United States Army. During his service, he held the position of Chief Transportation Manager and logistician, overseeing the efficient and effective movement of personnel and supplies. Julius's exceptional leadership and expertise played a significant role in many successful military operations. Today, he enjoys a well-deserved retirement from the military after a long and distinguished career defending his country.

He confidently earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with a strong focus on entrepreneurship, as well as a Master's in Business Administration degree with a similar emphasis, both from Fayetteville State University.