MEGA BIZFEST 2012 Scheduled for October 11, 2012
Posted on 09/27/2012 4:36 pm
Wilmington Mayor James M. Baker and the City of Wilmington’s Office of Economic Development (Office of Small and Minority Business Enterprises) are pleased to announce the schedule of events for the 2012 Mega BizFest—an annual business conference that invites policy-makers, corporations, governments, business leaders and small businesses to gather and explore strategies for improving prospects for women-, veteran-, and minority-owned businesses. Held October 11, the event is sponsored by Citizens Bank and a consortium of organizations dedicated to assisting small business owners.
“The success of small businesses is key to weathering today’s challenging economic climate,” said Wilmington Mayor James M. Baker. “Mega BizFest is our way of helping all business owners be a part of the new Wilmington that is emerging from the old—where growth and prosperity is available to all and everyone is given the opportunity and direction to succeed.”
Mega BizFest will be held on October 11from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the Double Tree Hotel by Hilton, which is located at 700 N. King Street in Downtown Wilmington. Mega BizFest is a one-stop business event for ALL businesses and entrepreneurial-minded persons seeking working capital, business support services, procurement opportunities, and strategies for effectively marketing and promoting a business. The Conference will continue to focus on three needs as identified by surveys from small business owners: access to capital; access to the supply chain; and access to technology.
Mega BizFest 2012 features a new financial capacity building boot camp and expo presented by Citizens Bank. Also included will be a Lender’s Match and Business Match, where small businesses can meet one on one with representatives from government, the private sector, corporations and the banking industry to discuss financing, purchasing and procurement opportunities. Finally, the conference includes the chance for business owners to meet with business coaches and compete in the $1,000 Elevator Pitch contest (details at www.megabizfest.com).
The 2012 Conference will partner once again with Constant Contact to present a powerhouse workshop on providing an integrated solution for marketing and building relationships using online technology and marketing with social media tools. “Technology has created a new forum for communicating with customers,” said David Yunghans, Regional Development Director for Constant Contact. “Businesses are in need of optimizing their social networks and gaining tools that help with building and increasing customer relationships.”
The 2012 Mega BizFest Keynote Speaker is Carmen Lee Pow, C.E.O. of Motivated Communicators. Pow is an accomplished leader, communicator and motivational speaker who brings innovation, energy and insight to all her endeavors. She has achieved one of the highest rank honors from Toastmasters International for her delivery of awesome messages and public speeches. Her passion for motivating audiences to achieve their fullest potential in team-building, creating alliances, marketing, business and life has received praise from many corporations, government agencies, non-profits, and private sector companies. Pow continues to inspire audiences with her story and her incredible powers of encouragement and motivation. With more than 30 years of corporate business experience, Pow offers tried-and-true solutions to today's business challenges.
During Mega BizFest 2012, organizers will announce the winners of the 8th Annual Mega BizFest Business Plan Competition, in which aspiring and existing entrepreneurs compete for up to $10,000 in prize money and business support services for their small businesses. Additional awards will be presented to the Outstanding DBE of the Year, the Outstanding Corporation of the Year, the Prime Contractor of the Year and the U.S. Small Business Administration MEDWEEK Awards Winner. The evening will culminate with a business-to-business networking reception.
Mega BizFest is hosted by the City of Wilmington with support from title sponsor Citizens Bank. Other sponsors include Delmarva Power/PEPCO Holdings, AstraZeneca, WHA, SKANSKA, Powell Insurance Agency, ABC of Delaware, MBEIC, and Constant Contact.
The full registration for Mega BizFest is $99; most of the initiatives are priced individually to provide flexibility for business owners. For a full schedule of events as well as registration information, please visit www.megabizfest.com or call (302) 576-2121.
