HispanicBusiness

Tickets are available until 5 p.m. Wednesday to attend the The Miami Herald's annual Small Business Forum on Thursday, Feb. 23. Sponsored by Florida International University's Eugenio Pino and Family Global Entrepreneurship Center and the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship South Florida, this year's forum will feature business experts who have been in the trenches with small businesses, either as entrepreneurs themselves or as consultants and agency leaders who work with small businesses every day.

Hear from the leaders of South Florida businesses big and small talk about how they got started and overcame challenges to make their companies successful.

Miguel "Mike" Fernandez, chairman of MBF Healthcare Partners and one of South Florida's leading serial entrepreneurs, will be the keynote speaker.

Panels will explore how to finance your business idea, launching and growing a web-based business and seeking opportunities in international markets.

Entrepreneur panelists include Frank Ununue, president of Goya Foods of Florida; CEOs Devon Rifkin of Great American Hanger Co.; Birame Sock of Third Solutions, David Clarke of BGT Partners, Valerie Holstein of CableOrganizer.com, Manuel Montero of Safetypay and Vince Virga of SkillStorm; Bill Hansen, owner of Bill Hansen Catering, and others. Panels on international business, web-based businesses and financing your business will also include Althea Harris and Mary Hernandez of the U.S. Small Business Administration, Rafael Cruz of the Florida Small Business Development Center in Broward, Melissa Krinzman of Venture Architects, Brandon A. Dorsey of BacklogCapital, and J.C. de Ona, senior vice president of Stonegate Bank.

The forum, held at FIU's South Campus at the College of Busienss Complex, will be held Feb. 23 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tickets cost $25 and include a continental breakfast and lunch. Tickets may not be available at the door because Small Business Forums have sold out in the past.