Austin - Program

June 18, 2015 Radisson Hotel and Suites Downtown

Hosted by the Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

Governor’s Small Business Forum2

AGENDACelebrating the Rise and Excellence of Women-Owned Businesses in Central Texas

7:45 - 8:30 Registration, Continental Breakfast and Business Expo

8:30 - 8:45 Opening Remarks Michelle Alcala Executive Board Member Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (GAHCC)

Bryan Daniel Executive Director of Economic Development and Tourism OfficeofGovernorGregAbbott

8:45 - 9:00 Small Business Today in Central Texas: Overview Carlos Cascos Texas Secretary of State

9:00 - 9:50 Business Solutions to Train Employees and Grow Your Business

Andres Alcantar Chairman and Commissioner Texas Workforce Commission

Tiffany Daniels Manager, Communications and Community Relations Workforce Solutions Capital Area

9:50 - 10:30 Small Business Today in Central Texas: Panel Moderated by Jose Romano, Director of Business Development, OfficeofGovernorGregAbbott

Angelos Angelou Lila Valencia, Ph.D PrincipalExecutiveOfficer LegislativeLiaison AngelouEconomics OfficeoftheStateDemographer

Thomas Miranda GAHCC Immediate Past Chair Founder and Managing Director, Sparkovation IT, LLC

10:30 - 11:25 Procurement Roundtable: A Roadmap to Your Success Moderated by Mark Madrid, President and CEO, GAHCC

Arthur McDonald Veronica Briseno-Lara HUB Coordinator/Director Director of SMBR University of Texas at Austin City of Austin

Adrianna Samaniego John R. Higgins Diversity Markets Manager Group President Google, Inc. MasTec

Hopeton Hay Director OfficeofHUBDevelopment&FederalSmallBusiness, The University of Texas System

Governor’s Small Business Forum 3

11:25 - 12:00 Business Expo and Networking Break

12:00 - 12:20 Governor’s Small Business Awards Luncheon Remarks

Val Velasquez 2015 Chair Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

Mark Madrid President and CEO Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

12:20 - 12:50 The Million Dollar Entrepreneurial Circle Moderated by Mark Curry, Community Bank President, Wells Fargo

Phil Pompa Rita Casanova Managing Director Franchise Owner and Operator International Accelerator 7-Eleven

Rosa Santis President and CEO Pedro SS Services, Inc. 1:00 - 1:10 Governor’s Small Business Awards Congratulatory Remarks Cecilia Abbott First Lady of Texas

1:10 - 1:30 Awards Presentation

Latina Entrepreneurial ExcellenceRebecca ContrerasAvantGarde, LLC

Excellence in Veteran EngagementCharmane H. SellersALEON Properties, Inc.

Cultural Arts ExcellenceElizabeth AvellánTroublemaker Studios and EYA Productions

Excellence in InnovationRebecca Arreaga and Elizabeth ArreagaMercury Mambo

Emerging Woman-Owned Business of the YearIsabella Rose TaylorIsabella Rose Taylor Fashions, LLC

Community Investment ExcellenceLauren FosterStretch Recipes, Inc. Supplier of the YearTakoohy A. HarutunianHarutunian Engineering, Inc.

1:30 Adjournment


SPECIAL GUESTS

CECILIA ABBOTTFirst Lady of Texas

Cecilia Abbott has devoted her life to serving others. She has been a teacher, vice-principal and then principal at several schools across Texas. Most recently she served as the principal of the Cathedral School of Saint Mary in Austin from 1996 to 2001. Cecilia was appointed to the State Board of Educator CertificationbyGovernorRickPerry,wheresheservedfrom 2001 to 2008.

Cecilia has also devoted much of her career to health care for seniors. From 2004 to 2013, she served as the managing director of community relations at Harden Healthcare, a network of senior adult health care

facilities and services.

Cecilia is a product of the American Dream. The granddaughter of immigrants from Mexico, Cecilia was raised in San Antonio by parents who were both educators. They instilled in Cecilia, her sister and two brothers the power of education. Cecilia took that lesson to heart and went on to study at the University of Texas in Austin and subsequently earned three degrees from the University of St. Thomas in Houston: a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, a Master’s degree in Education and a Master’s degree in Theology.

Cecilia believes strongly in giving back to the community that has given her so much. She serves on the University of St. Thomas Board of Directors and the Huston-Tillotson Board of Directors, as well as the advisory boards for the Holy Trinity Seminary, and the Austin Diocesan School. She is also a member of the Women’s Symphony League, the National Charity League, and the Dell Children’s Women’s Trust. She is a former member of the advisory board for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Ballet Austin and the Principals’ Center at Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Aprolificanimallover,Ceciliahasnurturednumerousdogsintotheirlateteens.She has raised a variety of pets, including a Nubian goat named Petunia and the Abbott family dogs, Oreo and Pancake.

Cecilia is a classical music devotee, having begun playing the piano at the age of six. Her piano training came in handy when she moved into the Castilian Dorm at UT where she serenaded her future husband from behind the keyboard with music, the likes of which he had never heard.

Cecilia is a proud wife and mother, and made history when her husband Greg becameGovernorbybecomingthefirstHispanicFirstLadyofTexasinthehistoryof the state. She and Greg have been married for 33 years, and they live in Austin with their daughter, Audrey.


On January 21, Governor Greg Abbott nominated Carlos Cascos to serve as Texas Secretary of State. He serves as the 110th Secretary of State. Not new to public service, Secretary Cascos was elected as Cameron County Judge in 2006 and was re-elected in 2010 and 2014. He previously served on the Texas Public Safety Commission and as a Cameron County Commissioner from 1991 through 2002.

Born in Mexico, Secretary Cascos immigrated to the United States as a child and became a permanent resident and citizen during adolescence. He is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. Secretary Cascos is a Certified PublicAccountant. He and his wife, Aurora Candida G. Cascos, have two daughters, Casandra and Andrea.

CARLOS CASCOSTexas Secretary of State

ANDRES ALCANTARChairman of the Texas Workforce CommissionCommissioner Representing the Public

Andres Alcantar is Chairman and Commissioner Representing the Public of the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC). Governor Rick Perry appointed Alcantar in 2008 and designated him Chairman May 1, 2012. Alcantar was recently reappointed to the Commission for a term to expire on February 1, 2019.

Chairman Alcantar works to implement customized services to meet the needs of Texas’ vast array of industries and advance the development of a strong and competitive workforce. He promotes the expansion of industry based partnerships across the state that center on best practices to

help workers and businesses achieve success. He encourages strategies that prepare students for post-secondary success at work or in the classroom, focusing on science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) initiatives as a key component of future workforce competitiveness.

Bryan Daniel joined Governor Abbott’s administration after serving as the Senior Administrator for Trade and Business Development at the Texas Department of Agriculture. He previously served as Vice President for Business Development at Agricultural Workers Mutual Auto Insurance Company and as the Texas State Director of Rural Development for the U.S. Department of Agriculture in President George W. Bush’s administration. He has also held leadership positions at the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board, the U.S. House Committee on Agriculture and the National Council for Agricultural Education. He has received numerous awards from agricultural organizations, including being named Outstanding Young Agriculturalist by the Professional Agricultural Workers of Texas and the Distinguished Service Award from the Forest County Partnership. Daniel holds both a master’s degree and bachelor’s degree in agriculture from Texas Tech, where he was also Coordinator of Student and Alumni Programs.

Bryan DanielExecutive Director of Economic Development and Tourism


AWARD RECIPIENTS

Rebecca Contreras is currently the President and CEO of AvantGarde LLC, a Management andITgovernmentconsultingfirmshe founded in2011withoffices in theAustinarea and in the Washington, D.C. area (www.avantgarde4usa.com).

AvantGardeisanSBAcertified8aandawoman-ownedsmallbusinessthatservesfederal government agencies across four key areas: People, Process, Strategy and Technology. AvantGarde has an excellent performance record in federal government agencies with a proven track record and reputation for delivering results across more than ten federal agencies. Contreras drives the company’s growth and management of the day-to-day operations.

Latina Entrepreneurial ExcellenceRebecca Contreras, AvantGarde, LLC

Charmane H. Sellers is an honorable Veteran of the United States Air Force and the President and CEO of ALEON Properties, Inc. (API), which celebrated 11 years in business this year. API provides renovation, remodel and interior finish-outconstruction services. Additionally, API conducts OSHA training services to both commercial and residential clients in both the public and private sectors. API has providedconstructionservicesonprojectsattheTexasA&MSanAntoniocampus,Austin Community College, Huston Tillotson University, Austin Independent School District and the City of Austin. Furthermore, API is the only EPA Accredited Training Provider in Austin, having trained close to 500 contractors in EPA Lead Safe Work Practices.

Excellence in Veteran EngagementCharmane H. Sellers, ALEON Properties, Inc.

Elizabeth Avellán is the Co-Owner and Vice President of Troublemaker Studios and PresidentofEYAProductions.Inadditiontoproducingfamilyandgenrefilmsthathave collectively grossed over a billion dollars, she has played a primary role in developingAustinasathrivingfilmcommunity.

A highly respected businesswoman, Avellán is involved in many diverse business ventures. Her large real estate portfolio includes rental properties and land holdings. In 2012, she started Enhanced Oil Systems, a company involved in oil and gas leases. She is also an investor in the successful Austin-based restaurant, “Swift’s Attic.”

Cultural Arts ExcellenceElizabeth Avellán, Troublemaker Studios & EYA Productions

Elizabeth is one of the agency’s founders. Whenever you run into her, she’s ruminating on the next big idea for clients and soon-to-be clients. Her philosophy is: always think like marketers, push hard like a sales force and enjoy life like there’s no tomorrow. Elizabeth loves a client that really wants to build a passionate partnership to drive brand loyalty and sales through innovative marketing. Her expertise lies in developing and maintaining brand strategies and in creating turn-key retail programs. Elizabeth has earned her stripes, having fought the “cola wars” for 13 years from corporate, fieldandbottlermarketingpositionsforCoca-ColaUSA.

Excellence in InnovationElizabeth Arreaga and Rebecca Arreaga, Mercury Mambo

Emerging Woman-Owned Business of the YearIsabella Rose Taylor, Isabella Rose Taylor Fashions, LLC

Isabella Rose Taylor is a fourteen-year old fashion designer and fine artist fromAustin. Isabella has been designing and creating clothes since she was nine-years old.Witha lifelongpassionforartanddesign, Isabella launchedherfirstclothingcollection in February 2012 on her website (www.isabellarosetaylor.com).

InSeptember2012,IsabelladebutedherfallcollectioninherfirstrunwayshowduringAustin Fashion Week and she was awarded “Rising Star” at Austin Fashion Week in 2013. In 2014, she had runway shows during Austin Fashion Week, Oklahoma Fashion Week, and New York Fashion Week. That same year, Isabella was selected as one of 19 Emerging Designers at WWD MAGIC in Las Vegas and in August 2014, she became the youngest designer to ever be sold in Nordstrom stores. Isabella’s fashion collection is a natural extension of her passion for art.


Supplier of the Year AwardTakoohy A. Harutunian, Harutunian Engineering, Inc.

Harutunian Engineering, Inc. (HEI) is a Texas-born, woman-owned small business. Since its establishment in 1988 by Takoohy A. Harutunian, HEI’s engineering contributions have run deep in the roots of Texas, providing extensive services for our state’s infrastructure and public landmarks.

HEI’s engineering services include Electrical, Instrumentation & Controls, SCADA,and Mechanical systems design and PLC and HMI Programming for water and wastewater treatment plants, pumping stations, power generation and distribution plants, and municipal and industrial facilities.

HEI’s commitment to quality stems from their commitment to community service and Harutunian’s belief that “it is better to serve than to be served.” HEI representatives have actively served numerous community organizations and boards, including the Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the City of Austin’s MBE/WBE/Small Business Enterprise Advisory Committee and the Community Advancement Network.

Agency President, Rebecca Arreaga, along with business partners Elizabeth Arreaga (also her sister) and Lynn Currie, formed Hispanic marketing agency, Mercury Mambo in 1999. Headquartered in Austin, Mercury Mambo specializes in developing targeted shopper, experiential, and digital campaigns designed todrivesalesatthepoint“WhereCommerce&CultureCollide!”CurrentclientsincludeFiestaSanAntonioCommission,LeoSchachter&Company,PeopleenEspañol Festival, Rainforest Partnership, REI, SafePlace, Teasdale Quality Foods and Vilore Foods.

Lauren Foster is the Founder, CEO/President of Stretch Recipes, Inc., an Austin-basedstartup.AproudAustinresidentandChicagonative,first-generationcollegestudent and MBA, she is an entrepreneur with over 15 years of experience in media, telecommunications, and real estate. Her hobbies include top golf, dancing, hiking and traveling.

It was recognizing the cyclical budget and nutrition patterns within her own life that led her to found Stretch Recipes, Inc. She created Stret¢h because she wanted to create a tool that actually helps people with tight budgets maximize their dollar and have access to more nutritional recipes. She grew up in a low income household without the tools to learn how to budget for groceries or prepare healthy meals.

Community InvestmentLauren Foster, Stretch Recipes, Inc.


To access the PowerPoint presentations, speakers’ biographies, and the award winners’ information, visit: http://bit.ly/GSBFATX2015

@TXGovSmallBiz #GSBFAUSTINTX

Governor’s Small Business Team

Governor’s Small Business Network

@GAHCC #GSBFAUSTINTX

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