Houston Community College Office of Entrepreneurial Initiatives Honored with SCORE Award, Boosting Small Business Growth in Katy and West Houston
When Sandra Louvier, Director of the Glenda & David Regenbaum Center for Entrepreneurship at Houston Community College Northwest (HCC NW), reflected on a recent milestone, she focused on one thing: the power of community-driven entrepreneurial education. On May 8, 2025, the Houston Community College Office of Entrepreneurial Initiatives (OEI) and Dr. Maya Durnovo, Chief Entrepreneurial Officer for HCC District, received the prestigious SCORE Award for Excellence in Small Business Education.
“This award recognizes not just our team, but the thousands of entrepreneurs we have served and the ecosystem we have built in partnership with organizations like SCORE,” said Louvier. “Without their dedication to mentoring and educating entrepreneurs, this kind of success would not be possible.”
SCORE Houston, a nonprofit supported by the U.S. Small Business Administration, connects experienced business mentors with startups and existing small business owners to help them grow and thrive. Jada A. Harris, MBA, MS, President of SCORE Houston, and Andreas Goldschmid, VP of Social Media for SCORE Mentors Houston, presented the award, highlighting HCC’s long-standing commitment to entrepreneurial success.
Mobile Sidebar Ad
Expanding Resources for Katy and West Houston
Louvier emphasized how entrepreneurial education has evolved since 2008, when HCC partnered with Newspring to launch the HCC Business Plan Competition. “We have built a culture of entrepreneurship across the entire HCC system,” she said. “Signature programs like the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses initiative, Mattress Mack School of Selling, and Veterans Entrepreneurship Program give small business owners the tools and strategies to compete and succeed.”
For Katy and West Houston business owners, this work is especially impactful. According to the U.S. Census Bureau and Greater Houston Partnership, small businesses make up more than 95% of all businesses in the region and employ over half the workforce, making entrepreneurial support crucial to local economic stability.
Local business owners are taking notice. Olivia Martin, owner of KTX Window Cleaning, shared her experience with HCC’s entrepreneurial programs on LinkedIn: “I don’t have enough words to express my gratitude and appreciation for this group of professionals. You have been a LIGHT in so many ways to help people find success! If you have a dream – CHASE IT – and do whatever it is possible to educate yourself on how to get there!”
| From left: Dr. Ravi Brahmbhatt, Andreas Goldschmid, Jada Harris, Dr. Maya Durnovo, Sandra Louvier, and Susie Molina celebrate the SCORE Award for Excellence in Small Business Education at the Glenda & David Regenbaum Center for Entrepreneurship, Houston Community College West Houston. (Source: Sandra Louvier) |
Partnerships That Make a Difference
HCC’s OEI and entrepreneurial centers work hand-in-hand with organizations like SCORE, providing mentoring, coaching, and hands-on training to transform business concepts into sustainable ventures. These programs are designed not only for startups but also for established small businesses seeking to grow revenue, expand hiring, and develop new opportunities.
In Louvier’s words, “The power of partnerships, education, and persistence cannot be overstated. The recognition we received from SCORE belongs to every student, entrepreneur, sponsor, and mentor who has shared this journey with us.”
For entrepreneurs in Katy and West Houston, these programs offer more than workshops—they represent a network of support and innovation in a competitive business landscape.
Mobile Sidebar Ad
How to Get Plugged In
Entrepreneurs interested in starting or growing their business can connect with these resources quickly and at little to no cost:
-
SCORE Houston: Offers free mentoring, low-cost workshops, and valuable online tools. Visit houston.score.org to request a mentor or explore upcoming training events.
-
HCC Office of Entrepreneurial Initiatives: Provides signature programs like the HCC Business Plan Competition, Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses, and specialized training such as the Mattress Mack School of Selling. Explore offerings at hccs.edu/entrepreneurship.
-
Local Entrepreneur Networks: Engage with networking events and partner organizations such as chambers of commerce, industry-specific meetups, and the Greater Houston Partnership to build valuable connections, network with other business owners and professionals, and gain access to mentorship.
Stay tuned with My Neighborhood News for updates on local business growth and entrepreneurship resources in Katy and West Houston.
Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.
