Bauer College Hosts U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) For Social Entrepreneurship Event

Photo: Business Power Expo Panel

Photo courtesy of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Office of the Advocate for Small Business Capital Formation.

Published on September 2, 2022

The C. T. Bauer College of Business recently hosted leaders from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for a social entrepreneurship event on the University of Houston campus.

Photo: Bauer Staff

Photo courtesy of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Office of the Advocate for Small Business Capital Formation.

“Business Power Expo” brought together around 300 early-stage entrepreneurs in the area to learn from Bauer College faculty and alumni as well as alumni from the college’s Dakri Center for Economic Inclusion SURE℠ Program and experts from the SEC’s Office of the Advocate for Small Business Capital Formation and the Fort Worth Regional Office. The event focused on entrepreneurship, capital raising, and leveraging diversity, equity and inclusion.

“As the nation’s leading entrepreneurship program, Bauer College is a natural partner for organizations like the SEC to support and train aspiring business owners,” Dean Paul A. Pavlou said. “We are proud to have hosted the Business Power Expo to deliver leading-edge entrepreneurial insight to attendees.”

The first part of the event gave attendees the opportunity to participate in a workshop focused on the SURE℠ Program, which has coached over 600 Houston-area businesses to start strong and grow profitable. The workshop included discussion from four alumni of the program:

  • Christine Aboud, St. Michael’s Learning Academy
  • Olivera Jankovska, Atlas Ink
  • Deidre Mathis, Wanderstay Houston
  • Kiley Summers, SpenDebt

The afternoon portion of the event included three sessions where entrepreneurs and experts shared their stories:

Starting and Growing a Healthy Business: Exploring Funding Pathways
Moderator: Julie Davis, SEC Office of the Advocate for Small Business Capital Formation

  • Misti Buard (SURE℠ participant), Brand Appetit
  • Mason Lucich (MS ‘20), Insu Health Design
  • Shannette Prince (SURE℠ participant), Africa on My Back
  • Alejandro Sanoja (MBA ‘17), Latinpresarios
Photo: David L. Peavler

David L. Peavler
Photo courtesy of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Office of the Advocate for Small Business Capital Formation.

The GRIND Pays Off: From the Garage to Shark Tank and Beyond
Moderator: David Peavler, SEC Fort Worth Regional Office

Leveraging Houston Diversity: How Our Tech Ecosystem is Advancing Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
Moderator: Kelly McCormick, Bauer College Professor of Practice and RED Labs program director

  • Cherise Luter, DivInc
  • Grace Rodriguez, Impact Hub Houston
  • Denise Hamilton (SURE℠ participant), WatchHerWork

“The SEC is a strong advocate for entrepreneurs, small business owners and their investors,” said David L. Peavler, Director of the SEC’s Fort Worth Regional Office. “We are pleased to have partnered with Bauer College to bring real-world insights and experiences from successful entrepreneurs to those who are working to start and grow their own businesses.”