Join us for a federal update with Mr. Herbert Austin, Small Business Administration (SBA), DFW District Manager. In our rapidly changing environment, the SBA is progressively coordinating the collective efforts of all their resource partners to support our small business community toward recovery during COVID 19.
Hear what they’ve learned from their listening sessions and how they are responding.
MEET OUR SPEAKER:
Herbert Austin is currently the District Director of SBA’s Dallas/Fort Worth Office and has held this position since 2008.
Herb joined SBA in 1989 in the New Jersey District Office; he spent many years in New York and Long Island offices before moving to Dallas/Fort Worth Office as The District Director . From 1995 until 2001, Herb directed the SBA trade and trade finance programs at the U.S. Export Assistance Center in New York. In May 2002, Herb was designated the Acting District Director in the New York District Office. Herb has an extensive background in International Trade. Before joining SBA, Herbert worked in the private sector as Director of Export marketing for companies in the US and overseas. He is fluent in French and Spanish.
Herb holds a BS in Marketing from New York University and an MBA from Pace University in International Marketing and Management.
Moderator:
VR Small, is the founder and chief executive officer for the Veteran Women’s Enterprise Center (VWEC), a national initiative launched in southern Dallas. VR testified for the original House Bill to make June 12, Women Veterans Day in Texas. This year, VR led the launched of the first annual statewide Women Veterans Day Pitch Competition highlighting the innovations and economic impact of current/potential women veteran entrepreneurs. VR serves on the Advisory Committee for TWU’s Center for Women Entrepreneurs and is a fellow of SMU’s Hunt Institute for Engineering and Humanity—Inclusive Economy, Dallas Public Voices, the Bush Institute Stand-to-Veteran Leadership Program and is featured in Dallas Innovates: The Future 50 North Texans. VR is the SBA’s DFW District 2020 Veteran Small Business Advocate of the Year and serves on the 30th Congressional District Veteran Advisory Committee.
In alignment with the VWEC’s mission, VR just completed phase one of the Moments That Matter Research Project exclusively focused on women veteran owned businesses in the DFW metroplex with the Dallas Federal Reserve Bank and has currently launched phase two with SMU’s Hunt Institute, Global Development Lab.
Most importantly, VR is a Navy Veteran, proud stepdaughter, and sister to U.S. Army Retired Vietnam & Iraq Veterans, respectively. Living her personal slogan “Changing the way we see the world and do business,” VR is a motivational speakers, moderator, educator and advocate specifically for women veteran as well as women and small businesses in general—driving social and economic change across our nation.