African
American Newswire
For immediate release: April 23, 2001
Contact: Intégrité Media Group
Damon T. Oliver 213 694-0204/d.t.oliver@usa.net or
Terry Warren 818 292-4664/terry_warrenpr@yahoo.com
Business Conference provides African American business owners with
access to $100 million in procurement
Los
Angeles, CA, April 23, 2001/African American Newswire-- The TPC Foundation,
Inc., a non-profit organization dedicated to strengthening and developing
African American owned businesses through training, development, conferences
and symposiums, has announced its program to help African American
entrepreneurs access $100 Million in corporate and governmental procurement
opportunities at the California African American Business Summit 2001(CAABS
2001). This fourth annual Summit features such business notables as
Ken Lombard, president of Magic Johnson Development Company; Victoria
Lowe, president of Los Angeles County’s largest woman-owned business,
Alert Staffing and procurement expert Beverly Kuykendall, founder
of Federal and Commercial Contracts.
According to Lowe, who is also the president of the National Association
of Women Business Owners-Los Angeles, “It is extremely vital to the
growth and development of black-owned businesses that we create alliances
with other minority small businesses or other larger companies to
secure procurement opportunities in the corporate and governmental
sectors.” She adds, “The California African American Business Summit
provides the atmosphere and programs for entrepreneurs to achieve
this business-to-business exchange. This makes it the premiere event
for small business owners who are interested growing and expanding
their operations.”
CAABS 2001 will provide entrepreneurs with cutting edge tools, technology
and information needed to navigate the newest business paradigm through
workshops and panels. In addition to meeting with corporate and government
procurement executives, the summit features workshops and sessions
on topics ranging from securing debt and equity financing, using technology
to increase productivity and profitability and becoming more competitive
through alliances, mergers and acquisitions.
Business owners will also have the opportunity to start the process
to be certified as a minority business by the National Minority Supplier
Diversity Council. The certification is universally recognized by
corporate procurement officers and government agencies when evaluating
minority vendors. The SBA will also instruct entrepreneurs on how
to become an (8)a certified company, which allows minority owned businesses
to participate in governmental diversity procurement programs.
According to Jim Anderson, CEO of software providers, Beach Cities
Computers, “The Summit has always been a great place for African American
entrepreneurs to receive new opportunities in the corporate arena.
The contacts that I’ve made at past Summit’s has allowed me to grow
my bottom line.”
Corporate partners participating in the showcase include AT&T, UPS,
Wells Fargo Bank, Ford Motor Company, Turning Point Magazine, Bank
of America, The Disney Corporation, Merrill Lynch, The Port of Oakland,
Northern Trust Bank, Xerox Corporation, Microsoft and LA Community
Redevelopment Agency among others. Representatives of these corporations
will be on-hand to meet attendees to discuss potential procurement
contracts. Other highlights for CAABS 2001 include a Corporate Marketing
Pavilion, where sponsors will showcase their products and services;
sessions for faith-based organizations; and the “Conversation With
A Winner Series,” where business owners are able to talk directly
to those who have succeeded in business despite the odds.
The Summit will be held May 31 – June 2, 2001 at the Hyatt Regency
in Irvine California. For more information or to register for the
California African American Business Summit 2001, call 310 821-6910
or log onto www.Turningpointmagazine.com.
Source: African American Newswire: 1-800-286-3659.
