Great Resilience in Texas (GRIT) Awards

ABOUT THE PROJECT

GRIT Awards Banner.

Sponsor:

THRC's Community Health and Economic Resilience Research (CHERR) Center of Excellence

PI:

Dr. Josh Daspit

Research Pillar(s):

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A briefcase icon with a Red Cross symbol, meant to represent the STEM and Healthcare Workforce priority.
A head icon with a heart in place of a brain, meant to represent the Personal Health and Wellbeing pillar.
An icon of an medical monitor showing heart beat activity, meant to represent the Digital Healthcare Transformation pillar.
An ambulance moving at high speed with the siren on, meant to represent the Emergency Preparedness pillar.

The GRIT Awards recognized the innovative actions taken by Texas small businesses to demonstrate resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic and other public health and natural disaster emergencies in recent years. The project fostered a network of small businesses to participate in future TXST research, facilitated conversations among small business owners statewide about economic resilience, and positioned TXST as a hub for small business resilience and related resources.

The GRIT Awards garnered nearly 100 nominations, resulting in 28 finalists and 7 winners, and established a resilience network of over 40 small businesses across Texas.

Researchers and Collaborators

Headshot of Dr. Josh Daspit.

Dr. Josh Daspit

Faculty Fellow, THRC

Professor, Management Associate

Headshot of Jessica Schneider.

Jessica Schneider

Program Director, THRC
Headshot of Stephen Candelmo.

Stephen Candelmo

Judge, GRIT

Corporate Attorney, Advisor, Entrepreneur, and Investor

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Lucas Chaya del Pino

Judge, GRIT

Startup Head, Startups at Dell Technologies

Headshot of Tim Crowley.

Tim Crowley

Judge, GRIT

Regional President, Austin Region Frost Bank

Headshot of Erin Gurak.

Erin Gurak

Judge, GRIT

Social Impact Leader and Community Strategist

Headshot of DeDe Halfhill.

DeDe Halfhill

Judge, GRIT

Executive Coach, Georgetown University’s Executive Leadership Coaching Program and Certified Facilitator, Dare to Lead™

PARTNERS

Scale Up logo.
Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship logo.

MEET OUR 7 WINNERS

Watch the seven GRIT Awards winners share their stories of resilience.

Award Winners:

  • Achieve Integrative Health
  • E Contractors
  • HillDay Public Relations
  • Miller Consulting Services
  • Salon One 12
  • TekWav
  • Texas Tito's

THE SHOWCASE

The GRIT Awards Showcase celebrated the seven small business winners and gave them the platform to share their full stories and innovative actions they took to thrive in the face of adversity.

The showcase kickstarted the conversation about economic resilience in Texas and helped THRC get a better understanding of the opportunities and resources that small businesses need during public health and natural disaster emergencies.

PRESENTATION

Community Network Building Through Research

April 5, 2023 | 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.

THRC Faculty Fellow, Dr. Josh Daspit (McCoy College of Business) speaks on small business networks and THRC Executive Director Dr. Melinda Villagran discusses THRC’s partnership with the COPEWELL project.

PUBLICATIONS

Community Network Building Through Research

Authors: Dr. Melinda Villagran and Dr. Joshua Daspit

How to Develop a Network of Enthusiastic Research Participants: The Great Resilience in Texas (GRIT) Awards

Authors: Jessica Schneider and Dr. Joshua Daspit

IN THE NEWS

San Antonio-born Texas Tito's Honored by TXST Health Center for Resilience Through Pandemic

San Antonio Express News | Terry Bertling 
May 28, 2023    
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First Annual GRIT Awards Showcase

Austin Asian Chamber  
April 25, 2023     
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Small Businesses Across Texas Are Invited to the Inaugural GRIT Awards Showcase April 25

TXST Newsroom
April 17, 2023 
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GRIT Awards

Texas State Library and Archives Commission | Maria Freed 
April 10, 2023    
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Achieve Integrative Health Wins Award for Excellence in Resilience at the First Annual GRIT Awards

PRLOG
January 19, 2023     
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Seven Texas Small Business Earn Awards for Resiliency During Pandemic

TXST Newsroom
January 18, 2023 
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Texas State University Receives Grant to Help Minority-Owned Businesses

NBC 5 DFW
December 20, 2022    
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GRIT Awards Recognize Resilience of Small Businesses in Texas

TXST Newsroom | Katharyn Peterman
November 23, 2022     
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Nominate a Small Business

Texas State Library and Archives Commission | Maria Freed 
November 22, 2022  
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