Governor's Small Business Summit served up guidance, networking, and more during Waxahachie visit

More than 260 people attended the Governor’s Small Business Summit on July 24 at the Waxahachie Civic Center. This was the first-ever such summit to be held in Waxahachie and was hosted by the Waxahachie Chamber of Commerce in coordination with the Texas Governor’s Office.

The five-hour event featured panel presentations and a keynote speaker, along with networking opportunities. Attendees also could visit with the local event sponsors, small business support organizations, and various state agencies, such as the Texas Workforce Commission, among the several dozen summit partner booths on hand to provide information.

“We’re so glad you chose to come to Waxahachie and take part in the Governor’s Small Business Summit,” Waxahachie Mayor Billie Wallace said in her opening remarks, with TWC Commissioner Representing Labor Alberto Treviño III adding, “We’re so proud to help and support these events. … It’s very important because the backbone of our economy here in Texas is our small businesses.

“At the Texas Workforce Commission, we understand that and try … to help you get your small business off the ground and generating for the Texas economy,” said Treviño, who recommended that attendees not only avail themselves of the resources on hand within the room but also to network with the other small business owners.

“It’s just important to connect, get together, communicate, and spread the word for your business to be a huge success,” he said.

During a videotaped message, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott reported that the more than 3.3 million small businesses located in the state “employ almost half of all Texans.”

“In fact, more than 91% of Texas’ businesses are small,” Abbott said, noting that his office’s support has included the creation of the Governor’s Small Business Freedom Council.

“The council helped us to identify ways to remove obstacles for small businesses, strengthen the state’s economy, and ensure that Texas remains America’s economic leader,” he said. “Texas is the best state to start a business and is among the nation’s leaders in small business programs.”

There’s an entrepreneurial spirit ingrained in the state, Abbott said, noting, “Men and women that are willing to take a risk and stake their future on an idea have written the story of Texas and the pioneering spirit, (and it) still fuels our shared prosperity today. Together, we are all building a stronger and more prosperous Texas for the next generation.”

Following the opening remarks, attendees heard from three panels comprised of local small business owners with expertise on the topics.

The marketing panel included moderator Deidre Hamid, executive director for Waxahachie Care Services; Casey Ballard, brand strategist for 1558 Brand Agency; Stephanie Reyna, co-owner of Chase Life Marketing; and Shelly Zaldivar, business department chair and professor at Nelson University (formerly Southwestern Assemblies of God University).

“Your story is your why, and it has to be in every inch of your business,” Reyna said. “Your storytelling is everything. … Don’t be afraid to share it.”

The panel members focused on the importance of telling one’s story and the different means through which it can be shared to gain new customers and retain those already on board.

All agreed on the value of a website, which was described as a hub that establishes legitimacy and is where people can be driven. The panelists advised that small businesses need to identify who their customers are and where they can be found. If new to social media, they advised picking one channel and learning how to do it well, including how to use it to engage with customers, before adding more.

“Be social with your social media,” Reyna said.

The artificial intelligence tools panel included moderator Michael Ball, CEO of Chick-fil-A Waxahachie; Keisha Solomon, CEO of Evobrand Concepts; and Jay Cruzan, partner with Caliber Voice and Data.

Both Solomon and Cruzan shared anecdotal stories on how they’ve helped their clientele incorporate and utilize AI tools with their businesses.

“Get a trusted advisor and start having a conversation about your company,” Cruzan said. “There’s a lot to think about.”

The different tools that are now available can help business owners analyze and improve what they do, the panelists said, noting impact areas ranging from customer service to employee training to efficient workflows.

Solomon shared how her incorporation of AI has let her own business increase its client retention by 25% as well as help her take on more clientele without having to hire additional staff.

“I definitely encourage you, if you have any fear of AI, get over it,” she said.

The strategic growth panel included moderator Daniel Short, director, Navarro College Small Business Development Center; Jordan Molina, owner of Jordan E’s Popcorn and Candy Company; Kelleyton Wilson, co-owner of the UPS Store Waxahachie; and Amber Adams, owner/operator of The Velvet Angel.

Short kicked off the discussion by outlining the services offered by the SBA center.

“[We] provide no-cost consulting services to any small business that’s eligible,” he said. “That’s anybody looking to start, anybody looking to grow, as long as they meet SBA standards, which are typically 300 employees or less, or $10 million or less in revenue.

“We do everything from marketing to finance to ‘how do I start’ to brainstorming, (and) sometimes talking you out of it,” he said. “Whatever you guys need, we’re here, no cost.”

The panelists shared their personal experiences with starting and growing a small business and spoke about the attributes they found helpful in achieving success.

“If you’re not prepared to fail, don’t run a business,” Overton said. “Anyone who tells you they have not failed probably has not run a business. Failure is inevitable, but how you respond to it is everything.”

Of three key characteristics – intelligence quotient, emotional quotient, and adversity quotient – Overton shared how the latter is the most important.

“As a business owner, you are going to experience more pitfalls than you can imagine; you’re going to have more sleepless nights than you can imagine,” he said. “I also know that going through those moments makes you appreciate the peace even more so (and) they also show you some things that you didn’t know you had inside of yourself.”

The summit wrapped with a keynote from Chet Garner, host and executive producer of The DayTripper, and president/CEO of Hogaboom Road Inc. Garner discussed the path he took to creating his own media company, with his advice to attendees also centering on storytelling.

He urged the attendees to tell “the better story” and a story that uplifts others as well as themselves.

“Y’all are running businesses that are unique, that only you can run, and you’re running them in ways that only you would have ever thought of, or that only you can do, right?” he said. “At the end of the day, you’re unique; your business is unique, so don’t try to sit there and look at other people and think ‘I wish I was there.’ … Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.”

Those who missed the Waxahachie summit have the opportunity to sign up for others being held throughout the state. The remaining 2025 dates include:

• Aug. 21: Big Lake

• Sept. 11: Eagle Pass

• Sept. 25: Carthage

• Oct. 9: Dalhart

• Oct. 23: Denton (Women-Focused)

• Nov. 13: Belton (Veteran-Focused)

For more information and to register, visit gov.texas.gov/events.

Recorded sessions from the Waxahachie summit will be available on the Texas Economic Development YouTube Channel, where previous webinars and videos may also be found.

For more information, visit the Governor’s Small Business Resource Portal to find resources in your area. Those with questions are encouraged to email the governor’s Small Business Assistance Team at smallbusiness@gov.texas.gov.

Written by Jo Ann Livingston/In The Know Ellis.