Speakers

Julie Irvin Hartman

Julie Irvin Hartman, is a certified proposal manager, entrepreneur, and presenter. Julie leverages her 25+ years of experience as an Agency Owner, Vice President of Marketing & Training, Presentation Specialist for Walt Disney World and an Account Executive for Mix 96. 5 FM to her seminars, workshops and session.  Julie is a frequent speaker at local, state, national and international conferences.
She has managed proposals for small, woman-owned and multi-million-dollar companies across diverse industries and has a proven ability to execute with multiple stakeholders on schedule and within budget, securing $4. 5 Billion in contracts for her clients.
In 2017, Julie sold her award-winning marketing agency got married and moved to Tomball to join her husband, her three bonus sons and their trampoline jumping Old English Sheepdog. Julie has held leadership volunteer positions, as Board Member of the WBEA, Technology Chair for the Houston Apartment Association, Assistant Girl Scout Troop Leader, Business Advisory Member for FCCLA and recently a Mentor for the Founders Institute.   
Ms. Hartman holds degrees from Sam Houston State University and is currently earning her Executive MBA through Texas A&M.

Susan Repka

Susan M. Repka , has two-decades of experience working with small and woman-owned businesses. As an expert in certification for woman owned businesses, she assists small business in the certification process, creating capabilities statements, as well as responding to government RFPs.
Prior to owning her consulting firm, Susan served as Business Development for Keystone Resources, a full-service marketing agency company, and the Executive Director for the Women Contractors Association.
Susan started working with small businesses in 1998 after joining Women’s Business Enterprise Alliance (WBEA). During her 14-year tenue, she served as the Certification Manager, Assistant Director and in 2007 was named the Executive Director. Susan grew from 200 members to 750 members, is considered an expert in certification and pioneered some of the processes still used around the country. Susan has had the honor of interviewing more than 600 WBEs during the certification processes. These interviews have given Susan an insight into challenges and joys of entrepreneurship in many industries and business sizes. While Executive Director of WBEA, Susan served on the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council’s Board of Directors and the GPC Board of Directors. In addition, she served on the Advisory Boards of the Texas Business Alliance and the Houston Area Score. Susan has served on the board of directors for Energy Express Network – ABWA and served on several committees with WCA.
Susan has been named one of Houston’s Most Influential Women by the Houston Woman Magazine; One of the Top 25 Women of Houston by rollingout.com and was nominated for Sterling Bank Inspiring Texas Women Award. Susan received a Legacy Award for her work with woman owned businesses in the Houston community and is alumni of Leadership Houston, Class XXI. Susan lives in Hempstead, Texas and is happily married with two grown children, and proud grandmother to seven active grandchildren.