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SFMSDC's Business Expo set for March 23

February 10, 2012·Nancy Dahlberg

This is information from Beatrice Louissaint, president of the Southern Flororida Minority Supplier Development Council, about her nonprofit organization's biggest event of the year connecting minority-owned businesses with major corporations and government agencies.

BeatriceLouissaintThe Southern Florida Minority Supplier Development Council (SFMSDC) will host its 27th Annual Business Expo March 23rd at the Broward County Convention Center, 1950 Eisenhower Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale.

The Business Expo theme is One BIG Event: Many Business Opportunities and will bring minority-owned businesses, major corporations and government agencies together in a series of workshops and networking events to create business opportunities and discuss industry trends. “The event is designed to ensure minority businesses at all stages of development are positioned for greater success; and to provide corporations and government agencies with information about Supplier Diversity”, said Beatrice Louissaint, President of the SFMSDC. (Photo of Beatrice Louissaint)

The 2012 Business Expo is an ideal opportunity for minority entrepreneurs to present their goods and services to purchasing agents from government agencies and Fortune 500 companies. Exhibitors and sponsors include: Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida, Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau, Florida Power & Light Company, JM Family Enterprises, Broward College, University of Miami, CVS/Caremark, Broward Health, Comcast, Turner Construction, SDI International Corp., Miami-Dade Expressway Authority, Gilly Vending, Wells Fargo,  Baptist Health South Florida, Gill Dion & Forsyth P.A., Bank of America and Enterprise Holdings.

The Business Expo workshops will focus on how to achieve company growth, doing business with local, state and federal government, purchasing trends and best practices in Supplier Diversity. Annually, the organization also sponsors a youth entrepreneur workshop designed to take the mystery out of finances and encourage young people to consider entrepreneurship. The invitees are deserving students from South Florida. SFMSDC works in conjunction with the region’s Urban Leagues and local schools to identify the students.

The Business Expo luncheon keynote speaker is Christian Goode, President of Resorts World Miami. Goode will discuss the proposed $3.8 billion Genting Resort in downtown Miami.

To learn more about the Business Expo or for additional information, log on to http://www.sfmsdc.org/ or contact the SFMSDC at (305) 762-6151 or email beatrice@sfmsdc.org.