Veterans Watchmaker Initiative, Inc.

VWI is modeled after the highly successful Joseph Bulova School of Watchmaking- the first of its kind- founded on August 23, 1944, by Arde Bulova, Chairman of the Bulova Watch Company Board, to provide free training for disabled veterans.  In 1993, when the demand for watchmakers began to decline, the Bulova School closed its doors.  There is again a great need for skilled watchmakers nationwide, and VWI is currently the only technical school in the United States devoted entirely to veterans.

We hope to increase and replenish the number of people employed in this profession since there is a severe shortage of watchmakers. This shortage results from the resurgence of the mechanical watch, causing record-breaking sales coupled with an aging watchmaker population. Once thought of as a dying craft with the advent of the mass-produced quartz watch in 1969, the watchmaking field now suffers from low awareness.

By starting this initiative, we hope to repay the sacrifice and service of our veterans by teaching them a skilled profession (using state-of-the-art equipment) that is in high demand and well-paying.  All our programs are free of charge to the veteran.

ORGANIZATION HISTORY
Founded in 2011 by CEO and President Sam Cannan, who is himself a master watchmaker, VWI has a mission to provide veterans with the skillset necessary to repair and restore timepieces professionally and, at the same time, recover their independence and dignity of purpose after serving our country. Sam began his second career as a watchmaker upon retiring from the Baltimore police force in 1986. Trained in Switzerland, he has 30 years of instructional and work experience in the watchmaking industry.  VWI is the result of his passion for the vocation and a deep commitment to bettering the lives of vets.

In 2012, VWI became licensed to operate in the States of New York and Delaware. After five years of twists and turns, the only veteran-focused school became a reality in a donated building from the New Castle County government.   On September 13, 2017, 6 students and 2 instructors, along with board members, donors, political dignitaries, and guests, gathered for the grand opening of VWI's facility in Odessa, Delaware, the Odessa Center for Horological Excellence.  

The VWI classroom labs operate primarily with used equipment generously donated to the school.  While this has given previous and current students terrific foundational experience with watchmaking equipment, working with tools and machines that are currently industry-standard will allow future students to hit the ground running with no learning curve when they move from the classroom into watchmaking jobs.

VWI’s purpose is to train veterans in the art of Horology, or as it is known to the layperson, Watchmaking.  The focus and mission of our program are to teach our war veterans, especially disabled veterans, the art of watch repair.  We offer training in a 6-week, 240-hour Watch Technician Program & 19-month, 3,054-hour, Full Watchmaker Training Program.  The watchmaker program not only prepares our veteran graduates to make a watch from a number of parts but also gives them the additional title of micro-machinist; after training, any part they may need to complete a watch, they will be able to create that part from scratch, which is the hallmark of a watchmaker.

VWI is the only horological school in the world that is set up for training our US Veterans free of charge.  At present, there are only six watchmaking schools in the United States.

TRAINING, SECURING FUTURES & restoring DIGNITY OF PURPOSE 

VWI supports small businesses, especially jewelry stores, by providing highly skilled and experienced watchmakers and technicians for the industry. At the same time, we are serving communities and families by addressing the educational needs of veterans and providing them with training at no cost.