Small Business Advisory Task Force
The Small Business Assistance Advisory Task Force was created by the 78th Legislature in 2003 to advise and assist the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Speaker of the House on issues relating to small business; as well as to assist and advise the Office of Small Business Assistance in their duties including serving as the principal focal point in the state for small and historically underutilized businesses.
Members
Mike Bouvier of Galveston is the owner of Hey Mikey’s Ice Cream. Mr. Bouvier started making and selling ice cream 8 years ago out of a small vending trailer and now has a retail shop and ice cream parlor in Galveston and will be expanding soon to Texas City. His ice cream has won multiple awards like “Best Ice Cream in Galveston” and “Best Dessert at Epicurean.” Mr. Bouvier is a member of the Texas Restaurant Association and the National Ice Cream Retail Association. Mr. Bouvier attended school in Las Vegas, Nevada and worked in the construction industry building wastewater and water treatment plants for municipalities for over 22 years. Mr. Bouvier is an active member of Coastal Community Church and a supporter of the Kindness Project in downtown Galveston.
Eduardo Contreras of Austin is Founder and CEO of ALCON DTS, and has worked in IT security, networking, telecommunications and software industries for the past 20 years. He founded his first company in 2001 and has served as both CEO and board member to several diverse companies. He is a board member of the Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, member of the NFIB Leadership Council, and member of the Forbes Entrepreneur & Small Business Forum.
Suzan Deison of Houston has the distinction and honor of serving as president of three Houston chambers of commerce, including founding the Greater Houston Women’s Chamber of Commerce (GHWCC), where she serves as CEO and president. Under her leadership, the GHWCC has become one of the fastest growing chambers in the United States with over 1,100 members. She also founded the Greater Houston Women’s Hall of Fame, Smart Start for Women Entrepreneurs, and the Greater Houston Conference for Women. Ms. Deison’s vision for empowering women has led the GHWCC to expand internationally. The GHWCC has influenced business leaders in London and Mexico City to start a women’s chamber of commerce.
Lisa Fullerton of San Antonio is President and CEO of A Novel Idea, LLC. which owns and operates multiple Auntie Anne’s and a co-branded Cinnabon in San Antonio Texas. She is chair of Public Policy for the National Association of Women Business Owners San Antonio (NAWBO-SA). She is an executive board member for the North San Antonio Chamber and current chair of the Small Business Committee. As a 20 year Franchisee Veteran, she serves on the Auntie Anne’s Franchise Advisory Council. Lisa is a passionate board member of C12- Christian CEO, Peer to Peer group. Additionally, she is a member of the NFIB-Texas serving on the Leadership Trust Advisory Board and the Texas State University Leadership Council. Fullerton received a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from Texas State University.
Michael Guyton of Mansfield is Senior Vice President and Chief Customer Officer of Oncor Electric Delivery. He is a board trustee for Texas Health Resources in Arlington, a board trustee and chairman of the Fort Worth Harris Methodist Hospital, and a member of The University of Texas at Arlington Foundation Board. Additionally, he is a past executive board member of Big Brothers Big Sisters of North Texas and past chairman of the board of Tarrant County Metropolitan United Way. Guyton received a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from The University of Texas at Arlington.
Umesh “Mike” Jain, CPA, of Sugar Land is founder and CEO of Jain and Jain, P.C., Accountants and Tax Consultants. He migrated to the United States from India in 1981 and became a U.S. citizen in 1987. A certified public accountant since 1982, Mr. Jain sits on a number of boards in the Houston area including Allegiance Bancshares, Inc., Allegiance Bank, and Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick’s Advisory Board. Previously, Mr. Jain sat on the board of the University of Saint Thomas. Jain & Jain, P.C. serves over 500 clients, primarily in Texas, Florida, Georgia, and Arkansas, as well as in Europe and Asia. Clients include individuals, corporations, partnerships, family limited partnerships, limited liability companies, and trusts representing a number of different industries. They vary in size from small family operations to those with revenues and assets exceeding $350 million.