PRESS RELEASE
                                                                                                                                                                                 For Immediate Release

 

MEDIA CONTACT: 
Margo Williams Handy, MWH Public Relations

281.213.9557, 832.492.2407 or margo@mwhpublicrelations.com

For more info: Check this document
 

GPC 2007 to Bolster Education, Networking and Contracting Opportunities for Minority-owned Businesses 

HOUSTON (Feb. 9, 2007) -- The 16th annual Government Procurement Connections public sector contracting fair, business expo and entrepreneur training conference is scheduled for March 25-27, 2007. The Business Expo and educational workshops and forums will take place at the George R. Brown Convention Center, 1001 Avenida de las Americas.  This year’s theme is “Knowledge • Access • Power.”  Registration for GPC 2007 is free.

“Our market survey conducted by RTS Marketing Research and MWH Public Relations revealed we do many things right, but there are three key areas where we need improvement to  meet the needs of small, minority-owned businesses who rely on us to help them succeed,” said Paralee Shivers, 2007 GPC co-chair.

“Our customers have three requests.  They want real educational tools that provide the how-to steps on responding to RFPs and winning bids, access to decision-makers and opportunities to bid on qualified leads – GPC 2007 will deliver on these expectations.  That’s why our theme this year is ‘Knowledge • Access • Power,” said Shivers. 

On tap at GPC 2007: 

KNOWLEDGE CENTER

• 11 innovative workshops:

      1.      Securing Government Contracts (Federal, State, and Local) – An Overview
2.      Government Contracting Success Stories
3.      Overcoming Potential Barriers
4.      Forming Alliances with Educational Institutes
5.      Impacting Your Community with a Non-Profit Agency
6.      Aligning with Prime Contractors Doing Business with the Government
7.      Elevating Your Business to the Next Level
8.      Forecasting Industry Trends
9.      Managing Your Finances 
10.  Houston Airport Concession – Doing Business with the Airport System
11.  NASA – Navigating for Success 

• Author’s Circle – meet/greet Houston authors

• Business Expo & Trade Fair - over 250 exhibitors and 5,000 attendees

 ACCESS CONNECTIONS

• Business Scholarship Golf Tournament benefiting Star of Hope at Southwyck Golf Club

• Industry Forums. Direct access to government and prime decision makers – GUARANTEED!

• Chamber of Commerce Networking Reception

• Face-to-Face Sessions

• Economic Empowerment Breakfast featuring keynote speaker, Steve Brown, Senior Vice President and Branch Manager, Unity National Bank

• Awards Luncheon featuring a keynote address by Mayor Bill White

POWER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

• Teaming and contract opportunities

• Community support with onsite GPC

The GPC market survey revealed an overall satisfaction of GPC by sponsors, prime contractors, partners and small businesses. 

“The GPC expo has opened the door for many opportunities for small businesses that attend.  As a prime, the expo has given us a chance to meet and engage with quality small businesses that we have contracted with.  We look forward to the expo each year and a chance to meet new and exciting small businesses,” said a 2006 prime contractor in the 2007 GPC market survey.

“Before GPC 2004, we had not been in business a month yet. Shortly thereafter, we began following up on the leads we took back from GPC. Since then, we have won bids totaling about $450-500,000 with Texas A&M; approximately $38,000 with TXDOT and these leads were generated from GPC networking,” said a 2006 GPC participant and business owner in the 2007 GPC market survey.

The full GPC market survey is available online on the GPC Web site.

For free business expo, forum and workshop registration, luncheon reservations, event times, and additional details, visit www.HoustonGPC.com or call 713.718.5158.

Persons with a disability: Call Relay Texas 1-888-782.8477 or 711 for information or if in need of a reasonable accommodation. There are no assurances of availability of appropriate accommodation with prior notification.

About Government Procurement Connections 2007:  Now in its 16th year, GPC 2007 is the premier public sector contracting fair, business expo and entrepreneur training conference in the Gulf Coast region attracting well over 10,000 participants annually for its pre- and day-of-event forums, business expo, workshops and awards luncheon. It offers small and emerging businesses, prime contractors, government agencies, affiliated organizations, expo participants and sponsors a one-stop shop for information regarding contracting opportunities. GPC also offers firms the opportunity to establish valuable relationships with prime contractors. GPC 2007 is a collaborative effort of the City of Houston, Houston Community College, Port of Houston Authority, Metropolitan Transit Authority, State of Texas, United Space Alliance, Houston Minority Business Council, Women Business Enterprise Alliance, Harris County, Department of Veterans Affairs, Houston Federal Executive Board, Small Business Administration, Houston Minority Business Enterprise Center, local chambers of commerce as well as other small/minority business advocates in the Houston and surrounding areas.  For more information, visit www.houstongpc.com.

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