Cortez Harris:  

I am a retired Combat Veteran of 26 years. My passion for service still burns hot in my bones. Although qualified as disabled, I desire to help rebuild and strengthen the lives of veteran service men and women who are now living civilian lives. My goals include developing job training, job placement, meal programs and raising funding required to supply the staffing and equipment necessary to serve veterans and my community. I plan to secure private, state and federal funding streams to support this venture. Once funding is in place it will be allocated to purchase the appropriate kitchen and dining area equipment, (e.g., stove, oven, dishwasher, tables, seating, etc.), front office equipment and training materials. The Veterans training curriculum will include front office operations and restaurant management. These areas will add marketable skills to each veteran’s portfolio, which in turn, will increase personal self worth, expand confidence levels and heighten their attractiveness as independent entrepreneurs to potential partners. Such a position could help them build a business of their own. At the very least, these veterans will gain a new or enhanced set of skills that will make them a highly qualified candidate for employment. At “Smoking Good Thingz” we produce the best combination of old fashioned southern/northern style barbeque, cooked at low temperatures for many hours to produce a stunner of the most flavorful, moist, tender, quality barbeque that one has ever tasted. We use only best the wood combination that brings out the robust richness and irresistible special blend of sweets, spices and love hand-rubbed into each piece. The process creates just the right balance of flavor that complements the smoked meat and keeps the customers coming back for more. It takes longer to prepare and slow-cook our meat – but anything worth having is certainly...Expand for more