Timothy Lee is on a mission.

The retired Air Force master sergeant is at the forefront of Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center’s (ASBTDC) veteran project aimed at active, retired, and reserve military personnel who are small business owners or aspiring entrepreneurs.  A Small Business Administration Veterans Assistance and Service Program grand funded the effort for a year.

Lee, ASBTDC training specialist since 1995, served 18 years on active duty in the Air Force.

“As a military veteran, he Lee has brought great passion and expertise to this project,” said Janet Roderick, ASBTDC state director.

Lee led the development of ArkansasVeteran.com, helping ASBTDC utilize cutting-edge communication technologies to reach Arkansas veterans living in the state as well as those serving on active duty in Afghanistan and other far-flung locations. ArkansasVeteran.com is a Web portal that brings together in one place veterans-related resources, news, information and contacts for veterans and their families. Since January, the portal has recorded nearly 8,500 visitors. Lee also created two online training programs for veterans interested in small business.

This summer, he teamed with ASBTDC’s Herb Lawrence in conducting six live webinars for veterans on starting a business, writing a business plan and business financing.

“When I visit ArkansasVeteran.com, I am keenly aware of the many men and women now standing in my place overseas,” Lee said. “The veteran project gave me the opportunity to ‘pay forward’ the support I received as a Desert Storm veteran. I simply recalled my own family’s need and experiences and proceeded accordingly.”

Lee and Lawrence capped the project by sharing highlights at the 2009 Association of Small Business Development Centers annual conference in Orlando in September.