EXPO Includes ''Doing Business With Volkswagen'' Seminar
The Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce will offer six free seminars during the Chattanooga Business EXPO on March 18 at the Convention Center.
The city's largest business trade show, the EXPO will take place from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. The EXPO will close during the Chamber's Small Business Awards Luncheon, which will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Convention Center.
"With many of our businesses struggling in this down economy, the Chamber is especially pleased to present these free seminars that have been arranged to support small businesses in particular," said Chamber President and CEO Tom Edd Wilson. "These programs are among the many services we provide our members to foster a healthy business climate in Chattanooga."
Over 200 area businesses will have products and services on display during the EXPO. To reserve a booth, call Bud Brown at the Chamber at 423-763-4355 or Stephanie Deimling at 423-763-4372. The EXPO is open to the public free of charge.
The following is information on the seminars:
Convention Center, Room 20
9:30 a.m.-11 a.m. - "Essential Elements of Effective Leaders." Presented by Sam Wills, EMJ Corp.
This seminar will enable participants to evaluate their style of leadership and offer insights into effective communication and motivation methods that will enable participants to become stronger leaders.
1:30 p.m. - 3 p.m.-"The Listening Challenge"
Presented by: Vincent Phipps, Talk Listen Communicate (TLC)
The program will identify specific areas of listening weakness and offer a measurable determination of how well participants listen. Participants will discover shortcomings affecting customer service, sales, teamwork and leadership, resulting from poor listening skills. Emphasis on the three levels of listening and what it takes for improvement at each level.
3:30 p.m.-5 p.m. -"Time Management"
Presented by Mark T. Gibson, Leadership for Tomorrow
Participants will learn to develop healthy "to do" lists and will understand the value of and how to create a "not to do" list. The seminar will also focus on learning to delegate and recognizing the time management value of assigning appropriate tasks to the appropriate person. Participants will learn to execute decision-making steps to improve their time management.
Room 21: 9:30 a.m.-11 a.m.-"Why Advertise and Where"
Presented by: Advertising panel
A panel of area media professionals will offer participants ideas for informing potential customers about products and services and how to obtain them. Learn the best ways to deliver business messages - through television, radio, magazines, newspapers, and the Internet and billboards. Discover how to make the most economical and effective use of advertising budgets. The presentation will include methods for obtaining free advertising from the media.
Panelists are Larry Robinson, AT&T Real Yellow Pages; Ed Bourn, Chattanooga Times Free Press; Jerry Ware, Brewer Broadcasting; Heather Nelson, Fairway Outdoor; and
Tere Manresa, WDSI FOX61 TV.
1:30 p.m.-3 p.m. -"Business to Business - Engaging the Nonprofit Community" Panel Discussion
Join nonprofit representatives as they discuss how to engage with and open the door to doing business with the nonprofit community. Panelists will discuss the unique needs and perspectives of the nonprofit community, as well as share insights into procurement processes. A"Q and A" session will follow the panel presentation.
Panelists: Sandra Hollett, Partnership for Children, Family and Adults; Linda Rath, Girl Scouts of Moccasin Bend Council; Julie Baumgardner, First Things First, and Myron Wilkins, Bethel Bible Village. Sheila Moore, from United Way's Center for Nonprofits, will serve as moderator.
3:30 p.m.-5 p.m -- "Doing Business with Volkswagen"
Presented by a panel of Volkswagen purchasing officials.
Offering information on how to become a supplier for Volkswagen.
For more information about the seminars call Christie Kelly at 423-763-4366.
