Fasttrac To Honor 16 Spring Grads April 18

by Alan Hunt

The John F. Baugh Center for Entrepreneurship at Baylor University will honor 16 graduates of its spring 2000 FastTrac Entrepreneurial Training Program at a graduation ceremony and alumni reception at 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 18, in the Blume Seminar Center at the Hankamer School of Business.
Keynote speaker will be Dina Dwyer-Owens, president and CEO of
The Dwyer Group, Inc., a Waco-based franchise conglomerate with approximately 1,500 franchise locations in 30 countries. Dwyer-Owens has more than two decades of experience in franchising. Prior to being appointed president and CEO, she served as the vice president of operations for four years. In her current role, her efforts are focused on strategic planning, mergers, acquisitions, corporate culture, group management, and team development.
Other speakers will include Jack Stewart, president of the Waco Chamber of Commerce, who will serve as master of ceremonies; Dr. Terry Maness, dean of the Hankamer School of Business; David Hoffman, owner of Thera-Med and instructor of the Fasttrac NewVenture Program; and Allan Morris, president of Extraco Bank and instructor of the Fasttrac Planning Program.
FastTrac NewVenture is a nine-week course for individuals who are planning to start a new business or whose companies are in the start-up phase. FastTrac Planning is an 11-week course geared toward entrepreneurs seeking to improve their existing businesses.
FastTrac NewVenture graduates to be honored during the program will include: Bobby Abrahams Freebirds; Theresa Ford, Grace Soap Co.; Donald Ketcham, Ketcham Financial Services; Kieran McQuade, Border Concepts of Texas;
and Tammy Nutall, Personal Solutions.
Graduates and honorees of FastTrac Planning will include: Fred Daschofsky, Daschofsky Insurance Agency; Ross Finlayson, Apex Internet Software;
Jack Forbis, Ann Forbis, Heather Lawler and Philip Monroe, all of Wind Watcher Warning Systems, Inc.; Tony Lloyd, Computer Outlet; Robert Sardaneta, La Cocina De Chita; Linda
Vela, Linda & Co.; Marc Wall, Kendrick Tire Company; and Bill Wragge, MultiPlex Healthcare Services, Inc.
A national program geared toward aspiring and current entrepreneurs, FastTrac has been holding classes in Waco since 1986. The program is co-sponsored by Baylor's Baugh Center for Entrepreneurship, the City of Waco and the Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce in cooperation with McLennan Community College, Small Business Development Center/Business Resource Center, Texas State Technical College, and Cen-Tex Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
For more information about the program contact Malinda Green at 710-4157.