SU’s Start-Up hosts guest speaker on disability, self employment

Amy Mehringer
315 443 3834

Syracuse University’s Start-Up NY, a collaborative project of the Whitman School of Management, the Burton Blatt Institute Centers of Innovation on Disability, ARISE and the Onondaga County Office of Economic Development and Department of Social Services, will host a guest lecture by John Raftery, founder and president of Patriot Material Handling Inc., on Wednesday, June 25, at noon. The lecture, “Overcoming Challenges of Disability in Self Employment,” will take place at the South Side Innovation Center (SSIC), located at 2610 S. Salina St. in Syracuse. The cost is $15 for the general public, $5 for SSIC tenants and South Side Entrepreneurial Connect Project members and free for Start-Up NY clients.

Raftery served for four years in the U.S. Marine Corps before being diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and inner ear damage in 2003. In 2007, he took part in the inaugural Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans with Disabilities (EBV), created and held at the Whitman School of Management. With EBV training, Raftery was able to start his own business, Patriot Material Handling, which officially opened its doors in January 2008.

Start-Up NY helps people with disabilities gain access to business development resources to grow successful business ventures. To R.S.V.P. for the event, contact JoAnn Puchir by June 23 at (315) 443-8634 or jpuchir@syr.edu. Lunch will be served. Seating is limited.