1. June 18, 2015 Radisson Hotel and Suites Downtown
Hosted by the Greater Austin Hispanic
Chamber of Commerce

2. Governor’s Small Business Forum2
AGENDA
Celebrating the Rise and Excellence of Women-Owned Businesses in Central Texas
7:45 - 8:30 Registration, Continental Breakfast and Business Expo
8:30 - 8:45 Opening Remarks
Michelle Alcala
Executive Board Member
Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (GAHCC)
Bryan Daniel
Executive Director of Economic Development and Tourism
Office of Governor Greg Abbott
8:45 - 9:00 Small Business Today in Central Texas: Overview
Carlos Cascos
Texas Secretary of State
9:00 - 9:50 Business Solutions to Train Employees and Grow Your Business
Andres Alcantar
Chairman and Commissioner
Texas Workforce Commission
Tiffany Daniels
Manager, Communications and Community Relations
Workforce Solutions Capital Area
9:50 - 10:30 Small Business Today in Central Texas: Panel
Moderated by Jose Romano, Director of Business Development,
Office of Governor Greg Abbott
Angelos Angelou Lila Valencia, Ph.D
Principal Executive Officer Legislative Liaison
Angelou Economics Office of the State Demographer
Thomas Miranda
GAHCC Immediate Past Chair
Founder and Managing Director, Sparkovation IT, LLC
10:30 - 11:25 Procurement Roundtable: A Roadmap to Your Success
Moderated by Mark Madrid, President and CEO, GAHCC
Arthur McDonald Veronica Briseno-Lara
HUB Coordinator/Director Director of SMBR
University of Texas at Austin City of Austin
Adrianna Samaniego John R. Higgins
Diversity Markets Manager Group President
Google, Inc. MasTec
Hopeton Hay
Director
Office of HUB Development & Federal Small Business,
The University of Texas System

3. Governor’s Small Business Forum 3
11:25 - 12:00 Business Expo and Networking Break
12:00 - 12:20 Governor’s Small Business Awards Luncheon Remarks
Val Velasquez
2015 Chair
Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Mark Madrid
President and CEO
Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
12:20 - 12:50 The Million Dollar Entrepreneurial Circle
Moderated by Mark Curry, Community Bank President, Wells Fargo
Phil Pompa Rita Casanova
Managing Director Franchise Owner and Operator
International Accelerator 7-Eleven
Rosa Santis
President and CEO
Pedro SS Services, Inc.
1:00 - 1:10 Governor’s Small Business Awards Congratulatory Remarks
Cecilia Abbott
First Lady of Texas
1:10 - 1:30 Awards Presentation
Latina Entrepreneurial Excellence
Rebecca Contreras
AvantGarde, LLC
Excellence in Veteran Engagement
Charmane H. Sellers
ALEON Properties, Inc.
Cultural Arts Excellence
Elizabeth Avellán
Troublemaker Studios and EYA Productions
Excellence in Innovation
Rebecca Arreaga and Elizabeth Arreaga
Mercury Mambo
Emerging Woman-Owned Business of the Year
Isabella Rose Taylor
Isabella Rose Taylor Fashions, LLC
Community Investment Excellence
Lauren Foster
Stretch Recipes, Inc.
Supplier of the Year
Takoohy A. Harutunian
Harutunian Engineering, Inc.
1:30 Adjournment

4. Governor’s Small Business Forum4
SPECIAL GUESTS
CECILIA ABBOTT
First Lady of Texas
Cecilia Abbott has devoted her life to serving others.
She has been a teacher, vice-principal and then
principal at several schools across Texas. Most
recently she served as the principal of the Cathedral
School of Saint Mary in Austin from 1996 to 2001.
Cecilia was appointed to the State Board of Educator
Certification by Governor Rick Perry, where she served
from 2001 to 2008.
Cecilia has also devoted much of her career to health
care for seniors. From 2004 to 2013, she served as the
managing director of community relations at Harden
Healthcare, a network of senior adult health care
facilities and services.
Cecilia is a product of the American Dream. The granddaughter of immigrants
from Mexico, Cecilia was raised in San Antonio by parents who were both
educators. They instilled in Cecilia, her sister and two brothers the power of
education. Cecilia took that lesson to heart and went on to study at the University
of Texas in Austin and subsequently earned three degrees from the University of
St. Thomas in Houston: a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, a Master’s degree in
Education and a Master’s degree in Theology.
Cecilia believes strongly in giving back to the community that has given her so
much. She serves on the University of St. Thomas Board of Directors and the
Huston-Tillotson Board of Directors, as well as the advisory boards for the Holy
Trinity Seminary, and the Austin Diocesan School. She is also a member of the
Women’s Symphony League, the National Charity League, and the Dell Children’s
Women’s Trust. She is a former member of the advisory board for the National
Center for Missing and Exploited Children, Ballet Austin and the Principals’ Center
at Harvard Graduate School of Education.
A prolific animal lover, Cecilia has nurtured numerous dogs into their late teens.
She has raised a variety of pets, including a Nubian goat named Petunia and the
Abbott family dogs, Oreo and Pancake.
Cecilia is a classical music devotee, having begun playing the piano at the age
of six. Her piano training came in handy when she moved into the Castilian Dorm
at UT where she serenaded her future husband from behind the keyboard with
music, the likes of which he had never heard.
Cecilia is a proud wife and mother, and made history when her husband Greg
became Governor by becoming the first Hispanic First Lady of Texas in the history
of the state. She and Greg have been married for 33 years, and they live in Austin
with their daughter, Audrey.

5. Governor’s Small Business Forum 5
On January 21, Governor Greg Abbott nominated Carlos
Cascos to serve as Texas Secretary of State. He serves as the
110th Secretary of State. Not new to public service, Secretary
Cascos was elected as Cameron County Judge in 2006 and
was re-elected in 2010 and 2014. He previously served on the
Texas Public Safety Commission and as a Cameron County
Commissioner from 1991 through 2002.
Born in Mexico, Secretary Cascos immigrated to the United
States as a child and became a permanent resident and
citizen during adolescence. He is a graduate of the University
of Texas at Austin. Secretary Cascos is a Certified Public
Accountant. He and his wife, Aurora Candida G. Cascos, have two daughters,
Casandra and Andrea.
CARLOS CASCOS
Texas Secretary of State
ANDRES ALCANTAR
Chairman of the Texas Workforce Commission
Commissioner Representing the Public
Andres Alcantar is Chairman and Commissioner
Representing the Public of the Texas Workforce Commission
(TWC). Governor Rick Perry appointed Alcantar in 2008
and designated him Chairman May 1, 2012. Alcantar was
recently reappointed to the Commission for a term to expire
on February 1, 2019.
Chairman Alcantar works to implement customized services
to meet the needs of Texas’ vast array of industries and
advance the development of a strong and competitive
workforce. He promotes the expansion of industry based
partnerships across the state that center on best practices to
help workers and businesses achieve success. He encourages strategies that prepare
students for post-secondary success at work or in the classroom, focusing on science,
technology, engineering, and math (STEM) initiatives as a key component of future
workforce competitiveness.
Bryan Daniel joined Governor Abbott’s administration after
serving as the Senior Administrator for Trade and Business
Development at the Texas Department of Agriculture. He
previously served as Vice President for Business Development
at Agricultural Workers Mutual Auto Insurance Company and
as the Texas State Director of Rural Development for the U.S.
Department of Agriculture in President George W. Bush’s
administration. He has also held leadership positions at the
Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board, the U.S.
House Committee on Agriculture and the National Council
for Agricultural Education. He has received numerous
awards from agricultural organizations, including being
named Outstanding Young Agriculturalist by the Professional
Agricultural Workers of Texas and the Distinguished Service Award from the Forest
County Partnership. Daniel holds both a master’s degree and bachelor’s degree in
agriculture from Texas Tech, where he was also Coordinator of Student and Alumni
Programs.
Bryan Daniel
Executive Director of Economic Development and Tourism

6. Governor’s Small Business Forum6
AWARD RECIPIENTS
RebeccaContrerasiscurrentlythePresidentandCEOofAvantGardeLLC,aManagement
and IT government consulting firm she founded in 2011 with offices in the Austin
area and in the Washington, D.C. area (www.avantgarde4usa.com).
AvantGarde is an SBA certified 8a and a woman-owned small business that serves
federal government agencies across four key areas: People, Process, Strategy and
Technology. AvantGarde has an excellent performance record in federal government
agencies with a proven track record and reputation for delivering results across more
than ten federal agencies. Contreras drives the company’s growth and management
of the day-to-day operations.
Latina Entrepreneurial Excellence
Rebecca Contreras, AvantGarde, LLC
Charmane H. Sellers is an honorable Veteran of the United States Air Force and
the President and CEO of ALEON Properties, Inc. (API), which celebrated 11 years
in business this year. API provides renovation, remodel and interior finish-out
construction services. Additionally, API conducts OSHA training services to both
commercial and residential clients in both the public and private sectors. API has
provided construction services on projects at the Texas A&M San Antonio campus,
Austin Community College, Huston Tillotson University, Austin Independent School
District and the City of Austin. Furthermore, API is the only EPA Accredited Training
Provider in Austin, having trained close to 500 contractors in EPA Lead Safe Work
Practices.
Excellence in Veteran Engagement
Charmane H. Sellers, ALEON Properties, Inc.
Elizabeth Avellán is the Co-Owner and Vice President of Troublemaker Studios and
President of EYA Productions. In addition to producing family and genre films that
have collectively grossed over a billion dollars, she has played a primary role in
developing Austin as a thriving film community.
A highly respected businesswoman, Avellán is involved in many diverse business
ventures. Her large real estate portfolio includes rental properties and land holdings.
In 2012, she started Enhanced Oil Systems, a company involved in oil and gas leases.
She is also an investor in the successful Austin-based restaurant, “Swift’s Attic.”
Cultural Arts Excellence
Elizabeth Avellán, Troublemaker Studios & EYA Productions
Elizabeth is one of the agency’s founders. Whenever you run into her, she’s ruminating
on the next big idea for clients and soon-to-be clients. Her philosophy is: always think
like marketers, push hard like a sales force and enjoy life like there’s no tomorrow.
Elizabeth loves a client that really wants to build a passionate partnership to drive
brand loyalty and sales through innovative marketing. Her expertise lies in developing
and maintaining brand strategies and in creating turn-key retail programs. Elizabeth
has earned her stripes, having fought the “cola wars” for 13 years from corporate,
field and bottler marketing positions for Coca-Cola USA.
Excellence in Innovation
Elizabeth Arreaga and Rebecca Arreaga, Mercury Mambo

7. Emerging Woman-Owned Business of the Year
Isabella Rose Taylor, Isabella Rose Taylor Fashions, LLC
Isabella Rose Taylor is a fourteen-year old fashion designer and fine artist from
Austin. Isabella has been designing and creating clothes since she was nine-years
old. With a lifelong passion for art and design, Isabella launched her first clothing
collection in February 2012 on her website (www.isabellarosetaylor.com).
In September 2012, Isabella debuted her fall collection in her first runway show during
Austin Fashion Week and she was awarded “Rising Star” at Austin Fashion Week
in 2013. In 2014, she had runway shows during Austin Fashion Week, Oklahoma
Fashion Week, and New York Fashion Week. That same year, Isabella was selected
as one of 19 Emerging Designers at WWD MAGIC in Las Vegas and in August 2014,
she became the youngest designer to ever be sold in Nordstrom stores. Isabella’s
fashion collection is a natural extension of her passion for art.
Governor’s Small Business Forum 7
Supplier of the Year Award
Takoohy A. Harutunian, Harutunian Engineering, Inc.
Harutunian Engineering, Inc. (HEI) is a Texas-born, woman-owned small business.
Since its establishment in 1988 by Takoohy A. Harutunian, HEI’s engineering
contributions have run deep in the roots of Texas, providing extensive services for
our state’s infrastructure and public landmarks.
HEI’s engineering services include Electrical, Instrumentation & Controls, SCADA,
and Mechanical systems design and PLC and HMI Programming for water and
wastewater treatment plants, pumping stations, power generation and distribution
plants, and municipal and industrial facilities.
HEI’s commitment to quality stems from their commitment to community service and
Harutunian’s belief that “it is better to serve than to be served.” HEI representatives
have actively served numerous community organizations and boards, including the
Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the City of Austin’s MBE/WBE/
Small Business Enterprise Advisory Committee and the Community Advancement
Network.
Agency President, Rebecca Arreaga, along with business partners Elizabeth
Arreaga (also her sister) and Lynn Currie, formed Hispanic marketing agency,
Mercury Mambo in 1999. Headquartered in Austin, Mercury Mambo specializes
in developing targeted shopper, experiential, and digital campaigns designed
to drive sales at the point “Where Commerce & Culture Collide!” Current clients
include Fiesta San Antonio Commission, Leo Schachter & Company, People en
Español Festival, Rainforest Partnership, REI, SafePlace, Teasdale Quality Foods
and Vilore Foods.
Lauren Foster is the Founder, CEO/President of Stretch Recipes, Inc., an Austin-
based start up. A proud Austin resident and Chicago native, first-generation college
student and MBA, she is an entrepreneur with over 15 years of experience in media,
telecommunications, and real estate. Her hobbies include top golf, dancing, hiking
and traveling.
It was recognizing the cyclical budget and nutrition patterns within her own life that
led her to found Stretch Recipes, Inc. She created Stret¢h because she wanted to
create a tool that actually helps people with tight budgets maximize their dollar and
have access to more nutritional recipes. She grew up in a low income household
without the tools to learn how to budget for groceries or prepare healthy meals.
Community Investment
Lauren Foster, Stretch Recipes, Inc.

8. Governor’s Small Business Forum8
To access the PowerPoint presentations, speakers’
biographies, and the award winners’ information,
visit: http://bit.ly/GSBFATX2015
@TXGovSmallBiz
#GSBFAUSTINTX
Governor’s Small
Business Team
Governor’s Small
Business Network
@GAHCC
#GSBFAUSTINTX