Houston Veterans Business EXPO

8am - 9am Breakout Sessions ( Exhibitors Only & Breakfast)

1. Business Cash Flow & Accounting Management 

Willy Verbrugghe & Scott Drysdale, US Army / SCORE.org

• Understanding the fundamentals of accounting and reading financial statements.
• Understand the difference between cash flow and accrual accounting.
• The uses of cash flow projections/budgets.

2. Building a Dynamic Business Plan 

Amy Reid, US Army / SBDC

• Create an engaging and comprehensive Executive Summary
• Wow them with key metrics and a strong marketing plan
• Financial projections formatting

3. Making Your Business Government Ready 

Tim Scarborough, US Air Force / PTAC

• The workshop is intended for individuals who have little to no experience selling to government and want to increase their revenue by selling their goods and services (including construction) to government. 

• The workshop will provide you a five-step process on the actions you need to take to get your business ready to sell to government agencies. 

• Subjects addressed are vendor registration, socio and economic certification programs, capability statements, and government marketing.

11am - 12pm Breakout Sessions

1. Veteran Designations & Certifications

Greg Shigemasa, US Air Force & US Army / TVC Veterans Entrepreneur Program

• Requirements for VOB logo from TVC
• Learn how a certification may help you
• Understand other designations available to veterans

2. Opportunities for Veterans in Franchising

Richard Ashe, US Marine / / Veterans Franchise Advisors

• Learn about franchising opportunities
• Understand resources available to veterans
• Learn how to evaluate what franchises are right for you

3. HCC Growth & Networking Resource Panel 

Panelists:

• Dr. Kimberly Burroughs, Executive Director, Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business Program

• Latanya McGilbra, Business Advisor, MBDA

• Tamala Austin, Director, Houston Community College's Open for Business Program

Moderated by: Ravi Brahmbhatt, HVC Board Advisor and Leadership Team Member & HCC Director of Student Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Join an information session and meet & greet with small business growth directors of the Houston Community College’s Economic Development office.  Learn about HCC’s Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business, Minority Business Development Agency, Open for Business Program, and MBDA Pandemic Recovery Center directly.  Learn of small business success stories that have grown with free and guided education and networking access from HCC Small Business Growth Programs.

1pm (1300) - 2pm (1400) Breakout Sessions

1.  Veteran Business Funding

Winston Labbe', US Army / SBA

• Learn how to analyze your funding needs
• Understand resources available to veterans
• Learn several tactics to funding your growth

2.  Maximizing your Microsoft 365

Emily S., Senior Training Associate, Microsoft

& Marcus S., Senior Training Associate, Microsoft

• Learn how to utilize 365 tools
• Better understand SharePoint and OneDrive
• Using Teams, Bookings, and Outlook to their full potential

3.  Veterans Business Resources

William Garay, US Army / Owner Garay Marketing, LLC, Transition Strategist

& Ariel Lara, US Army Reserve / Communications Specialist, Public Affairs, Dow Texas Operations 

• Understand how to access resources and how to find them
• Self-Development
• First say Yes then learn to say No

3pm (1500) - 4pm (1600) Breakout Session

1.  Keys to a Growth Mindset – Changing the Way to Think About Your Business

Trisha Stetzel, US Navy / Owner, ResultsXtreme Business Solutions, Certified Master Business Coach & Trainer

• Train the Self-Concept
• Create Rock Solid Accountability Systems
• Refine your Personal Responsibility

2.  Making Your Business Agile in a VUCA / Industry 5.0 Market Place - Don't Be Last to Change!

Charles Pulliam, US Air Force / Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Senior Partner of Solushiens (Solushiens, LLC

• The key elements of revolutionizing workforce performance
• Agile workforce planning
• Change Readiness in the new post-COVID "Normal"

3.  Networking & Marketing Your Veteran Owned Business Through HMSDC

Dr. Sabeeta Bidasie, Champion of Change / Director of Operations and Projects, Houston Minority Supplier Development Council (HMSDC)

• Networking through Membership with HMSDC Minority Owned Businesses (How and best-fit strategies)
• Success stories of alliances with MBEs to capture bigger opportunities
• Areas that the Veterans Chamber can find rewarding relationships with the HMSDC