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SMALL BUSINESS ACADEMY
REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!Friday, Sept. 12, 2025
9 a.m.–2 p.m.
6300 Irvington Blvd.
Fifth Floor Conference Center
Houston, Texas 77022
Need help with registration or sponsoring this event?
What is iPASS?
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Expand your organization's exposure to school districts, charter schools, Harris County small businesses, and HCDE services.
The 2025 Internal Procurement Annual Supplier Showcase (iPASS) provides valuable insights through informative presentations on financial services, K-12 procurement, Federal contract acquisition, and grant writing.
Join us for an opportunity to develop influential connections that can support and expand the growth of your small business with schools, small businesses, and more.
For questions about the event, contact Edna Johnson at Edna.Johnson@hcde-texas.org.
Speakers
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Dr. Jesus Amezcua
Assistant Superintendent, Harris County Department of Education Business Services
Meet Dr. Jesus J. Amezcua
Dr. Jesus J. Amezcua is the assistant superintendent for business services at HCDE. Amezcua holds a bachelor's degree in business and accounting from Tarkio College, a master's degree in business administration, accountancy and logistics from Texas A&M International University and a doctorate in education administration from Texas A&M University. Before joining HCDE in 2009, he worked as chief financial officer at Laredo Independent School District. Amezcua's achievements include earning multiple certificates of achievement for financial reporting and excellent budget document awards.
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Perla Arredondo
Training Administrator, City of Houston Strategic Procurement Division
Meet Perla Arredondo
With three years of experience in public procurement, Perla Arredondo has played a key role in implementing new procurement systems across the City of Houston. As a Training Administrator, she develops and delivers training to ensure staff are equipped to navigate these evolving systems.
Perla works closely with the vendor community, fostering strong relationships and providing resources that help suppliers successfully engage with the City's procurement opportunities. She has contributed to modernization efforts that drive efficiency, transparency, and accessibility, integrating technology that enhances the effectiveness of public purchasing for both the City of Houston and its suppliers.
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Hillary Berman
CEO, Alboum Translation Services
Meet Hillary Berman
Hillary Berman is the CEO of Alboum Translation Services. She works to ensure the company's service offerings and technical approach align with the language access needs of local government agencies, nonprofits, and other mission-driven organizations.
Hillary is passionate about customer service and finding the most practical and cost-effective solution to any situation. She lives in Bethesda, Maryland with her family and loves traveling, the outdoors, college sports, and cooking and baking for her houseful of boys.
She is a graduate of Syracuse University and the University of Maryland.
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Jarvis L. Brewer
Small Business Advocate, Office of the Governor—Texas Economic Development & Tourism Office
Meet Jarvis L. Brewer
Jarvis L. Brewer is the Small Business Advocate in the Office of the Governor’s Economic Development & Tourism Office. In this role, Jarvis serves as the principal focal point for assisting small and historically underutilized businesses.
Being from Corsicana, TX and growing up in an entrepreneurial household, Jarvis understands the challenges that small businesses encounter daily. Jarvis and the Governor’s Small Business Team strive to be an asset for businesses across all communities in Texas – so that Texans may chart their own courses towards achieving the American Dream.
Jarvis is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin as well as a United States Navy veteran – having served in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom as a member of Naval Special Warfare. His varied experiences provide him with a unique perspective to advocate on behalf of the Lone Star State’s small business community.
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Mark Winchester
District Director, U.S. Small Business Administration—Houston Office
Meet Mark Winchester
Mark Winchester is the District Director for the Houston District Office of the U.S. Small Business Administration and has 21 years of federal service and economic development. His duties include supervising district staff in overseeing the delivery of SBA programs and services in the 32 counties served by the district. Last year, this included over $1.5 Billion in loan guarantees and surety for small businesses in the district.
Winchester is the 2015 Ike Award Recipient, established by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1957 as the President's Award for Distinguished Federal Civilian Service. Before joining SBA, Mr. Winchester worked for the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) for eight years, where he held various positions including SBDC Certified Business Advisor Level IV Counselor, Assistant SBDC Director, VBOC Director, and Director of the Rio South Texas Regional PTAC.
He is a three-time recipient of the Lower Rio Grande Valley District Office Counselor of the Year Award and a two-time recipient of both the SBDC State Star Award and Congressional Letters of Recognition. Prior to UTRGV, Mr. Winchester was an AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer for a non-profit working in housing and economic development. He has also worked for several insurance companies, the State of Connecticut Attorney General’s Office, and the U.S. Navy Submarine Force.
Mr. Winchester holds an AS, BBS, and MBA from the University of Connecticut at Storrs. His expertise is in Finance and Information Technology.
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More Speakers To Be Announced!