Veterans Launch New Businesses in Rochester

Local military veterans are turning to entrepreneurship to build new careers and support the Rochester business community.

Updated on Oct. 22, 2026 in Military Jobs

A sunlit professional desk featuring wooden architectural models and a brass compass, set against an out-of-focus city view. — Rochester military veterans Brittany White-Volks and Winona Dixon are launching new business ventures to strengthen the local economy and community. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Brittany White-Volks and Winona Dixon are establishing new business ventures in Rochester following their service in the military. These entrepreneurs are building local connections through specialized services and directories.

Why it matters

Military service often leads veterans to begin their entrepreneurial careers later in life compared to non-veterans. This trend highlights the unique transition paths and community-building efforts undertaken by those who have served.

Brittany White-Volks served in the military for nearly eight years before transitioning into her current role as an entrepreneur. Her directory project aims to catalog veteran-owned and Black-owned enterprises in the region.

The players

Brittany White-Volks

A veteran who served for nearly eight years and created the BlackOwnedInRochester.com directory.

Winona Dixon

An entrepreneur and military veteran who launched the travel agency WynD Love Travel.

The details

White-Volks developed the website BlackOwnedInRochester.com to provide a resource for veteran-owned and Black-owned businesses to connect. Meanwhile, Dixon has launched a new travel agency called WynD Love Travel, with both owners relying on networks of family and friends for support.

October 22, 2026, 8 p.m. marks the broadcast of the Veterans Voices special on the RochesterFirst streaming app.

Market Landscape

These entrepreneurial ventures reflect a broader trend of veterans seeking economic independence through small business ownership. The projects follow a pattern set by the U.S. Small Business Administration's veteran business outreach initiatives to encourage entrepreneurship.

Local residents can utilize the new directory at BlackOwnedInRochester.com to discover and support veteran-owned enterprises. Customers looking for travel planning services may now engage with the newly launched WynD Love Travel agency.

The takeaway

Veterans are leveraging their service backgrounds to build community-focused businesses that strengthen the local economy. New entrepreneurs should prioritize building support networks of family and friends to assist during the transition from service to business ownership.