Contract Connections: a one-on-one chance to get business
Women business owners who are eligible for the Contract Connections Program at the 26th Annual Entrepreneurial Woman's Conference on Thursday, Sept. 20, at McCormick Place-West, will be able to meet individually with corporate and government buyers as a stepping stone to winning new contracts.
Presented by the Women's Business Development Center, the Conference will facilitate its 10th Annual Contract Connections Program as a way for current WBENC-certified WBEs (Women's Business Enterprise) to meet with prospective clients. Last year, more than 200 one-on-one meetings took place.
Here's how it works.
• Certified WBEs, become eligible by registering to attend the Conference and completing the online Request for Appointment (RFA) form no later than July 20.
• The company descriptions provided in the RFA will be sent to participating corporate and government buyers, who then determine which WBEs they would like to meet.
• Meetings, which last 20 minutes, will be announced on August 17.
The Entrepreneurial Woman's Conference will also feature several other opportunities for women to grow their businesses. The Women's Business and Buyers Mart has booths with more than 200 corporate and government representatives who are available to discuss business opportunities at their organizations.
The Women's Forum Breakfast, moderated by Chicago Sun-Times syndicated columnist and best-selling author Terry Savage, will feature several prominent entrepreneurs who share the trials and tribulations of running a business. The Hall of Fame Awards Luncheon will honor several successful female entrepreneurs and organizations that support women's economic development. Workshops and roundtable discussions will enable attendees to learn from business experts about finance, insurance, employment issues, sales techniques, and Internet marketing.
For more information about the Entrepreneurial Woman's Conference or to register, call (312) 853-3477, or visit www.wbdc.org.