Social Enterprise: From Inception to Reality

The courage to step out and do something different is tough enough, but when there is no other option and lives are on the line its interesting how we all know the right thing to do. These entrepreneurs have committed themselves to follow a path that has not been marked and serve people whom they hardly know all for the opportunity to address problems which we know too well. From providing healthcare and education to the indigenous communities who help manufacture the product, to making sure our elderly and less fortunate do not go on without the social services they need, to the growing population of inner city students who are not getting the quality education they need to succeed. These stories are what define a social entrepreneur that show human centered capitalism and the spirit of innovation. For more information visit www.innovatorsplussocialgood.org

Presenters

Carl Dorvil

CEO

Group Excellence

Carl Dorvil graduated from SMU in 2005 with a Triple Major in Public Policy, Economics, and Psychology, with Distinction; he also received his MBA from SMU Cox School of Business. Dorvil is an entrepreneur with a passion for social enterprises. His most successful business to date is a mentoring/tutoring company called Group Excellence (GEX). In 2004, he founded GEX out of his dorm room at SMU. The company started with a $20,000 grant from Texas Instrument Foundation. Since its inception, GEX has generated over $35 million in sales, provided over 800,000 hours of tutoring to students around the country, and created over 2,000 jobs. In 2011, Dorvil sold the company to a Dallas-based investor group. Two years later, he bought it back for 10% of the original sales price. In 2010, Dorvil received the Minority Business Leader award from the Dallas Business Journal and GEX made it to the Top 100 on SMU's Dallas 100 Fastest-Growing Businesses list. In 2011, Dorvil was the youngest-ever honoree on the DBJ’s 40 Under Forty, and GEX was Number 450 on the Inc. 500 List of fastest-growing companies in the United States. In addition to GEX, Carl is a managing partner at Vicar Capital Advisors and CEO of MyEasyHQ, a back office business for entrepreneurs and nonprofits. Dorvil is currently being featured as part of SMU’s national marketing campaign, “World Changers Shaped Here.

Erine Gray

Founder

Aunt Bertha Inc

Erine has been working on business and technology consulting projects for more than 12 years. His current company (Aunt Bertha) is making it easy for people to find food, health, housing and education programs. Aunt Bertha’s mission is to make human service program information more accessible to both people and programs. Erine is a 2014 TED Fellow and a 2012 Unreasonable Institute Fellow.

Jose Alejandro Flores

CEO

Vos Flips

"When you know better, you should do better."

I am an International Entrepreneur and Global Humanitarian by nature; having the advantage of also applying my invaluable knowledge acquired by my multi-national corporate experiences over the years and my International MBA.

Philanthropic principles are ingrained in my personal and professional values and my multi-cultural background and international mind-set permeates into all aspects of my professional life, which is spurred by my appreciation of all cultures, languages and cuisines.

I am currently completely fluent in English and Spanish, comprehends Portuguese and am developing Italian language basics. I appreciate playing & watching soccer along with listening to the Bossa Nova and Bachata music genres and I have a great appreciation for the arts of Capoeira and Flamenco.

Sean Carasso

Founder & CEO

Falling Whistles

Sean Carasso is the founder of Falling Whistles, a campaign for peace in Congo. Over the last five years he and his team have seen two Special Envoys appointed to end the war, and Congo's worst warlord surrender. They sell the whistle as a symbol of protest and today more than 100,000 people have joined them as whistleblowers for peace. This coalition has invested in the fastest growing radio station in Congo, a sustainable business treating 330,000 for malaria, the first female run salon in eastern Congo, as well as surgeries and rehabilitation for hundreds of women and children. Join him and his team in pursuing an end to the deadliest war of our time.