The University of Houston Texas Gulf Coast Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network is considered one of the college’s best kept secrets, according to the staff who make the magic happen.

SBDC serves small businesses in Houston and the 32 counties surrounding the city. They offer business advising, training and resources to help entrepreneurs start, grow or expand their businesses. Funded in part by the U.S. Small Business Administration, most services offered through the SBDC are at no cost to business owners.

The contributions the team at SBDC makes through community outreach and expanding the business ecosystem of Houston reflect the same values Bauer upholds.

The UH SBDC team is a dedicated team of individuals who are committed to making a difference in the lives of future business leaders.

Steve Lawrence

SBDC Executive Director

“I am Bauer.”

Steve Lawrence is committed to supporting the growth and development of the Houston small business community through his work as a leader at both SBDC and Bauer.

As Associate Dean for the college, Lawrence is committed to bridging the gap between education and industry. With SBDC’s affiliation with the college, their team networks with small businesses, chambers of commerce and economic development organizations to establish strong partnerships between these communities and Bauer.

Business is in his blood, Lawrence said, so helping small businesses become successful is second nature to him. He added that when he’s looking for people to hire on to his team, it is important that they are just as passionate about helping others succeed as he is.

Tori Rayne

Deputy Director of Network Advising

“Seeing others thrive is what drives me.”

Tori Rayne’s career at SBDC started in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina. She started off as a volunteer and eventually worked her way up to being a business advisor, then later the Deputy Director of Network Advising.

She finds to be the most fulfilling part of her job is working with small businesses owners and entrepreneurs and knowing that she is making an impact on their lives, she said. Though her current leadership role doesn’t involve working with clients directly, she is still involved in placing businesses with the proper advisors.

SBDC also offers part-time positions and internships to Bauer students. They have the opportunity to put their education to practice through helping small businesses thrive, expand and develop. Rayne added that at the heart of both Bauer and SBDC is their value for education and helping others achieve their goals.

Melissa Niles

Deputy Director of Network Administration

“The only thing I’ve ever known is I want to help people.”

Melissa Niles has been a part of the Bauer family since the start of her career at the University. She has worked in the Department of Management & Leadership, connected with students at Rockwell Career Center and finally moved to work in the Dean’s Office before making the switch to SBDC.

Be it at Bauer or SBDC, the most fulfilling part of her job is being able to help people every day, Niles said. She brings her experience in academics, student services and administration to bring different perspectives to the business of entrepreneurship.

Bauer and SBDC are part of the same family, Niles said, and they both have the same mission of helping the Houston business community thrive.

Erica Magallon

Senior Business Advisor

“I love to learn, and I’m continually learning here.”

Erica Magallon is a proud Bauer alumna. She graduated with a BBA in management and marketing and was a student at the Sales Excellence Institute. After graduating, she returned to her alma mater as an SEI Program Manager for a year. She said she still carries with her lessons she learned in college into her job every day. Bauer taught her that if she wants to be successful, she must first be prepared, organized and mindful.

Magallon added that one of the things she has always valued in Bauer was the support offered to students, programs and the Houston business community. She considers herself fortunate to work for SBDC which reflects those same values to improve, grow and support small businesses and entrepreneurs.

She mentioned a recent visit from Bauer Dean Xianjun Geng and what a privilege it was for SBDC staff to be recognized and to have the dean establish stronger ties between them and Bauer.

David Nguyen

Information Systems Director

“It’s a great satisfaction to help others in our community.”

As a student at Bauer, David Nguyen had the most fun in his entrepreneurship classes. He always loved the idea of supporting small businesses and helping others achieve their dreams. He earned a BBA in finance, starting his education at Bauer from 2003 to 2004, before transferring to University of Houston-Downtown to finish his degree.

When the opportunity to work for SBDC came up, he thought it was a great opportunity to give back to the business community in Houston. He said that he sees Bauer and SBDC embody the same spirit of entrepreneurship. The experience the college gives to students in teaching them how to create a business is the same model that SBDC follows in supporting small businesses, he added.

He helps advisors in their day-to-day needs to better support that mission. He said he hopes that with the new dean joining them, they can reignite a relationship with the entrepreneurship program to help students get a real-life idea of business applications and how they can apply that in the future of their careers.