While economic indicators show some of the best numbers of our lifetimes, there are always small to medium business owners who need our help. When policies, such as the trade war with China and other countries impact large corporations, they usually have the flexibility to absorb unexpected expenses. But how do small businesses cope when they suddenly face a 25 percent added cost? Do they pass that onto their customers and clients, reducing competitive advantage or do they end up doing what most business owners do, take a loss?

For over a quarter century we have seen both good and bad times, and right now, among outstanding economic numbers, our caseloads are full. We are now seeking to work with individual business consultants who wish to provide the Valcor services locally.

Learn more about how Valcor can help your business, or how you can apply to become a Valcor Trained Licensee to help local businesses.

Houstons KTEK 1110 Business Radio. The Price of Business' Kevin Price interviews Valcor CEO David Sussman on the economy, small business and the election.

Originally aired Nov. 6, 2012

We are pleased to welcome Scott Sussman CPA, MBA (no relation to SMB Roundtable's host David Sussman). 

Scott spent the last 3 years managing failed commercial banks with assets ranging from $100m-$1b+ for the FDIC as part of the resolution of the recent financial crisis affecting the banking industry. 

Scotts perspective, while not officially representing the FDIC is based on his experience working within the banking crisis and we welcome his opinion to dicuss:

o    The events leading up to the decision that a bank failure is the option

o    Bank failure process

o    "Healthy" banks' acquisition of failed bank assets process

o    Loan liquidation process

o    Recent/current bank failure levels

Scotts opinion on what the future may bring with banking and lending.

Even with challenged credit, you CAN get a Business Loan!

We are pleased to welcome SBA's Michael Chodos, Office of Entrepreneurial Development.

In his role as the Agency’s Associate Administrator for the Office of Entrepreneurial Development, Mr. Chodos is responsible for overseeing the agency’s counseling and training resources and programs for America’s entrepreneurs.

Previously, Mr. Chodos served as the Small Business Administration’s Deputy General Counsel.  In that role, he coordinated with Agency and Administration senior leadership to develop and implement critical Agency strategy and policies involving the Recovery Act, the Small Business Jobs Act, Capital Access, and Contracting programs and fraud prevention.  He also helped form and implement key collaborations with other federal agencies and the private sector. 

Before joining the Agency, Mr. Chodos was the principal of a law practice which represented a diverse range of small business entrepreneurs, private equity investors, technology developers and content creators.  For these clients, Mr. Chodos focused on core issues of growth including strategic partnerships and joint ventures, intellectual property development and litigation-avoidance.  In addition, Mr. Chodos specialized in trial practice in entertainment, fiduciary duty, partnership and contract matters, and developed a special expertise in settlement of the intractable dispute.       

Mr. Chodos received his J.D. from Stanford Law School and his B.A. from Swarthmore College.

Author Nick Bassill, author of Launch America! Reviving the American Dream.

The book also presents the Launch America Initiative for legislation that will provide a major tax credit incentive and safety net for the men and women across America that invest in startups and early stage companies.  Together, the concepts laid out in the book, will create a major economic upswing through the formation of all types of startups and thousands of new jobs across America.

Michael Scotto is Chair of the SBA award winning SCORE Chapter for 2011. Join David Sussman and Michael Scotta discuss the opportunities for small business owners to improve their business through SCORES free programs.

SCORE is a nonprofit association dedicated to educating entrepreneurs and helping small businesses start, grow, and succeed nationwide. SCORE is a resource partner with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), and has been mentoring small business owners for more than forty years.

SCORE is a valuable network of 13,000+ volunteers who offer small business entrepreneurs confidential business counseling services at no charge. SCORE volunteers have the knowledge and experience to help any small business owner get the help they need. Our dedicated volunteers represent over 270,000 years of experience across 62 industries.

SCORE also provides local workshops and events throughout the country to connect small business owners with the people and information they need to start, grow, and maintain their businesses, as well as online workshops available 24/7. SCORE provides resources, templates and tools to assist entrepreneurs in developing tools and plans they need to navigate their way to small business success.

Founded in 1964, SCORE is headquartered in Herndon, VA and has 364 chapters throughout the United States and its territories, with over 13,000 volunteers nationwide.

Mike Rubell, MBA, President of the Safety Compliance Institute joins Valcor CEO David Sussman at the SMB Roundtable.

 

We will discuss how increased regulations, punitive fines and oversight by the Department of Labors OSHA is affecting small business. 

 

 

Mike Rubell is national authority in the field of occupational safety and health. As founder of the National Compliance Institute Mr. Rubell has implemented programs that have served thousands of companies nationwide. With numerous health and safety certifications, Mr. Rubell is a safety trainer for OSHA, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, an agency of the US government.

 

A distinguished national speaker and instructor at universities, the US Air Force and Department of Justice.

The SMB Roundtable welcomes best-selling Author Lon Safko, who fits the true definition of "Guru".

 

Social Media is not a ‘fad’ or something “for the kids”. SMB owners who do not keep up will be left behind & will lose marketshare.

 

Lons’ latest best-selling book “The Social Media Bible,” unlocks the mysteries of Social Media for business (#1 on Amazons Business & Marketing list.)

 

Best selling Author, award winning Engineer, Inventor, Creator, and Entrepreneur, Lon’s inventions and work are featured in the Smithsonian. He designed the archetypes for Microsofts Operating Systems and Apples Newton.

 

Lon is a professional speaker in over 100 cities & privately coaches Fortune 1,000 companies on “Innovative Thinking and Social Media Strategies”.

 

Founder of 14 successful companies & recipient of many prestigious awards, including The Westinghouse Entrepreneur of the Year, Arizona Innovation Networks Network of the Year, twice nominated for Ernst & Youngs/Inc. Magazine Entrepreneur of the year.

 

Lon has been featured in Entrepreneur,PC Novice, Inc., & Popular Science just to name a few, & recently selected by the Smithsonian to represent “The American Inventor” at their annual conference.

 

Lon is also a professional blogger for FastCompany, the first Amassador for SCORE, and is on USATodays CEO Advisory Board.

We are pleased to welcome NFIB Chief Economist (National Federation of Independent Business) Dr. William Dunkelberg.

Dr. Dunkelberg is a nationally known authority on small business, entrepreneurship, consumer behavior and consumer credit and government policy. As a candidate for Vice Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, he has served as an advisor to the Secretary of Commerce, and was appointed to the Consumer Advisory Council of the Federal Reserve System. 

 

Dr. Dunkelberg has presented expert testimony before the U.S. House and Senate on consumer credit, inflation, tax reform, the minimum wage, small business, electronic funds transfer systems, energy efficiency standards, health care and monetary and fiscal policy. He has appeared on CNBC, Bloomberg, CNN, MSNBC, the ABC, CBS and NBC Evening News programs, Good Morning America, and numerous local news and business TV and radio shows. He is frequently quoted in major news publications including the Wall Street Journal, Business Week, the New York Times, U.S. News and World Report, USA Today, Time, and Newsweek and serves on the economic forecasting panels for USA Today, Business Week and Bloomberg and as an economic consultant to ABC News. He has authored and co-authored numerous books and articles and writes a monthly small business economic report for the National Federation of Independent Business.

The SMB Roundtable interview: Laurence Isaac Balter, Fund Manager, Oracle Mutual Fund will be discussing the politics of the economy & small business with Valcor CEO David H. Sussman.

 

BIO: Laurence began his impressive career after receiving his B.Sc. in Physics and Mathematics, as a financial analyst for Hawaiian Airlines at the age of 21. 

He ventured on his own to start an airline in Los Angeles. Fast forward 8 years later and Laurence had built Sunshine Airlines into the largest solely owned commercial regional air carrier based in Southern California, operating 15 commuter aircraft, and as the primary subcontractor freight operation for FedEx and UPS.

Laurence made a lasting connection with Warren Buffett. Mr. Buffett was a big influence, as that relationship was noted in a December 1997 article in Fortune Magazine as an early shareholder. 

He built the #1 producing independent family wealth office in Hawaii (for a publically traded major brokerage firm).

 

He was also appointed by Governor Linda Lingle as Transportation Commissioner, overseeing the largest employer in the State. 

As Principal of Oracle Investment Research, his approach to investing is quantitative, disciplined and unemotional. 

Laurence is an active member of Angel Flight, a non-profit organization dedicated to transporting patients in his own personal aircraft from small towns to receive medical care at major hospitals.

 

Small Business Roundtable VALCOR