Second Annual Multicultural Business Conference

Contacts: Lauryn Han (703)-993-4873
Business Development Assistance Group (BDAG)
Aimee Brobst (703)-533-5321
Center for Business Planning and Development (CBPD)

For Immediate Release - August 2, 2004

The Second Annual Multicultural Business Conference will be held at the Johnson Center of George Mason University on Thursday, August 12, 2004, from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The theme is for this year's exciting event is "Access to Success," and the programs offered at this one day conference have been designed to create opportunities for small and minority business owners and entrepreneurs, through networking, information sharing, and access to resources critical for their success in the mainstream economy.

Organizers and partners of this conference include: Business Development Assistance Group (www.bdag.org), Center for Business Planning and Development (www.myskillsource.org), Fairfax County Economic Development Authority (www.fceda.org), the Northern Virginia Workforce Investment Board (www.myskillsource.org), Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (www.fdic.gov), Mason Enterprise Center (www.masonenterprise.org), Arlington Small Business Development Center (www.arlingtonsbdc.org), Virginia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (www.vahcc.com), US SBA (www.sba.gov), and Asian Marketing Services (www.asian-marketing.com).

Nalin Jain, Director of the Arlington Small Business Development Center of the Mason Enterprise Center said, "This conference will offer a great and unique opportunity for companies seeking federal contracts because the two federal agencies with the largest purchasing power will be on site." They are the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) represented by Mr. Joe Capuano, and the Iraq Program Management Office (PMO) represented by Mr. John Proctor, who will discuss procedures and steps small and minority business firms can take to enter this crucial market, and more importantly, a procurement forecast for DHS and PMO.

David Hunn, Executive Director of the Northern Virginia Workforce Investment Board (NVWIB) and a conference sponsor, stated that "the conference promotes one of the critical goals of the NVWIB: to expand business services for the emerging entrepreneur and to strengthen supports and access to business services to everyone."

In a letter dated June 29, 2004, Governor Mark Warner applauded the efforts of the conference organizers and stressed the importance that all segments of the population in the Commonwealth have the opportunity to participate fully in Virginia's economic growth; the "Access to Success" conference will advance that goal. Secretary of Trade and Commerce, Michael Schewel and Dr. Alan Merten, President of George Mason University will be the keynote speakers at the conference networking luncheon.

For more information on the conference and other federal contracting opportunity leads, contact Lauryn Han via email at lhan@bdag.org, through the Business Development Assistance Group website at www.bdag.org, via phone at (703) 993-4873 or fax: (703) 993-8130.