Prudential Financial Services Manager Ronald Swanson gave tips to Houston-area small business owners on Wednesday about how to evaluate risks and take steps to ensure that their businesses and families are protected in the event of death or disability.
“The worst thing you can do is to have no plan at all,” Swanson said, speaking at HISD’s monthly Workshop Wednesday forum. “You can transfer or mitigate risks though buy-sell agreements and life insurance.”
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HISD’s Chief Operating Officer Brian Busby joined procurement staff on Friday to hold an outreach event for small businesses interested in doing minor maintenance and repair work for the district.
Busby welcomed the group of about 100 and discussed his focus on expanding opportunities for small and minority- and women-owned businesses.
This month’s Workshop Wednesday featured members of HISD’s Business Assistance Supplier Diversity team discussing requirements and tips for completing Minority- and Women-Owned Business Enterprises (M/WBE) documentation, which all vendors doing business with the district are required to submit.
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The Houston Independent School District Office of Business Assistance has been named the City of Houston’s Community Partner of the Year for its role in overseeing the Interagency Mentor-Protégé Program.
This month’s Workshop Wed
nesday featured business coach Ted Hair, owner of ActionCoach, speaking on the topic How to Compete on Value and Not Price. The interactive session included a discussion about strategies any business can use to increase sales and profits.
This month’s Workshop Wednesday featured a presentation from Melissa Rascon, managing partner and founder of The Rascon CPA Firm, who discussed business strategies to grow a small business as well as tax updates and tips.
“When you start your business, it’s so important to have a passion for what you do and be very deliberate in your plans,” Rascon said. “A positive attitude and state of mind are essential.”
Rascon also discussed the pros and cons of various corporate structures, the importance of focusing on sales every day, and which numbers a business owner should keep an eye on.
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Recent graduates of the Interagency Mentor-Protégé Program (IMPP) had the opportunity to meet and speak one-on-one with HISD Procurement professionals today during a networking event hosted by HISD’s Business Assistance Supplier Diversity department.
This month’s Workshop Wednesday featured a presentation by Michelle Levi, president & CEO of Elite Tax and Notary Service, titled Overcoming Small Business Obstacles. Participants learned techniques to increase operational efficiency and boost productivity in a small business environment.
“If you own a small business or are planning to start one, it’s important to know your industry and pitfalls to avoid,” Levi said. “Planning is essential for long-term success.”
Levi stressed the importance of sound administrative practices to about 40 attendees and explained that maintaining a successful small business comes through having a strong structure that is purposefully organized.
Participants in this month’s Workshop Wednesday, entitled Talk Like a Leader, learned that strong leadership and effective communication go hand-in-hand, and received tips on incorporating constructive phrases, positive body language, and effective vocal quality into daily interactions.
Presented by Corinne Chalmers, owner and leadership coach at Deliberate Changes, the workshop also gave insight into fundamental strategies for what works and what doesn’t when influencing others.
“Leadership is all about influencing a group toward a common goal,” Chalmers said. “There is very little distinction between strong leadership skills and strong communication skills.”
The group of about 50 attendees learned to drop key phrases that harm credibility and adopt new ones that create positive influence and encourage mutual respect in a conversation. Continue reading
A group of 25 local business owners received tips and strategies for preventing cyber-attacks and security breaches on Wednesday during a monthly workshop hosted by HISD’s Business Assistance Supplier Diversity department.
Cybersecurity expert Peter Thomas gave a presentation on building cyber resilience and being proactive in a reactive cyber world. Thomas currently serves as chief technology officer of Blue Lance, a global provider of cybersecurity products and services that help companies assess and remediate the security of their information systems.
“The human factor is the biggest cyber risk and vulnerability for any organization,” said Thomas. “No machine can beat a well-trained employee.”