Growth Track:

The prestigious TCU’s Neeley Entrepreneurship Center returns to The Expo to provide a level of unsurpassed education seminars for the more seasoned business owner.  Business owners and entrepreneurs face unique challenges as their businesses grow and succeed.  Managing a business that is growing requires different managerial skills, operational and management systems and business processes than launching a start-up.  This series of workshops is a must for those "mature" businesses.  

Seminars:

Managing Growth in Uncertain Times

For many companies, it’s a tough time to be in business.  However, for entrepreneurs who know how to manage and survive in uncertain times, there is a tremendous opportunity to plan and prepare to take advantage of the recovery when it happens-- and it will happen! 

Time: 8:00 AM		Location: Room 103A
Speakers:
Brad Hancock, Director, Neeley Entrepreneurship Center at TCU
		Brad Hancock is the Director of the Neeley Entrepreneurship Center at Texas Christian University.  He graduated from the University of Kentucky with a BBA in 1979 and earned his MBA from Columbia University in 1983.  He worked as a management consultant for 10 years, consulting primarily with Fortune 100 firms in strategy and operations, before beginning his career as an entrepreneur.  From 1993 until 2005 he owned three separate businesses.  It was after selling his last business in 2005 that he joined TCU.
Moderator:
Sally Fortenberry, Ph.D.
		An Associate Professor of Merchandising and Textiles at Texas Christian University since 1989, she has developed four new course offerings since coming to TCU and has incorporated undergraduate research initiatives into these classes. She has presented research and creative activities at international, national and state meetings, and is research reviewer for national and state research journals and meeting presentations. Dr. Fortenberry worked in the textiles and apparel industry as a buyer with a Dallas-based buying office and a 16-store retail chain.

Time: 8:00 am		Location: Room 101
Speakers:
Teresa Nelson, Teresa’s Treasures		Teresa Nelson has earned numerous awards for business success and leadership.  She received Small Business of the Year in 2002, 2004, was a finalist in 2005 and won again in 2008.  Other awards include Who’s Who in Business 2005-2006, American Business Woman of the Year, 2003 Mayor’s Entrepreneur Expo Award, YWCA Tribute to Women in Business and the 2006 Mayor’s Global Business Award.  In Boston, Teresa was named the National Gift Designer of the Year for 2006 and received the Spirit of Inspiration Award.  Most recently she recieved the 2007 Plains Capital Family Business Award and the 2007 Entrepreneur Expo Clear Channel Outdoor Excellence in Business Award.
Shelly Iversen, The Ignite It Group		Shelly has over 18 years of experience in developing dynamic and effective marketing programs for a multitude of industries. As CEO of Ignite It Group (formerly Clear Message Communications), she is a strategic marketing resource for many of their clients and speaks on a regular basis to groups and associations on different marketing topics including:   Branding ‘You’, The Integration of Social Media into Your Marketing Strategy, Developing an Effective Marketing Strategy, and more.  Shelly received her B.B.A. degree in Management from Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas.
Ed Riefenstahl, The Alternative Board (TAB)		Ed Riefenstahl started and leads the Fort Worth Chapter of The Alternative Board, the world’s largest peer board and coaching organization.  He is also the Director of Experiential Learning for the Neeley School of Business’ recognized MBA program.  Ed has post-graduate business degrees from both Emory University in the U.S. and the Manchester Business School in the UK.  Ed founded his consulting firm, ROI Associates, LLC, in 1992.  Along with Gina Puente, Ed co-founded the world’s first winery at an international airport, La Bodega Winery, located at the DFW International Airport.
Moderator:
Ramona Logan, Image Advantage		Ramona Logan brings 30 years of broadcast journalism experience to her Image Advantage clients.  Image Advantage provides media strategy, public relations and media training, as well as image consulting.  Ramona received dozens of awards and honors during her broadcast journalism career and has has also received several professional and community achievement awards. Ramona graduated from Wichita State University with a B.A. in Journalism.

Financing in Challenging Times

With the banking industry experiencing a tightening of lending standards, it is critical that entrepreneurs sustain and improve their credit scores, identify their own sources of capital and apply for the right loan from the right financing source at the right time.  This session will help answer your lending questions:

- What are lenders looking for?
- What are your chances for obtaining a loan?
- How is the current economy affecting small business loans?

Time: 3:15 pm		Location: Room 101
Speakers:
David Murray Chase Bank		David Murray has been banking for 7 years, 5 years as a branch manager and 2 years as a business specialist in the Fort Worth area. David specializes in business lending, and has been trained in both conventional and SBA loans. He conducts business reviews for his clients and looks for key ways that Chase can make a positive difference in how the business can be more effective.
John Quiroz William Mann, Jr. CDC		John Quiroz works in commercial real estate, small business loan development and underwriting for the William Mann, Jr. Community Development Corporation.  John’s previous business experience includes Executive Director for the Neighborhood Housing Services of North Texas, mortgage broker at Ventura Mortgage Inc., President at Surety Bank, Banking Center President at Texas Bank, Senior Vice-President at Overton Bank & Trust, Vice-President at Comerica Bank & Trust and Central Bank & Trust, and Commercial Finance Officer at First National Bank of Fort Worth. John received his BBA in Management from TCU, his MBA in General Business from the University of Houston and his Graduate Degree in Banking from SMU.
Adella Cantu, ACCION Texas
Mike Pereira, 4P Enterprises		Mike Pereira is President of 4P Enterprises, providing Cash Flow solutions for small to mid-size businesses.  Established in 2002, 4P Enterprises’ focuses on providing access to both traditional and non-traditional (alternative) financing and working capital. As a consultant, Mike advises businesses on the various funding options that are available to them, and on how to package their information for consideration to receive the funding they seek.  As a broker, Mike matches cash flow-challenged businesses with his nationwide network of funding sources who may provide alternative financing solutions, especially if traditional lending institutions may not be an option.
Anthony Pace, The Plan Fund		Anthony Pace, Executive Director of the Plan Fund, has extensive private and public sector business experience. He has held a variety of management positions at Sprint, United Parcel Service and the United Nations. He has a MBA with a specialty in marketing and international business from New York University; received an MA, in International Relations from Johns Hopkins University (SAIS) and a BA from Connecticut College.
Moderator:
Alberto Rios Chase Bank		Alberto Rios is a business banker at Chase in Fort Worth. Since joining Chase in 2005, Alberto has helped customers establish banking relationships that can save them time and money.  In his current role, Alberto helps business customers find the financial solutions that make sense for them so they may focus on the day-to-day activities that will make their business successful.  Whether Alberto is dealing with a start-up or an established business owner, he has demonstrated that developing mutually beneficial relationships with his clients is part of his role as trusted advisor that has made him a top performer on his team.

Top 10 Ways to Survive in this Economy

Running a business is not easy.  Without a doubt, it is more difficult to manage in the current market.  However, both businesses and individuals can take concrete steps to survive in a down economy.  This session will provide some realistic suggestions and allow participants to share with each other what they are doing to thrive and survive in the current economic climate.   

Time: 3:15 pm		Location: Room 103A
Speaker:
David Minor, Director, Neeley Entrepreneurship Program
		David Minor is the William M. Dickey Entrepreneur in Residence and the Director of the Neeley Entrepreneurship Program at Texas Christian University. Prior to joining TCU, David was the President and CEO of Minor’s Landscape Services, a company he founded in 1980, which became an INC 500 award-winning enterprise and one of the largest and most respected in the landscape industry. In 1998, David harvested his business and teamed with ServiceMaster, Inc. to consolidate the industry nationwide. As a vice president of this newly formed landscape division, David helped lead the acquisitions and integration efforts of more than $550 million in landscape division revenues. He is a former winner of the Tarrant County Entrepreneur of Distinction Award.
Moderator:
Sherry Green, Technology Team, LLC		Sherry Green, president of Technology Team, LLC, personifies small business success. Technology Team is an industry expert in relocating mission critical equipment. In just six years, Technology Team has successfully relocated over $100 Million of technology equipment for Fortune 500 companies and government agencies. Sherry has been recognized with numerous awards based on her business acumen and service to her community, including:  2005 Fort Worth Star-Telegram Entrepreneur of the Year, 2005 Fort Worth Mayor’s Entrepreneurial Award, 2007 Downtown Rotary Employer of the Year.