Austin Urban Market Focus of November 9 Economic Perspectives

Don and Sharon Ellerby, owners of Austin Urban Market, are the November 9 guests on Economic Perspectives on KAZI 88.7 FM, 5:30-6 p.m. Austin Urban Market was started in 2009 to encourage cooperative economics by providing Austin area artists and other entrepreneurs a showcase to market their products and services to the local community.  Austin Urban Market will be showcasing local entrepreneurs on November 14, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the Villager Newspaper, 1223 Rosewood Ave. as part of the 2009 E.A.S.T. Austin Studio Tour.

Sharon Ellerby

Don and Sharon are also owners of African Visions which provides handmade natural & organic hair and skin care products and African and African American artwork, jewelry and accessories.

Don Ellerby is a native of Austin who has been involved with numerous community organizations and activities.  His volunteer work has included working on the City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department Black History Month Heritage Festival, Texas Legislative Black Caucus, and Texas Senate Black Caucus.

Sharon Ellerby is also a native of Austin.   She has been featured in Southern Living Magazine’s People & Places Making a Difference (March 2009) and the Villager Newspaper (March 2009) and won the Big Austin’s Citibank Foundation/Women & Co. Award in April 2009.

New Leader of U.S. Minority Business Development Agency Will Be September 14 Guest on Economic Perspectives

David Hinson

David Hinson, National Director of the U.S. Department of Commerce Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA), will be the September 14 guest on Economic Perpectives on KAZI 88.7 FM in Austin, Texas.  Hinson, who was appointed to the position by the Obama Administration on July 15, 2009, will be a keynote speaker at the PeopleFund Conference on Economic Opportunity on October 24 in Austin.

MBDA’s Mission is to foster the growth and global competitiveness of U.S. businesses that are minority-owned.  MBDA, through its network of 48 minority business centers throughout the country, provides one-on-one workshops and business consulting services for minority businesses to help educate them about federal opportunities, including those related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.  It’s strategic goals are to:

1. Increase the number of businesses that are minority-owned at the $1billion level
2. Establish MBDA as the agency of choice for businesses that are minority-owned, policymakers, and the private sector
3. Implement operational efficiencies throughout MBDA

Before his appointment to lead MBDA, Hinson was President and CEO of Wealth Management Network, Inc., a multi-million dollar independent, financial advisory boutique for 7 years. Prior to launching Wealth Management Network, David managed a 10-state sales region as Director of Advisory Services for Envestnet Asset Management, a $70 billion financial advisory firm.

Hinson received an MBA in Finance from The University of Pennsylvania Wharton School, and a bachelor’s degree in Insurance and Finance with honors from Howard University in Washington, D.C. In addition, he completed a fellowship in International Finance with honors from the Stockholm School of Economics and completed graduate-level studies in French with honors at the University of Abidjan, in the Ivory Coast West Africa.

Starting and Growing a Business in Today’s Economic Environment

How do you grow the sales of your business when consumers are reluctant to open their wallets and corporations, small businesses, and government agencies are often cutting their expenditures?  Learn some of the keys of business success today at the seminar “Starting and Growing a Business in Today’s Economic Environment” on Saturday, August 22, 10 a.m. – 10:55 a.m., at the Monarch Event Center in the Lincoln Village Shopping Center, 6406 N. I-35, Austin, Texas.  Sponsored by KAZI and the Austin Cen-Tex chapter of the National Association of Black Accountants (NABA), the seminar will feature presentations by a full-time and part-time entrepreneur on their challenges and successes starting or growing their businesses during the recession.  It will also include an overview by a CPA on setting up an accounting and bookkeeping system.  The cost to attend the seminar, which is part of KAZI SummerFest 2009, is to donate school supplies.  The featured speakers are:

• Marlon Green, owner of MSG Accounting Services
• Tommy Griffin, owner of Speedpro Imaging North Austin
• Betty Works, CPA

Hopeton Hay, host of Economic Perspectives, will serve as moderator of the workshop.

Green, who has a full-time job while running his business on a part-time basis, says that time mangement is critical to success as an entrepreneur.

“Whether you are starting a full time or part time business it will be imperative that you know how to manage your time effectively on a day to day basis, especially when there is a family involved,” advises Green.

Griffin recently left a position at Applied Materials to launch SpeedPro Imaging North Austin.  He encourages fledgling entrepreneurs to ignore the nay-sayers.

“There will always be nay-sayers and people that don’t understand what you are doing or think that what you are doing is crazy.  Ignore them.  Not everyone is an expert that you should except advice from, but there will be plenty of people out there with free advice to discourage you,” says Griffin.

Works, who has a doctorate in business administration in addition to being a certified public accountant (CPA), advises entrepreneurs to set up a separate bank account for the business to handle income and expenses.  She also says its important to treat employees as partners.

“Employees are valuable assets,” says Works.  For more information and to rsvp to attend the seminar contact Hopeton Hay at hopeton@econpers.com.

About the Speakers

Marlon Green

Marlon Green is an Accountant for a consulting company in downtown Austin, Texas. He is a graduate of Houston Baptist University where he doubled major in Business Administration and Accounting.

Mr. Green has spent the majority of his accounting career in the Oil & Gas industry in Houston, Texas where he was employed by Lyondell Petrochemical Company and Shell Lubricants. In 2009 Marlon Green also started a part time tax preparation business which is called MSG Accounting Services. In addition to the experience that he has obtained in the Accounting field, Mr. Green has been a member of the National Association of Black Accountants where he is currently working with the Community Affairs Committee and the Chair of the Technical Sessions Committee for the 2009 Southwest Western Region Student Conference. Mr. Green has also worked as a liaison for the students at Texas State University.  is the new proud owner of Speedpro Imaging North Austin, a small business enterprise that specializes in wide-format printing. 

Tommy Griffin is the new proud owner of Speedpro Imaging North Austin, a small business enterprise that specializes in wide-format printing. 

Tommy Griffin

Prior to going into business for himself, Tommy spent nearly 12 years at Applied Materials in both Santa Clara, California and Austin, Texas.  At Applied Materials, Tommy held various roles in Finance including Internal Auditor and Financial Analyst and was promoted multiple times.  His final role was Gross Margin Finance Manager, responsible for reporting gross margin components for the Silicon Business Segment, and Global Process Owner for Installation and Warranty Reserve Accounting.  Prior to joining Applied Materials, Tommy spent three years at public accounting firm Deloitte & Touche LLP in San Jose, California and worked with clients such as Network Equipment Technologies, Granite Rock Construction and The County of Santa Clara.  A native Californian, Tommy was awarded a track scholarship while attending California Polytechnic State University at San Luis Obispo and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration, concentration in Accounting.  Tommy is a Certified Public Accountant and married with three school aged children.

Hopeton Hay

Hopeton Hay is the host of Economic Perspectives, a weekly business talk show on KAZI 88.7 FM in Austin, Texas and is founder and editor of the Economic Perspectives Blog. 

He has over 20 years experiences assisting small, minority, and women-owned businesses with access to capital, contracts, and surety bonds.  Currently he manages a technical assistance and training program for minority and women-owned businesses for a major university system.  His past experience includes serving as Project Director of the Dallas/Fort Worth Minority Business Development Center and Director of Texas Center Operations of the NAACP Community Development Resource Center.  He is a board member of the Austin Cen-Tex chapter of NABA, the Surety Association of South Texas, and the Texas NAACP.

Dr. Betty Works is an Audit Manager for U.S. Army Audit Agency, Acquisition and Logistics Directorate.  She was also the Field Office Manager. In this capacity, she is responsible for providing leadership and management for the audit technical staff and the field office administrative staff.  She works with Agency headquarters to ensure continuity of field office operations.  Dr. Works also coordinates with the Deputy Auditor General for Acquisition and Logistics and the Program Director for Installation Operations to facilitate audit coverage and technical oversight for audits of Army programs–with budgets in excess of $30 million–required to effectively operate installations. 

Dr. Betty Works

Dr. Works began her career with Army Audit Agency in 1987. Her first assignment was with the former Southwest Region located in San Antonio, Texas. Before assuming her current position, she was assigned to the former European Region (Kaiserslautern Field Office) and the New Jersey Field Office.

Dr. Works educational accolades include a Doctorate in Business Administration, a Master’s Degree in Business Administration, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration. She is a Certified Public Accountant licensed in Texas and a Certified Government Financial Manager. She is a member of the National Association of Black Accountants where she holds the position of treasurer. She is also a member of the Texas Society of CPAs.

 Dr. Works is single and resides in Harker Heights, Texas. She has three grown children and a 3 year old grandson.

Entrepreneurial Artist Focus of August 10 Economic Perspectives

The Bydee Art Gallery has been a fixture in the Austin art scene almost continuously since 1990-with a one year detour from 2005-2006 when the owner moved to Philadelphia.  Spawned from the unique vision of Trinidadian artist Brian Joseph, Joseph has successfully fused the spirit of the artist with the cold hard reality of business.  Brian Joseph will discuss his experience as an entrepreneur and artist on the August 10th edition of Economic Perspectives on KAZI 88.7FM.

Brian Joseph and his art

Joseph started painting in 1986 with no formal training.  His style of painting promotes education and diversity through the fictitious colorful Bydee People which reminds one of  life in the Carribean.  Joseph is  a poet, motivational speaker, and is also the author of four books: Color Me Bydee, Happy Calypso Clowns, People Come In All Colors and Words of Bydee.  He has provided commissioned art for a number of significant institutions including  Auburn University, City of Austin, National Education Agency, Texas A & M University, and the University of Texas at Austin.

Joseph has a bachelors degree in sociology and anthropology from Tougaloo University and a masters degree in urban studies from Trinity University.  Currently he is writing his fifth book titled From Brian Joseph to the Bydee Man.

New Leader of U.S. Minority Business Development Agency

U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke announced the appointment of David Hinson, a St. Louis native with more than 20 years of business experience, as the new administrator of the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA). This agency is the only federal agency created specifically to foster the establishment and growth of minority-owned businesses in the United States.

David Hinson

“The success of minority-owned businesses is essential to our economic recovery, and I’m counting on David to maximize their opportunities,” Locke said.

MBDA, through its network of 48 minority business centers throughout the country, provides one-on-one workshops and business consulting services for minority businesses to help educate them about federal opportunities, including those related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

“I’m honored to accept this position and am committed to carrying out Secretary Locke’s priority of working with minority entrepreneurs who wish to grow their businesses and increase their capacity,” Hinson said. “This work better positions these companies to create jobs, improve local economies and expand operations into national and global markets.”

In 2008, MBDA negotiated more than $2 billion in contracts and capital for minority businesses. Over the past 40 years, MBDA has served more than 625,000 minority businesses and assisted in securing more than $25 billion in loans and bonding.

Since MBDA’s creation in 1969, minority businesses have grown from 300,000 to nearly 4 million. Recent Census data indicates minority firms generate more than $661 billion in annual revenues and employ more than 4 million workers.

David Hinson Profile

Since 2002, David was President and CEO of Wealth Management Network, Inc., a multi-million dollar independent, financial advisory boutique. Prior to launching Wealth Management Network, David managed a 10-state sales region as Director of Advisory Services for Envestnet Asset Management, a $70 billion financial advisory firm. In his capacity, David advised high-end advisors in asset allocation, portfolio construction, technology, and product implementation. He also served as Managing Director of Business Development for the company. In addition, David has held a variety of senior-level and mid-management positions at Bank of America, Morgan Stanley & Company, First Chicago Bank (now JP Morgan Chase) and the Village Foundation.

David received an MBA in finance from The University of Pennsylvania Wharton School, and a bachelor’s degree in insurance and finance with honors from Howard University in Washington, D.C. In addition, he completed a fellowship in international finance with honors from the Stockholm School of Economics and completed graduate-level studies in French with honors at the University of Abidjan, in the Ivory Coast West Africa.

David is a member of a number of civic organizations including a member of the Board of Directors, Treasurer and Chair of the Audit Committee of the Council of Urban Professionals (CUP) in New York. In addition, David has provided on-air financial commentary for CNN, Fox News Channel, CBS News and The BE Report in addition to writing a financial column for The Network Journal and writing personal wealth analyses for Black Enterprise Magazine and Essence Magazine.

David is a native of St. Louis, Mo., and currently resides in Philadelphia, Pa.