Dog Tag Bakery Trains Veterans How to Run a Business With Virtual Fellowship | Eater DC

"Closed for coffee and brownies for weeks, the Georgetown shop Dog Tag Bakery has shifted its mission toward training rather than retail: since opening six years ago it has partnered with Georgetown University to run a nonprofit fellowship that functions as a hands-on business school for veterans with service-related disabilities, military spouses, and caretakers. Although bakery production shut down March 30, the five-month program continued virtually so fellows can still learn accounting, finance, strategy, business management, and baking and, if they pass exams and Capstone requirements, graduate with a Certificate of Business Administration from Georgetown; the current cohort of 14 includes Kiafa Grigsby, a 21-year combat medic who retired last year. Staff prioritized safety while keeping fellows on track and stipends intact—each fellow still receives a $1,400 monthly stipend and full-time employees remain on payroll even as roles change—and program director Claire Witko says they restructured the curriculum into smaller group conversations plus solo or paired assignments rather than straight Zoom lectures. Chef Chris Licciardi, who worked for a James Beard Award–winning baker at Bread Furst, has adapted kitchen rotations to remote teaching (even knife skills), all guest speakers from Georgetown and companies like Hilton and Boeing have gone virtual, family members can join brainstorming sessions, and regular outdoor “mindfulness” breaks have been added. On the business side, Dog Tag briefly sold care packages online and partnered with neighboring Reverie to add brownies and blondies to Johnny Spero’s to-go cheeseburger boxes (which drove a swell in orders) but later closed the online store to protect staff; the bakery is now offering gift cards, taking donations, and exploring loans and grants to avoid short-term layoffs while fellows remain on track to graduate." - Sabrina Medora