Governor's Small Business Forums RGV

8:30 am - 9:00 am        Registration & Business Expo
9:00 am - 9:15 am        Welcome                                             
              Opening Remarks
            -     Sergio Contreras, RGV Partnership President/CEO

• Bryan Daniel, Executive Director
  Economic Development and Tourism
  Office of Governor Greg Abbott
• Welcome Video from Governor Greg Abbott
• Master of Ceremonies: Tony Forina
   

9:30 am - 10:00am       “Access to Capital Roundtable”          
                                         Moderator Angela Burton, SBA
 
1. Marlene R. Rodriguez, Senior Business Development Officer, LiftFund
2. Estella Saenz, 1^st VP/ Business Banking Officer II, Commercial Lending, BBVA Compass Bank
3. Sonia Falcon, Senior VP, Commercial Lending, Lone Star National Bank
4. Tyler Stone, RIOC Partners, Vice President of Private Equity


10:00 am   Texas Workforce Commission Presentations
Julian Alvarez III
Commissioner Representing Labor
Texas Workforce Commission


10: 15 am   Texas Workforce Solutions
                        Francisco Almaraz
                        Chief Executive Officer
                        Workforce Solutions
           
10:30 am - 11:00 am    “Women Entrepreneurship and Business Success”  
                                                  Moderator Veronica Gonzalez, UTRGV
 
1. Suzanne Munoz, The Numbers Co., Owner
2.  Jessica Delgado, House Wine and Salt New American Table, Owner
3.  Edna De Saro, De Saro Rodriguez AD Agency, Owner
 
 
           
11:00 am—11:10 am    Transition Break


11:10 am—11:45 am    “Marketing and Social Media”      
                                   Moderator Crystal Belmares, digital AIM Media
 
1.  Daniel Rivera, Grindstone Coworking, Owner, Director of Hive Effect
2.  Mario Ochoa, Sammis-Ochoa A Public Relations Agency, Co-Owner
3.  Lizette Montoya, Univision Communications, Inc., Marketing Specialist
4.  Alma Caso Evans, Plaza Sports Center, CEO
 
11:45 am                      “Annual Luncheon” (Lunch is served)
                                    Recognition of Partners and Sponsors
                                    Welcome by Ambrosio Hernandez, Mayor, City of Pharr
                                   
 
12:30 pm - 12:40 pm    2017 Governor’s Small Businesses Awards
Commissioner Alvarez, III Representing Labor, Texas Workforce Commission
Bryan Daniel, Executive Director
Economic Development and Tourism
Office of Governor Greg Abbott
Leticia Flores, Community Relations Specialist
Office of Governor Greg Abbott
Brent Baldree, Regional Market President
Texas Regional Bank

(4 winners; 15 minutes)
                                   
12:40 pm - 12:45 pm    Introduction of Keynote by Tony Forina
 
12:45 pm -  1:30 pm     Keynote Speaker Presentations
 
Pilar Gonzalez, Dip it By Pilar, H-E-B's Primo Picks:
Quest for Texas Best Award       Owner 
 
Trial and Error: Matt Wilbanks, CEO, Co-Founder of HelpSocial 
 
1:30 pm – 03:00 pm     Networking & Expo

3:00 pm                          Adjornment of Form