Breakout Session #1 10:15am-11:00am (san patricio)

Professional Development – Amy Kiddy Villarreal, COO, Workforce Solutions of the Coastal Bend

Workforce Solutions is Your Career Resource

Amy Kiddy Villarreal is Chief Operating Officer for Workforce Solutions of the Coastal Bend and has 22 years of workforce development experience. She oversees career center operations and workforce programs, data analysis, and performance throughout an 11-county Coastal Bend region. She works to connect economic development, education, and community partners to the current and future regional workforce.

 She’s a proud alumnus of Del Mar College and University of the Incarnate Word where she earned a BSBA in Organizational Management.  Amy is a member of Leadership Corpus Christi Class XL and was one of Corpus Christi's 40 under 40 in 2011. Last but not least, she's the proud mother to Faith & Grace, her two amazing kids. 

 Sponsored by Made in Texas & Milestones

Breakout Session #2 11:00am-11:45am & #3 1:30pm-2:15pm (Jim Wells)

Leadership – Natasha Del Barrio, CEO of the Bert Ogden Auto Group in the Rio Grande Valley & Kathryn McDonald, Ally

Leading Through Adversity & Out of Crisis

Join the conversation with Natasha Del Barrio, CEO of Bert Ogden Auto Group, the largest franchise auto dealer in the Rio Grande Valley, and Kathryn McDonald of Ally as they speak about what it means to be a leader in business and in the community and challenges faced in a male-dominated industry.

Sponsored by Ally

Breakout Session #2 11:00am-11:45am (San Patricio)

Entrepreneurship – Lenny Walls, Former NFL Player Turned Business Strategist

Grow Your Company and Break Through the Next Level

The fuel to Lenny Walls’ drive began to overflow after he lost his father at the tender age of 5. He watched his mom struggle both working and selling drugs to provide for the family. With all odds against him, Lenny made it to the NFL and played professional football for over 10 years, his longest tenure with the Denver Broncos. Aside from his legendary athletic prominence, he is an entrepreneur and servant leader in the community with a passion to influence and add value to others. Lenny took the lessons from his years in the NFL on and off the field and established various enterprises.

Sponsored by Peace of Mind Massage Therapy and Natural Healing

Breakout Session #2 11:00am-11:45am (Kleberg)

Professional Development – A Panel Discussion with @CCBucketList, @CoastalBendandBeyond, @Senorita_Esther, and @SavraeHallick Moderated by Bucket Works

How to Utilize Influencers to Grow Your Audience

The top influencers of the Coastal Bend will discuss how professional content creators can help small businesses grow their audience and enhance their brand on social media in a panel discussion lead by marketing and event management firm Bucket Works.

Sponsored by Bucket Works

Lunch Keynote 12:00pm-1:00pm – Corpus Christi Ballroom

Insider Secrets to Marketing Your Business with Award-Winning TV & Radio Personality Pamela Atherton

Marketing your product, or service is vital to growing business. But exactly how does one effectively do this? How can the average small or medium size business market itself - with limited dollars - and achieve maximum results? Whether you’re a start-up or a long-established business, and no matter your experience level, we’ll focus on what you need to know to effectively build a solid advertising and marketing plan. We’ll talk about defining your customer, understanding your customers’ behaviors, and getting the best bang for your buck. And it’s going to be interactive - so be prepared to talk about your business and your marketing challenges!

Sponsored by Port of Corpus Christi

Breakout Session #3 1:30pm-2:15pm (Kleberg)

Entrepreneurship – Theresa Moffitt, Certified Business Adviser III of, Del Mar College SBDC and Monica Stuber, Branch Manager, U.S. Small Business Administration

Don’t Do It Alone! How the SBCD Can Help You Start (and Build) Your Business

Theresa Moffit, Certified Business Advisor III, joined the Del Mar College Small Business Development Center (SBDC) in March of 2013 working with both startup and expanding businesses in the Corpus Christi area. She has more twenty years of financial statement accounting experience in both large and small companies across the country including Kansas City, New York City and here in Corpus Christi. Always encouraging entrepreneurs to continue to learn and grow, she brings her accounting and general business knowledge best practices to the Del Mar College SBDC and the businesses they serve.

Monica Stuber is the Branch Manager for the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Lower Rio Grande Valley – Corpus Christi Branch Office where she leads her team in advocating for small businesses, empowering the spirit of entrepreneurship within the Coastal Bend Community, and delivering the results necessary to help America’s small businesses succeed. Mrs. Stuber has over 10 years of experience in small business development. She focuses her efforts to stimulate growth, expansion, profitability and improved management of small business. Having previously owned her own business, Mrs. Stuber is familiar with the hard work and dedication required to be an entrepreneur and has a passion for fostering small business success.

Sponsored by Clover & Leaf and Coastal Bend Mom Collective

Breakout Session #3 1:30pm-2:15pm (San Patricio)

Professional Development – Pamela Atherton, Award-Winning TV & Radio Personality and Media Consultant

Talk Your Way into More Business

Get tips & tricks to use for networking events, business presentations, and impromptu speeches. Plus - learn the 5-step framework for getting what you want - in business or your personal life!

Sponsored by Dr. Vijay Bindingnavele, Corpus Christi Institute of Cosmetic & Plastic Surgery 

Breakout Session #4 2:15pm-3:00pm (Jim Wells)

 Leadership – Taryn De La Rosa, Vision Toward Leadership and Yvonne Avila, Social Butterfly Media

The Importance of Authenticity and Connection in Leadership

A South Texan native, Taryn De La Rosa is the region’s leading Organization Development Consultant, as the CEO and founder of Vision Toward Leaderships. She specializes in leadership development, project management, program development, employee relations, and career coaching. Taryn will be joined by Yvonne Avila, owner and CEO of The Social Media Consulting, to discuss the value in being authentic when making connections in a leadership position.

Sponsored by Social Butterfly Media

Breakout Session #4 2:15pm-3:00pm (Kleberg)

Entrepreneurship – Jessica and Larry Delgado, owners of the Delgado Collective in the Rio Grande Valley

From the Kitchen to the Collective

James Beard Award Semifinalist for 2022 “Outstanding Restaurateur” and owners of the Delgado Collective, spouses Jessica and Larry Delgado will dive into the challenges and successes they faced as they opened and preserved during the pandemic with three highly rated restaurants in the Rio Grande Valley, including Salomé on Main, SALT, and house. wine. & bistro.

Sponsored by May Nardone Insurance Agent Farmers Insurance

Breakout Session #4 2:15pm-3:00pm (San Patricio)

Professional Development – Doctora Sandra Villarreal Montgomery

Considerations for Marketing in our Multilingual World

The art of using language in marketing involves social signals, developing relationships, and linguistic choice.  Doctora Montgomery will discuss examples of language considerations useful for marketing.  The session will include interactive activities to identify your ideal content with a strategy that works for your business. Participants will leave with customized resources to promptly utilize.

President and founder of Villa Mont Educational Consulting LLC, Dr. Montgomery holds an Ed.D in Bilingual Education with a Master’s focus on Early Childhood Education. She has 25 years in the field of education instructing children ranging from age two, elementary age, high school, and university students. She has presented academic, business, and linguistic research regionally, statewide, and nationally for over two decades.

Sponsored by Villa Mont Educational Consulting