Conference Agenda

(Note: Events and times are subject to change)

Thursday, September 18, 2008

5:30-6:30pm
NAWBO Host Chapters Welcome Reception

Take the ferry boat from the BoardWalk hotel across the pond to Disney's Yacht & Beach Club Resorts, where NAWBO Orlando is hosting a community event celebrating diversity in the workforce. Join the cash-bar cocktail party and meet other conference participants as well as Central Florida leaders. Attendee chooses whether to pre-register for The Beacon Awards or go out to dinner with other conference participants. Business evening attire recommended.

6:30-9pm (Extra Event)
The Beacon Awards: Celebrating Diversity in Greater Orlando's Workforce

Disney's Yacht & Beach Club Resorts, accessible by short ferry ride from BoardWalk
Keynote speaker Barbara Annis of Toronto, Canada, is the author of Same Words, Different Language and co-author with Michael Gurian of the new book Leadership and the Sexes: Using Gender Science to Create Success in Business. An authority on gender diversity and a former Sony executive, she teaches at Harvard University's International Leadership Institute. Her company, Barbara Annis and Associates Inc., provides education on workplace culture. The Beacon Awards is a NAWBO Orlando event that covers a nine-county area of Central Florida including the territory of the Lakeland Metro NAWBO chapter. Includes awards presentations for diversity best practices for large business, medium business, small business, government agency, nonprofit, corporate advocate and individual advocate. Ticket price of $75 includes speaker, awards presentation and dinner. Business evening attire recommended.

Friday, September 19, 2008

Business attire recommended for day's activities.

7:45-8:30am
Breakfast and overview / orientation - Promenade Ballroom

Join favorite business associates and new friends for breakfast and hear a brief description of what's in store for the day's activities.

8:30-9:20am
General session - Promenade Ballroom
Panel on "Secrets to Success in Procurement for Women Business Owners"
Sponsored by Walt Disney World Resorts

Go beyond entry-level advice on procurement and learn in-depth strategies that will help your business secure the contracts you want.
Speakers:

Moderator: Nancy Allen, Women's Business Enterprise National Council, Miami

Kathy Homeyer, UPS, Atlanta

Matt Thursam, Walt Disney World, Lake Buena Vista

Stephanie McFee, Women Impacting Public Policy, West Palm Beach

Judy Bradt, Summit Insight, Alexandria, Virginia

Molly Gimmel, Design to Delivery, Bethesda, Maryland

9:30-11:20am
Procurement hall
Co-sponsored by NAWBO and WBENC

Meet with representatives from companies and government agencies interested in working with women-owned businesses. Roundtable discussion format allows you to move freely between tables without an appointment.
Moderator: Therese Smyntek, Everything Nature, Orlando, and National Association of Women Business Owners

UPS Walt Disney World Progress Energy Wal-Mart/Sam's Club Fifth Third Bank IKEA Siemens Office Depot Universal Studios U.S. Department of Transportation

City of Orlando Northrop Grumman National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) U.S. Small Business Administration Procurement Technical Assistance Centers Women's Business Centers Florida Minority Supplier Development Council Disney Entrepreneur Center Athena Foundation/PowerLink

9:30-11:20am
Procurement hall
Procurement Lounge / Matchmaker Appointments

Meet one-on-one with representatives from companies and government agencies that might be able to use your services. Advance registration required. Talk with the experts and get informal advice from helpful organizations and advisors.

9:30-10:20am
Breakout educational session
"Federal Contracting: 4 Easy Lessons Using Free Market Research"

Go beyond the basics of shooting in the dark to try to land government contracts. With special reconnaissance tips, you can learn who your competitors are, who they sell to, what they're selling and how they're pricing. These advanced techniques are so easy, you can do them yourself or assign them to a member of your team.
Speaker: Judy Bradt, Summit Insight, Alexandria, Virginia

10:30-11:20am
Breakout educational session
"Finding the Money: How to Access Capital You Didn't Know Existed"

Leave the conference with solid ideas about how your company can open doors to capital by changing what you're doing and how you're thinking. Hear about how your company can approach traditional banks in nontraditional ways in a tough economy. Learn how to secure a low-cost SBA-backed loan as well as mentorship through UPS Capital.
Speakers: Gary Carleton and Soloane Jackson, UPS Capital; and Shirley Walker and Carrie Williams, Minority/Women Business Enterprise Alliance, Orlando.

11:30am-12:15pm
General session
Panel on "Conducting International Commerce with Maximum Returns"
Co-sponsored by Douglass Screen Printing and Experience Media

Everyone's buzzing about doing business internationally. How do you establish relationships that can help your company make the most of going global? Small, medium and large businesses in the service and product industries can not only replace falling revenues but expand aggressively by taking a calculated plunge into international commerce. Get practical, timely pointers on what's hot, what's not, and how you can form strategic alliances to minimize risk and maximize your returns.
Panelists:

Moderator: Lisa Hickey, Douglass Screen Printing, Lakeland, Florida

Ruth Bastedo, Experience Media, Toronto and South Florida

Kristen George, UPS, Atlanta

Susan Perry, Taylannas Inc. and Menus That Talk, Miami

Ken Mouradian, U.S. Department of Commerce, Orlando U.S. Export Assistance Center

12:15-1:35pm
Lunch and Networking
Sponsored by UPS

1:45-3:35pm
Procurement hall

Co-sponsored by NAWBO and WBENC

Meet with representatives from companies and government agencies interested in working with women-owned businesses. Roundtable discussion format allows you to move freely between tables without an appointment.
Moderator: Lola Kakes, Effortless HR, Tucson, Arizona, and National Association of Women Business Owners

UPS Walt Disney World Progress Energy Wal-Mart/Sam's Club Fifth Third Bank IKEA Siemens Office Depot Universal Studios U.S. Department of Transportation

Northrop Grumman City of Orlando National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) U.S. Small Business Administration Procurement Technical Assistance Centers Women's Business Centers Florida Minority Supplier Development Council Disney Entrepreneur Center Athena Foundation/PowerLink

1:45-2:35pm
Breakout educational session
"What Your Competitors Don't Know About Contracting"

The U.S. government is the largest purchaser of products and services in the world, and government agencies use the GSA Multiple Award Schedule contract vehicles to buy more than $35 billion in products and services every year. For women and minority business owners, the schedules reduce the time and money needed for the procurement process. Learn how your company can be proactive in its marketing and business development efforts by working with GSA Schedules and incorporating a top-notch emergency plan into your proposals.
Speakers:

• Donna Childs, author of Prepare for the Worst, Plan for the Best: Disaster Preparedness and Recovery for Small Businesses, New York, New York
• Molly Gimmel, Design To Delivery Inc., Bethesda, Maryland

2:45-3:35pm
Breakout educational session
"Secrets from Media Insiders: Effective Campaigns Using Traditional and New Media"

What does it cost to get your company into the high-profile ads you see on TV and billboards? How do you know whether to buy radio spots or put your money into magazine, newspaper or web advertising? What kind of research should your company do before placing ads, and how do you hire a media buyer? What about Internet marketing - how can your company increase its revenue through e-zines, blogs or podcasts? Learn high-level strategies for leading your company into effective media campaigns.
Speakers: Lena Claxton and Alison Woo, New Media Mavens, authors of How to Say It: Marketing with New Media, Charlotte, North Carolina

3:45-5pm
General session
Panel on "Working Green: Best Practices for Small Businesses"
Co-sponsored by Progress Energy and IKEA

What can your company do today to start protecting the earth's resources? Will these measures cost extra or save you money? Learn from major corporations and small businesses that are committed to doing business in environmentally friendly ways - without sacrificing profits.
Panelists:

Moderator: Tim Center, vice president of Sustainability Initiatives of the Collins Center for Public Policy, Tallahassee, Florida

Lynette McIntire, UPS, Atlanta

Tammy Brister, Walt Disney World

Greg Johnston, Wal-Mart/Sam's Club, Bentonville, Arkansas

Kathleen Lapp, Progress Energy, Lake Mary, Florida

Sonia Green, General Motors, Miami

John Zurcher, IKEA, Orlando, Florida

Diana Dobin, Valley Forge Fabrics, Pompano Beach, Florida

Gretchen Dudon, Renewable Choice Energy, Boulder, Colorado

5-6pm
Cocktail party reception
Co-sponsored by Orlando, Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Lakeland NAWBO Chapters

Join other participants for a cash-bar reception and unwind at the end of the day.

6:30-8pm
Food and networking
Sponsored by Walt Disney World

Compare notes of the day over food, dessert and cocktails in a freestyle buffet that encourages mingling.

Saturday, September 20, 2008

6:45-7am
Convention Center Lobby
Vehicles leave for golf tournament

7:30am-noon
Osprey Ridge Golf Course
Golf networking event
Sponsored by UPS

Challenge your friends and new contacts to a game of golf on one of Disney's finest courses. Exchange procurement tips in fun games on the links, and meet with fellow golfers. Advance registration required for $75.

10am-5:30pm
Free time for spa, shopping or theme park hopping

Book an appointment at a Disney spa, shop along the boardwalk, or purchase an after-2pm or after-4pm theme park ticket for a special low conference price! Buy in advance at online or ask your hotel concierge.

5:30pm
BoardWalk lobby's Belle Vue Lounge
Cocktail gathering

Meet friends in the lobby lounge for evening cocktails and head out to dinner on foot along the boardwalk or at one of the theme parks. Want to plan ahead? Check with the concierge for recommendations and reservations.

Conference Extras

7:45am through 5pm Friday
BoardWalk Convention Center
"Mavens Talk!"

See Media Mavens Alison Woo and Lena Claxton broadcast live from the conference for their radio show, and watch for info about the conference later on Forbes.com.

10:30am through 5pm Friday
Park Place Boardroom
Success Stories in Government Contracting

Tell us your success stories! Judy Bradt from NAWBO's Economic Development Forum gathers material for a "best practices" section of the website at www.nawbo.org. Look for the crew near the Procurement Lounge at the event.