As we work to help our small businesses maneuver through a rapidly changing environment, to identify and secure the resources they need to not only survive COVID 19; but to literally thrive, we have engaged representatives from the State of Texas, Economic Development & Tourism Division, Office of the Governor, the Governor’s Commission for Women and the City of Dallas, Department of Economic Development. Our guest will bring you up-to-date on the resources available at the state and local levels to support our small businesses and what you need to do now, to access them!
Meet Our Guests:
Starr Corbin of Georgetown, Texas, is a Commissioner on the Governor’s Commission for Women, which is a division of the Office of the Governor. The Commission for Women serves as a resource and champion for women throughout the State of Texas. Corbin is the founder and Managing Partner of Corbin Solutions Group, a technology operations and vendor management advisory firm. She began her career in the U.S. Army Signal Corps and is a former technology executive at iHeartMedia. An ardent advocate of servant leadership and bringing more diversity into tech, Starr also writes about the tech industry and how to expand the field for women. She is an alumna of Texas Christian University and The University of Texas at Austin.
Kelly Spillane is the Small Business Advocate for the State of Texas, based at the Office of the Governor. Kelly works with new and existing small businesses across the state of Texas supporting momentum, growth and success in small businesses and the Texan economy. She advises on local, regional, state and federal business resources available for growth-focused companies. Kelly has 15+ years entrepreneurial start-up experience in Food and Tech start-ups
Courtney D. Pogue, Director of Economic Development for the City of Dallas, Texas. As Director, Courtney oversees a department that fostered more than $300 million in private investment in 2016-17. He oversees a staff of 35 with departmental budget of $8 million. Additionally, Courtney manages the following programs for the City of Dallas: tax increment financing, new markets tax credits, Section 380, tax abatement, and small business development.
Courtney is also a licensed managing real estate broker in the State of Illinois, a Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM), Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Accredited Professional (LEED AP), and a Certified Property Manager (CPM). He is affiliated with the Urban Land Institute (ULI), International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC), Commercial Institute of Real Estate Investment (CCIM), International Economic Development Council (IEDC), the Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM), the Atlanta Commercial Board of Realtors (CAR), and Lambda Alpha International, Ely Chapter.
Courtney was awarded the designation as a Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) by the IEDC. Additionally, he holds the EDFP and HDFP designations from the National Development Council (NDC). Courtney also holds an MBA from the University of Notre Dame and a BBA in Finance from Howard University.