Dallas, Texas
November 30, 2011
On November 30, 2011, the Travelers InstituteSM held its fifth in a national series of small business symposia, “Small Business – Big Opportunity.” Co-hosted with and held at the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, the event convened regional small businesses, bankers and governmental officials to discuss the business environment in Texas (which is ranked third in the nation for business-friendliness by the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council) and to better understand the most pressing issues for small businesses. Panelists identified barriers to access to capital, while offering tips for obtaining small business loans, risk management techniques and business continuity planning advice. Click for a full summary.
Opening Remarks:
Elizabeth Sobel Blum, Community Development Research Associate, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas
D'Ann Petersen, Business Economist, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas
Panelists:
Moderator: Joan Woodward, President, Travelers Institute; Executive Vice President, Public Policy; The Travelers Companies, Inc.
Herbert Austin, District Director for Dallas–Fort Worth, U.S. Small Business Administration
Raymond Cervantes, Acting Regional Director, U.S. Department of Commerce/Minority Business Development Agency
Victor Elmore, CEO and President, Texas Mezzanine Fund Inc.
Ana Hernandez, Vice President, Commercial Banking, BB&T and President, Hispanic Bankers Association, Dallas –Fort Worth Chapter
Closing Remarks:
Alfreda B. Norman, Vice President and Community Development Officer, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas
See highlights from this event:
November 30, 2011: Small Business - Big Opportunity Symposium (Dallas, TX)