Houston African Business Expo
AFRICA: Open for Business
Register to Attend | Become a Vendor | Become a Sponsor
Event Information
Date: Saturday, August 22, 2009Time: 11:00 am - 6:00 pm
Location: International Trade Center
Shirley Brooks, Regional Director of the Houston Region of ACCION, uses her 20 years plus combined management and executive sales experience to provide tips and information needed to secure a business loan in today's tight financial markets.
For more information on Accion Texas, please visit www.acciontexas.org.
Grace Rodriguez is President of AYN Brand, a Marketing Strategies and Promotional Products company based in Houston, Texas. She's an award-winning Producer of the television show "Destination Houston," former Community Liaison to Houston City Council Member/Mayor Pro-Tem Gordon Quan, Editor of Rice Addict Magazine, and host of "HaloHaloTV."
Grace is an accomplished speaker, writer, media professional, and community advocate, specializing in using new technologies and grassroots strategies to brand and build capacity for non-profit organizations and businesses, from Fortune 500 companies to mom-and-pop shops. Grace has served on a number of Boards, including Spacetaker, Organization of Chinese Americans (OCA), Youth Leadership Council, Philippine American Chamber of Commerce of Texas, and Filipino American Council of South Texas; and continues to support organizations, programs, and events that benefit the arts, youth, and minority communities. She has lived and worked in New York, Houston, Chicago, and Austin, and has presented at conferences and events across the country.
John Whaley believes that any disciplined person with accurate information can start a self-rewarding business. The problem most of you face is finding the right information at the right time. After two decades, John still remains focused on developing best-in-class information for start-up entrepreneurs and small business owners. Through his tried and proven no-nonsense business philosophies, he has helped thousands of people just like you. Year-round, John willingly shares his unique business insight through organizations such as: the Service Corps of Retired Executives, the Multi-Cultural Alliance, area church ministries and many public/private partnerships.
After sharing time with Mr. Whaley, you may experience an entirely different perspective of what is possible. His theories on entrepreneurship for the disadvantaged transcends the current public, private, and academic (how to be your own boss) rhetoric. As a business owner and professional speaker, John delivers powerful start-up information dynamically through PowerPoint presentations. At the conclusion of the production, you will begin to understand commerce at the same level or higher than most MBA's and CEO's.
Warren Barhorst, a graduate of Texas A&M University, began his career with Nationwide Insurance on August 31, 1993 and opened his first office in Jersey Village, Texas on November 15th. Today, this office serves as the support headquarters for all of the agency's satellite locations, providing sales and customer service to all new and current policyholders.
Since the inception of the Barhorst Insurance Group, Warren, along with his 90+ associates, has continued to grow his agency and his business. Currently, BIG has 30 locations across the state of Texas and is the #1 Nationwide Insurance agency in the United States. Accolades include No. 6 on the 2007 Best Companies to Work for in Texas list, No. 3 on the 2008 mid-sized Best Companies to Work for in Texas list, Entrepreneur of the Year – 2008. Barhorst is frequently sited in trade publications, local newspapers, and through his speaking engagements to industry groups.
According to Warren, "Staying status quo makes no sense to me. If you're not dreaming of growing the business, you should look for another job." He attributes his success to hard work and perseverance. Warren and his wife, Lisa, have been married for 21 years and have 3 children, ages 19, 17, and 11 years old. Barhorst and his family reside in Jersey Village, Texas.
For more information on the Barhorst Insurance Group, please visit www.big-usa.com.