FastTrac Entrepreneurs Graduate

By Kimberly Tucker

The John F. Baugh Center for Entrepreneurship at Baylor University, along with the City of Waco, the Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce, and the Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership Inc. at the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation will honor its 19th class of graduates from the FastTrac Entrepreneurial Training Program. The ceremony and reception will be held on Tuesday, November 29, 2005, at 6:00 p.m. at Baylor University's Hankamer School of Business, in the Blume Conference Room.

According to Mary Abrahams, assistant director of the John F. Baugh Center for Entrepreneurship and Program Administrator for the FastTrac Entrepreneurship Training Program, "this graduation will extend the number of FastTrac graduates to over 200 potential and existing entrepreneurs, many of whom, while starting a new business or more successfully managing an existing business, are actively contributing to the economic growth of the greater Waco area."

Mr. Jay Mathis, Vice-President of the Mathis Company, will be the keynote speaker for this event. Mathis is a 1989 Baylor graduate with a 16-year record of accomplishment in the financial services industry. He also serves as Pastor of Grace Community Church and has recently launched a ministry that is devoted to teaching and motivating others about God.

FastTrac NewVenture is designed for individuals who would like to start a new business or whose business is in the start-up stage. The instructor is Sam Maitz and the business counselor is Dawn Maitz.

The FastTrac Planning course is geared towards individuals with prospects of growing and expanding their existing businesses. The instructor is Pat Armstrong and the business counselor is Mike Holman.

FastTrac NewVenture graduates include:

Linda Chambers - - Broaden Your Horizons

Douglas Cobb - - Main Street Ministries

Nubia Colmenares and Lyndi Huggins - - Hugs and Honey Expressions

Emily Conner Farrel - - Southwest Drug Testing and Counseling

Joe Grubic - - Lay A Weigh Rubber

Francisco Navajas - - The Hookah Lounge

Derrick Oliver - - Treasure Chest

Bryan Rogers - - Air Adventures

Judy Shofner - - JKS Properties, LLC

Morris Weir - - Mo's All-Breed Dog Grooming

FastTrac Planning graduates include:

Aaron Braunstein - - WSI Internet Consulting & Education

Mona Dunkin - - Solution Principles

Gena Jean - - Studio M Designer Portraits

Davis Metz - - Texas Tape & Label Co.

Daniel Stevens - - Spam Spy, LLC

To attend the fall 2005 FastTrac Graduation ceremony and reception, RSVP by November 22, to Malinda_Green@baylor.edu. The spring 2006 FastTrac session will begin January 24, 2006. For more information, call the John F. Baugh Center for Entrepreneurship, (254) 710-4157 or visit www.baylor.edu/business/FastTrac.

More News ...