Woodforest Bank Foundry Celebrates First Cohort Graduation

The Woodlands, TX (January 22, 2018) – The Woodforest Bank Foundry graduated its first entrepreneurship cohort in partnership with Maestro Entrepreneur Center and The San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. 11 entrepreneurs participated in the inaugural 10-week curriculum-based business development and business accelerator cohort program for small minority, women and veteran owned businesses in San Antonio.

Woodforest Bank Foundry is a creative incubation space where entrepreneurs can collaborate, create, test and launch their ideas. The Foundry blends practical mentorship through peers and professionals and proven educational programming. The goal of the Foundry is to foster a community of entrepreneurs, turning passion into actions, and shaping the businesses of tomorrow, while creating community value.

“The graduation ceremony for our first cohort at the Maestro Center was awe-inspiring and invigorating. Watching the graduates present what they’d learned, and how they benefitted from this program is more than we could have hoped for, and we are excited to open additional foundries across 17 states in 2018 to help more entrepreneurs and small businesses grow,” said Doug Schaeffer, CRA Executive Director, EVP, Woodforest National Bank.

“I am deeply proud of the 11 businesses who underwent this transformative experience offered to them by the Maestro Entrepreneurship 10-Week Cohort Program,” said Elizabeth Eguía-García, Maestro’s Executive Director. “The key to our success is our partnerships. I am grateful to The Woodforest Bank Foundry grant program and the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce who made this possible.”

About Woodforest
Celebrating over 37 years of community banking service, Woodforest National Bank has successfully stood among the strongest community banks in the nation, proudly offering outstanding quality customer service since 1980. Woodforest currently operates over 700 branches in 17 states across the United States. For more information about Woodforest National Bank please visit www.woodforest.com.

About MEC
Maestro Entrepreneur Center™ is a nonprofit small business incubation center founded in May 2016 in partnership with the San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Located in a HUBZone, Maestro Entrepreneur Center™ serves small minority, women and veteran owned businesses in the City of San Antonio and beyond by offering its unique Maestro Accelerator Program™, and the Maestro Mentorship Program™. Clients range from diverse industries such as the industrial and professional services to culinary catering services and product. Visit MaestroCenter.org for details.

Media Contact
Daniel Galindo
Woodforest National Bank
Vice President, Director, CRA Strategic Initiatives
210.862.0511 Email: dgalindo@woodforest.com