DECA : 4th Annual Small Business Opportunity Summit
About this Event
Join us for the 4th Annual DECA Small Business Opportunity Summit, a high-impact event designed to bridge the gap between your business and the stakeholders shaping Central Texas’s economic future. This is your premier opportunity to engage directly with major regional leaders, ask critical questions, and build lasting professional connections.
Start the day with an inspiring keynote from Jayzen Patria, dive into educational sessions led by industry experts, connect directly with procurement partners during interactive roundtables, and wrap up with networking alongside Austin’s diverse business community.
Featuring keynote speaker Jayzen Patria, an internationally recognized personal branding expert, executive leadership strategist, and former NBCUniversal executive, presenting his signature keynote, Lead With Your Brand!™.
The summit focuses on three essential pillars for business success. See a preview of Sessions below:
- Session 1: Real Talk on the Economy - A Conversation with the Fed: Explore the economic headwinds and tailwinds directly impacting small businesses, from shifting interest rates and tightening credit markets, to the influence of federal policy changes, supply chain pressures, and the rapid integration of AI into everyday business operations. This conversation would give attendees real, actionable intelligence on what to monitor and how to prepare, the kind of forward-looking perspective that small business owners rarely get access to.
- Session 2: AI for Business with Grow with Google: Heard the buzz about AI, but wondering what it actually means for your business? This presentation cuts through the noise. By exploring practical applications and real-life examples from business owners, you’ll leave with a personalized plan for your business. You will learn all about Google AI tools and discover how to use them strategically to tackle common business challenges.
- Session 3: Access Granted! Central Texas Infrastructure Procurement Roundtable: As Central Texas enjoys historic infrastructure buildout, this session allows small business attendees direct access to the experts and organizations who oversee a critical procurement pipeline. Through three, intentional rotating 20-minute roundtable mini-sessions, attendees will get direct, unscripted access to procurement leaders from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS), Austin Transit Partnership (ATP), CapMetro, TxDOT, and the Austin Convention Center to ask their most pressing questions about contracts, certifications and the historic, upcoming opportunities. With billions of dollars in infrastructure investment on the horizon, this is your chance to skip the guesswork and turn access into opportunity!
The Summit also features Assistant City Manager for the City of Austin, Dr. Eric A. Johnson with an overview of the New Small Biz Economic Roadmap, and a Resource Fair with refreshments, booths, and time to network with vital providers to help you scale your business.
Keynote Speaker: Jayzen Patria
We’re excited to welcome Jayzen Patria as the keynote speaker for the 2026 DECA Small Business Summit.
An internationally recognized personal branding expert, inclusion advocate, and executive leadership strategist, Jayzen has spent more than 25 years helping professionals and organizations amplify their impact through authentic leadership and intentional brand development. He has led executive development at NBCUniversal, built leadership programs for Fortune 100 companies, and inspired audiences around the world through his engaging, high-energy presentations.
During his keynote, Lead With Your Brand!™, Jayzen will challenge attendees to think differently about the value they bring to every conversation, opportunity, and relationship.
Whether you’re a small business owner, entrepreneur, executive, or emerging leader, you’ll discover how to define your unique value proposition, communicate your expertise with confidence, and build a personal brand that sets you apart in today’s competitive marketplace.
Attendees will leave with practical tools to:
- Identify and articulate their unique value.
- Build stronger professional relationships and opportunities.
- Strengthen their networking and elevator pitch.
- Elevate their LinkedIn presence and professional reputation.
- Lead with authenticity while growing their business or career.
Because in today’s marketplace, success isn’t about being one of many options; it’s about becoming the obvious choice.
2026 DECA SMALL BUSINESS SUMMIT SPONSORS
Presenting Sponsor - Charles Schwab Bank
Session Sponsors
- SouthState Bank
- Grow with Google
Booth Sponsors
- Buy With Batya (Horizon Realty)
- SouthStar Bank
- Insurance Aseguranza
- My HR Doc
- Calli Web Services
- CapMetro
- My Dental
- City of Austin Small and Minority Business Resources
- City of Austin Economic Development Small Business Division
Sponsor the Small Business Opportunity Summit
Position your brand in front of 200+ small business owners, entrepreneurs, and community leaders from across Central Texas at DECA’s 4th Annual Small Business Opportunity Summit.
This one-day event brings together business experts, industry leaders, and decision-makers focused on growth, innovation, and economic opportunity. Sponsorship provides valuable visibility, meaningful networking opportunities, and direct engagement with attendees actively seeking resources, solutions, and partnerships to help their businesses succeed.
Sponsorship Deck 👉 https://canva.link/u8shf1mul9jq7nj
About the Diversity Ethnic Chamber Alliance (DECA): The Diversity Ethnic Chamber Alliance is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization and comprises the , the , the and the . Through a spirit of collaboration, DECA works to encourage diversity and economic growth within the Greater Austin Region.
Agenda
🕑: 09:30 AM - 10:00 AM
Attendee Arrival & Check In
🕑: 10:00 AM - 10:15 AM
Welcome Remarks
Host: Todd Hogan, President & CEO, ALGBTCC
🕑: 10:15 AM - 11:00 AM
Keynote Speaker: Lead With Your Brand
Host: Jayzen Patria
Info: During his keynote, Lead With Your Brand!™, Jayzen will challenge attendees to think differently about the value they bring to every conversation, opportunity, and relationship.
Whether you’re a small business owner, entrepreneur, executive, or emerging leader, you’ll discover how to define your unique value proposition, communicate your expertise with confidence, and build a personal brand that sets you apart in today’s competitive marketplace.
Attendees will leave with practical tools to: Identify and articulate their unique value; Build stronger professional relationships and opportunities; Strengthen their networking and elevator pitch; Elevate their LinkedIn presence and professional reputation; Lead with authenticity while growing their business or career.
Because in today’s marketplace, success isn’t about being one of many options; it’s about becoming the obvious choice.
🕑: 11:00 AM - 11:15 AM
BREAK
🕑: 11:15 AM - 11:45 AM
Session 1: Real Talk on the Economy - A Conversation with the Fed
Host: Guhan Venkatu, VP, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas
Info: Explore the economic headwinds and tailwinds directly impacting small businesses, from shifting interest rates and tightening credit markets, to the influence of federal policy changes, supply chain pressures, and the rapid integration of AI into everyday business operations. This conversation would give attendees real, actionable intelligence on what to monitor and how to prepare, the kind of forward-looking perspective that small business owners rarely get access to.
🕑: 11:45 AM - 12:15 PM
Session 2: AI for Business with Grow with Google
Host: Maria Elena Duron, SW Regional Grow with Google Coach
Info: Heard the buzz about AI, but wondering what it actually means for your business? This presentation cuts through the noise. By exploring practical applications and real-life examples from business owners, you’ll leave with a personalized plan for your business. You will learn all about Google AI tools and discover how to use them strategically to tackle common business challenges.
🕑: 12:15 PM - 12:30 PM
LUNCH BREAK
🕑: 12:30 PM - 12:40 PM
New Small Biz Economic Roadmap
Host: Dr. Eric A. Johnson
🕑: 12:40 PM - 01:25 PM
Session 3: Access Granted! Central Texas Infrastructure Procurement Roundtable
Info: As Central Texas enjoys historic infrastructure buildout, this session allows small business attendees direct access to the experts and organizations who oversee a critical procurement pipeline. Through three, intentional rotating 20-minute roundtable mini-sessions, attendees will get direct, unscripted access to procurement leaders from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS), Austin Transit Partnership (ATP), CapMetro, TxDOT, and the Austin Convention Center to ask their most pressing questions about contracts, certifications and the historic, upcoming opportunities. With billions of dollars in infrastructure investment on the horizon, this is your chance to skip the guesswork and turn access into opportunity!
🕑: 01:25 PM - 01:35 PM
MEGA DECA Raffle + Closing Remarks
Host: Brittney Rodriguez, COO, GAHCC
🕑: 01:35 PM - 02:00 PM
Additional Networking
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
USD 55.20 to USD 1602.45
