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SBA and MBDA to Participate in the 24th National MED Week Conference

SB Informer
Tuesday, August 22, 2006; 08:09 AM

The U.S. Small Business Administration and the Department of Commerce's Minority Business Development Agency will take part in the 24th National Minority Enterprise Development (MED) Week Conference Aug 29-Sept. 1 in Washington, D.C. Under the theme, "Mastering the Supply Chain," the MED Week conference will provide a forum for successful supply chain executives from UPS, Tyco, FedEx, IBM and Wal-Mart to share with minority-owned firms information on strengthening their position in the global and domestic supply chain and building and sustaining quality relationships with suppliers, customers and clients. Minority entrepreneurs will also be recognized for their superior business accomplishments. The conference will feature:

      * Award ceremonies announcing the National Minority Small Business
        Person of the Year, 8(a) Graduate Firm of the Year and the
        Administrator's Leadership Award
      * A "social capital" networking reception with George Frazer, founder of
        the PowerNetworking Conferences
      * An Emerging Business Leaders Summit for young entrepreneurs and
        business plan competition
      * Two panels designed to help small businesses take part in the
        rebuilding efforts in the Gulf Coast and gain access to contracting
        opportunities and tax incentives
      * Tributes in recognition of the one-year anniversary of Hurricane
        Katrina

    WHO:    Steven C. Preston, Administrator, U.S. Small Business
              Administration
            Carlos M. Gutierrez, Secretary of Commerce
            Ronald Langston, National Director of MBDA
            Anthony Martoccia, Associate Deputy Administrator of Government
              Contracting and Business Development, U.S. Small Business
              Administration

            SBA Administrator Preston will be the keynote speaker at a
            luncheon from 12:00-2:00 on September 1, 2006. Press availability
            to follow.

    WHEN:   August 29-September 1, 2006

    WHERE: Omni Shoreham Hotel
            2500 Calvert St., N.W.
            Washington, DC
            1-800-The-Omni

    MINORITY BUSINESS SUMMITS AND WORKSHOPS:

            Gulf Opportunity Zone Tax Incentives, Entering the Franchise
            Supply Chain and SBA's workshop entitled Re-building the Gulf:
            (Panel discussion will be moderated by) Eugene Cornelius, SBA
            District Director for the New Orleans District Office

INFORMATIVE BREAKFASTS AND LUNCHEONS: Senior Members of the White House staff, including Matthew Slaughter, who serves on the President's Council of Economic Advisors, will be available at the breakfasts to discuss key initiatives of the Bush Administration (7:30-8:45 am each morning), Keynote speakers and experts on minority business growth and development will be featured at the luncheons (12:00-2:00 pm each afternoon).

BUSINESS EXPO: During the business expo, minority entrepreneurs will showcase their products and services. Representatives of federal, state, and local governments and private companies will provide contracting information and discuss opportunities for competing successfully in international markets.

EMERGING BUSINESS LEADERS INSTITUTE: College and university students who are aspiring entrepreneurs will learn about business ownership from established minority business owners and leaders.

AWARDS/RECOGNITION CEREMONIES: National award recipients, minority business advocates and exemplary corporations will be honored.

There are no walk-in registrations available and all events except for the Business Expo are ticketed. The Business Expo will be held on Aug. 31 from 9:00-12:00 and 2:15-5:00.