Awards program includes small business tips

April 26, 2015

Q: Where can I go to network with other small-business owners and lenders, and pick up some pointers?

A: I suggest attending the 2015 Small Business Awards Luncheon/Workshops/Expo hosted by SCORE Houston. This year's event will be on May 7 at the JW Marriott Houston, 5150 Westheimer, in the Galleria area.

The U.S. Small Business Administration will present seven of Houston's best small-business entrepreneurs with prestigious awards including the Small Business Person of the Year. The keynote speaker will be Sallie Sargent, president and CEO of the Houston Super Bowl Host Committee.

Before the luncheon, SCORE will conduct two small-business workshops.

"Creating an Intentional Culture": Liz Lara-Carreño, outreach program director for the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business Program at Houston Community College, will discuss how to gain and retain a competitive edge by aligning the environment, communications and emotional drivers to a company's strategic vision and brand.

"Email vs. Social Media: Which One is Right for Small Business?" Business coach Toni Harris will discuss how the various social media platforms fit in your business; which platform has the best return on investment; and how to determine which tools are effective at growing your business.

At the event you also can visit exhibits and network with sponsors, representatives of banks and other lending institutions, small-business entrepreneurs, SCORE mentors and other SCORE Alliance Partners. To learn more and register for the luncheon and workshops, visit www.scorehouston.org.

Marvett Sawyer Howard will receive the 2015 Financial Services Champion of the Year Award for her work fostering the development of the Houston small business community. Howard is the assistant vice president for community development banking at Capital One Bank.

Among the many programs that she directs or helps coordinate is Capital One's "Getting Down to Business" Program. This is an innovative technical assistance training program designed specifically for small businesses with annual revenue of less than$1 million.

The program is free and features a multicourse in-depth curriculum, offered over eight months. Capital One will match funds that participants deposit in a savings account up to $2,000, which the business owners can use for operations, staffing or the purchase of supplies upon completion of the program. Deadline: May 5. Apply Online Now.