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The Houston Minority Business Development Center (MBDC) funded by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) is currently operated by Grijalva & Allen (G&A), PC.  The mission of the Houston MBDC is to increase the opportunity for ethnic and racial minorities to participate in the free enterprise system through the formation, development and preservation of competitive minority owned firms. The mission is accomplished by providing the very best business development including loan packaging for capital needs, management assistance and sales/marketing services.

The Houston MBDC has been rated as one of the top funded centers in the nation for the past 3 years.  As a result of their “Excellent” performance, the Houston MBDC was the only funded center that was able to operate on a bonus year without going out for competition like the other funded centers.  The Houston MBDC is one of several MBDCs in the MBDA Dallas National Enterprise Center (DNEC) region and according to Mr. John F. Iglehart, Regional Director (DNEC), one of the most successful.

Grijalva and Allen, P.C. is a full service accounting and consulting firm based in Houston, Texas.  Grijalva & Allen is a certified minority business enterprise that operates Minority Business Development Centers in Houston and Dallas/Fort Worth.  Also the firm provides a comprehensive range of services to clients located primarily in Texas, Mexico, and South America.  The firm's private sector clients are typically new and emerging growth companies from a variety of industries and service organizations. Public sector clients include the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and U.S. Department of Commerce, Minority Business Development Agency.

Grijalva and Allen, P.C. was founded in 1991 as A. R. Grijalva, P.C.  The name changed in 1992 with the addition of a new shareholder. The firm has since grown from 3 people in one office to 25 people in 4 Texas offices - Houston, Corpus Christi, Dallas/Fort Worth, and Laredo.  Another 25 people work for their affiliated companies in Houston, Austin, Corpus Christi, Laredo, and San Antonio.

Antonio R. Grijalva is the firm's founder and President. He has 25 years of financial management and accounting experience, and has served in various managerial capacities throughout his career. As President of the firm, Mr. Grijalva oversees the commercial accounting and tax practice. He also oversees the firm's operation of Minority Business Development Center in Houston.   Before organizing his own firm,   Mr. Grijalva spent 8 years as a Consulting Manager for Grant Thornton where he played a significant role in the management and operation of the Houston MBDC. He was also involved in numerous consulting projects through contracts with the City of Houston, Harris County, Houston-Galveston Area Council, U.S. Small Business Administration and the Resolution Trust Corporation.

John W. Allen is the firm's Vice President and Secretary. Since joining the firm, he has overseen projects to manage consolidated receiverships, manage loans and other assets, process claims and settlements, inventory FF&E, provide temporary staffing to accounting and loan servicing operations, review internal controls and compliance with policy, and provide thrift closing support services to a $5.0 billion S&L in Conservatorship. Prior to joining G&A, Mr. Allen was a Consulting Partner in the Houston office of Grant Thornton where he was responsible for overseeing a number of large government contracts.

Milton A. Thibodeaux is the Project Director of the Houston MBDC where he leads a team of professionals who provide management and technical assistance to minority-owned businesses. He has been involved in this program since 1985. Mr. Thibodeaux was formerly an oil & gas accountant with Monsanto Chemical Company and Texaco U.S.A. He has a Bachelor of Science degree from Texas Southern University and an MBA from the University of Houston.  Mr. Thibodeaux attributes the success of the Center to various factors.  One factor being the economic climate in Houston.  There have been several significant construction projects  (i.e. the Super Bowl, the development of the Houston mass transit line, the development of the new baseball football, and basketball/ice hockey stadiums) in which the Center played a key role in brokering minority participation.  Mr. Thibodeaux notes that the staff is very proficient in using the Business Analyst software program provided by MBDA. This program has resulted in obtaining loans for clients because of the marketing information that they are able to include in the loan package.  Another key factor is the networking efforts of the Center.  The Center co-sponsors the Greater Houston Business and Procurement Forum Breakfast, a monthly outreach conference, and a contractor workshop.  These have resulted in matching minority clients with contracting and financial opportunities.