Alumni Success Stories

Video - Interviews by HCC TV and Newsletters - Events & Articles

About our Programs – Sandra Louvier – Director, Entrepreneurial Initiatives & Community Relations, Glenda & David Regenbaum Center for Entrepreneurship – HCC NW

Watch the HCCTV Interview (Video)
 http://www.kaltura.com/tiny/80wp3

• 4 min - 00:00 – 3:56 - Glenda & David Regenbaum Center for Entrepreneurship
• 5 min - 3:57 - 9:02 - Our Three Signature Programs
  • 3:57-6:47 - HCC Business Plan Competition
  • 6:47-7:42 - Small Business Success Series by HCC©
  • 7:43- 9:02 - HCC Mattress Mack School of Selling©
• Updates as of December 2024

  January 2025 Activities

  • 2025 Business Plan Competition Opening Reception & Showcase
  • Date/Time: Thursday, January 9, 2025 – 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM CST
  • Format: Virtual on Zoom
  • RSVP for the 2025 Opening Reception & Showcase
• Financial Workshops (Webinars)
  • Choose one date:
    • Wednesday, January 15, 2025
    • Wednesday, January 22, 2025
    • Thursday, January 30, 2025
  • Register for a 2025 Financial Workshop
• 2025 Business Plan Competition Application Period
  • Opens: Monday, January 6, 2025
  • Closes: Saturday, January 25, 2025
• Milestone Achievements

  • We surpassed the 1,000 Alumni Graduate Milestone for our three Signature Programs in Fall 2023 and, as of Year End 2024, we celebrate over 1,400 alumni graduates!

HCC Business Plan Competition

Alumni Success Stories

Video Clips

Meet Britne Broadnax from Happy Me Tee (Video) 

Meet Simone Steele of Simply Shady (Video)

Meet Tanu Jain from FlowCare (Video)

Meet David Lee from True Reflections Media (Video)

Meet Barbara Wogh from Keeping Your Parents Safe (Video)

Meet Crystal Williams-Lister – Mommy and Me: The Listers (Video)

Meet Juan Islas from EV1Pro and EV1ProSigns (Video)

Meet Raya Guruswamy from Maxari, LLC (Video)

Meet Landi Spearman from Organized Shift (Video)

Meet Christina Meade from Nerdy Girl Success (Video)

Meet Kiley Summers from SpenDebt (Video)

Meet LaGina Harris from The Us Space (Video)

Meet Olivia Martin from KTX Window Cleaning, LLC (Video)

Meet Carmen Flores from Catapult Art Studio (Video)

Meet Arneisha Sadler from Emeniss Call Center (Video) 

• Listen to Arneisha's 2022 HCC Fall Convocation Speech (Video) 

Meet Alina Kravchenko from TonerBum by Better Way Body, LLC (Video)

Meet Tiffany Hicks from VRE Training Solutions (Video)

Meet Wendy and Arnaud Acaries from Bonjour Café (Video)

Meet Brandi Allen from Daisies and Pancakes (Video)

Meet Angelica 'Jelly' Robinson from Peace and Love Studios (Video)

Meet Janice Jucker from Three Brothers Bakery (Video)   

Meet Juan Alanis from Big Oak Tree Media (Video)

Meet Tennille Johnson from Scrubs To The Rescue (Video)

Meet Danyelle Templeton from Hair of Nature (Video)   

Meet Aziz Hikem from Hiketron (Video) 

Meet Hussain Ali from HD2 Menus (Video)

Meet Alan Berrara from Grass on the Go (Video)

Meet William McMordie – Texas Swim Academy

• HCC TV Interview - January 14, 2020 (Video)  
• Up To The Minute HCC Interview (Video)  

Meet Helen Callier from Permit Us Now (Video)

• Up To The Minute HCC Interview 1 (Video) 
• Up To The Minute HCC Interview 2 (Video)

Meet Tiffany Williams from Twice Media Productions (Video) 

Meet Megan Eddings from Accel Lifestyle (Video)

• Up To The Minute HCC Interview (Video)

Meet Derek Gilboe of Lokimox (Video)

Meet Raquel Freeman from Empower Youth Sports (Video)  

Meet Lyndsey Brantley from Camellia Alise (Video)

• Up To The Minute HCC Interview (Video)

Meet Christa Clarke from Cubicles to Cocktails (Video)    

Meet Reda Hicks from GotSpot (Video)

Meet Sarah Mercier from Learning Ninjas (Video)

• Up To The Minute HCC Interview (Video)

Meet John Hadley from Specialty Diving (Video) 

Newsletters

2025     

July 2024 -  Read the 2024 HCC Business Plan Competition Newsletter - Announcing our Winners and Graduates - https://conta.cc/4km8wFU 

Competition Winners:

• 1^st Place - $12,000 - M&Y Knitever LLC - Ying Yi 
• 2^nd Place - $8,000 - Tsunami Hair - Cameron Hunt
• 3^rd Place - $4,000 - The Paper Packaging Company - Chidi Oguegbu
• Honorable Mention - $1,000 - You Will Speak - Gunay Rasulova
• Honorable Mention - $1,000 - TASK Technologies - Frerika Varlack 

Three One-Minute Video Winners:

• Browning One Assisted Living Facility – Desirae Mock 
• Lash to a TEE – Tiffany To
• The Paper Packaging Company – Kirati Amin

Sponsor Spotlights and Highlights:

• Stellar Bank - Gold Sponsor
• Vertical Web – Bronze & In-Kind Sponsor
• HD2Menus – Alumni & Bronze Sponsor

HCC Office of Entrepreneurial Initiatives wins SCORE Award for Excellence in Small Business Education

May 2024 -  Read Small Business Opportunities from around HCC -  https://conta.cc/3Fb1uoG 

April 2025  - Special Issue - Spring 2025 Newsletter- Training, Alumni and Sponsor Highlights - 2025 HCC Business Plan Competition - https://conta.cc/4jH6i3H

Featured Updates & Alumni Success Stories:

Sponsor Spotlights and Highlights:

• Wallis Bank - Platinum Sponsor
• TNR Advisors & Management Consultants, LLC - Bronze Sponsor

Alumni Highlights, Successes and Updates

• Tennille Johnson, Scrubs to the Rescue
• Constance Jones, HJ Staffing
• Arneisha Sadler, Eminess Call Center
• Crystal Willams Lister, Mommy & Me – The Listers
• Tanu Jain, FlowCare
• Simone Steele, Simply Shady
• Landi Spearman, OrganizedShift
• Lyndsey Brantley, Camellia Alise
• Helen Callier - PermitUsNow - Successes & Thanks - Alumni & Bronze Sponsor

HTown Roundup Comes to HCC Northwest West Houston Institute - Featuring Maker Space, Office of Entrepreneurial Initiatives (OEI) Offerings and Virtual Reality Demonstrations

March 2024 - Read Small Business Opportunities from around HCC - https://conta.cc/4hJAHx7 

February 2024 - Read Entrepreneurial Opportunities from around HCC and Partner Events -  https://conta.cc/3WSFl4o 

January 2024 - Read 2025 HCC Business Plan Competition - APPLICATION PERIOD OPENS - Sign Up Now for January Activities - This week - TH Jan 9 Season Opening Launch & Showcase ON ZOOM - Optional but Awesome! -   https://conta.cc/3BXYTgf  

2024     

December 2024 – Read 2025 HCC Business Plan Competition Dates Announced – Sign Up Now for January Activities Occurring During Application Period- Alumni Video Interviews - David Lee, Simone Steele and Tanu Jain - Sponsor Thanks!  In this Issue: https://conta.cc/3ZQQO4T 

• January - Financial Workshops for Small Business Launch & Growth - Free - Choose the Date that's Best for You
• Season Opening for the 2025 HCC Business Plan Competition - For Proposed, Startup & Existing Entrepreneurs

Prepare Now for January Activities:

• Preparing to Apply - Application Period - January 6-27
• Featured January Events:
• Reception, Showcase & Orientation - January 09 - On Zoom
• Small Business Success Series by HCC - For Proposed and Startup Entrepreneurs - This is the one prerequisite program still available to take prior to choosing the applicants for 2025 Business Plan Competition. Five Fridays, 9:00am - 3:00pm - 1/17/25, 1/24/25, 1/31/25, 02/07/25 and 02/14/25
• All Applicants Take a Financial Workshop - Still Need it? Sign up for January 15, 22 or 30
• 2025 HCC Business Plan Competition - Timeline - January Thru June

Alumni Success Stories & Updates

• Alumni Video Interviews - HCC Business Plan Competition Alumni 
• David Lee - True Reflections Media, 1st Place, 2024
• Simone Steele - Queen Aesthetics, Simply Shady, 3rd Place, 2024
• Tanu Jain - FlowCare, Honorable Mention, 2024 

Sponsor Thanks:

• Thanks Again 2024 HCC Business Plan Competition Sponsors
• 2025 HCC Business Plan Competition Sponsors Announced Soon!

July 2024 - Read 2024 HCC Business Plan Competition - Announcing our Winners and Graduates - https://conta.cc/3Y5ZtkK

• 1^st Place - $12,000 - True Reflections Media - David Lee 
• 2^nd Place - $8,000 - Tori Artis Planners - Tori Artis
• 3^rd Place - $4,000 - Queen Aesthetics - Simon Steele
• Honorable Mention - $1,000 - FlowCare - Tanu Jain
• Honorable Mention - $1,000 - The Mastermind Learning Center - Monique Carlisle 

May 2024 - Read In Memory of John (Jack) J. Barry III - A founding leader, trainer and judge for the HCC Newspring Business Plan Competition - https://conta.cc/3K36ACm

April 2024  - Read the Special Issue - Spring 2024 Newsletter- Updates, Successes & More - Well Underway with the 2024 HCC Business Plan Competition & Lot's More! - https://conta.cc/3QwfVq7

Featured Updates & Alumni Success Stories:

Sponsor Spotlights and Highlights:

• Wallis Bank - Platinum Sponsor
• LiftFund - Gold Sponsor
• TNR Advisors & Management Consultants, LLC - Bronze Sponsor

Alumni Highlights, Successes and Updates

• Women of Katy Symposium - HCC Alumni, Partners & Programs Highlighted in Panel
  • Olivia Martin, KTX Window Cleaning
  • Kathleen & Bruce McMordie, Texas Swim Academy
  • Crystal Willams Lister, Mommy & Me - The Listers,
  • Wendy & Arnaud Acaries, Bon Jour Cafe
  • Tiffany Williams, Owner, Twice Media Productions
  • Jennifer Dale, LiftFund, VP of Loan Administration
  • Nannette Ray, TNR Advisors and Management Consultants
• Landi Spearman Wins Judges' Top Choice Award for iSHIFTx
• Helen Callier - PermitUsNow - Successes & Thanks - Bronze Sponsor

March 2024 -  Read March News Bytes - Entrepreneurship at HCC - https://conta.cc/3IHlqhk 

Featured Updates:

• HWCOC's West Houston Business Summit Was Great - HCC Was All In!
• Dr. Kimberly Burroughs Celebrated at HCC OEI
• Wallis Bank Hosts Partners at Appreciation Luncheon
• HTOWN Roundup Showcases Startup Community Around Houston and at HCC

March 2024 - Read Small Business Opportunities from around HCC - https://conta.cc/44cBUYz 

February 2024 - Read Entrepreneurial Opportunities from around HCC - https://conta.cc/3uEv1SA  

January 2024 - Read Season's Opening Launch Party & Showcase - 2024 HCC Business Plan Competition - https://conta.cc/3tHl2eM  

2023 

December 2023 – Read 2024 HCC Business Plan Competition Dates Announced – Sign Up Now for January Activities Occurring During Application Period:  https://conta.cc/47YuYQ3

January-Financial Webinar for Small Business Launch & Growth - Free, On Zoom, Choose the Date that's Best for You

Season Opening for the 2024 HCC Business Plan Competition - For Proposed, Startup & Existing Entrepreneurs - Prepare Now for January Activities:

• Preparing to Apply - Application Period - January 5-26
  • Featured January Events:
  • Reception, Showcase & Orientation - January 11 - On Zoom
  • Small Business Success Series by HCC - For Proposed and Startup Entrepreneurs - This is the one prerequisite program still available to take prior to choosing the applicants for 2024 Business Plan Competition.
  • All Applicants Take a Financial Webinar - Still Need it? Sign up for January 18, 24 or 30 - All On Zoom
  • 2024 HCC Business Plan Competition - Timeline - January Thru June
• Alumni Successes & Sponsor Thanks:
  • Alumni Video Interviews
  • Thanks Again 2023 HCC Business Plan Competition Sponsors
  • 2024 HCC Business Plan Competition Sponsors Announced Soon!

December 2023 – Read Small Business Events and Upcoming Opportunities - https://conta.cc/3N5Kcdx  

November 2023 – Read Digital Marketing Clinic - https://conta.cc/3NzeGVA  

November 2023 – Read Patent Academy – Upcoming from November- December - https://conta.cc/484dBx6  

November 2023 – Read Upcoming Opportunities - HCC Mattress Mack School of Selling© Digital Series - and More Small Business Opportunities - https://conta.cc/4apAPPO 

October 2023 – Read Lender Matchmaking Event – 10 11 23 - https://conta.cc/41pWRhm 

October 2023 - Read World Chamber of Commerce Event - 10 05 23 - https://conta.cc/3RvpgxQ 

September 2023 – Read Small Business Success Series by HCC© - October-November - https://conta.cc/45K851x  

September 2023 - Read Small Business News & Opportunities - September – October - https://conta.cc/3PLhMan 

August 2023 – Read HCC Mattress Mack School of Selling© – Aug-Sep, Onsite at HCC Alief Hayes - https://conta.cc/3NBA0tp 

July 2023 – Read Upcoming Small Business News & Opportunities - https://conta.cc/475RBAL  

June 2023 – Read Digital Marketing Clinic 06 27 23 -  https://conta.cc/4aDNJdl  

June 2023 - Read 2023 HCC Business Plan Competition - Announcing our Winners and Graduates -  https://conta.cc/3XfPze6

• 1^st Place - $12,000 - Mommy and Me: The Listers - Crystal Williams-Lister
• 2^nd Place - $8,000 - RE.STATEMENT - Hannah Le
• 3^rd Place - $4,000 - Keeping Your Parents Safe - Barbara Wogh
• Honorable Mention - $1,000 - CyFair Psychological Group of Texas PLLC - Tracy Johnson
• Honorable Mention - $1,000 - Loving Lacquer Cosmetics - Kimberly Loving

April 2023 - Read Spring 2023 Newsletter - HCC Business Plan Competition Spring Activities & Updates - https://conta.cc/40iEitg  

Featured Alumni Success Stories & Updates:

• Kim Roxie, LAMIK Beauty
• Christina Meade, Nerdy Girl Success
• LaGina Harris, The Us Space
• Congratulations to 2023 SBA Award Winners & Competition Alumni
  • Lyndsey Brantley, Camellia Alise, 2023 SBA Houston District Woman Business Owner of the Year
  • Tiffany Williams -  SBA Houston District Small Business Media Advocate of the Year 
• Congratulations to these HCC Business Plan Competition Alumni, Now Graduates of HCC Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Program Spring 2023
  • Tenille Johnson, Scrubs to the Rescue
  • Olivia Martin, KTX Window Cleaning
  • Deidre Mathis, Wanderstay Hospitality

March 2023 - Read Act Now Small Business Opportunities from Around HCC - https://conta.cc/3LaFoU1 

February 2023 - Read Entrepreneurial Opportunities from Around HCC - https://conta.cc/3DMN6z7

January 2023 - Read Season's Opening Launch Party & Showcase - 2023 HCC Business Plan Competition - https://conta.cc/3jYSo3m 

Featured Alumni Success Stories & Updates:

• Megan Eddings - Accel Lifetstyle & Accel Unite
• Landi Spearman - Organized Shift
• Helen Callier - Permit Us Now

2022 

December 2022 - Read Seasons Greetings - Announcing the 2023 HCC Business Plan Competition & Year-End Wrap Up -  https://conta.cc/3jlXFSu 

Featured Alumni Success Stories & Updates:

• Carmen Flores - Catapult Art Gallery
• Kiley Summers & SpenDebt
• Olivia Martin & KTX Window Cleaning
  

November 2022 - Read Small Business Opportunities & News - 2023 HCC Business Plan Competition Dates to be announced soon and more Entrepreneurial Opportunities from HCC - https://conta.cc/3NP32Vn 

Featured Alumni Success Stories & Updates

• Arneisha Sadler - Emeniss Call Center
• Kim Roxie - LAMIK Beauty

September 2022 - Sept/Oct Entrepreneurial Opportunities - Small Business Success Series by HCC - Oct-Nov and much more - https://conta.cc/3RrqIQx 

August 2022 - Upcoming HCC Small Business Opportunities - https://conta.cc/3e0rFR2 

July 2022 - HCC Small Business Opportunities -        https://conta.cc/3oh6Fr4

July 2022 - HCC Mattress Mack School of Selling - Evening Series Onsite At Gallery Furniture, Aug-Sept 2022 -  https://conta.cc/3O8JnOD

June 2022 - 2022 HCC Business Plan Competition - Announcing our Winners and Graduates - https://conta.cc/3xymNsx 

• 1^st Place - $12,000 TonerBum by Better Way Body, LLC -Alina Kravchenk
• 2^nd Place - $8,000 - Gulfgate Animal Hospital -Katherine Palmer
• 3^rd Place - $4,000 -B2G Victory, LLC -Susan Repka
• Honorable Mention - $1,000, MOVUS Energy Solutions, Jose Mogollon
• Honorable Mention - $1,000, Art Your Senses, Catapult, Carmen Flores

May 2022 - HCC Small Business Opportunities -     https://conta.cc/3sRalmj   

April 2022 - Onsite Small Business Success Series by HCC at HCC Alief Hayes -  https://conta.cc/3Jk0n30 

March 2022 - HCC Small Business Opportunities -  https://conta.cc/36D5Umz 

February 2022 - HCC Mattress Mack School of Selling - Virtual - Open Access - https://conta.cc/3JyTVoq 

February 2022 - Building Advisor Cohort 2022 HCC Business Plan Competition - https://conta.cc/3B5vr34  

January 2022 Newsletter - Don't Miss the Application Deadline - 2022 HCC Business Plan Competition - https://conta.cc/3IJmzmw 

January 2022 - Opening Season 2022 HCC Business Plan Competition - Alumni Updates:  https://conta.cc/3nLZrvz 

January 2022 - Opening Reception & Showcase - 2022 HCC Business Plan Competition Season -  https://tiny.cc/2022-HCC-BPC-SHOWCASE

2021

December 2021 - Year End Wrap Up - Coming in January - Alumni Updates -  https://conta.cc/3mqsq7j

November 2021 - Open for Business Small Business Success Series by HCC Nov-Dec Cohort:  https://conta.cc/3mSm3cm

October 2021 - Fall Activities Newsletter - Alumni Stories - Fiscal Year Report and More -  https://conta.cc/3B6mHYU

September 2021 - Upcoming Small Business Success Series by HCC Sept-October Cohort - https://conta.cc/3DpIdcQ

Mid-August 2021 -  Upcoming Small Business Opportunities - HCC Mattress Mack School of Selling News:  https://conta.cc/3mIWoTt

August 2021 - Small Business Success Series Coming in Sept - Apply Now: https://conta.cc/3IA6qiY  

July 2021 - Mattress Mack School of Selling Coming in August plus more Small Business Opportunities - https://conta.cc/3GHyC32 

July 2021 - Mattress Mack School of Selling August 2021 - https://conta.cc/3r64FT8 

July 2021 -  End of June & July Small Business Opportunities - https://conta.cc/3KkWYSh

June 2021 – Winners Announced 2021 HCC Business Plan Competition – https://conta.cc/3vUqPZi 

June 2021 – Featured Upcoming Events - https://conta.cc/3jvC9IM

May 2021 – Small Business Success Series by HCC – Cohort 4 Graduates – Class of Veterans - https://conta.cc/36nMiPZ 

April 2021 – Upcoming Veterans Entrepreneurship Program Stage 2 – Small Business Success Series - https://conta.cc/3tPbiti 

March - Vets & Vet Spouses - Work on Your VEP2 Application on Spring Break: https://conta.cc/2NsvjXa 

March - Special Features to Consider While On Spring Break -https://conta.cc/3ca4Wxq 

March – Veterans Entrepreneurship Program (VEP) – Stage 2 – Small Business Success Series by HCC – Apply in March for 4/6-5/6 Spring Cohort:   http://tiny.cc/HCC-VEP2 

March - HCC Mattress Mack School of Selling – 6 March Sessions : http://tiny.cc/HCCMMSS 

February – Winter Storm Update: https://conta.cc/3qMSTfK 

February - Building Advisor Cohort 2021 HCC Business Plan Competition: https://conta.cc/3aPMIR5 

January – Mid January HCC Business Plan Competition- Alumni Successes – Financial Webinars and more: https://conta.cc/2Ng59WX

2020

December – Celebrating You, Goodbye to 2020 & Getting Ready for 2021 - https://conta.cc/3pzkDn2 

November – December: Wrapping up 2020: https://conta.cc/39K1mdW

October – Mid Oct. - https://conta.cc/3jMxqzX

October – Early Oct. - https://conta.cc/2SuROJY   

September - https://conta.cc/2GVhA7o

August – https://conta.cc/31OHpwI

July - https://conta.cc/33wPaKn

June - https://conta.cc/39xctom

May - https://conta.cc/3jRc5FK

April - https://conta.cc/3jUzQNx

March – https://conta.cc/2VJ6YOs 

COVID-19 Update: https://conta.cc/3b5oJfo

February - https://conta.cc/39l5cae

January - https://conta.cc/38zbjqN

2019 

December - https://conta.cc/2OWTJWN 

- https://conta.cc/2Qbjt1S

November - https://conta.cc/2qWGTOD

October - https://conta.cc/2puDCoZ

September - https://conta.cc/2UwsMKF

• Small Business Summit & Expo - https://conta.cc/2mGwcgJ
• Ignite the Entrepreneur in You - https://conta.cc/2mGwcgJ

August - https://conta.cc/31M5wdJ

July - https://conta.cc/2NLBu7W

June - https://conta.cc/2I1ufnn - 2019 HCC Business Plan Competition Winners

May - http://tiny.cc/2019bpc

April - https://conta.cc/2Gwg1ZJ

March - https://conta.cc/2JxXZLC

February - https://conta.cc/2D0lVRl

January - https://conta.cc/2Dhf8E9