News Release

Release Date: October 19, 2015 / Contact: Ahmad Goree 817-684-5539
Release Number: 10-19-15-DfW / Internet Address:
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17 Local Small Business Owners to Graduate from SBA Executive Training

FORT WORTH, TX – Seventeen Dallas/Fort Worth small business owners will graduate from the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Emerging Leaders Initiative Tuesday, October 20th during a ceremony at the Dallas City Hall, Flag Room, located at 1500 Marilla Street. The ceremony will begin at 2:30 p.m.

“It is an honor to congratulate the 17 Dallas/Fort Worth Emerging Leaders. These executives are not only poised to excel in business but they are ready to provide leadership and service in their communities,” South Central Regional Administrator Yolanda Garcia Olivarez said. “SBA continues to make entrepreneurial education a top priority because we know focused training can help small businesses develop into medium and large businesses and create jobs.”

This is the seventh year the Dallas/Fort Worth District has offered this executive-level training. Since 2008 the Emerging Leaders Initiative has helped over 1,000 promising small business owners in underserved communities across the country sustain and grow their businesses, providing training they can use to succeed and create jobs.

The Emerging Leaders curriculum consists of business assessment, finance, marketing, sales and resources modules. In the fifth module, each participant develops a three-year Strategic Growth Action Plan, under the guidance of experts and mentors. The plan details how the business owner will move their businesses to the next level of growth. Despite the difficult economy, more than half of the businesses that have completed the Emerging Leaders training have shown an increase in revenue totaling more than $7 million. Nearly 60 percent have reported creating new jobs in their communities. Surveyed participants also reported having secured more than $7 million in new financing for their businesses, and an increase in confidence when applying for government contracts. As a result, program graduates have reported securing nearly 500 federal, state and local contracts, worth more than $112 million.

“SBA Emerging Leaders are the sustainable businesses that promote economic development and are proven to have growth in sales and employment”, said Herbert Austin, SBA Dallas/Fort Worth District Director. “I encourage other local small business owners to take advantage of this free training the SBA offers.”

The 2015 Dallas/Fort Worth Emerging Leaders Initiative graduates are:

  1. Prasad Paruchuri, President - Cosmos Information Solutions, Inc.

Irving, Texas

  1. Marilyn Lane, President - Hollywood Transportation Inc.

Garland, Texas

  1. Delle Drinks Williams, President - Paradigm Field Services, LLC

Keller, Texas

  1. David Jasso, President - LEETEX Group

Dallas, Texas

  1. Dinesh Gupta, President - ANR Consulting Group, Inc.

Addison, Texas

  1. Merle Boyce, President - 1St DFW Community Connection, Inc.

DeSoto, Texas

  1. Hassan Bawab, President - Magic Logix

Carrollton, Texas

  1. Esther Ratliff, President - Increase Workforce Solutions

Irving, Texas

  1. Albert Mitchell, President - ES Squared LLC

Grand Prairie, Texas

  1. Connie Tyler, President - Tyler Freight Solutions, Inc.

Forney, Texas

  1. Michael Van Ness, President - Van Ness Heating & Air

Dallas, Texas

  1. Jimmy Bosmans, President - Rio Bravo Mexican Restaurant

Grand Prairie, Texas

  1. Allen Tucker, President - Earth Haulers, Inc.

Fort Worth, Texas

  1. Nixon Shum, President - Oriental Building Services

Dallas, Texas

  1. Nicole Clarke-Smith, President -Total Rewards Partners, Inc.

McKinney, Texas

  1. Mary Ann Clark, President - LCA Environmental, Inc.

Farmers Branch, Texas

  1. Melinda Reitman, President - The Wahl Company

Fort Worth, Texas

The Dallas/Fort Worth Emerging Leaders Training Program is a collaborative and successful endeavor because of the effort of area cosponsors and numerous other organizations.

This program is offered at no cost to the participants. For more information on the Emerging Leaders Initiative contact Billy Medina, Program Manager in Dallas/Fort Worth (817) 684-5517 or visit our website at