Published: April 21, 2009 07:47 am      

McAlester to host Women’s Biz Conference and Expo

DURANT – The Women’s Business Center (WBC) of Rural Enterprises of Oklahoma, a Durant-based economic development organization,  has scheduled its Seventh Annual Women’s Biz Conference and Expo to be held from 8 a.m. to 2:45 p.m., Thursday, April 30, 2009, at the Southeast Expo Center, 4500 W. Highway 270 in McAlester. 

Keynote speaker for the event is five feet, two inch, Jan Coates, who delivers a message like she is eight feet tall. 

The Chickasaw Nation is sponsoring the Business Expo, where women business owners can showcase their business, sell products and network with other business owners. The Keynote speaker is sponsored by Wal-Mart.  Door prizes will be awarded at the end of the conference.    

The conference will feature concurrent sessions where acknowledged experts in their fields will present subjects for small businesses and entrepreneurs, including:  Diversity in Marketing, Top 10 Employee Legal Issues for Small Business Owners, Doing Business With the Government, Failing to Plan or Planning to Fail, Introduction to Setting Up A Website, Introducing Food Products to the Marketplace and REI”s Kitchen Incubator, Exploring Customer Behavior in an Online World, Entrepreneurial Strategies and How to Avoid Pitfalls, Financial Choices that Matter Most, Insure Oklahoma, and Essential First Steps in Starting a Business. Concurrent session sponsors are Citizen Potawatomi Nation and Prudential Insurance Company of America.

“Although this is an informative conference specifically planned for women entrepreneurs, all business owners are invited and urged to attend,” said Dr. Barbara Rackley, WBC Coordinator.  “This is a great opportunity to hear topics that are designed to help the entrepreneur and developing small business owners; topics that are vital to the successful operation of a business.”

Conference registration (includes Expo, Concurrent Sessions, free booth space and luncheon) is $40.  Booth space will be provided at no extra charge.  For those with limited time, there is the opportunity to attend the keynote luncheon and visit the Expo exhibit hall for just $20.    For on-line registration, visit www.ruralenterprises.com.   Registration deadline is Thursday, April 23, 2009. 

For more information or to register, phonel Dr. Barbara Rackley or Lori Smith at 800-658-2823.