Registration for mayor’s Small Business Conference now open

Upcoming Events — By Melanie McIntyre on August 13, 2012 at 8:00 am

The 10th annual Mayor’s Small Business Conference and Expo will be held Oct. 3 at the Hyatt Regency Columbus at the Greater Columbus Convention Center from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Online registration opens today.

This year’s theme is ”Go forward: driving local economic growth through small business inclusion and sustainability.” Focus areas will include technology, economic development, construction opportunities, and supplier diversity training.

“We are proud to host this opportunity again for small businesses to learn about ways they can do business with the city of Columbus,” said Mayor Michael Coleman in a statement. “I encourage all small businesses to come, attend the workshops and network with other larger businesses they may be able to work with as subcontractors. We are committed to having a diverse base of local vendors for our city’s purchasing and contracting needs to include female and minority-owned businesses.”

The keynote speaker will be Caroline Clarke, senior editor and editor at large of Black Enterprise and editorial director of Black Enterprise Books. An award winning journalist, Clarke’s experience spans print, digital and television, and includes the role of general manager at Interactive Media.

Clarke will speak about building sustainable small businesses.

To learn more about the Mayor’s Small Business Conference, or to register, visit Columbus.gov.

Author Bio: Melanie McIntyre:
Melanie McIntyre has served as editorial director of The Metropreneur since its launch in 2010. She previously worked as a staff writer for a business and legal newspaper, where she wrote more than 500 stories about finance and real estate and development in Central Ohio. Since 2008, Melanie has worked on a freelance basis for several local entities, including Columbus Underground, where she is a featured writer. She also blogs about fashion, style, and pop culture at Thoroughly Modern Melly. Melanie is a graduate of The Ohio State University, lives in the Short North, and enjoys reading and running.