Rattana Mao came to the U.S. as a baby, her family fleeing their native Cambodia. Diana Combs-Selman spent much of her 20s as a rebellious youth living on the streets.
Now, the women are working together in their own event-planning business, according to a report in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, helping nonprofits raise money to assist people who are struggling to get a second chance.
“I wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing without this community and their love and what they did for my family when they came here.”
Rattana Mao
R&D Occasions handles every aspect of events. That includes creating the program to handling check-in, preparing slide shows, and lining up sponsors.
It has done work for many area nonprofits. Most recently, the women helped the Salvation Army with its annual annual Inspiring Hope fundraising luncheon at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, according to the newspaper.
Southlake-based Valiant Hearts, which helps women get out of the sex trade, wanted to raise $60,000 during its event last year. With the event-planning help of R&D Occasions it raised $180,000, according to the Star-Telegram.
Mao, 38, is a vice president at Dallas-based Comerica Bank.
“Giving back is huge for me,” Mao told the Star-Telegram. “I wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing without this community and their love and what they did for my family when they came here.”
Delivering what’s new and next in Dallas-Fort Worth innovation, every day. Get the Dallas Innovates e-newsletter.
R E A D N E X T
-
This virtual event connects female entrepreneurs and investors for a day full of education, connection, and inspiration on May 20. Dallas native Arlan Hamilton, the founder and managing partner of venture capital firm Backstage Capital, will be the event's keynote speaker.
-
JUNO, which has key executives in Dallas and other cities across the country, wants to get ahead of the hybrid event trend by offering event planners "Intersections of Connectivity," a free ebook on how to organize something that connects virtual participants and an in-person audience.
-
CreateHers. BuildHers. DisruptHers. Risk-TakHers. InventHers. InvestHers. Texas women trailblazing new paths are the subject of a new podcast that features innovators disrupting their industries, building movements, and creating positive social change.
-
Early-stage startups and other innovators can submit breakthrough concepts in 5G, the Internet of Things (IoT), energy, digital health care, Industry 4.0, and mobility technologies. Applications are open through June 20.
-
The DFW Alliance of Technology and Women held its 19th annual Executive Forum last week, urging attendees to "crack the courage code" and empower women in business. Afterward, DFW*ATW's president, Shanthi Rajaram, spoke with Dallas Innovates about her takeaways from the event—and how being "comfortable with the unknown" helped her start her own entrepreneurship journey.
