Insights from our Texans Get It: Small Business Summit

On August 4, Texas business owners gathered in Lubbock for our Texans Get It: Small Business Summit, a morning of conversations focused on helping employers strengthen their businesses through employee well-being, workplace safety and crisis preparedness. The event featured two panel discussions moderated by Kristin Marcum, owner and CEO of ECPR Texas, with Q&A sessions following each panel and opportunities for attendees to network.

Building healthier workplaces starts with people

The summit opened with the panel, Investing in Well-Being: Employee Health, Culture & Safety, featuring:

• Eric Bourquin, Texas Mutual’s vice president of Safety Services
• Dr. Martin Kus, Texas Mutual’s medical director

The discussion touched on common workplace hazards such as slips, trips, falls and motor vehicle accidents, but also underscored a broader definition of safety that includes employee well-being, mental health and organizational culture.

Bourquin encouraged business owners to think beyond physical safety by recognizing employees as whole people whose experiences outside of work directly affect performance and safety on the job.

“A healthy workplace starts with mental health, fitness with your staff and it's complemented with what you do inside your walls, in the messages you share, and the culture you build with your employees, not just for them,” Bourquin said. “The key to our success is our employees. They are the most important part of the organization that we have.”

Drawing on his experience in the U.S. Navy and occupational medicine, Dr. Kus emphasized effective safety cultures are built through teamwork, leadership and consistent habits. He also explained a strong workplace culture allows teams to recognize when coworkers may need support before problems escalate.

The panel also explored practical ways small businesses can support employee wellness without significant financial investment, emphasizing that even small, incremental improvements can have a meaningful impact over time. Suggestions included:

• Creating employee-led wellness committees
• Encouraging walking breaks
• Offering healthier workplace snacks
• Partnering with local healthcare providers for educational sessions
• Communicating available benefits more effectively

Throughout the discussion, Bourquin and Dr. Kus recommended Texas Mutual policyholders take advantage of the company’s safety consultants and online resources, along with local professional associations and community organizations that provide affordable wellness and safety resources.

Preparing today for tomorrow's challenges

The second panel, Texas Ready: Business Preparedness for Every Kind of Crisis, featured:

• Michael Rojas, executive director of BeforeDuringAfter
• Chuck Edwards, regional director of America's Small Business Development Center at Texas Tech University

The conversation focused on helping small businesses prepare for operational disruptions ranging from severe weather to cyber attacks and other unexpected emergencies.

Rojas said disasters are becoming more common, with more than 44% of Americans affected and under declared natural disasters in 2024. He stressed that preparation should begin long before an emergency occurs. “One of the most important things [to remember] is that [disasters and other crises] can happen to anybody,” Rojas said. “There is an opportunity there to protect what you have tried so hard to build. Prepare, prepare, prepare.”

Edwards challenged attendees to rethink what preparedness really means, noting that while 94% of business owners believe they are ready for a disruption, only about 24% have developed comprehensive continuity plans. Both speakers urged attendees to begin with simple, practical steps, including:

• Reviewing insurance coverage before an emergency occurs
• Organizing and securely storing critical business documents
• Recording video inventories of business property and equipment
• Identifying key contacts before a disaster
• Practicing continuity plans and updating them regularly
• Establishing clear internal communication responsibilities during emergencies

Rojas also highlighted BeforeDuringAfter.com, a free preparedness resource developed through partnerships that helps Texas businesses create continuity plans, access preparedness resources and navigate recovery after disasters.

Investing in stronger Texas businesses

Throughout the summit, speakers returned to a common theme: preparing for challenges before they arise helps protect employees, strengthen businesses and support communities.

Our Texans Get It: Small Business Summits are just one way we support employers by providing resources, sharing best practices and fostering a culture of safety, wellness and resilience across the state. With more than 80,000 policyholders across Texas, we remain committed to equipping business owners with practical knowledge, trusted resources and expert guidance that help them build safer workplaces, prepare for uncertainty and continue serving their communities for years to come.