top minority business leaders Jenny Poon helps others thrive By SAMANTHA POULS
J
enny Poon has utilized her understanding of the struggles that accompany being an entrepreneur to create a thriving support system known as CO+HOOTS. “The hardest thing about being an entrepreneur is the lonely part of it,” said Poon, founder of CO+HOOTS. “A lot of the time, people walk alone and don’t have a support system to cheer them up if they fail.” Poon founded CO+HOOTS in 2010 with the idea of creating an environment where people with small business ideas could come to collaborate and gain support. CO+HOOTS is home to graphic designers, architects, website developers and many others. “We’re more than a space,” said Poon. “We’re a group of like minded people who are hell-bent on positively impacting our community through businesses, and are focused on improving the startup and entrepreneurial community in Phoenix.”
While Poon said her employees hold a high level of respect for her, she recognizes that every one is human. “It’s important to feel comfortable being you,” said Poon. “We’re bringing people into our family, and we want them to be amongst people who can be themselves. We want to work with people we can trust.” As a startup company, Poon is still experimenting with the best ways to find suitable fits for her company. In order to create a comfortable environment, potential employees must undergo a personality test and are asked about their weirdness meter. “I want an environment where people feel comfortable and there’s a mentality where people can be pushed to try new things,” said Poon.
SEED TO GROW: Jenny Poon is founder and CEO of CO+HOOTS. PROVIDED IMAGE
Sethuraman Panchanathan Senior vice president of knowledge enterprise development | Arizona State University Panchanathan is responsible for advancing research, innovation, entrepreneurship and economic development at ASU. Panchanathan was the founding director of the School of Computing and Informatics and was instrumental in founding the Biomedical Informatics Department at ASU. Panchanathan’s research interests include ubiquitous computing environments for enhancing the quality of life for individuals with disabilities. 64
AB | March - April 2016
Juan Salgado Executive director Phoenix IDA
Lonnie Williams Partner Stinson Leonard Street LLP
In 2015, Salgado earned the Council of Development Finance Agencies’ Excellence Award for Leadership. Under Salgado, the Phoenix IDA has more than doubled its fund balance and increased revenue by $2 million annually for the last three years. Since January 2009, the Phoenix IDA has issued over $1.5 billion in bonds for education, waste management, multifamily housing, healthcare, and manufacturing projects.
Williams, a graduate of Yale, is a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, one of the premier legal associations in America. Fellowship is extended by invitation only to those experienced trial lawyers who have mastered the art of advocacy and whose professional careers have been marked by the highest standards of ethical conduct, professionalism, civility and collegiality.