Small Business Opportunities & News | |
|
HCC Mattress Mack School of Selling© - Virtual Series Coming Up this Fall 2023!
- November 07 - November 30, 2023
- Session Dates - 11/07, 11/09 11/14, 11/16, 11/28 and 11/30
- Open Access - Take One, More or all Six
- Featured News - HCC Mattress Mack School of Selling© Graduates our Fall 2023 Onsite Cohort
Upcoming Small Business Opportunities From Around HCC:
-
Women in Construction - Free Virtual and In-person Workshop - Oct 26 - Dec 7, 12:00pm - 1:00pm - Virtual and In-person
-
AARP Foundation’s Work for Yourself@50+ - Virtual Workshop - Nov 2, 1:00pm - 3:00pm, Virtual
-
Managing Financials w/Quickbooks - Nov 2, 1:00pm-2:30pm HCC Missouri City Campus
-
People VET - Fueling Veteran Entrepreneurship with Access to Capital - Nov 2, 1:00pm-3:00pm - Onsite at HCC Felix Fraga Academic Campus
-
Doing Business with the Federal Government - Nov 15, 10:00am-12:00pm, HCC Southeast
- Monthly Digital Marketing Clinic - Nov 15, Wed, 6:00pm-8:00pm - Zoom:
- This Month's Topic: Making Sure Your Website Meets Google's Grades
More News from the Glenda & David Regenbaum Center for Entrepreneurship:
- HCC Hosts Junior Achievement Ignite the Spark Event
- Liftoff Houston Startup Competition Pitch Training by HCC
- Women of Katy Chamber Luncheon Showcases Women Making a Difference
- HCC Recognized at SCORE Appreciation Luncheon
| |
HCC Mattress Mack School of Selling© | |
|
Virtual Series in November - Open Access Registration
Sign Up Now - Take One, More or All Six Sessions
| |
|
Applicants who attend all six sessions, graduate from the series.
A Certificate of Completion will be provided by
HCC Mattress Mack School of Selling© to add to your achievements.
| |
|
"The HCC Mattress Mack School of Selling© taught me that we are ALL in sales! Even if we never majored in sales or thought that the role we play in our business is sales, we all are in sales. Even if we are just trying to get a Toddler to eat their vegetables… we are in sales!"
Patty Sobelman, Head of School, Pines Montessori School
HCC Mattress Mack School of Selling© March, 2021
The Biggest Take-Aways for Patty: "Knowing your product or service and understanding the needs of your customer makes sales a win-win. We are connecting a person who has a need, to a product or service that is a help to them. You listen, meet the need, get the sale and they are happy. The School of Selling helped me overcome my fear of the “sales pitch” and made me lean into “problem solving pitch” that my business alone can solve!"
| |
|
"The HCC Mattress Mack School of Selling© is a wonderful opportunity for development of communication skills critical for today's service-orientated workforce. The six sessions build off one another to provide a structured learning experience, valuable to a wide range of participants.”
Dr. Alan Steinberg, President/CEO, West Houston Association
HCC Mattress Mack School of Selling© Alumni, August, 2021
| |
|
“There’s always something to learn and I thoroughly enjoyed learning the transferable skills of active selling, identifying buying triggers, and the art of saying “no” at the Mattress Mack School of Selling. Typically, I’m facilitating business programs but it was nice to be the student and learn from our HCC partners as they facilitated some really informative sessions with immediate tools for application. I have to admit, each class I couldn’t wait to hear what Mattress Mack had to say; his advice is priceless.”
Dr. Porscha Jackson, Business Development Manager ,Mayor’s Office of Business Opportunity, City of Houston
HCC Mattress Mack School of Selling© Alumni, August, 2021
| |
HCC Mattress Mack School of Selling© Graduates our Fall 2023 Onsite Cohort | |
|
What is the HCC Mattress Mack School of Selling© and what does it take to graduate from an onsite offering of this series? Our Fall 2023 class started on August 24 with Dr. Zachary Hodges, President HCC Northwest welcoming our Fall 2023 Onsite class
It was Dr. Hodges conversations with Jim McIngvale that initiated the creation of the HCC Mattress Mack School of Selling©. Austin Tenette and Dr. Kimberly Burroughs met with Jim McIngvale to get the essence of his philosophy of selling. Together with Entrepreneur in Residence David Regenbaum and Center Director, Sandra Louvier and her team, Austin and Kim developed, evolved and delivered the curriculum in 2020 up to now.
| |
|
The Fall 2023 onsite class was our sixth cohort. We have a virtual class coming up, starting on November 7.
Landi Spearman has come in as a welcome addition to our team to deliver three of the sessions previously delivered by Dr. Burroughs. Austin Tenette delivers three of the six session series.
Session Topics:
1- The Art of Listening
2- Persistence
3- Ability to Say No
4- Caring Customer Service
5- Building a Book of Business
6- What You Learn After You Know It All
Our class was full of aspiring and existing entrepreneurs, and individuals wanting to start a career in sales or change jobs to pursue a new position as a salesperson.
| |
|
The sessions were full of great content to motivate and inspire all present to listen to their customers, meet their needs and problem solve to provide solutions. As sessions progressed, we saw a melting away of internal fears associated with selling, and a transformation of mindset creating a class of more confident problem solvers providing solutions to contribute to our customers' success! The classes were interactive, informative, and motivational, with all involved inspiring each other.
Jim McIngvale addressed the class at our Graduation on September 28.
| |
We also celebrated with a graduation cake and a mariachi band thanks to one of our graduates, Andrian Longoria, owner of Mariachi Tradición de Jalisco. Thank you Adrian and family! | |
Congratulations to all of our Graduates! | |
|
For those of you who still have one or more sessions to complete, join us in the November digital offering the HCC Mattress Mack School of Selling©!
For those of you new to the series, Join us in November for six sessions on Tuesdays and Thursdays online for six sessions on Tuesdays & Thursdays from 10:30am to 12:30pm, Nov 7, 9, 14, 16, 28 & 30
Fall 2023 Virtual November Series: https://hcc.idloom.events/MMSSVirtualFall23
| |
Our Glenda & David Regenbaum Center for Entrepreneurship offers three signature programs, the HCC Business Plan Competition, the Small Business Success Series by HCC© and the HCC Mattress Mack School of Selling©.
In all, with the graduation of this Fall 2023 August-September onsite HCC Mattress Mack School of Selling©, we now celebrate the milestone of 1,000 alumni graduates of our signature programs!
| |
We thank all who have made this possible, our entrepreneurial Champions including Dr. Maya Durnovo, Dr. Kurt Ewen, Dr. Zachary Hodges, David Regenbaum and others within HCC, our Center for Entrepreneurship team, our internal and external partners, our sponsors, our facilitators, volunteer mentors, advisors & coaches and, of course, all of the proposed, startup and existing entrepreneurs, their employees and others who are on the entrepreneurial path to improving their lives and the lives others through entrepreneurial thinking and through small business successes! We look forward to more ahead as you join us on the HCC pathway from launch through exit strategy. | |
|
Upcoming Small Business
Opportunities from Around HCC
| |
HCC Hosts Junior Achievement Ignite the Spark Event | |
|
High schools from around the Greater Houston area kicked off the 2023-2024 JA Company Program at our Ignite the Spark event on 09 23 23. The room was filled with 225 attending, including 168 students, 30 adult chaperones from around Houston and nearly 30 event leaders, speakers, sponsors and JA alumni all gathered to deliver an amazing start to what promises to be a great year for teenagers and youth seeking to up their entrepreneurial skills. HCC worked with Tania Daniels, Sr. Director of Entrepreneurship Initiatives, JA SE Region, to host them at our West Houston Institute at HCC Alief Hayes. All present thanked event sponsors, Worley, Vertiex Bank, Avanade and HCC.
| |
|
It was a pleasure introducing sponsor Courtney Taylor with Veritex Bank, to interview our keynote speakers, Ryan Pressly, 2022 World Series Champion Pitcher from the Houston Astros and his wife, Kat Pressly, former Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader. The event also featured a live Pitch Challenge for all teams present. HCC’s Sandra Louvier was a speaker about HCC’s small business offerings to proposed startup and existing entrepreneurs of all ages. Jordan Carswell, from the HCC West Houston Institute was a Pitch Challenge judge. The top three teams were awarded $100 each from the Glenda & David Regenbaum Center for Entrepreneurship HCC-Northwest and a laptop from Avanade to go toward launching and running their businesses. Congratulations to our prize winners: Klein Collins High School, Elkins High School and Dulles High School; to our runners up: Memorial High School and British International School; and to all the teams who pitched that day! It was the first of many pitches to come this year as they launch and run their businesses.
From September through May, Junior Achievement (JA) representatives, sponsors, instructors, and volunteer business mentors will guide high school student teams throughout Houston as they plan, start, run and dispense proceeds from businesses they create between now and next May. Volunteer mentors deliver training sessions from now through November and business plans are due in early December. The students will launch and operate their businesses January through March. Year-end reports are due in April and top students and teams will be celebrated in May!
| |
Liftoff Houston Startup Competition Pitch Training by HCC | |
|
HCC Supports the City of Houston's Annual Liftoff Houston Startup Competition by delivering three Pitch Training Sessions to help prepare the entrepreneurs to pitch their plans within the competition and later to potential funders.
David Regenbaum and Sandra Louvier presented along with competition alumni, Lyndsey Brantley, Founder & CEO, Camellia Alise, delivering interactive training sessions with Liftoff team support on September 23, 25 & 27.
| |
|
Participants learned how to develop a compelling pitch and had time to work up brief pitches. Several entrepreneurs did their pitches in the session to get feedback from their peers and from training facilitators. David also helped to facilitate small group exercises at Liftoff’s optional onsite pitch workshop on Monday October 2.
Plans were submitted in the Liftoff Houston Startup Competition on October 13. Finalists pitch to judges to win prize money on November 18. We love supporting Liftoff Houston and Sandra Louvier looks forward to being a judge at the finals! Best wishes to all contestants!
| |
Women of Katy Chamber Luncheon Showcases Women Making a Difference | |
|
The Women of Katy Luncheon on 09 26 23 was amazing, led by HCC alumna Olivia Martin and Stacy Jacobs, Katy Area Chamber. Gold Sponsor was Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses (10ksb) and Kimberly Burroughs PhD Executive Director.
The inspiring panel featured Jamie McMartin, Dr. Jacinta Anyaoku, Natalie Thomas, Jamie Retherford (10ksb grad) and Office of Commissioner Lesley Briones, Precinct 4.
Kim Burroughs addressed the crowd, along with Connie Rankin CEO (10ksb grad). The room was full of amazing women including others at our table Yu Sun and Nee Opiela, mod faculty for Houston 10ksb.
It was a day of inspiration, with great leaders and women who make a difference by what they do and give back to their community. It was an honor to be there with Kim and grads at our table from 10ksb, our HCC Business Plan Competition and more.. Event leader, Olivia Martin, owner, KTX Window Cleaning, is a proud HCC Alumna of our Small Business Success Series, HCC Business Plan Competition and HCC Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses. Way to take the HCC pathway and shine Olivia by staying engaged in our community with events like this, while also growing your business!
Houston Community College and our HCC Office of Entrepreneurial Initiatives led by Dr. Maya Durnovo, and all of our entrepreneurial programs combined provide a pathway for entrepreneurs from launch to exit strategy. Thank you Katy Area Chamber of Commerce for being a great community partner and thanks to all the great people who help keep Katy going and growing! It was an honor to be there with such amazing women!
Photo Web Album - https://photos.app.goo.gl/M98hHtnLAEfgzd6r8
| |
HCC Recognized at SCORE Appreciation Luncheon | |
|
SCORE Houston held a SCORE Appreciation Luncheon on October 4 to thank community partners for outstanding community partnership and collaboration in our efforts to empower Houston entrepreneurs.
HCC & SCORE have been partners for 14 years through workshops, seminars, mentoring, competitions, summits and more. Time has flown by as we’ve grown our programs and outreach and the Houston entrepreneurial ecosystem has blossomed exponentially.
SCORE Houston’s Chair, Jada Harris and Vice Chair, Ruchi Gupta led the luncheon.
| |
It was a great gathering of partners who cross-collaborate to make a synergistic impact. Many of our sponsors and partners were there! The room had joy and celebration in the air because it was full of partners and friends making a difference together!
It was great seeing recognitions awarded to Frost Bank, Stellar Bank, LiftFund, Wallis Bank, SBA Houston District, The Mayor’s Office of Business Opportunity, UofH SURE, The Ion, Junior Achievement, Veritex Bank and so many others….
Sandra Louvier and Ravi Brahmbhatt represented HCC. We thank SCORE right back for years of training and mentoring supporting our efforts! Welcome to the forefront Jada Harris and Ruchi Gupta! We look forward to another great year working with you and all of those we hold so dear at SCORE Houston!
Photo Web Album: https://photos.app.goo.gl/uHtpQTCG5jUR1T7C6
| |
|
About the Glenda & David Regenbaum Center for Entrepreneurship
HCC Northwest
OUR MISSION: To help entrepreneurs start and grow their businesses.
We do this by offering workshops, seminars, summits, classes and competitive training and advising, while also providing practical knowledge, resources and connections. We are also known for three Signature Programs: the Annual HCC Business Plan Competition, now in its 15th year; the Small Business Success Series by by HCC©; and the HCC Mattress Mack School of Selling©. More About Us
Contact us at c4e@hccs.edu or 713-718-6650
| |
|
Houston Community College Wins 2022 Global Consortium of Entrepreneurship Centers Award for Excellence in Specialty Entrepreneurship Education
Houston-based academic group called out top universities and programs from around the world — including one in Houston and another in Texas — that are excelling in educating future entrepreneurs at the Global Consortium of Entrepreneurship Centers Conference in October.
The GCEC is a consortium of more than 250 university entrepreneurship programs that is headquartered at Rice University’s Jones Graduate School of Business, which has been named a top entrepreneurship program itself time and time again. Houston Community College's Office of Entrepreneurial Initiatives (led by Dr. Maya Durnovo) won in the Excellence in Specialty Entrepreneurship Education category for programming that serves women and minority owned businesses. GCEC Award-Innovation Map Article
| |
|
Houston Community College Wins 2022 Bellwether Award for Entrepreneurial Initiatives
Houston Community College has won the 2022 Bellwether Award for its outstanding and innovative workforce development program: HCC’s Entrepreneurial Initiatives. The Bellwether Awards are widely regarded as one of the nation’s most competitive and prestigious recognitions for community colleges. Dr. Maya Durnovo, HCC’s chief entrepreneurial initiatives officer leads HCC’s mission of helping entrepreneurs start and grow businesses to bolster the local economy, create jobs and build Houston’s ecosystem by starting and growing small businesses, including minority-, veteran- and women-owned businesses. Dr. Durnovo said. “I am so fortunate to have a highly motivated and passionate team that strives for excellence in everything they do.”
| |
|
Houston Community College Receives 2021 Diversity In Business Award from the Houston Business Journal!
Congratulations to all students, faculty, staff, entrepreneurs (aspiring & existing); and to all our community participants, supporters, volunteers, partners and sponsors who collaborate with us to make awards like this possible! Congratulations also to all of the other honorees and awardees!
#WeAreHCC # HoustonStrong #HBJDiversity
| |
|
Houston Community College
2020 Entrepreneurial College of the Year
The Houston Community College System was selected as the winner of the 2020 Entrepreneurial College of the Year award by the National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship (NACCE) at NACCE's annual conference, where entrepreneurial colleges from across the U.S. gather to share best practices. On behalf of all of our entrepreneurial programs and staff, we thank all of the entrepreneurs, partners, sponsors, volunteers, students, and HCC faculty and staff who have contributed to our efforts! Without your support and dedication to our programs, this wouldn't have been possible!
| | | | |
