East Austin Economic Summit 2005
Presented by PeopleFund and Underwritten by Washington Mutual
PeopleFund held the 3rd annual 2005 East Austin Economic Summit on October 1, 2005. The event was a great success and brought together local entrepreneurs, community members and other Austinites interested in the economic changes occurring in East Austin. The primary goal of the event was to provide small business owners with the relevant information necessary to navigate though the changes, obstacles and opportunities on the horizon.
This year the Summit was kicked off by opening keynote speaker, Rosie Mendoza, C.P.A., owner of R. Mendoza Company P.C. Rosie shared her thoughts on the challenges of running a small business and challenged the attendees of the event to consider how they can end the day with ideas on how to improve theirs.
Our returning economists, Jon Hockenyos, Managing Partner of Texas Perspectives and Robert Wilson, Mike Hogg Professor of Urban Policy in the LBJ School of Public Affairs, presented their views on how the economy has changed and what to expect. David Shepherd, MBA, Author and renowned national speaker followed the economists by discussing his “8 Steps for getting all you want out” of your business and your life.
KEYE-TV’s Ron Oliveira was the days emcee. As a business owner himself, Ron was able to personally relate to the information and attendees. The highlight of the day was the keynote address from Mr. Hiawatha Williams, founder and Owner of the Williams Fried Chicken Franchise headquartered in Dallas, TX. Mr. Williams touched the hearts of many of the entrepreneurs in attendance when discussing the challenges of his entrepreneurial journey and how he turned those challenges into opportunities.
