The University of North Texas Department of Management is hoping a new initiative can better foster partnerships with local businesses.
Through its Family Business Initiative, the school’s business program will offer free services to help Denton-area businesses expand and, in turn, give UNT students hands-on learning opportunities.
The upcoming Family Business Breakfast Oct. 27 will serve as a networking event bringing together local business owners and UNT faculty and MBA students, according to the university.
“I’m always shocked by the number of businesses that operate without a business plan or with one that hasn’t been updated in years,” Michael Sexton, a senior lecturer in the Department of Management, said in a release. “And, if that’s out of date, you can bet everything else is — like their marketing and social media plans. That’s the type of stuff we’re talking about.”
“I’m always shocked by the number of businesses that operate without a business plan or with one that hasn’t been updated in years.”
Michael Sexton
UNT has helped businesses and nonprofits of varying sizes with everything from marketing overhauls to launching a new product, according to the university. Past collaborations include those with Irving-based 7-Eleven, Denton nonprofit, Our Daily Bread, and Aura Coffee in Denton.
Earlier this year, Pioneer Natural Resources called upon UNT students to solve a logistics problem it was experiencing. The students responded by developing a spreadsheet-based automated tool that could be used to estimate transportation costs and other related costs in the oil field. According to a release, Pioneer was pleased with the students’ work and planned to implement the spreadsheet in its daily operations.
“For the students, it’s a line item on their résumé that shows they actually worked for a live client,” Sexton said. “That real world experience is part of what differentiates our students so that they can get hired.”
IF YOU GO
Family Business Breakfast
When: 8 – 10 a.m. Friday, Oct. 27
Where: Room 314 of University Union on the UNT campus, 1155 Union Circle Drive, in Denton.
More Info: Visit the event page.
Get on the list.
Sign up to keep your eye on what’s new and next in Dallas-Fort Worth, every day.
And, you’ll be the first to get the digital edition of our new Dallas Innovates magazine:
The annual edition publishes in January.
R E A D N E X T
-
"This industry is young and evolving rapidly," says Cummins. "It's important that a company can position itself to react quickly to capture opportunities like this one."
-
UNT hopes its cloud-based computer program called RE-PLAN will be able to solve equitable distribution issues that often accompany a speedy rollout. The technology, which uses sourced data to allow public health agencies to craft response plans, will be dispensed with an urgency to target special demographics communities, like people who have disabilities, don't speak English, and don't have cars.
-
Structured as a Small Business Investment Company (SBIC) through the U.S. Small Business Administration, the fund aims to fuel the growth of privately held, lower middle market businesses in the southern U.S.—with a particular focus on businesses in Texas and the Gulf Coast.
-
Here's a round up of resources that can help in North Texas' unprecedented winter storm. You'll also find updates on funding, grants, and assistance for navigating the COVID-19 crisis in Dallas-Fort Worth.
-
Canadian security giant GardaWorld has acquired Carrollton-based Tidel and inked a definitive agreement to buy the cash management business of Sweden’s Gunnebo Group. GardaWorld is combining them into a new cash ecosystem performance and tech company to be named Sesami Cash Management Technologies.
![Erica Kosemund, Chief Brand Officer, Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma; Gillian Breidenbach, Chief Partnership Officer, North Texas FWC Organizing Committee; Chief Gary Batton, Chief of Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma; Monica Paul, Executive Director of Dallas Sports Commission and President of North Texas FWC Organizing Committee; John Hobbs, Senior Executive Officer of Communications, Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma; and Heidi Grant, Senior Executive Officer of Commerce Administration, Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, celebrate Choctaw Casinos & Resorts becoming an Official Dallas World Cup 2026 Host City Supporter. [Photo: North Texas FWC Organizing Committee/Choctaw Casinos & Resorts]](https://s24806.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/FIFA-Choctaw-dec-2025-75x69.jpg)
![Erica Kosemund, Chief Brand Officer, Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma; Gillian Breidenbach, Chief Partnership Officer, North Texas FWC Organizing Committee; Chief Gary Batton, Chief of Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma; Monica Paul, Executive Director of Dallas Sports Commission and President of North Texas FWC Organizing Committee; John Hobbs, Senior Executive Officer of Communications, Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma; and Heidi Grant, Senior Executive Officer of Commerce Administration, Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, celebrate Choctaw Casinos & Resorts becoming an Official Dallas World Cup 2026 Host City Supporter. [Photo: North Texas FWC Organizing Committee/Choctaw Casinos & Resorts]](https://s24806.pcdn.co/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/FIFA-Choctaw-dec-2025.jpg)
