McAlester Hosts Women's Biz Expo

The Women’s Business Center (WBC) of Rural Enterprises of Oklahoma, a Durant-based economic development organization,  has scheduled its Eighth Annual Women’s Biz Conference and Expo to be held from 8:00 a.m. to 2:45 p.m., Thursday, April 29, 2010, at the Southeast Expo Center, 4500 W. Highway 270, in McAlester. 

Keynote speaker for the event is Bobbe White, a Certified Laughter Leader, whose work history reflects 32 years of stability and a proven performance record of corporate training and business development.  She has experienced the changes of upsizing, downsizing, times of sharing and parsimony; the problems associated with apathetic leadership and the sense of optimism when led by inspired management. 
 
Bobbe sets the stage by looking at life’s twists and turns with a sense of humor, the gift of laughter, and let’s you do the same.  So what can a banker possibly offer on laughter and humor?  Attendees will cash in on tips and tools from her vault of humor resources to show us how to turn personal liabilities into “laughabilities.”

Bobbe will open the Conference with a short talk entitled “If Stress is Garbage, I’ve ‘Bin’ There, Recycled That.”  Her keynote presentation will be “Try Laughter…Just for the Health of It!”

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:   Agri-tourism, Doing Business With the Government, Employers and I-9 Compliance, The Entrepreneurial Story:  Strategies and Pitfalls, Essential First Steps in Starting a Business, Keeping the Books, Let’s Face It – It’s an Online World and You’ve Got To Be Connected, Marketing in a Tough Economy, Pricing for Profit, Top 10 Employee Legal Issues for Small Business Owners, Top-notch Customer Service and Will my Business Idea Work?    Concurrent session sponsors are Citizen Potawatomi Nation and First United Bank.

“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.”
 
Partners co-sponsoring the Conference and Expo include area technology centers, area state colleges, chambers of commerce, Main Street programs, OSU Cooperative Extension and REI’s Women’s Business center, as well as 19 corporate sponsors.  The WBC is funded in part by the U.S. Small Business Administration.
 
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, 2010.