North Panhandle Regional Business Forum Recap

Tuesday, December 7, 2010 was packed with lots of information for those who hire employees and those interested in starting a new business or needed help with a current business.

Texas Workforce Commission was available to visit one on one with employers in addition to providing a panel of experts from their office.  The Panel spoke on:   

• Texas Back to Work
• Work Opportunity Tax Credit Program
• WorkIn Texas.com
• Skills for Small Business
• Texas Veterans Leadership Program
• Workforce Solutions

All of these programs can be found at their website www.twc.state.tx.us or you can visit any of the Texas Workforce Centers located in Dumas, Dalhart, Pampa, Borger or Amarillo for more information on these and other programs.

At lunch where the 580 Steakhouse served the largest Chicken Fry Steak to the participants; awards were given to Michael Ramirez owner of High Plains Construction and High Plains Asphalt Restoration from Dumas, Texas on the left. Sheryl Hardy, Director of Economic Development accepts Kerry Symons's award. Kerry is owner of Perryton's Radio Shack. Jack Klaus owner of Ralls Appliances in Borger is on the right.             

                                         The State Of Texas Small Business Award

This award comes form the Governor and Texas Workforce Commission for "Model For Business Skills Use 2010" 

Keynote Speaker, Bob Goshen, a former U.S spy turned professional business speaker, specializes in showing how to develop leaders and create a leadership culture was motivating and  hit on three points in his speech to this forum.  

1. Be brilliant on the basics - recruit and retain your customers by staying with the basics.
2. Relationships- Heart of the House
3. Know what you can control

We can control our attitude, control how we response to things that happen but we can not control others work ethics.  We can control the environment where we work.

Mr. Goshen suggest that you dream, have a goal and make a plan.

The afternoon consisted of four other panels to help a business succeed. The Business Support Panel was from Entrepreneur Alliance and WTAMU Enterprise Network who spoke on how they can help you start a new business.  You can find more infomation at these links http://www.entrepreneuralliance.org and WTAMU Enterprise Center

The award winners got to speak on the elements of success for their particular business. Michael Ramirez owner of High Plains Construction and High Plains Asphalt Restoration from Dumas spoke about how he started one business and because of need in the community started a second one. Kerry Symons owner of Perryton's Radio Shack was not present. Jack Klaus owner of Ralls Appliances in Borger told of how he is changing the culture of his third generation business.     

Lorie Vincent of Stratford serves as the Executive Director of The High Ground of Texas talked on how to market your business.  Lorie's main advice was to buy business cards and have a sign for the outside of your business if you didn't have money to do anything else do these two things.

The last panel was Business Funding which was made up of three bankers from our local banks and Panhandle Regional Planning Commission.  The three banks represented were First National Bank of Spearman/Dumas, First State Bank of Stratford/Dumas and Happy State Bank.  They told us what they look for when someone comes to see them with the idea and dream of starting a business.  The most important thing is to have a business plan.  The local banks are different from the national chain banks in that you can walk in and speak with your banker when you need to or call them with a direct line, not a 800 number.       

High Plains Observer Dumas would like to congratulate the award winners.