11/16 SAHCC Small Business Summit: Register Now

November 16, 2021 | 7:30 AM - 1 PM

The Witte Museum


The date for our annual Small Business Summit has been set! Mark your calendars to join us November 16 at the Witte Museum to hear from key industry leaders on "The State of Small Business", and participate in innovative breakout sessions featuring topics such as Finance Efficiency, Employment Strategies, Technology Innovation, Promotion & Brand Development, and more while networking with other local leaders and businesses in our community.


Complimentary registration for the first 100 attendees*

*Applies to SAHCC Members only.


Thank you to our Presenting Sponsor at JPMorgan Chase & Co, and to our sponsors at USAA, Google Fiber, Brooks, and TalkStrategy

Summit Schedule & Speakers

Keynote Speaker:

Olivia Ortiz

"Empowering Minority Entrepreneurs"

Amanda Dietz

Sr. Business Banking Consultant for Minority Entrepreneurs at JPMorgan Chase

As a Sr. Business Banking Consultant, Amanda’s focus and responsibility is to be trusted advisor to minority entrepreneurs within the underserved communities in Houston, Texas.


Her main objective is to provide mentorship to small businesses which includes educating entrepreneurs who are looking to start, run and grow their own business. In doing so, she utilizes her connectivity to community development financial institutions (CDFI’s) and other networking avenues to illustrate the importance of strategic business planning, cash management and potential lending.

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    Her main goal is to make an impact in local communities by equipping minority-owned small businesses, offering resources, and making access to working capital attainable. 


    Amanda has over 13 years of business banking experience, which encompasses being a Branch Manager, SBA Loan Coordinator, Business Underwriter, and a Business Relationship Manager. Due to previous roles, her comprehensive knowledge in finance and credit has improved the lives of clients and the well-being of their businesses through financial solutions, education, and advice. 


    Amanda graduated Cum Laude with her Bachelors in Business Administration from St. Edward’s University. 

Breakout Session Speakers:

Olivia Ortiz

Christopher Carmona, CPA

Founding Partner of Schriver, Carmona & Company


Chris Carmona, CPA, is a founding partner of Schriver, Carmona & Company and has over eightteen years of public accounting experience. Chris’ experience includes leading and supervising the audits of several nonprofit entities, including nonprofits requiring single audits as specified in the Uniform Guidance, governmental entities, employee benefit plans, and commercial entities.

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    Chris received his BBA in Accounting from the University of Texas at San Antonio and is a member of the American Institute of CPAs and the Texas Society of CPAs.  He currently serves on the board of Eva’s Heroes, on the regional board of KIPP Texas, on the board and business influencers group of The Nonprofit Council, and is a board member of C12: Leon Springs CEO Advisory Board.  Chris has chaired the finance council of his parish, St. Matthew Catholic Church. At St. Matthew, he has also chaired the Annual Archbishop’s Appeal and served as the parish’s chair for the Archdiocesan Capital Campaign.


    Chris has been married to Ana for more than 17 years and they have been blessed with three children: Sophia (15), Daniel (13) and Michael (6).


Olivia Ortiz

Kelli Cubeta

Partner, Cubeta Law Group


For over 15 years, Kelli has represented businesses exclusively in the areas of employment and corporate law. Prior to starting her own law firm, Kelli served as General Counsel and head of Human Resources for two publicly traded companies for over a decade.

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    As General Counsel, Kelli’s responsibilities included litigation, transactions, labor and employment, corporate and employee policies, regulatory affairs, workers’ compensation, and general liability. Kelli has successfully negotiated well over a thousand contracts ranging in value to over $200M. 

Olivia Ortiz

Misty Porter

Small Business IT Specialist, Modern Managed IT

Olivia Ortiz

Alejandro Chavez

Small Business IT Specialist, Modern Managed IT

Olivia Ortiz

Anamaria Suescun-Fast

CEO and Managing Partner talkStrategy


As the CEO and Managing Partner of talkStrategy, Anamaria Suescun-Fast manages the agency and its growth, while overseeing agency output, from client relationships to creative products. Anamaria thrives in the fast-paced, challenging agency environment, and for more than 20 years, has worked tirelessly to bring client campaigns to life.

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    Throughout her career, Anamaria has brought her expertise to brands including Six Flags over Texas, San Antonio Water System, Bexar County, San Antonio River Authority, Visit San Antonio, Dr. Smith's Diaper Rash Ointment and DoSeum. Some of the initiatives she is most proud of include: the 2004 city win to ban smoking in public restaurants and bars in San Antonio, as well as the stronger ordinance passed in 2010; multiple school bond campaigns, city bond referendums and education reauthorization ballot initiatives, resulting in billions of dollars of support for critical issues impacting vulnerable populations; and the branding and launch of the San Pedro Creek Culture Park. 


    Most recently, Anamaria managed the successful Keep Pre-K 4 SA sales tax reauthorization campaign, as well as the historic $1.3 billion San Antonio Independent District 2020 bond campaign. 

Olivia Ortiz

Laura Hotten

Vice President of Creative and Digital, talkStrategy



Vice President of Creative and Digital, Laura Hotten is a rare find in the creative industry. A trained and experienced art director, graphic designer, creative strategist, commercial / video director, Laura is also a savvy web designer and programmer.

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    Laura has spent more than 20 years leading marketing campaigns for major brands in the United States and Latin America and seizing opportunities for her clients in the ever-expanding world of digital marketing. Previous clients include Unilever, Payless Shoes, Western Union, Seton Healthcare Network, United Way for Greater Austin, Burke, Environmental Defense Fund, UnitedHealthcare and University of North Texas.

Olivia Ortiz

Kristine Smith

Vice President of Strategy and Accounts, talkStrategy



Whether at an agency or client-side, Vice President of Strategy and Accounts Kristine Smith is an expert at helping brands consider the full consumer experience, in roles including event marketing, digital strategy, brand management and strategic planning.

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    This methodology has been honed through experience at agencies and at/for brands including DonJoy/DJ Orthopedics, Blockbuster Music, Foley’s Department Stores, San Antonio Express-News, Harland Clarke, Toshiba, San Diego Metropolitan Transit Authority, Leap Wireless, JABRA, Airrosti, Toaster Strudel, Old El Paso, Coors Light, Western Union, Totino’s, EneBeA, USAA, and Argo Group. 

Luncheon Panel:

Olivia Ortiz

Luncheon moderator:

Melissa Aguillon

President/CEO, Aguillon Creative, Realtor, Douglas Elliman

Melissa’s roots run deep in San Antonio! She has been in the marketing and public affairs arena for over 20 years and has led her firm for 12. A strong, dedicated Latina who gives her clients her personal time and attention, she knows how to get things done as an entrepreneur, a mom and community advocate.

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    Knowing that things change so fast in our industry, she is always on the hunt for information as there is always something new to learn. This knowledge translates to her ability to serve her clients and meet their every need.


    Melissa started her business almost 11 years, with clients ranging from corporations to small businesses, in addition to government agencies and non-profit organizations. During the pandemic, she acquired her real estate license and is currently a realtor for Douglas Elliman, a nationally recognized real estate agency who is new to Texas and will be launching in San Antonio in 2022.


    Melissa earned a BA and a Master’s in Public Administration from the University of Texas at San Antonio. She is married to Thomas Aguillon, Director of Government Relations for Charter/Spectrum and has two children Benjamin (17) and Karina (13).

Olivia Ortiz

Luncheon Topics & Panelists:

"HR Challenges"

Nicole Navarro Velesiotis

VP Client Relations with Integrated Human Capital

Nicole Navarro Velesiotis is Vice President of Santana Group, Integrated Human Capital (IHC), and Oveana. 


Navarro Velesiotis launched her career at IHC in 2005, joining her trailblazing mother, Santana Group President and CEO Rosa Santana, and sister, Lisa Navarro-Gonzales, in the family business at the San Antonio office. 

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    She graduated from the University of Texas at San Antonio where she received a BA in Communications with an emphasis in Public Relations. Upon joining IHC as a Staffing Supervisor, Navarro Velesiotis discovered a passion for working with people, identifying client needs, delivering creative solutions, and winning accounts. 


    During her first 10 years with IHC, Navarro Velesiotis held various positions within the company, gaining invaluable experience and knowledge. Her expertise in recognizing clients’ needs and creating solutions to meet them quickly established Navarro Velesiotis as a sales leader. Her commitment to innovative, client-focused solutions has been the driving force for IHC’s growth in the San Antonio market. 


    As Vice President, Navarro Velesiotis now oversees branch operations for IHC in the United States. 


    Navarro Velesiotis honed her leadership skills by participating in Leadership San Antonio, the Alexander Briseno Leadership Development Program, and the San Antonio Small Business Development Center’s Building Business Excellence Program. She was selected for and completed the competitive Building a High-Performing Minority Business program at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth. 


    Following her mother’s example of community service, Navarro Velesiotis is also active within San Antonio where she serves on the board of directors for the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and various other nonprofits. 

Olivia Ortiz

"Employee Forecasting: Hiring Solutions"

JR Treviño

Chief Operating Officer Business Development, Treco Enterprises

JR Trevino is a native Texan and a graduate of Baylor University’s Hankamer School of Business where he double majored in Management and Marketing. This past May, JR was elected to his second term as Mayor for the City of Castle Hills.

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    In addition to his duties as Mayor, he also serves as the COO for Treco Enterprises Inc, a commercial general contractor firm started by his Father in 1990. JR serves as the Board Secretary for the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and is a proud graduate of the ABLDP and LSA programs.

Olivia Ortiz

"The Labor Economy"

Roberto Coronado

Senior Vice President in Charge of El Paso and San Antonio Branches
Senior Economist, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas

Roberto Coronado is senior vice president in charge of the Dallas Fed’s El Paso and San Antonio branches. He also oversees law enforcement functions and economic education programs across all offices of the Eleventh Federal Reserve District.

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    Coronado is a senior economist and member of the regional group of the Bank’s Research Department. In that capacity, he provides regional input into the Dallas Fed’s monetary policy process and is responsible for monitoring and tracking economic and business activity in West, Central and South Texas as well as southern New Mexico.


    His research focuses on issues pertaining to the Mexican economy, U.S.–Mexico economic integration and border issues. Coronado has written articles for various Federal Reserve publications and academic journals in both the United States and Mexico.


    Coronado serves as a director for the Texas Lyceum, and as a board member for Texas 2036, El Paso Collaborative for Academic Excellence and El Paso Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.


    He earned his PhD in economics from the University of Houston and holds a BBA in accounting and economics, and an MS in economics from University of Texas at El Paso.

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