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EVENT: 2016 “Success In The US” Conference for Immigrant Entrepreneurs
DATE: June 18th, 2016
Time: 7:30am to 5:30pm
LOCATION: The Westin Galleria Houston | 5060 W. Alabama Street | 713-960-8100
Sponsored By: Nissan & Paychex
This groundbreaking event marks the very first conference expressly designed for immigrant entrepreneurs. Presented by Immigrant Business, this event was created with the intention of providing immigrant entrepreneurs with the advice, insights, strategies, resources and tools to help them launch, manage and grow successful businesses in the United States.
Keynote addresses and panel discussions will be conducted on the following topics:
Strategies For Success – Now, you can learn first hand from leading immigrant entrepreneurs on how they achieved success and wealth in the United States. Listen to their inspirational stories detailing how they came to America, overcame challenges and built successful businesses from scratch.
- Discover the strategies and tactics they used to build and grow their successful businesses.
- Learn how they met and overcame the challenges they faced in the United States.
- Listen to how they used their “Immigrant Advantage” to identify and take advantage of business opportunities that native-born Americans couldn’t see.
- Meet them first-hand, and get instructional, hands-on, real-life business advice.
How to Raise Financing – One of the biggest obstacles in starting or growing a business is finding the resources to do it, and if you’re an immigrant, it’s usually even more difficult. But there are many sources of funding available if you know where and how to look for it. Here’s what you’ll learn:
- What funding sources are available to immigrant entrepreneurs in Houston
- How to match your business plan with the right kind of funding
- Learn all about non-traditional funding sources such as micro-lending, angel networks, and crowd-funding
- The ins-and-outs of traditional funding, such as credit unions, SBA loans and bank lending.
- Concrete, real-life, step-by-step process of what you need to do to get financing
- Opportunity to meet face-to-face with funders who can actually give you a loan!
How to Sell to Large US Companies —Why do some businesses flourish when others just seem to get by? Sometimes it’s about having the right customers –large companies who place substantial orders month after month, year after year. Learn the strategies and techniques of selling to large companies and put your company on the fast lane to success.
- Find out how to identify the decision makers, identify their needs and win the meeting
- Learn how to fine tune your sales presentation and position your product or service as a solution
- Discover how your immigrant background or story can help —- or hurt you.
- Learn how to close the sale
- Hear the Whole Foods story, a real-life case history
How to Win Government Contracts – Did you know that the federal government, as well as local municipalities and your state are actually looking for small business suppliers like you to fill their needs? No matter what products or services you’re selling, government agencies need your help! Here’s what you’ll learn: Which government agency is buying what in Houston, and how much.
- What types of suppliers are government agencies looking for?
- How do they choose the winning bids, and what are their criteria
- The steps you need to take to win a government contract https://www.immigrantbiz.org/how-to-win-government-contracts/
- How to find opportunities for upcoming contracts on a weekly basis
- The documentation you’ll need, and how to get it
- The low-down on the bidding process —how to apply and make your bid
Franchising Opportunities – Want to own your own business, but find America’s rules and regulations confusing? If you’re willing to work hard and learn the franchise system, owning a franchise offers a great way for immigrants to get on the ladder of success in America. Here’s what this program will cover:
- Why franchising is a good option for immigrants
- What are today’s hot franchises and which sectors are growing
- What industries and companies welcome and support immigrant entrepreneurs
- What are the top 5 factors to be a successful franchisee?
- How to evaluate a franchise on training, support, fees, and cultural competency before you commit
How To Become a Large US Company Supplier – Supplier Diversity & Strategic Alliance – Do you want to learn how to become a supplier and understand what buyers are looking for from small businesses? This panel discussion will cover:
- Information on Supplier Diversity, including major companies in Houston who are looking for diverse small business suppliers
- Opportunity to meet with corporate buyers face-to-face
- Hear from other immigrant entrepreneurs who are successful US suppliers and how they did it.
2016 SUCCESS IN THE US
IMMIGRANT BUSINESS CONFERENCE AGENDA
7:30am – 8:30am – Registration & Continental Breakfast
8:30am – 8:45am – Welcome Remarks, Foulis Peacock, CEO/Founder, Immigrant Business
8:45am – 9:45am – Opening Keynote & Conversation
- Terence O’Neill, Office of International Communities & Refugee Affairs
- Anurag Jain, CEO & Founder – Prepay Nation
9:45am – 10:00am Break
10:00am – 11:15am – How to Raise Financing
- Marlon Mitchell – Houston Business Development
- Bruce Hurta – VP Business Lending Members Members Choice Credit Union Small Business Lending
- Jennifer Dale – Lift Funds
- Moderated by: David Smith, Executive Editor – Immigrant Business
11:15am – 11:30am Break
11:30am – 1:oopm Luncheon Keynote
The IMMPRENEURS – Immigrant Entrepreneur Awards* (see note below)
1:15pm – 2:15pm – How to Win Government Contracts
- Priscilla Burroughs – Port Authority of Houston
- Rhonda Arnold – Chief Municipal & Community Affairs Officer – Houston Airport System
- Bob Warren – University of Houston Procurement – Procurement Technical Assistant Center
2:15pm – 2:30pm Break
2:30pm – 3:30pm – Opportunities in Supplier Diversity
- Jewel Smith – Centerpoint Energy
- Tanya Makany-Rivera – External Affairs Manager, City of Houston Office of Business Opportunity
- Carroll Coccia – Native American Chamber of Commerce
- Moderated by: Constance Y. Jones, Director MBE Services, Houston Minority Development Council
3:30pm – 4:15pm –Franchising Opportunities
- Cynthia Mora, Franchise Specialist – FranNet
4:15pm – 4:30pm Closing Remarks
4:30pm – 5:30pm – Networking Cocktail Reception
*During the luncheon, Immigrant Business will honor a select group of Immigrant Entrepreneurs who have been nominated by their partner organizations who’s role in the community helps businesses in its respective constituency to thrive. The selected winners are:
- Bin Yu, President & CEO – Utegration, Inc.
- Domingo Medina, Owner, Principal – D G Medina Construction
- Maria Rios, President & CEO – NationWaste
- Anthony Yeremian, Vice President – Jarvis Software LLC
- Philippa Kibugu-Decuir, Breast Cancer Initiative East Africa
For more information, discounts or promotion please contact
Stephanie Holden
Conference Committee Planning Chair
sholden@immigrantbiz.org | 651-338-2374