The Texas A&M University System and Gov. Rick Perry’s Office to Sponsor Regional Economic Opportunity Forum
Free Public Event to Focus on Minority and Women-Owned Businesses

The Texas A&M University System and Gov. Rick Perry’s office will co-sponsor a free Regional Economic Opportunity Forum Thursday, Aug 3 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Texas A&M University’s Reed Arena in College Station.

The public forum, which will emphasize “Selling Texas, One Region at a Time,” is geared towards minority and women-owned businesses. The event will also feature a series of free workshops covering topics such as financing business growth and expansion, health-care options and Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) certification.

Approximately 170 Corpus Christi area businesses have been invited to the forum. Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi representatives scheduled to attend include President Flavius C. Killebrew, Judy Harral, director of the University’s Purchasing and HUB program and University HUB Coordinator Minerva Garcia.

“This will be a great opportunity for networking with city, state and federal procurement officers,” said Garcia. “It will also give us an opportunity to expand vendor diversity at A&M-Corpus Christi by meeting other minority vendors of different ethnic groups. We will also meet with other HUB Coordinators to talk about upcoming HUB opportunities.”

During the workshops attendees will learn how to become certified as a minority or woman-owned business and how to do business with government entities. Participants will have an opportunity to meet with HUB representatives and local, state, and federal procurement professionals.
 
Keynote speaker for the forum luncheon will be Gov. Rick Perry. Also delivering remarks will be Ron Lehman, commissioner representing employers for the Texas Workforce Commission, John White, chairman of the Texas A&M University System Board of Regents, and Robert McTeer, chancellor of the Texas A&M University System. The cost for the luncheon is $30 per person.

Forum registration will begin at 8 a.m. Thursday with sessions continuing until 4 p.m. A kickoff reception is scheduled for 6 p.m. Wednesday Aug. 2 at the Holiday Inn Hotel and Suites in College Station to provide additional networking opportunities.

For a full agenda, registration information, maps and more information about the forum, go to the Brazos Valley Small Business Development Center Web site at (http://www.bvsbdc.org); or email Texas A&M University HUB Director Barbara Clemmons or call (979) 458-4827; or Texas Forest Service HUB Coordinator Dolores Stephens or call (979) 458-7300.