Entrepreneurship: Is it for you? Resources and Tools to get you Started
Wednesday, March 1, 2006
6:00-8:30
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If you've been considering starting your own business, be sure to attend the Greater Houston WITI's March meeting. Join Aruna Viswanathan, Vice President and Director of Operations, of the Houston Technology Center, as she moderates our three-member panel discussion. Each member of the panel will provide resources, tools, and words of wisdom to help you make the leap into entrepreneurship.
The panelists will offer a wide range of unique perspectives on starting your own business. Kathy Raia, SBA Loan Coordinator for Frost National Bank, will guide you through the SBA lending process to acquire the funds you need. Attorney Amy Moss of Haynes and Boone can help you delve into the best legal structure for your business. Entrepreneur Paula Manning, the CEO of Triad Resources will share things to consider, what to expect, and what it will take for your business to succeed!
The meeting will include roundtable discussions and an opportunity to network with some of the most accomplished women in Houston.
Featured Speaker(s)
Paula Manning, Triad Resources
Paula Manning is a founder of Triad Resources and has been the company's CEO since its inception in 1999. Under Ms. Manning’s leadership Triad has grown from just two people in a 700 square foot apartment to a premier technical talent company with more than 100 employees, blue chip clients and 50% growth, year over year.
Amy Moss, Haynes & Boone, LLP
Ms. Moss concentrates her practice in the areas of corporate and securities law, mergers and acquisitions, venture capital financing and intellectual property transactions.
She received her J.D. from Vanderbilt University School of Law and B.F.A. in Theatre Performance from Arizona State University.
Kathy Raia, Frost National Bank
Kathy Raia has worked with SBA loans since 1972. For the first twenty-five years she consulted with many of the area banks and packaged their borrowers’ loan applications.
She is active in HAGGL (Houston Area Government Guaranteed Lenders) and is on the Advisory Board for SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives).
Aruna Viswanathan
Aruna Viswanathan is Vice-President and Director of Operations for Houston Technology Center. Since joining HTC in 2001, she has worked with more than 40 businesses, primarily in the hardware and software sectors. She currently manages the acceleration team at HTC, which provides guidance to HTC's 60+ client companies to help develop business plans, raise capital, implement strategic marketing and build management teams.
Aruna was a 2003 recipient of the AWC (Association of Women in Computing) Women in Technology Award. Aruna holds BS and MS degrees in Electrical Engineering from The University of Texas at Austin, and an MBA in Strategy and Entrepreneurship from Rice University.
Schedule of Events
Registration and Networking (Dinner) 6:00 - 6:30p.m.
Introductions and Announcements 6:30 - 6:50 p.m.
Program: “Entrepreneurship. Is it for You?”
Moderator Introductions 6:50 - 7:00 p.m.
Panel Discussion 7:00 - 7:32 p.m.
Moderator Wrap UP Question and Open Q&A 7:32 - 7:45 p.m
Round Table Discussion of Key Questions 7:45 - 8:00 p.m.
Networking 8:00 - 8:30 p.m.
