Richmond—The 2011 Virginia Business Opportunity Fair, billed the best business ticket in the region, starts today, Monday May 2. Hosted by the Virginia Minority Supplier Development Council (VMSDC), VBOF runs two days at the Hilton Richmond Hotel & Spa in Short Pump.
Beginning with an early morning breakfast sign in (7:30 a.m.) at The Dominion Club, VBOF: Refresh, Revitalize, Reconnect officially kicks off with a shot gun start for the annual Diversity Golf Tournament. The golf competition, a key matchmaking event, teams top corporations with complementary certified minority firms. This year's golf event features a PGA golf clinic taught by the Dominion Club's golf pro. You can register a la carte for the clinic and the networking awards luncheon.
"Each year, strong business alliances are born at VBOF," said Tracey Jeter, VMSDC president and chief executive officer. "Executives not only learn, but are engaged and inspired by the energy and information at VBOF."
Featured speakers and presenters for the conference include:
Virginia Secretary of Administration Lisa Hicks-Thomas and Roanoke City Manager Christopher P. Morrill, who will discuss innovation in the Commonwealth.
Ed "The Rainmaker" Robinson will lead a corporate session on "From Fighting in the Storm to Dancing in the Rain."
VBOF attendees will learn about Vu ja de, a radically different way of looking at familiar challenges, from Simon T. Bailey, voted the "Best Keynote Speaker" by readers of Meetings and Conventions magazine.
Minority businesses will hear ways businesses can become more agile in today's global economy from Rob Holder, account executive at HP.
VBOF's Sponsor's Luncheon emcee is WRIC news anchor Amie McLain.
The Corporate/MBE Roundtable will offer MBEs access to a diverse field of leaders from top corporations. The corporate representatives will offer an insider's view on how to do business with their company and in their industry.
For entertainment, MBEIC reception will feature Grammy-nominated Plunky & Oneness delivering a medley of jazz-infused, soulful grooves.
VBOF, which also features a large, multi-industry trade show, is one of the Commonwealth's most productive and informative developmental and networking platforms for minority businesses. Minority businesses connect with large corporations, government contractors, educational and financial institutions as well as non-profits. Corporations are introduced to qualified, certified minority firms. Attendees come from across Virginia and from several surrounding states.
Platinum VBOF Sponsors are: Altria Group (NYSE: MO), Capital One (NYSE: COF), MWV—MeadWestvaco (NYSE: MWV) and Newport News Shipbuilding—A Division of Huntington Ingalls Industries (NYSE: HII). VBOF's minority business enterprise Platinum sponsors are: AMPCUS Inc., Astyra Corp., Brandon Technology Consulting Inc. and QSACK & Associates Inc.
