CREATIVE PLATFORMS
ECONOMIC IMPACT CATALYST - StartUp Space
This platform is a business support platform which allows the institution to support, engage and track the journey of each entrepreneur goving students one place to find all resources. The platform can integrate with current CRM systems.
A collaboration with the School of Business, Hospitality and Global Trade and the Small Business Innovation Center (SBIC) led to the creation of a virtual hub aimed at connecting our Small Business Alumni to student practicums throughout their course work as well as a student-led virtual hub which allowed all entrepreneurship club members to access meeting notes, plan and market events, fundraise and more! Dallas College now has a tool that allows them to track entrepreneurs and their continued growth and business achievements, connect with Small Business mentors throughout their practicums and follow the entrepreneurial student journey from beginning baseline and beyond.
Regional Impact
The use of EIC and the StartUp Platform was not only used by Dallas College. Throughout the North Texas area. This platform is currently being utilized by DEC Network and Tarrant County College. Having this continuous tracking throughout all regional partners allows us to see the overall regional economic impact. EIC worked closely with long time strategic partner the DEC Network in developing the overall strategy plan for The DEC Network's Dallas Collaborative for Capital Access (DCCA) which is an initiative focused on improving access to capital for entrepreneurs in North Texas, particularly those from underrepresented groups.
DESKWORKS
Dallas College’s first Coworking Management Platform used for the first coworking space the Dallas College Venture Club. This platform puts power into the customers’ hands. Members of the space can book spaces, plan events, and pay directly for items ordered. The entire system is set up on its own network, tracks individual access and usage, monitors business KPI’s and track reporting necessary for comptroller’s accounting team to use with Workday, Dallas College’s new ERP system. This platform is easy to use and equipped with online access and mobile app for customers. While the coworking management platform was created for the Dallas College Venture Club coworking space, this platform has the potential to replicate for each individual coworking/bookable space that develops throughout all locations within Dallas College. The potential of expansion would theoretically decrease the manual operational workload for Info Central, which is their room booking team, the accounting team and give a more accurate picture on space utilization.
SALESFORCE PARTNERS MODULE
During the height of the COVID 19 pandemic, having the Vice Chancellor of Workforce and Educations support, I led the SBIC team to deliver a cost-effective solution to the entrepreneurship ecosystem by providing access to the Salesforce Partners module. This module brought multiple organizations together into one system. The system provided access without the requirement and cost of having a license. With customization based on completion of grant milestones each of the business support organizations could add business advising notes, completion of project deliverables, leveraged dollars earned and an overall dashboard providing status of each of the organizations.
This type of collaborative work just shows the strength, creativity and the willingness of all business support organizations throughout Dallas. This could not have been done without the DEC Networks leadership of the overall project, the commitment of the business support organizations and Dallas College’s immense resources to help move the needle for our underserved communities. The can-do attitude of Dallas was shining during an intense time for our small businesses, communities and local economy.