NWLA Small Business Summit offers networking, industry knowledge

Minority small business owners and those planning to open a small business will converge Sept. 27 at the Shreveport Convention Center to meet with governmental agencies and private contractors at the Northwest Louisiana Small Business Summit.

The summit, in its sophomore year, not only offers minority small business owners an opportunity to learn how to procure new business but gives governmental agencies and contractors a chance to network with qualified minority small businesses in order to meet contracting goals.

“We had 400 small business owners attend the first summit, which offered information on how to do business with city, parish and state government entities,” Karen Barnes, chairwoman and director of Shreveport’s Fair Share program, said. “This year, we’re connecting small businesses with government agencies and gaming industries as well as the private sector.”

The idea for the summit was conceived when a contingency from Shreveport attended a 2011 small business summit in Baton Rouge co-sponsored by Sen. Mary Landrieu and Baton Rouge Mayor Kip Holden. Landrieu, who has held 10 such small business summits since 2009, worked with Shreveport Mayor Cedric Glover and the Fair Share program, Caddo Parish Administrator Dr. Woodrow Wilson and local business leaders to organize a Shreveport Small Business Summit in February 2012.

“These types of events are successful because they bring together different officials and groups that can partner with small businesses,” Landrieu said. “It is these types of partnerships with federal, state and local government agencies, community banks, or larger more successful businesses that create the most opportunities for small business owners. These types of collaboration can serve as a catalyst for growing the state and local economy.”

In short, the summit is a practical tool put in the hands of small business owners for making on-the-spot business connections. And collaboration at the state, parish and city levels increases the effectiveness of such an idea.

Glover said Fair Share’s role is to ensure minority- and women-owned companies have a seat at the table. The summit gives Fair Share an efficient opportunity to help hundreds of small business owners.

“For me, it’s not only about being fair but also about putting ourselves in a position to grow and develop our own businesses so they can have the capacity to bid and complete these larger jobs that are often limited to more established contractors, many of whom are not local,” Glover said. “I believe this summit will help open doors for folks who don’t necessarily believe they can participate in some projects because they’re either not big enough or they simply don’t have all the information they need to make a case for themselves.”

Wilson agrees. “I believe that it is very important for us as a community and region to get together and hold this Small Business Summit, which will provide us an opportunity to learn how to do business with each other, enhance business opportunities, network and make connections that could enhance individual and community success,” he said. “After all, it is the small businesses throughout America and, locally, that serve as an ‘economic engine’ that drives community growth and employability.”

Barnes said the event offers a specific toolkit of activities that can help small businesses grow.

That toolkit includes: • Networking throughout the day via a “reverse trade show,” in which governmental agencies, prime contractors and small business resource partners exhibit while small business owners market to exhibitors.

• Break-out sessions providing details about diversity supplier programs with private sector and gaming industries and the prerequisites that are necessary to become a vendor and/or a supplier with these companies. Summit participants can meet one-on-one with private sector industries, pick up vendor applications and find out how to register.

• Guest speakers including Phala Mire, with the Louisiana Minority Business Council, and Debbie Barber with the Women’s Enterprise National Business Council, will share how their councils provide and manage the development, enforcement and implementation of their World Class Certifications, which are nationally accepted and recognized by thousands of major corporations as well as a some government entities.

• Exhibitor booths, which will be “open for business” with representatives available to answer questions about how to do business.

The toolkit worked well at the 2011 summit for small business owner Jeanetta Scott, co-owner of ’Mpressive Industries LLC.

“The summit was packed with booths and I had the unique opportunity to gain business contacts and contracts,” she said. “I also mentored a few new starts and designed their business package. At this year’s summit, I’m looking forward to exponential growth.”

A satisfied business owner like Jeanetta Scott makes Glover happy.

“Once you sit down and talk with representatives from the city, the parish and these big companies who obtain multi-million-dollar contracts, you start to open your eyes to the very real possibilities and opportunities available if you just get your foot in the door,” he said. “You’ll discover they are many chances to grow your business, build capacity and play a major part in the economic growth of this city.”

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WANT TO GO?

The Northwest Louisiana Small Business Summit will be held 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sep. 27 at the Shreveport Convention Center. For more information, go to the conference website at www.lagovconference.com or contact Jennifer Whittington at the NWLA Government Procurement Center by phone 677.2530 or by email jennifer@shreveportchamber.org.