*******EMBARGOED UNTIL March 15, 2011*******

Source:  National Veteran-Owned Business Association (NaVOBA), www.navoba.com/top10

10 Best U.S. Corporations for Veteran-Owned Businesses Honored by NaVOBA

PITTSBURGH, March 15, 2011 – The 10 Best U.S. Corporations for Veteran-Owned Businesses for 2011 were announced today by the National Veteran-Owned Business Association (NaVOBA).

The prestigious list honors the large corporations that most successfully engage the nation’s three million veteran-owned businesses (VOBs) as suppliers.

The cover story of the April 2011 issue of NaVOBA’s Vetrepreneur magazine features this year’s 10 top honorees. The list welcomes back some perennial vetrepreneur-friendly companies like Booz Allen Hamilton, Comcast Corporation, Dell, Inc., DynCorp International, Lockheed Martin and Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation.  Also honored on this year’s list are Johnson & Johnson, Mack Trucks, Inc., Serco Inc. and URS Corporation.

“2011’s Top 10 Corporations are the best in the U.S. at recognizing how well the military prepares business leaders through teaching leadership, teamwork, resolve, integrity and ingenuity,” said NaVOBA President Chris Hale. “In a tough economy corporate America is eager to partner with business leaders who embody those intangibles combined with exemplary skills and the dedication needed to contribute to overall economic success. We’re delighted to highlight and honor them.”

Through NaVOBA’s untiring efforts since 2007 the number of FORTUNE 1000 companies seeking veteran-owned suppliers has grown by more than 60 percent. Currently more than 160 of the world’s largest companies maintain programs designed to use VOBs as preferred vendors in their supplier diversity efforts.

The notion that military training is world-class preparation for running a business is reinforced by the fact that one out of every seven veterans in the U.S. owns a business, according to Census data. That’s twice the national average.

“Veteran-owned businesses bring key expertise to our missions supporting defense, diplomacy and development initiatives around the world,” said DynCorp International Chairman and CEO Steve Gaffney. ”The dedication and discipline they showed in their service to our country is also evident in their business practices making veteran-owned businesses reliable, first-rate partners and suppliers.”

“During my time in the military, I learned many important lessons regarding leadership, the importance of diversity and teamwork,” said Alex Gorsky, Vice Chairman of Johnson & Johnson’s Executive Committee.  “Partnering with veteran-owned businesses creates jobs and builds wealth in the communities in which we operate.  Very simply, it enables us to continue to develop and deliver superior products and services while continuing to expand our customer base.”

About The National Veteran Owned Business Association (NaVOBA)

NaVOBA unites the nation’s 3 million businesses owned by military veterans by providing a single voice to advocate for important issues. 

For more information visit us on the web at; www.navoba.com, or follow us on FaceBook at www.facebook.com/navoba and on Twitter @navoba. 

To arrange interviews or for additional needs contact: 

Barbara Pflughaupt, Barbara@bpmediarelations.com- (212) 707-8181 or

Judee Cohen, judithdeecohen@gmail.com – (917) 721-0663

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