UNPRECEDENTED WORKSHOP

The Second Emerging Business Workshop was a resounding success with record-breaking attendance

By Steve Pate

Thursday, July 29, 2010 - 11:39am

View the workshop online HERE

North Texas shattered a Super Bowl record Thursday morning with more than 2,000 people attending the second workshop “Training Camp” for Super Bowl XLV’s Emerging Business Program.

Tisha Ford, the NFL’s Manager of Special Events Business Development, informed the crowd at the outset, “As someone who has seen a few of these, I can honestly say this has got to be THE biggest crowd that we’ve ever had for an Emerging Business Program. We’re talking about over 15 years of programs, so this is truly a great day.”

By Monday morning, registration on the Host Committee’s website was at 1,400 minority- and women-owned businesses. By Wednesday, pre-registration online had to be stopped because it had skyrocketed to 1,700 and room was running out.

On the plaza level of the west end zone in Cowboys Stadium, the 1,550 seats facing the podium were jammed. On the same stadium level, another 450 people watched on a big screen in a room set up to handle an overflow crowd of 500. Considering that some came and went during the event, the total crowd had to have topped 2,000.

Afterward, Robbie Douglas summed up the day in one word: “Wow.”

As Director of Business Development for the North Texas Super Bowl XLV Host Committee, Douglas oversees the Emerging Business Program.

“We just can’t be more pleased with the turnout,” Douglas said. “Everyone is in a great mood. The speakers delivered informative, comprehensive information.

“I think we were able to really impress upon businesses the deadline: March 31. I tried to say it several times. I feel really comfortable that we have equipped businesses to understand what they need to do next. So I hope that everyone continues to take the opportunity seriously and will actually do the homework.”

Norma Roby summed up the day with a large happy face — her own.

“If you could capture my grin now,” she said, “you would understand why I am so excited about what’s going on here today.”

A member of the Host Committee’s Executive Committee, Roby was one of the early participants in North Texas’ original Bid Committee that convinced the NFL to bring Super Bowl XLV to the region.

Because of her early days on that Bid Committee, Roby first heard of the NFL’s Emerging Business Program. She was intrigued from the outset, and her interest has not waned.

“I never knew,” Roby said, “that they did more than just play football and have parties. I attended the Phoenix Super Bowl (now three Super Bowls ago) with the Bid Committee, and watched how they did their Emerging Business Program.

“And when we got back, the Emerging Business Program became one of my passions. Every opportunity I got, I mentioned Emerging Businesses, Emerging Businesses. And it was not a hard sell. North Texas is accustomed to that and is excited about it. I’m hoping that the database will be used throughout North Texas after the Super Bowl so that we can continue this legacy.”

Emmitt Smith, the Cowboys most recent Hall of Famer, Co-Chairs the Emerging Business Program Action Team with Gina Puente-Brancato. When asked if he realized he was helping break yet another NFL record, Smith grinned and said, “Oh yeah! Oh yeah! Oh yeah!”

Smith is among those campaigning for the NFL to hike the amount of money available to Emerging Business Programs at each Super Bowl so that more can participate.

“This was the goal, to have a lot of people come out today,” Smith said. “Now, we’re trying to ensure that we can increase enough dollars so that a lot of these businesses can receive a lot of benefits.

“We’re in Texas. We have probably the best stadium that anybody has ever seen in their lifetime. So why not try to push the envelope to help minority- and women-owned businesses get opportunities? That’s what the economy needs, right? More jobs.”

Ford opened the workshop with an overview of the NFL’s Emerging Business Program. Douglas followed and explained the steps necessary to assure that businesses get certified.

They were followed onstage by Leah Linke, Director of Event Coordination for Los Angeles-based Party Planners West; John McPhee, Marketing Director, A Joy Wallace Catering Production; Dale Sharpe-Jenkins, Founder & CFO, The Jenkins Agency; Emily Horner, VP/Senior Client Manager, Bank of America; Bill Lively, Host Committee President & CEO; and, Rob Simpson and Trisha Cunningham of Texas Instruments.

The Host Committee’s first Emerging Business workshop was held in Fort Worth late 2009. A third and final workshop, on April 6 will be open only to those who have registered by the March 31 deadline.