FastTrac Program to Honor Fall Grads Dec. 6

by Alan Hunt

The John F. Baugh Center for Entrepreneurship at Baylor University will honor graduates of its fall 1999 FastTrac Entrepreneurship Training Program at a graduation ceremony and alumni reception at 6 p.m. Monday, Dec. 6, in Room 510 at the Cashion Academic Building in the Hankamer School of Business.
Keynote speaker will be Allen Samuels, CEO of the Allen Samuels Auto Group. Samuels owns nine new car dealerships and has received a number of national honors and awards in recognition of his achievements as an entrepreneur. This year, TIME Magazine named him one of the elite eight new car dealers in America; Ernst & Young selected him as Entrepreneur of the Year in Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana; and the Better Business Bureau recognized him nationally as a finalist for its Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics.
Other speakers and guests will include Jack Stewart, president of the Greater Waco Chamber of Commerce, who will serve as master of ceremonies; Tom Collins, executive director of the Waco Foundation; Bert Lumbreras, assistant city manager, City of Waco; Dr. Terry Maness, dean of the Hankamer School of Business; Dr. Duane Ireland, director of the Entrepreneurial Studies Program at Hankamer; J. David Allen, director of the John F. Baugh Center for Entrepreneurship; and Mary Abrahams, FastTrac program coordinator.
FastTrac is a national program geared toward aspiring and current entrepreneurs. It 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, Cen-Tex Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and Heart of Texas Black Chamber of Commerce.

FastTrac NewVenture is a nine-week entrepreneurship training program designed to allow participants to explore the potential of their business idea. The instructor is David Hoffman, owner of Thera-Med, Inc., and business counselors are Keen Franklin, a member of the Service Corps of Retired Executives and the Small Business Development Center, and Joel McIntosh, owner of Prufrock Press.
FastTrac Planning is an 11-week entrepreneurship program created to help participants unleash the potential of their business. The instructor is Allan Morris, president of Extraco Banks N.A., and the business counselor is Rob Gibson, owner of Holze Music Company.
FastTrac NewVenture graduates to be honored during the program will include: Rachel Bailiff and Miriam Lambert, You-Niquely Yours; Scott Daily; Jay Ehret; Jeni Gooden, JML Designs; Cindy Joeris, Cee Jays Merchandising; Joel Schwartz, Sunergy Systems, Inc.; Sean Snow and Sheila Snow, Kelly's Critters; Morgan Stevenson, Destiny's Child; and Betty Zuspann, Zu Technologies, Inc.
Graduates and honorees of FastTrac Planning will include: Rick Allen, Colcord Bed & Breakfast; Jay Baker, All Tune and Lube; Ross Darden, Darden Building Materials, Inc.; Mona Dunkin, Solution-Based Principles, Wesley Field, Field Business Forms; and Troy Powledge, Tco. Systems.
For more information about the spring sessions beginning Jan. 18, 2000 or for information about the program contact Malinda Green at (254) 710-4157.