STANDING ROOM ONLY

Huge crowd attends first Emerging Business workshop in Fort Worth

By Steve Pate

October 28, 2009

FORT WORTH — They came out in droves Tuesday — more than 1,000 strong — and fueled Super Bowl XLV’s first workshop for minority- and women-owned businesses. The turnout almost, but not quite, left even the day’s speakers near speechless.

Tisha Ford, the NFL’s Manager of Events Business Development, flew down from New York and called it “one of the largest, if not the largest crowd, that the Emerging Business Program has ever seen.”

To help celebrate the occasion, the North Texas Super Bowl XLV Host Committee also announced that Texas Instruments will be the exclusive sponsor of the program and has donated $350,000.

More than 800 minority- and women-owned businesses have already signed up. But nobody has missed a thing yet if they were unable to attend. Enrollment continues online at www.northtexassuperbowl.com/workshopregistration.

A second workshop is planned for Cowboys Stadium in February. The final workshop, in Dallas next April, will be exclusive to those businesses already registered online.

This first workshop, at the Round-Up Inn Ballroom of the Amon G. Carter Exhibit Hall at Fort Worth’s Will Rogers Memorial Center, certainly got the proverbial ball rolling.

“I was absolutely blown away with the response that we have had with this initial event,” said Fort Worth Mayor Mike Moncrief, one of the day’s top speakers. “I think it shows that what opportunities are being presented with this once-in-a-lifetime vision will provide an energy that everyone can feed off. Minority- and women-owned businesses are a part of our fabric, and a part that we’re proud of.”

Gina Puente-Brancato, who Co-Chairs the Emerging Business Program with former Cowboys great Emmitt Smith, was born, raised and still thrives in Fort Worth. She’s very familiar with the local turf. But she admitted she was shocked when she drove up and had trouble finding a parking space at the massive complex.

“I think it was awesome, that’s the one word that comes to mind,” Puente-Brancato said at the event’s end. “I was so surprised I couldn’t find a place to park. Then coming in here and feeling the energy — and the Mayor’s words just got us off to the right start. It’s my hometown, and I’m very proud.”

Robbie Douglas, the Host Committee’s Director of Business Development, had dumped so much energy into preparing for this day.

Afterward, she said, “Words cannot describe how I feel. I am so delighted that we have now been able to present for the first time to our North Texas audience what the Emerging Business Program is.

“Gauging by the enthusiasm of all the attendees, I think the region is truly ready to understand what this procurement process is about. Their pencils are being sharpened and their pads are in place, and I really have a great sense of admiration for the seriousness of the businesses that I’ve seen today.”

Longtime Fort Worth businesswoman Norma Roby, a member of the Host Committee’s Board of Directors, even read a proclamation from the City of Fort Worth declaring the day Emerging Business Day in Fort Worth, Texas.

Dubbed “The Game Plan”, the event allowed business owners to register and also educated them in many facets of how to get involved as business participants with North Texas’ first ever Super Bowl.

Emmitt Smith informed the crowd, “I’m here not only to bring attention to the program but also to help push people to another level. I understand how difficult it can be for a young, startup company trying to break from the cluster of big businesses, and trying to do business with big businesses. It’s very difficult. So we are here to try to assist with that.”

Mayor Moncrief told the throng, “It’s a chance of a lifetime for some of our small business owners to really step up to the plate. It’s an opportunity to take those companies to the next level. We are very grateful to the NFL and to our Super Bowl committee to recognize this potential — especially for our minorities and women-owned businesses.”

Mayor Moncrief later said in the same speech, “The bottom line is, North Texas, this is a big pie. A big pie. And everyone who is willing to work should have an opportunity to get a piece of that pie.”

That’s what the Emerging Business Program is all about.