Summer 2022 | Insights to Opportunity
www.houstontx.gov/obo | Page 6
EMPLOYEE HIGHLIGHT
Certification Officer Louis Banks Builds Career Rooted in Service
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r. Business Development Coordinator Louis Banks joined the Certification and Designations Division of the City of Houston’s Office of Business Opportunity (OBO) in January 2020, just before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. His passion to help small businesses reach their full potential earned him a senior-level promotion within two years. He also serves as OBO’s Wellness Ambassador. After high school, Banks enlisted in the United States Navy for four years on the USS Shoup, deploying twice in the Pacific Ocean. Banks received a humanitarian medal for the work he did during a tsunami in Indonesia.
completed the application process. It’s exciting to hear their prospects as they grow their business.
Q
Q
A: I liked the idea of public service and
A: In my division, we really look in-depth at the certification applications. It’s a lot of documentation, and we ask a lot of questions and do a lot of reviews. We vet these applications to make sure they meet the requirements of the program, which takes tons of time. A lot of times the leg work involved with that is the most undervalued part.
having a job where I’m able to help people and businesses. I worked in banking before this, but I just felt like I had something more to offer. Working at OBO has given me an opportunity to help businesses in Houston grow.
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How would you describe your role at OBO?
A: I process the applications for Minority Business Enterprises (MBE), Women Business Enterprises (WBE), Small Business Enterprises (SBE), and Persons with Disabilities Enterprises (PDBE). With these certifications, businesses can grow and have the opportunity to work with the City of Houston.
Q
What do you enjoy most about your job?
A: I most enjoy the people that I work with. We have a really good team where everyone helps each other. We teach each other, and we learn from each other. It also feels good when you get a call from a business owner who is really excited that they have
There are more than 10,000 restau➡ rants in the Houston area with culinary choices that represent more than 70 countries and American regions.
Houstonians eat out more than ➡ almost anyone else. According to Zagat,
By: Mark Luo
What brought you to the Office of Business Opportunity?
DID YOU KNOW?
Houston has been eating its meals at restaurants more than any other city for the better part of the last decade.
In 2016, Yelp.com listed Houston as ➡ having more than 75 national categories of cuisine, and listed over 600 vegan-friendly restaurants, more than 150 farm-to-table restaurants, and more than 700 food trucks.
In 2014, the Greater Houston Part➡ nership unveiled a multi-million-dollar,
What do you think is an undervalued part of your division?
Q
What is something you’d like the community to know about the Certification and Designations Division?
A: We’re always eager to help and assist when people call or when they come in with questions. If we don’t have the answers to your concerns, we will find them. We really enjoy helping applicants and prospective applicants anytime.
Q
What are some things you like to do for fun?
A: I like to travel, play basketball, and go fishing. Earlier this year, I went to Jamaica for a week and in August I will be going to Hawaii. I also fish every weekend with my favorite spot being in Freeport, Texas.
multi-year campaign to attract businesses and talented workers to live in the city with the campaign slogan, “Houston: The City with No Limits.”
Houston is on land that was home to ➡ the Karankawa and the Atakapa indigenous peoples for at least 2,000 years before the first known settlers arrived.
WHO WE ARE
Insights to Opportunity is produced by the City of Houston’s Office of Business Opportunity (OBO), which has a mission to cultivate an inclusive and competitive economic environment in the City of Houston by promoting the success of small businesses and developing Houston’s workforce, with special emphasis on historically underutilized businesses and disenfranchised individuals. OBO’s vision is to eliminate systemic barriers to prosperity and economic opportunity in the Greater Houston region. Executive Editors: Marsha E. Murray, Esq., Lalla V. Morris, Esq. Managing Editors: Pearl Cajoles, Enzo Mungu Copy Editors: Norma Meadows, Dr. Porscha Jackson Contributing Writers: S. Nellie Piña, Mark Luo Any information in this newsletter does not constitute the Office of Business Opportunity’s endorsement of any business or organization. If you have a story idea, e-mail pearl.cajoles@houstontx.gov.
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