| Our eLLIANCE Newsletter Sponsors:
Lane Staffing, Inc.
AT&T Yellow Pages
|
|
|
|
Greetings!
Happy News Year!
Yes, I said Happy "News" Year!
It is my hope that this year will be a year of Happy News for you and your business. We have just had one of the toughest years in modern history and we heard a ton of sad news, depressing news, discouraging news, but NOW we have the fortunate grace to cross over into a New Year, with new opportunities and GOOD NEWS!
Life is a matter of perspective! It is not what happens to you that matters most, it is how you respond to it. Whatever happened to you in business or personally in 2009 can no longer affect you in 2009, because we are in 2010. Let us learn from our 2009 challenges, use that as a solid foundation for the beginning of growth and success in 2010.
As Founder and CEO of Texas Business Alliance ("TBA"), I know about challenges and going against the grain, especially starting a statewide nonprofit organization in the midst of a serious recession. My encouragement to our current and future members is to look at every challenge as an opportunity to have a testimony of success. |
|
Welcome 2010 TBA Board of Directors |
We are pleased to announce the 2010 Texas Business Alliance Board of Directors:
Chair
Tracy Taylor-Smith, President and CEO, Taylor Smith Consulting, LLC
Vice Chair
Andrea D. Smith, CPMS, CSMS, ITEC, CEO, AbiDawn Holistic Therapies, LLC
Secretary
Timothy L. Smith, Principal, The Plaid Group
Treasurer
George N. Wyche Jr., EVP, ConcordisRyland Enterprises, Inc.
Parliamentarian
Mark LeCrone, Southern Texas Sales Consultant, Lightspeed Technologies
General Counsel
Jeffery K. Malonson, Partner, Vinson & Elkins
Board Members:
-
Zawadi Bryant, COO and Practice Manager, Nightlight Pediatric Urgent Care
-
Byron Carter, President and CEO, Pretty Quick Delivery
-
Sylvia Harley, Client Services Representative, Americanized Benefit Consultants
-
Sharon Phillips, President and CEO, MultiCultural Connections
Founder and CEO:
Jeffrey L. Boney, Texas Business Alliance |
|
Outgoing Chair's Message |
|
By Timothy Smith
The Plaid Group
New ventures are exciting. They are also risky, even in the best of times. They hold lots of potential, as well as an abundance of uncertainty. The start of TBA has been no different. With Jeff's vision and hard work, as well as the efforts of TBA members, volunteers and the board, TBA put down some strong roots and is off to a solid start. I was honored to be a part of that foundational work.
As organizations develop, they need different leaders for different times. Jeff founded TBA a year ago and pulled together a group of local leaders to serve on the TBA board. The board leadership TBA started with was the initial start-up leadership. This team focused on setting clear direction and building the foundation upon which the board and TBA could build.
The board needed to create its own momentum and develop into a body that supported TBA. To that end, we held a board retreat in May 2009 to establish a shared vision of the future for both TBA and the board, and to outline our plan to make those visions reality. We spent a few months developing a written strategic plan to guide our efforts for the coming few years. The board is shifting gears now, and Tracy Taylor-Smith is the kind of leader we need to move the organization forward during the next couple of years.
The board came together early in the year largely as a group of strangers. We're developing into a collaborative team prepared to support TBA with both guidance and personal efforts. We look forward to working with the additional board members in 2010. |
|
Incoming Chair's Greeting |
|
By Tracy Taylor-Smith
Taylor Smith Consulting, LLC
The inaugural year for the TBA was indeed groundbreaking and successful! The TBA organizational foundation was established, great partnerships were developed, and the small business community gained a new advocate. While some may look at the year 2009 as a challenging year, I say the economic slowdown gave the small business community an opportunity to improve their craft and services. I say the past year gave us time to examine our goals and priorities. So, don't look back and ponder what happened last year, let's move forward to greatness!
In 2010 and beyond, I ask that we commit to working together to increase spending with small businesses and MWBEs; commit to building new, and trusting, relationships; commit to working in the community to develop our youth and future stakeholders; commit to improving our civic relationships and diversity programs; commit to operating our businesses with integrity and transparency; commit to developing our employees and encouraging them to be the best; and commit to providing excellent customer service.
Read more... |
|
2010 Texas Business Alliance Calendar |
We have a full 2010 schedule of trainings and programming. Click here to view the 2010 calendar and be sure to attend our January events:
Membership "Mixer-Ita"
Los Cucos Mexican Cafe
5870 Westheimer Road, Houston, TX 77057
Thursday, January 21, 2010
5 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Margarita specials and free appetizers
No cost to attend
Register here
2nd Annual Meeting and "State of the Houston Small Business Economy" Luncheon
Federal Reserve Bank
1801 Allen Parkway, Houston, TX 77019
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Noon - 1:30 p.m.
$35 in advance and $50 at the door (preregistration is required for Federal Reserve Bank entry)
$1000 - Table of Nine (9) Sponsorship
$150 - Vendor Table
Free parking through Taft Street parking lot entrance
Register here |
|
State of the Houston Small Business Economy Luncheon and TBA Annual Meeting |
|
The TBA Annual Meeting and "State of the Houston Small Business Economy" Luncheon on Tuesday, April 26, 2010, from noon to 1:30 p.m., at the Federal Reserve Bank is the small business owner's opportunity to learn the following:
This is your chance to get straight-talk from the our panel: The Honorable Ronald Green, Houston City Controller; Robert Gallegos, Assistant Director, Mayor's Office of Affirmative Action; Jennifer Dean, President and CEO, Dean's Professional Services; Dr. Laura Murillo, President and CEO, Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce; Rudy Sutherland, Principal Consultant, ALJUCAR & Co.; Winston Labbe, VP Community Development Lending, Amegy Bank of Texas; and Ida M. Love, U.S. Census Bureau.
George C. Fraser, Chairman and CEO, FraserNet, Inc. located in Cleveland, Ohio, will moderate the discussion. Mr. Fraser is one of the foremost authorities on economic development, networking and building effective relationships.
During the Annual Meeting, the TBA Board of Directors will be installed. Judge Hilary H. Green will perform the ceremonies. TBA also will unveil its 2010 Plan of Work and report on 2009 Outcomes.
The event will culminate with the presentation of the "Vanguard Award." The Vanguard Award is presented annually to a small business owner that has exemplified extraordinary contract teaming and subcontracts to minority and women-owned businesses as a best practice. |
|
January TBA Partner Events |
7 Spheres of Money Small Business Symposium
Federal Reserve Bank
1801 Allen Parkway, Houston, TX 77019
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
$95 in advance and $105 at the door (preregistration is required for Federal Reserve Bank entry)
TBA Members: $75 in advance and $95 at the door
Vending Table - $500
Sponsorships also are available
Free parking through Taft Street parking lot entrance
The "7 Spheres of Money Small Business Symposium" is a new small business symposium concept to Houston hosted by Deransburg International, Inc. The "7 Spheres" speaks to the seven-member professional team all small business owners should employ for sustained success, no matter its size or length of time in business.
The speakers will share the principles every small business owner needs to now, and how your "7-Sphere" team is affordable, attainable, and absolutely essential to win in business:
Topics:
- Accounting :: 7 secrets to IRS-proof your refund
- Insurance :: 7 tips to protect your life, health, home, car, business, retirement and money
- Banking :: 7 secrets to secure personal, business and mortgage loans in today's market
- Financial Planning :: 7 winning strategies to increase your 401K, IRA, stocks, and bonds
- Real Estate :: 7 ways to increase your portfolio and purchase property with no money down
- Estate Planning :: 7 steps to secure your future financial security
- Legal :: 7 secrets to lawsuit-proof your assets and generationally pass on your wealth tax-free
- Bonus :: 7 sales and marketing secrets to increase your net income and hire the right sales force
Speakers:
- George C. Fraser, Chairman and CEO, FraserNet
Dale Deransburg, President and CEO, Deransburg International, Inc.
Rick Figueroa, Vice President, Advisory Brokerage Services, UBS Financial Services, Inc.
Fred Fogarty, President and CEO, Fogarty Financial Services
Lisa Godfrey, President, C.E.O. Visionaries
- Laura Lopez, Performance Strategist, Leadership Specialist and Branding Expert
- Cesar Rincon, President and CEO, Cesar Rincon International
Construction Outlook 2010
CALLING ALL CONTRACTORS
Thursday, January 21, 2010
7:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
* Registration & Continental Breakfast 7:30 AM
* Project overview 8:00 AM
* Corridor sessions 9:00 - 11:30 AM
* Small business networking opportunity throughout the event
George R. Brown Convention Center
1001 Avenida De Las Americas, 77010
Parking:
Hilton Americas-Located at the corner of Polk Street and Avenida de las Americas. Connected to the GRB and the Hilton by level 2 skywalks
Discovery Green-Directly across the street from the GRB
Multiple nearby private parking lots
Houston Rapid Transit, a joint venture is building light rail lines in the Houston area.
To find out about upcoming opportunities for contractors large and small, please join us for this event. Opportunities available include: public utilities, roadway, landscaping, trucking, excavation, paving, and street reconstruction. Construction staff will be on hand to answer questions. Continental breakfast will be served.
Click here to RSVP or call 713-739-6075 |
|
Business Enterprise Academy® Class I |
Left to right front row: Hermeka Bibbins, Market Trend Consultants; Shannon Lucas, Organic Sweet Shoppe, LLC; Helen Smiley, Elena Enterprises, Inc.; Sal Garcia, Sal Garcia CPA, Dell Trahan, T&K's Mobile Detailing & Pressure Washing
Left to right back row: Andrea D. Smith, Andimar Transport, LLC; Patricia Wickers, EnviroBuild; Deyanira Alcantara, AMA Quality, LLC; Marylyn Harris, Harrland Healthcare Consulting, LLC
The first class of the Business Enterprise Academy® ("BEA") began November 2009 and will graduate April 2010. The BEA is an intensive six-month, hands-on small business incubator. Class members have consistently rated the class content with excellent marks!
BEA Testimonials
Sal Garcia, CPA
At Sal Garcia, CPA we understand your number one objective is to get the cash register to ring. We realize that takes time and energy, and this is important. But it leaves you with little time to deal with balancing your books, planning for tax savings or meeting filing deadlines. Our passion is handling those financial and compliance areas in an accurate, swift and professional manner, providing you advice and consultation along the way, so you can focus on job number one. Our approach is simple - provide the highest level of professional tax, booking, payroll, and advisory services along with business management guidance at an affordable price. For more information please visit our website at www.salgarcia-cpa.com
"As an entrepreneur and owner of Sal Garcia, CPA we understand the significance of every dollar spent. I believe the investment in participating in the Texas Business Alliance has provided me with valuable information, resources, and a network to maintain a focused path on my business ventures."
-- Sal Garcia
T & K's Mobile Detailing & Pressure Washing
T & K's Mobile Detailing & Pressure Washing has been in the business of commercial/residential pressure washing and detailing for three years and has been certified by five entities. For more information, visit our Web site at: www.tkmobiledetail.com. T & K's became connected with TBA 10 months ago and has been connected to several major corporate contacts and was recently prepped by TBA for its second attempt at a small business loan.
"On December 16, 2009, Texas Business Alliance - Mr. Jeff Boney, assisted T & K's in packaging its first Fast Track Small Business Loan with Houston Business Development, Incorporated. With all the training, networking and tools that TBA has provided T & K's, TBA helped closed the deal on T & K's first small business loan on December 23, 2009. This was the BEST Christmas present T & K's has ever obtained."
-- Dell Trahan
BEA Sponsor Special Thanks:
- AT&T
- Capital One Bank
- Greater Houston Visitors and Conventions Bureau
- Comcast
- H-E-B
- Hewlett-Packard
- UnitedHealthcare
- Vinson & Elkins
BEA is registering for Class II to begin November 2010, please contact Texas Business Alliance at 713.738.7578, info@texasbusinessalliance.org, or visit www.texasbusinessalliance.org for an application. Fifteen small business owners will be accepted in Class II. |
|
Youth Entrepreneurship Academy® |
|
The Youth Entrepreneurship Academy® ("YEA"), the youth version of the BEA, will begin February 2010. High school juniors and seniors and college freshmen should visit www.texasbusinessalliance.org to complete an application request form through February 12, 2010.
Students will start a "real" business during the seven-month program, and be equipped with the tools and resources to pursue an entrepreneurial alternative. YEA program modules include: the entrepreneur experience, role of entrepreneurs, key characteristics and skills, learning how to spot opportunities, idea generation, business plan creation, marketing, credit management, financial literacy/management, accessing funding, technology, life skills, and community involvement/volunteerism.
Texas Business Alliance has been awarded an American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) grant from the Gulf Coast Community Services Association (GCCSA) to help support specific aspects of the YEA program. The goals of YEA are to: encourage youth to invest in their community through entrepreneurship; grow the number of up-and-coming new, qualified small businesses in Harris County; ensure the growth, self-sufficiency and sustainability of small businesses; and to create new jobs and wealth long-term.
Fifteen youth participants will be selected. The community is encouraged to support the 15 youth in YEA with a $15 contribution. To be a YEA youth sponsor, please click below icon to contribute securely online. Contributions will help defray expenses not supported by the ARRA funds.
|
|
One Woman National Business Conference 2010 |
TBA is bringing it for One Woman® 2010! TBA Board Member Sharon Phillips is the One Woman® planning Chairperson and is leading the committee to top last year's super successful conference.
A signature business development program of TBA, One Woman® is a unique conference experience that takes an inside-out, total person and business approach. It is a gathering of women from all walks of life, backgrounds and perspectives. "Changing the Face of Business One Woman at a Time" - the One Woman™ inaugural theme - is meant to highlight the power in a united women's network and shared determination to succeed in business.
Early registration is encouraged to secure your spot and to take advantage of cost savings.Register now through January 31, 2010 for the 2010 conference and receive a "Premier" all-access registration for only $125. Beginning February 1, 2010 through March 31, 2010, the "Early Bird" all-access fee is $200. The $250 standard all-access fee goes in effect May 1, 2010. Late registration, beginning August 1, 2010, and walk-up registration all-access fee is $399. Overnight stays at the Omni are available for an additional $125 per night. Special tradeshow booth fees also are available.
To register, click here.
To sponsor, reserve an Expo table, or receive a 2010 One Woman™ speaker application, please contact info@mwhpublicrelations.com or call 281.213.9554.
Special thanks our sponsors to date.Continental Airlines is the official airline carrier of One Woman®. Lane Staffing will again sponsor the Black & Brown Luncheon Symposium which will address issues in the African-American and Hispanic communities related to education, entrepreneurialism and employment. Jobing.com has signed on as our first community partner to help disseminate information within its vast network. |
|
The Right Lane |
 By Carla Lane, President and CEO, Lane Staffing, Inc.
Working Moms, can we really have it all?
Can we really have the life of our dreams? Loving husband, well behaved kids, thriving business? As women, we often struggle with feeling bad for not putting enough time into our business, or to the kids, or partner-or just as importantly, ourselves.
If you relate to this, you are in good company. Even our First Lady, Michelle Obama struggles with work/family balance and while campaigning for our president, was quoted by NPR as telling a mainly female audience: "I'm always living with the guilt that if I'm spending too much time at work, then I'm not giving enough time to my girls. And if I'm with my girls, then I'm not doing enough for work - or you name it. It's a guilt that we all live with in this room. Can I hear an amen?"
Like many of my women friends and colleagues, I've tried on varying sizes of career and motherhood at different times. I have a husband who is a wonderful father and a true parenting partner. I love my kids and I don't regret one moment I spent with them instead of chasing career goals. I love my job and owning a business and feel as if I am walking in my purpose. I am very much grateful for all of these blessings and don't want to come off as a complainer. BUT!! I am so tired of trying to do it all. Read more... |
|
The Business 411 |
 Surrounding Yourself With Great EnergyBy Donna Fisher
Speaker, Author and Entrepreneur
Have you ever noticed how you tend to feel drained around some people and energized around others? Energy may not be tangible, but it sure is powerful. And even though you can't see it, often times you can certainly feel it!
I am fortunate to be connected with some women who are good at creating, sharing and generating energy. Although we all have different personalities, different expertise, and different styles of presentation, we all benefit from the energy connection that we create by joining together.
There is something very powerful about women coming together to connect, create and contribute to one another.
Here are some tips for surrounding yourself with great ENERGY:
-
Pay attention to the times when you start to feel uplifted, lighter, and energized.
-
Notice who the people are that contribute to you being "energized."
-
See if you can start to identify what it is about them that creates this uplifting experience - their behaviors, their words, their attitude.
-
How would define their "energy"?
-
How can you learn from them and be an "energy transformer" for others?
-
Be aware that everything is energy and energy can always shift and become heavier or lighter.
-
Find ways to bring energy into your interactions that is positive and productive. |
|
Haiti Support |
|
Please join TBA in supporting Haiti. Several organizations on the front line of relief efforts are:
United Way
|
|
New TBA Members |
Welcome to our new members as of December 2009!
2 G Construction
Accendo International
A-Ze Cable Hook-Up
Americanized Benefit Consultants
Beacon Home Health Agency
BiPOM Electronics Inc.
BodyInBlack.com
Thelma Dade
Salvador Garcia, Jr., CPA
Cecilia Gonzales
East West Enterprises
Final Call Newspaper
Global Medical Testing
Harco Construction Inc.
Houston Independent School District
Loretta Green
LifeSkills Institute
Erica Lee
Verna McCarty
Mickey McGill
NASA Johnson Space Center
Metro Marketing
Negris Lebrum, LLC
Niche Medical Sales
Pierre Principle Communications, LLC
Principle Partnering Group, LLC
Savannah Inc.
Stella Alexander
Summit Fence South, Inc.
T&K's Mobile Detailing & Pressure Washing
Texas On The Go
Triple A Craines
Verna McCarty & Associates
E. Gordon Wright (Touch of Keys) | |
|
|
|
