Company: Greencastle Consulting
Company Description: Greencastle Associates Consulting, LLC is a 100% veteran-owned and operated implementation consulting firm that tackles critical projects with a unique, military-precision approach. Founded by veterans in 1997, Greencastle provides metric-driven results to businesses looking to execute strategic initiatives. Our team is mission-focused, adaptable, and ready to get stuff done.
Nomination Category: Event Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Art, Entertainment & Public - Festival
 Nomination Title: VetFest Presented by Greencastle Consulting
- Which will you submit for this nomination, an essay of up to 525 words describing the event - its genesis, goals, development, and results - OR a video of up to five (5) minutes in length describing the same? CHOOSE ONE:
Written essay of up to 525 words
- If you are submitting a video of up to five (5) minutes in length, provide the URL of the nominated video here, OR attach it to your entry via the "Add Attachments, Videos, or Links to This Entry" link above, through which you may also upload a copy of your video:
- If you are providing a written essay of up to 525 words about your nominated event, place it in this space. Make sure that you address the genesis, goals, development, and results of the event, and mention that date(s) on which the event was produced:
Total 409 words used.
VetFest, hosted by Greencastle Consulting, is a celebration of veteran entrepreneurship and community connection, exclusively showcasing veteran-owned businesses and service organizations. Held on September 14th, 2024, the event brought together food trucks, local vendors, live music, and family-friendly activities to highlight the creativity and resilience of veterans while fostering a sense of community among attendees.
This was our third consecutive year hosting VetFest, and by far our biggest turnout to date. The idea for the festival stemmed from our commitment to supporting veterans not only in business but also in their communities. Our goals were threefold:
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Promote Veteran-Owned Businesses: Provide a platform for veteran entrepreneurs to showcase their products and services.
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Foster Community Engagement: Create a welcoming space for families and individuals to connect with veterans and veteran organizations.
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Support Veteran Services: Raise awareness and funds for veteran-focused causes through event activities.
Planning the festival was a collaborative effort between our team and local veteran organizations. We curated a lineup of 8 veteran-owned food trucks offering diverse cuisine, 23 veteran retail vendors selling handcrafted goods, and live music by veteran performers. The event also featured a vendor village highlighting veteran service organizations, allowing attendees to learn more about their work and support their missions. VetFest is free for vendors so 100% of their proceeds go directly back into their business or organizations.
To engage attendees, we incorporated activities like raffles, lawn games, live-music, a kid-friendly zone with arts and crafts, and even a mechanical bull! Marketing efforts included a robust social media campaign, email outreach to our network, in-person promotion with our local radio station, influencer promotions, and partnerships with local veteran groups to maximize visibility.
The festival drew an estimated 1,400+, surpassing our expectations. Many vendors reported their highest sales day of the year, with most selling out of products. The event also raised over $2,300 for veteran service organizations through raffles and donations.
Feedback from attendees highlighted the event’s positive atmosphere and the opportunity to connect with the veteran community. Vendors praised the festival for its organization and visibility, with 98% expressing interest in participating again.
VetFest not only met but exceeded its goals, celebrating veteran entrepreneurship, strengthening community bonds, and creating a meaningful impact. The success of this event reaffirms our dedication to supporting veterans in every facet of life and sets a high standard for future initiatives. We can’t wait for a bigger and even-better event in 2025.
- Optionally, list the appropriate creative and production credits for the nominated event, such as the following: Advertising Agency/City: Client: Art Director: Cinematographer: Creative Director: Designer: Director: Illustrator/City: Music Producer/City: Photographer/City: Printer/City: Producer: Production Company/City: Programmer: Writer: Web Development Firm/City:
Video: Greencastle Consulting Marketing Department
Photography: Chorus Photography
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