After more than 30 years, a Wisconsin women's and minorities' business conference is more popular than ever, with sold-out crowds this year.
Hundreds of business owners are networking in Milwaukee this week at the Marketplace 2013 Governor’s Conference on Minority Business Development. The conference brings together women and minority business owners, as well as disabled veterans.
It's the 32nd time the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation — the former state Department of Commerce — has hosted the conference.
Lee Swindall is a vice president at WEDC. “I think it's become now recognized as the epicenter of connection for these companies.”
Swindall says the conference has sold out, with 500 people attending while representing at least 135 companies. There are also exhibitors offering everything from accounting services to printing to transportation.
Even after more than 30 years, Swindall says, there is still a need for such a focused networking opportunity. He says that's because minorities, women and disabled vets still face obstacles when starting a business. “They have special opportunities to participate as certified minority-owned businesses in federal, state, and local contracting programs,” Swindall said. “But that is not knowledge and competency that is necessarily widely held across the minority business sector, and this is the place and time to learn how to exploit that opportunity most fully.”
Sessions will be devoted to learning about government contracts and how to get them.
