Local entrepreneurs-and those who aspire to be-heard a wide-ranging program of inspiration and advice at a city- and state-sponsored seminar Thursday in Texarkana, Texas.
An audience of almost 300 gathered at the Texas-side Convention Center for the Governor's Small Business Forum, a slate of speakers on topics, including local success stories, employment law, finance and real estate.
"We come together at meetings like this one to make sure that everybody has all the information that they need, and then we leave meetings like this one sort of focused on the future," said afternoon keynote speaker Bryan Daniel, director of the governor's office of economic development and tourism.
Daniel ended the forum touting Texas as the best state for business, calling its people and economic environment "a one-two punch" that leads to success.
"The sum total of all of this-businesses succeeding, states making investments in infrastructure, an economy that's red hot-adds up to what most people would simply characterize as a great business-operating climate, a business climate that's non-stop, a business climate that permits businesses to succeed," he said.
Citing Apple, Amazon and Netflix as examples, Daniel said the next "market disruptor" could be among the audience. And he drew a parallel with the state's approach to business development.
"The state of Texas is a market disruptor. We give businesses what they need, and that's a place to operate where they know rules, they understand the rules, and they understand that they have leadership like Gov. Abbott and others in Austin whose main goal is to make sure that they're successful.
"The governor would tell you that when any individual Texan is successful, that's how Texas becomes successful. The state doesn't rub its success off on Texans; Texans share their success with the state," he said.
Morning keynote speaker Sonja Yates Hubbard, CEO of Texarkana-based E-Z Mart Stores Inc., illustrated the advantages and disadvantages of running a family-owned business by telling the E-Z Mart story. The chain was founded by her father, Jim Yates, in 1970 and has stayed under family control, growing to make $3 billion a year in sales.
Determination, perseverance and optimism pave the road to success, Hubbard said, adding that failures along the way are inevitable but what matters is one's attitude.
"There are no failures, just experiences and your reactions to them," she said.
Between the two keynote presentations, a dozen speakers shared their experience and expertise in starting and growing small businesses.
A panel of local successes included Edward Stanley, CEO of Stanco Manufacturing; Judy Smith, co-owner of Wine-A-Rita; and Steve Mayo, executive vice president of Mayo Manufacturing.
Another panel that focused on finance and real estate included Scott Norton, CEO of TexAmericas Center; Jo Thomason, partner at Atchley, Russell, Waldrop and Hlavinka; Richard Reynolds, president of Reynolds Realty Management; and Eric Basinger, manager of economic and business development at SWEPCO.
Other speakers included representatives of Texas Workforce Commission, Northeast Texas Workforce Solutions, U.S. Patent and Trade Office and Red River Army Depot.
The forum culminated with the presentation of four Governor's Small Business Awards to local companies: Dot's Rental and Sales, JCM Industries, Mayo Manufacturing, and MTG Engineers and Surveyors.
The event was co-sponsored by the city of Texarkana, Northeast Texas Workforce Solutions, the governor's office and Texas Workforce Commission.
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