EGBI Nombra a Larissa Davila como Directora Ejecutiva

Posted on by Monica Peña in EGBI News & Events

Después de una exhaustiva búsqueda dirigida por su junta directiva, Economic Growth Business Incubator (EGBI), una organización sin fines de lucro que ofrecer apoyo empresarial en Austin, nombró a Larissa Davila como su próxima directora ejecutiva. Ella se incorporará al equipo el 27 de marzo de 2023.

Durante los últimos 8 años, Dávila ha sido propietaria de BCO Consulting Group, que ofrece servicios a propietarios de micro, pequeñas y medianas empresas, agencias gubernamentales y organizaciones sin fines de lucro en torno a la planificación estratégica, elaboración de presupuestos, estrategia de precios, mejoras de procesos, investigación de mercado, servicios de marketing y alcance comunitario bilingüe. Larissa fundó su empresa después de una década de experiencia corporativa con corporaciones como Bentoli, FedEx y Sony Corporation. Su experiencia incluye gestión de comunidades, proyectos y procesos, logística internacional, atención al cliente y negocios en general. También se desempeñó como Directora Ejecutiva de LACE, Latino Arts, Culture and Education y Amhiga Hispana en Austin.

Dávila no es ajena a EGBI. Ella ha impartido muchos talleres de EGBI, brindado experiencia voluntaria a los clientes y en 2022 fue nombrada Voluntaria del Año de EGBI. Actualmente esta trabajando para obtener su Maestría en Negocios en la Universidad de Texas. 

“Larissa es una excelente opción para EGBI. Ha sido una líder activa en la comunidad de Austin y una fiel voluntaria de EGBI”, dijo Mike Lancaster, presidente de la junta de EGBI y Senior Vicepresident de Broadway Bank.

Estaremos presentándole a nuestra comunidad a la nueva Directora Ejecutiva de EGBI, Larissa Davila en nuestro evento #WeAreEGBI Happy Hour. Ven y conoce sobre su visión para la organización y las pequeñas empresas locales. Regístrate hoy para reservar tu lugar: https://weareegbiHH.eventbrite.com

EGBI es una organización sin fines de lucro que trabaja en el centro de Texas con la misión de brindar capacitación, orientación y apoyo a los propietarios de negocios existentes y aspirantes que enfrentan barreras como el conocimiento, las finanzas o el idioma. En 2022, EGBI brindó servicios a más de 360 propietarios de negocios existentes y aspirantes en el centro de Texas. Nuestros clientes reportaron en 2022 ingresos de más de $34 millones. EGBI brinda servicios en inglés y español.

EGBI names Larissa Davila as Executive Director

Posted on by Monica Peña in EGBI News & Events

Austin, TX – After an extensive search process led by members of its board of directors, Economic Growth Business Incubator (EGBI), a nonprofit business support organization in Austin, has named Larissa Davila as their next Executive Director. She begins her tenure on March 27, 2023.

For the past 8 years, Davila has been owner of BCO Consulting Group, offering services to micro, small and mid-sized business owners, government agencies and nonprofit organizations around strategic planning, budgeting, pricing strategy, process improvements, market research, marketing services, and bi-lingual community outreach. Larissa started her company after about a decade of corporate experience with Bentoli, Inc, Fed Ex and Sony Corporation. Her experience includes community project and process management, international logistics, customer support, and business in general. She also served as the Executive Director of LACE, the Latino Arts, Culture & Education Organization and Amhiga Hispana in Austin.

Davila is no stranger to EGBI. She has taught many EGBI workshops, provided volunteer expertise to clients, and in 2022 was named EGBI Volunteer of the Year. Currently working towards her MBA at the University of Texas, Davila is married and has a son at home.

“Larissa is a great choice for EGBI. She has been an active leader in the Austin community and a faithful volunteer to EGBI,” said Mike Lancaster, EGBI board chair and VP at Broadway Bank.

Come out to support EGBI and network with business owners in Central Texas at EGBI’s fundraiser, #WeAreEGBI Happy Hour on April 19th from 6 PM to 8 PM at Simar Seafood Cocina.  EGBI’s new Executive Director, Larissa  Davila will speak about her vision for the organization and local small business.   Register AQUÍ.

­EGBI is a non-profit organization working in Central Texas with the mission of providing training, coaching and support to aspiring and existing business owners who face barriers such as knowledge, finances, or language. In 2022, EGBI provided services to over 360 aspiring and existing business owners in Central Texas. EGBI provides services in English and Spanish.

Serie de verano de mercadeo

Posted on by Monica Peña in Business Tips, EGBI News & Events

Únete a EGBI y a expertos en materia para llevar su marketing al siguiente nivel este verano con nuestra serie de marketing de 3 partes.

Ponga Tu negocio en la búsqueda de Google y Maps

Aprende a configurar, verificar y administrar tu perfil de negocios en Google, con una herramienta gratuita llamada “Google My Business”. Este taller tiene dos partes y en esta primera parte se enfocará en como Google My Business ayuda a que empresas locales se encuentren y administren la información de su negocio en la Búsqueda de Google y Maps.

Presentadora: Vicky Sepulveda, una escritora creativa, bloguera, viajera del mundo y orgullosa líder latina.

Únete a nosotros el 14 de junio de 8:30 AM a 10:00 AM. ¡Regístrete AQUÍ hoy para reservar su lugar!

Usa Facebook e Instagram para hacer crecer tu negocio

¡Regístrate para tener acceso a las últimas tendencias para impulsar ventas en tu negocio!puedes hacer crecer tu negocio con las Redes Sociales, pero no estás seguro de qué hacer para eso? Este taller te ayudará a aprender:

  • Cómo usar tu tiempo de manera efectiva en las redes sociales
  • Diferentes estrategias para crear y manejar tu contenido
  • Lo que necesita saber para ejecutar una campaña exitosa en Facebook e Instagram

¡Regístrate para tener acceso a las últimas tendencias para impulsar ventas en tu negocio!

Presentadora: Jessica Campos, JD, BBA es educadora, autora, experta en marketing digital forense y fundadora de Marketing For Greatness, una agencia de marketing de servicio completo en Austin. 

Únete a nosotros el 21 de junio de 8:30 AM a 10:00 AM. ¡Regístrete AQUÍ hoy para reservar su lugar!

PRESÉNTATE CON CONFIANZA, EN LÍNEA Y EN PERSONA

Eres la cara de tu empresa, pero ¿la estás representando bien? ¿Estás seguro que resaltas frente a los demás de tu industria? En este taller aprenderás a estar preparado para atraer a los clientes que está buscando con tu apariencia en línea y fuera de línea. Aprenderás a:

  • Estar preparado para representar a tu negocio en todo momento.
  • Utilizar lenguaje corporal para realzar tus mensajes
  • Dejar una impresión inolvidable y ayudar a crecer tu negocio

Presentadora: Leslie Montoya- Rios, una personalidad reconocida por su misión de motivar y comunicar para nuestra comunidad.

Únete a nosotros el 28 de junio de 8:30 AM a 10:00 AM. ¡Regístrete AQUÍ hoy para reservar su lugar!

No hay costo para asistir, pero debes confirmar tu asistencia.

Estos talleres se llevarán a cabo en

Summer marketing Series

Posted on by Monica Peña in Business Tips, EGBI News & Events

Join EGBI and subject matter experts to take your marketing to the next level this summer with our 3 part marketing series.

Get your local business on Google Search and Maps

Showing up when customers are searching online is more important than ever. Ensure customers can find accurate, updated information about your local business on Google Search and Google Maps, no matter which device they use. In this workshop, you will learn how to create and manage a Google Business Profile from start to finish.

Speaker: Creative writer, blogger, world traveler, and proud Latina leader, Vicky Sepulveda.

Join us on June 16th from 8:30 AM to 10:00 AM. Registrate Aqui AQUÍ today to reserve your spot!

Use Facebook and Instagram to Grow Your Business

Heard you can grow your business using social media, but not sure how? This workshop will help you learn:

  • How to use your time effectively on social media
  • Different content strategies that work
  • What you need to know to run a successful Facebook and Instagram campaign

Speaker: Bill Combes is the founder of No Time for Social.

Join us on June 23rd from 8:30 AM to 10:00 AM. Registrate Aqui AQUÍ today to reserve your spot!

PRESENT YOURSELF CONFIDENTLY ONLINE AND OFFLINE

You are the face of your company, but are you representing your company well? Are you standing out from others in your industry? This workshop will help you be prepared to appeal to the customers and clients you are trying to attract with your appearance online and offline. You will learn how to:

  • Be prepared to be a representative for your company at all times
  • Use body language to elevate your message
  • Leave a memorable impression to help grow your business.

Speaker: Well-known personality in the Central Texas community, Leslie Montoya.

Join us on June 30th from 8:30 AM to 10:00 AM. Register AQUÍ today to reserve your spot!

No cost to attend, but must RSVP.

These workshops will take place at

In Memory of AL Lopez

Posted on by Monica Peña in EGBI News & Events

EGBI is heartbroken to share the news of the passing of Al Lopez, our beloved board member, and first executive director. When describing Al, three words immediately come to mind: “Faith, Family, and Community.” Al professed his faith daily through action. Along with his beloved wife Judy, his eyes would gleam with pride when talking about his three children and the love he had for his 12 grandchildren. As a community leader, Al was always willing to roll up his sleeves to get the job done. 

Al’s dedication to his community stemmed from the lack of guidance and resources available to him growing up. Most recently, his passion for quality education led to his services as a board member and interim CEO of IDEA Public Charter School. He was also involved in other area schools and education-related organizations. His work in education led to him being named the AISD Latino Volunteer of the year in 2012.

A humble leader, during the relaunch of EGBI, he helped us set a solid foundation to help our small businesses make a long-lasting impact in our community. He loved visiting with clients to help them figure out how to take their idea and turn it into profitable businesses. The desire he saw in their eyes to provide their families with opportunities was no different from what his parents wanted for him and what he wanted for his children. It was truly a privilege to work alongside Al.     

Thank you, Al, for your service to our organization and community. You will always remain in our hearts. Please keep Judy and his family in your thoughts and prayers.

With blessings and prayers,

EGBI Board & Staff

Local nonprofit partners with Huston-Tillotson University to help small businesses.

Posted on by Monica Peña in EGBI News & Events

Business owners in the area get the assistance they need to grow.

AUSTIN, TX– Economic Growth Business Incubator (EGBI) is excited to partner with School of Business and Technology Huston-Tillotson University to help small businesses owners who face barriers to start or grow a successful business. Especially in challenging times where many small businesses have been forced to close their doors, both organizations are pleased to come together to serve historically disadvantaged businesses in our community.   

EGBI in partnership with School of Business and Technology Huston-Tillotson University will be hosting Build Your Business Plan series that helps business owners develop a useful plan to open and grow their business.  It will run February 3rd through March 31st 2022 from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM on Thursdays in English and February 1st to March 29th from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM on Tuesdays in Spanish at the School of Business and Technology 5701 Springdale Rd, Austin TX 78723. Attendees will build their financial projections and a marketing plan.  They will learn about topics needed for businesses like competition, pricing, and how to find their clients.

“EGBI is excited to collaborate with Huston-Tillotson University to help all local small business thrive to help our economy grow.” Barbra Boeta, Executive Director of EGBI

“Matching the incubator and its collaborative efforts with Huston-Tillotson University’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation within the School of Business and Technology elevates our intentions of removing barriers to success for small business owners,” Colette Pierce Burnette, HT President and CEO.

Economic Growth Business Incubator (EGBI) provides training, coaching, and support to aspiring and existing business owners who face barriers to growing a successful business.  Our mission is to provide training, coaching, and support to aspiring and existing business owners who face barriers to growing a successful business.

Huston–Tillotson University is Austin’s oldest institute of higher learning and the city’s only historically black college and university.

For more information about the workshop series, please click AQUÍ.

Meet our volunteer- Pilar sanchez

Posted on by Monica Peña in Community Partner Events, EGBI News & Events

By Diana Garcia

Meet Pilar Sanchez. In 2000, she was responsible for starting another Housing Authority City of Austin (HACA) subsidiary, SHCC, from the ground up. SHCC now generates the revenue to fund the social services provided by Austin Pathways, the non-profit she currently leads at HACA. 

Sanchez’s entrepreneurial spirit was instrumental in co-founding a business incubator in East Austin in 2008. Sanchez brokered a three-tiered partnership between her employer, the Housing Authority (HACA), the Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (GAHCC), and the Hispanic Technology Institute of Austin (HTIA) to start an incubator that would help small to medium business thrive and create new jobs during the recession. This became the Economic Growth Business Incubator (EGBI), which spun off as its own independent non-profit in 2010. HACA still supports EGBI in many ways; they provide the space at Eastland Plaza, and have provided over $1 Million in funding for operations since 2010.

 

As a co-founder and lifelong EGBI volunteer, Pilar hopes that EGBI can encourage others to not only support themselves but to also support their families, friends, and community through the value of philanthropy. 

Pilar shares a quick fun fact about herself. “While my mother taught me to be a strong, independent, and caring person, she never taught me to bake. My daughter asked me to make her a castle made of cupcakes for her 4th birthday. John, my husband, knew we were in trouble when I could not find a box of cupcake mix in the cake-mix aisle.  Don’t ask me to bake for you; you might regret it. ” Although we may not ask her to bake for EGBI, her unwaivering commitment to EGBI and the local community is evident through all the areas she has volunteered for the organization. She has served on the board, various committees, and different projects throughout the years.

In 2020, EGBI volunteers put in more than 130 hours to help EGBI support and serve over 400 small businesses. Volunteers like Pilar make this possible and continue to help EGBI pursue their mission of training ,coaching, and supporting aspiring and existing business owners who face barriers to growing a successful business. 

Want to get involved too? Contact us to find out how you can get involved.

Meet Our Volunteer – Mike Lancaster

Posted on by Monica Peña in Community Partner Events, EGBI News & Events

By Diana Garcia

Meet Mike Lancaster. Mike was born and raised in San Antonio, TX, but later moved to Round Rock with his wife and kids. He attended the University of Texas at San Antonio and earned a degree in Business Management.  Mike is a 25-years veteran in the banking industry. He is currently a Middle Market Business Banker at Wells Fargo Bank.  Mike has held many leadership positions in the consumer and business lending division of Wells Fargo across Texas, New Mexico, and Louisiana.  Mike also is a mentor to many junior bankers.  

He is on the board of EGBI and a Board Member of the Round Rock Chamber of Commerce.

Mike shares his experience as a volunteer with EGBI and how you can get involved too. 

Hi Mike! To get started tell us a fun fact about yourself.

I am a graduate of Leadership Round Rock class of 2014. In my free time I Coach YMCA Soccer, and love to travel around trying out new restaurants. 

How have you volunteered for EGBI?

I have taught classes, attended events and have been an active board member for the past 7 years. I just love to hear the stories from our clients of what inspired them to start a small business and how they went about accomplishing their goals. 

Why do you think it is important to support and volunteer with EGBI?

EGBI helps individuals fulfill their dream of starting and running a small business. EGBI provides clients the coaching and support they need to accomplish their goals. 

“You should support EGBI because they provide the coaching and support to small businesses to help them succeed financially.” Mike Lancaster

Why is it important for EGBI to help small businesses in Central Texas? 

EGBI helps build the foundation and provide ongoing coaching support for business owners to help them be successful. So many businesses fail because they don’t have the support or knowledge about how to run a small business.   EGBI helps bridge those gaps and provide a support network to help clients to be more successful. 

In 2020, volunteers put in more than 130 hours to help EGBI support and serve over 400 small businesses. Volunteers like Mike make this possible and continue to help EGBI pursue their mission of training ,coaching, and supporting aspiring and existing business owners who face barriers to growing a successful business. 

Want to get involved too? Contact us to find out how to get involved.  

Meet Our Volunteer – Mary Lou Lugo

Posted on by Monica Peña in Community Partner Events, EGBI News & Events

By Diana Garcia

Meet Mary Lou Lugo, an Austinite unicorn (someone born and raised in Austin, Texas). For the last 10 years Mary Lou has dedicated her life to the Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, graduated in their Hispanic Leadership class of 2020, and has volunteered at EGBI.

Mary Lou shares her experience as a volunteer at EGBI, and how you can get involved too. 


Hi Mary Lou! To get started tell us a fun fact about yourself that many people may not know. 

I was a HUB certified business owner; the name of my company was 4D Printing. My biggest customer was the Texas Lottery where I printed for them for 20 years. 

How have you volunteered for EGBI?

I have volunteered as a committee member for Celebrating Success.

Why do you think it is important to support and volunteer with EGBI?

EGBI is a tremendous advocate of helping people become entrepreneurs. Supporting EGBI in turn supports new small businesses.

“EGBI is a strong advocate of helping small businesses which helps stimulate the local economy and create and sustain jobs.” Mary Lou, Volunteer

Why is it important for EGBI to help small businesses in Central Texas? 

Small businesses are the heart of Central Texas and need our support. 

In 2020, volunteers put in more than 130 hours to help EGBI support and serve over 400 small businesses. Volunteers like Mary Lou make this possible and continue to help EGBI pursue their mission of training ,coaching, and supporting aspiring and existing business owners who face barriers to growing a successful business. 

Want to get involved too? Contact us to find out how to get involved.

Meet Our Volunteer – Nayeli Gallegos

Posted on by Monica Peña in Community Partner Events, EGBI News & Events

By Diana Garcia

Meet Nayeli Gallegos, the President and Co-Founder of Red Carpet Productions, a brand management agency. Nayeli has 15 plus years of experience in marketing, communication, event planning, and business development, through her previous jobs at the Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (GAHCC) and EGBI. Nayeli graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelor of Business Administration and holds an MBA on Entrepreneurship from CEPADE Universidad Politécnica de Madrid. A champion of women empowerment, in 2019 Nayeli was recognized as the Hispanic Female Entrepreneur of the year by the GAHCC. 

Nayeli Gallegos shares her journey at EGBI, and how you can get involved too.


Hi Nayeli! To get started tell us a fun fact about yourself that many people may not know. 

Well, I’m originally from Mexico. In 2002, I did something crazy and married my high school sweetheart. I left my country and moved to Austin, I was only 19 years old. We have grown up together, have two beautiful girls, and co-founded a business in the liquor industry. In this journey, almost 19 years after moving to Austin, I finally became a US citizen this year.

How have you volunteered for EGBI?

I feel like I’ve always been a part of EGBI. When I was Director of Economic Development at the GAHCC, EGBI was an important component of our initiatives. Then, I went to work for EGBI for about 6 years, and when I left my job to focus on my business, I continued to stay involved with the marketing and the Celebrating Success committee.

Why do you think it is important to support and volunteer with EGBI?

I’ve always believed in the importance of giving back to the community, and aside from the financial support, one of the best ways to help is by volunteering time and talent to EGBI. 

“ Volunteers are key in helping EGBI accomplish its mission.” Nayeli Gallegos

Why is it important for EGBI to help small businesses in Central Texas? 

Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, if we have healthy businesses that are producing and creating jobs, families will prosper, and our entire community will benefit from it.

In 2020, volunteers put in more than 130 hours to help EGBI support and serve over 400 small businesses. Volunteers like Nayeli make this possible and continue to help EGBI pursue their mission of training ,coaching, and supporting aspiring and existing business owners who face barriers to growing a successful business. 

Want to get involved too? Contact us and find out how to get involved.