HCC/Goldman Sachs participants take home five of eight SBA Awards
Jun 10, 2014
The Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Program at Houston Community College is proud to announce that five of the eight winners of the 2014 U.S. Small Business Administration Persons of the Year in the Houston District are graduates of the HCC program.
Goldman Sachs partners with Houston Community College to provide free access for 10,000 small business owners as they learn to create jobs and economic growth. Through a carefully crafted curriculum, entrepreneurs attend 12 sessions and spend an additional 6-8 hours of work per week spent on completing assignments, attending networking events and business support clinics. Curriculum focuses on identifying and evaluating business opportunities, understanding the business environment, analyzing financial statements, accessing financial capital, and leaving a growing business. At the end of the program, each participant will develop a customized growth plan for their business.
Dr. Nawab Baloch, M.D., president and CEO of Clinical Trial Network, a clinical research company was named the 2014 Small Business Person of the Year. His success in innovative thinking and determination were cited among the reasons he was selected as the winner.
In 2004, Dr. Baloch began Clinical Trial Network (CTN) with three employees focused on providing quality medical attention to the Houston area, while gathering data to generate industry-leading clinical research to pharmaceutical, bio-technology sponsors, and leading Contract Research Organizations.
In addition to his business expertise, Dr. Baloch is passionate about giving back to the community. He partners to provide health fairs, offers free blood testing and provides diagnostic testing such as electrocardiograms to the underserved and under privileged communities. He is dedicated to facilitating his research one patient at a time with professionalism, safety and compliance.
Patricia Vice, owner of Texas Security Shredding received recognition as the 2014 Women in Business Champion of the Year.
Texas Security Shredding began operations in 2009 and Pat Vice acknowledges the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Businesses Program in the development of her growth plan and the connections with other small businesses. The business has WBED and HUB designations that provide Vice a network to build relationships with other women owners.
Under her leadership, Texas Security Shredding schedules 25 Saturday Shred Days to raise money for non-profit organizations including the Salvation Army, local ministries, and the American Business Women’s Association. Working with another small business, a “Shred for the Cure” event was developed which provides $5 to the Susan G. Komen Foundation Houston Affiliate for each pink bin of shredding processed.
Abe Gonzales, RPC Global, Inc. was named the 2014 Minority Small Business Champion of the Year. Whether providing used computer products back to the community or donating computers to those in need, Abe Gonzales and PRC Global, Inc. partner with local organizations to host electronics collections that enhance the lives of others.
Gonzales is also an ambassador for the Goldman Sachs initiative, sharing with other small business owners his experience and knowledge. Currently he is serving as a mentor to the Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!), helping high school students start their businesses.
Robert B. “Bruce” McMordie received the 2014 Entrepreneurial Success Award. Together with his wife Kathleen, he owns the Texas Swim Academy in Katy that began as a home based swim instruction business. In a new facility since 2012, their operation is the only dedicated facility in Texas that offers infant aquatic survival training.
Eager to learn, McMordie began attending a variety of workshops sponsored by the Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE), the Small Business Development Center at the University of Houston and the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Program at HCC. His success has come as a result of perseverance and hard work.
Following the death of the company founder who was also her father, Carrie Reese and her husband Matt purchased Advanced Piping Products in 2012 and within 24 months, have stabilized the company and increased revenues by 20%. For these achievements and many more, Reese has received the 2014 Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award.
The company was founded with the sole purpose of preventing pipe corrosion. They began making composite wear pads and pipe shoes that are superior to metal alternatives. A December 2013 graduate of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program at Houston Community College, Reese was the youngest business leader in her class.
“The Small Business curriculum is a very structured program that allows small business owners to develop the skills they need to grow their companies,” said Maya Durnovo, chief entrepreneurial initiatives officer at Houston Community College. “Business owners selected to participate receive one-on-one business advising from dedicated professionals to help them develop a tailored plan for business growth.”
For more information on the next session of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Program, visit www.hccs.edu/10ksb or call the HCC Office of Entrepreneurial Initiatives at 713.718.8348. Applications are accepted via rolling submissions, with priority being on a first come, first served basis. The office is currently accepting applications for Spring 2015.