Thrive & Inspire ’24: Entrepreneur Summit Founder an ‘Impactful Force’ for Employees and Clients
Mar. 8, 2024
Gerard O’Brien, Founder of Texas Entrepreneurial Summit
YOU HAVE BEEN successful with ORION Ambulance Services and various other business interests; how do you plan to diversify and potentially share your insights with others? A great deal of my excitement for this year comes from an opportunity to assist a crucial group of the Houston community: our local entrepreneurs. I believe that a key metric of the health of a region’s society is the success of local business owners. Consequently, I am forming the Texas Entrepreneurial Summit, a series of speaking seminars featuring myself and other entrepreneurs across a spectrum of industries. Together, we will offer new, or established, business owners glimpses of our own experiences through not only the uplifting aspects of being an entrepreneur, but also the treacheries of running a business. It will focus on the successes and failures we have experienced, as well as our strategies for confronting and overcoming relatable challenges throughout our careers.
What is the best way to nurture those around you and what is unique about your leadership style? People will support that which they help create. My goal is to provide each employee with a stake in their own success by outlining a measurable path of advancement for them, based on their skills and interests. An essential component of this is nurturing them through consistent training, so that they feel confident coming into the building each day. My duty to be an impactful force as a leader is as much to my employees as it is to my clients.
How would you define the difference between knowledge and wisdom? To me, knowledge is gained from education and training. Knowledge is what anyone can find in a book and attempt to replicate again and again. Wisdom, though, results from the consequences of implementing knowledge in the “real world.” To a large degree, knowledge is standardized. We can all read the same chapters, attend the same lectures, and understand that 5 + 5 always equals 10. What distinguishes us from one another is the wisdom we each hold that has been formed from our unique,
What inspired you to be an entrepreneur? Nearly 30 years ago, I met someone who inspired me through their own experiences and actions. This role model soon became a mentor who sparked my passion and walked with me as I began my path of entrepreneurial ventures. Their belief in me augmented my belief in myself, providing me the confidence to pick myself up if I happened to stumble along the way. To this day, that mentor remains one of my closest and dearest friends. When I have dilemmas, challenges, or simply need a pep-talk, I know they are there to answer my call.
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Spring veggies at the Urban Harvest Farmers Market
THIRTY YEARS AGO, Urban Harvest – what some Houstonians think of as our awesome farmers market – was founded on the belief that people can feed and revitalize their communities by growing healthy food. This core tenant led to the creation of one of the largest networks of community gardens in the United States to address vital issues like hunger, health, community development, and ecological land management.
During the coming weeks and months, Urban Harvest will be celebrating not only the 20th anniversary of its Farmers Market, but also 30 years as a Houston non-profit. In recognition of the impact Urban Harvest has made, the organization has launched the Terry Hershey Giving Society Endowment, which will provide long-term support in continuing to achieve its mission of enriching the Houston community through food. Terry Hershey is one of the founding members of Urban Harvest and a well-known conservationist from Houston.
Bob Randall, a founding member of Urban Harvest and the organization’s first executive director, shared the following reflection: “When I ran into permaculture in the late ’70s, they were talking about how to use ecology to create a sustainable society. So, we started using it and most of everything is what ended up being Urban Harvest today. There are so many people who put huge numbers of hours into this. It is amazing what people can do when they work together to produce knowledge, food, and environmental sustainability.”
Artisan breads at the farmers market
Farm-grown radishes
Urban Harvest has planned a robust schedule of programming to celebrate Houston’s food and agriculture community. Mark your calendars for the 20th Anniversary Celebration of the Urban Harvest Saturday Farmers Market on March 23, followed by the Secret Supper on April 4. Anticipate a Farmers Market Food Demo Series, a Sunday Supper Nov. 3, the annual Community Garden Harvest Celebration, and its annual Women in Agriculture Conference. Dates to be announced.
The popular and sprawling Urban Harvest Farmers Market on Buffalo Speedway is in full swing every Saturday from 8am-12pm. Bring your tote bag for seasonal tomatoes, squash, beets, peppers, green beans, and more, plus artisan vendor fresh baked breads, fresh flowers, homemade condiments and hot foods. The Northeast Community Farmers Market takes place the first and third Saturdays of the month at LBJ Hospital Community Farm featuring drive-through service (9am-12pm).
Every year the small but mighty organization serves more than 45,000 farmers market patrons, 100 small food businesses, and nearly 5,000 students and teachers in socially vulnerable areas.
Additionally, Urban Harvest aids more than 1,000 Mobile Market customers mostly from underserved neighborhoods and educates around 900 individuals who participate in year-round organic gardening classes.
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