Salsaga Blog

WASHINGTON, March 28 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The U.S. Small Business Administration this week launched a new Web site, , for National Small Business Week 2008, featuring information about the agency’s premier annual event. The celebration of National Small Business Week is April 21-25, with events in Washington, D.C., April 21-23 and in New York City April 24-25.Among the featured speakers confirmed are Secretary Mike Leavitt, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Ambassador Susan C. Schwab, United States Trade Representative; Newt Gingrich, former House Speaker; David Latimore of the Initiative for a Competitive Inner City; John Bryant of Operation HOPE, and other prominent business leaders, CEOs and politicos.Visitors to the site will find it richer, deeper, and easier to navigate, with a look and feel that conveys the spirit of excitement surrounding this year’s Small Business Week events.Up-to-the-minute highlights, multimedia content and information will be updated to the Web site during Small Business Week events in real-time. An added interactive feature will allow visitors to to upload photos of the events directly to the site.Created with the user in mind, one of the newest features of the new Web site is an interactive blog that will allow sponsors, award winners, and the public to post content about Small Business Week events.The new Web site provides detailed information about the National Small Business Week schedule, including day-to-day-events, featured sessions, events locations, award winners’ biographies and detailed sponsor information. In addition, information for Small Business Week award winners will be accessible on member-only sections of the Web site.”National Small Business Week.com is a leap forward for the SBA, and represents a new platform for how the agency can engage in a dialogue with small businesses online,” said Anoop Prakash, SBA Associate Administrator for Entrepreneurial Development.A full updated schedule of events appears below, and online at .After Small Business Week 2008 events have ended, the Web site will continue to serve as a nucleus for dialogue and communication, with archived events from 2008 accessible at the click of a mouse button. Small business community members can receive updates on future SBA events, including a post-event discussion of National Small Business Week 2008 activities.The small business community is invited to join the SBA for a week of valuable executive panel forums that will feature an exceptional lineup of notable speakers, expert panelists, and business industry leaders discussing best business practices and the latest developments in the business world. The small business community nationwide can also take part in the forums, and view other Small Business Week events that will be webcast live.Online registration for National Small Business Week is now open. To hold your place, visit online to the new site at . Media outlets are encouraged to cover National Small Business Week events, and can also register online.– EXECUTIVE PANEL OPEN FORUMSThis series of executive discussions will feature some of the brightest minds in the industry and engage forum attendees on key issues of critical importance Healthcare - Cost and Coverage: Healthcare Chicken and Egg Trade - Going Global: Accessing New MarketsEnergy - Meeting the Energy Challenge: Impacts & Opportunities for Small BusinessProcurement - Secrets of Building Alliance Partnerships with Prime Contractors Financial - Investing in the Future: Financing Inner City Businesses — ENTREPRENEURSHIP AWARDS CEREMONIES — CONTINUOUS WEB STREAMING OF EVENTS (Check the Web site for Details on Live Streaming Video Events)The U.S. Small Business Administration’s participation in this cosponsored activity does not constitute an express or implied endorsement of any cosponsor’s, donor’s, grantee’s, contractor’s or participant’s opinions, products, or services. All SBA programs and cosponsored programs are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis. Reasonable arrangements for persons with disabilities will be made, if requested at least 2 weeks in advance, by contacting . Cosponsorship Authorization #SBW2008Small Business Week 2008 cosponsors include: Sam’s Club, Administaff, Raytheon, IBM, Chevron, Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, Cisco, Lockheed Martin, Salesforce.com, Lowe’s, Banco Popular, Minority Business Development Agency, General Services Administration, MyBizHomepage, Dun & Bradstreet, National Association of Development Companies, Direct Selling Education Foundation, Association of Small Business Development Centers, National Small Business Association, Federal Allies Institute, Initiative for a Competitive Inner City, Consumer Energy Alliance, National Federation of Independent Business, and SCORE (The National Small Business Week 2008 Schedule of Events is attached.) Small Business Week 2008 Schedule of Events(Note to Press: Seating is limited at all events and the events schedule is subject to change.) Monday, April 21 2:00 pm - 6:00 pm Registration Open Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Pre-Function Area6:00 pm - 8:00 pm Opening Reception and Presentation of the Entrepreneurial Development Awards U.S. Department of State, Diplomatic Reception Rooms Tuesday, April 22 7:00 am - 5:00 pm Registration Open Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Pre-Function Area10:30 am - 12:00 pm Healthcare Forum: “Cost and Coverage: Healthcare Chicken and Egg” Mandarin Oriental, Oriental Ballroom Sponsored by: NFIB- National Federation of Independent BusinessConfirmed: Secretary Mike Leavitt, U.S. Department of Health and Human ServicesNewt Gingrich, American Solutions12:30 pm - 3:00 pm National Awards Luncheon Honoring State Small Business WinnersMandarin Oriental, Grand BallroomThis event celebrates entrepreneurship in America by honoring outstanding small business men and women from all 50 states and territories. From that group, a national small business person of the year is selected. Sponsored by: Sam’s Club 3:30 pm - 5:00 pm Trade Forum: “Going Global: Accessing New Markets” Mandarin Oriental, Oriental Ballroom Sponsored by: IBM & Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation Confirmed: Susan C. Schwab, United States Trade Representative 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm Congressional Reception Dirksen Senate Office Building, Room SD-G50 Wednesday, April 23 7:00 am - 5:00 pm Registration Open Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Pre-Function Area 8:00 am - 10:00 am Phoenix Awards Breakfast Mandarin Oriental, Grand BallroomThe Phoenix Awards are given to those individuals whose efforts and contributions have enabled their businesses or communities to recover successfully from a disaster.10:30 am - 12:00 pm Energy Forum: “Meeting the Energy Challenge: Impacts & Opportunities for Small Business” Mandarin Oriental, Oriental Ballroom Sponsored by: CEA- Consumer Energy Alliance Invited: John Hofmeister, Shell Corp.12:30 pm - 2:30 pm National Awards Luncheon Honoring Procurement Award Winners Mandarin Oriental, Grand Ballroom Sponsored by: Raytheon This event honors achievement in several areas of procurement.3:00 pm - 4:30 pm Procurement Forum: “Secrets of Building Alliance Partnerships with Prime Contractors” Mandarin Oriental, Oriental Ballroom Invited: Michael Chertoff, Department of Homeland Security 7:30 pm - 11:00 pm Champion Award Winners Gala Mandarin Oriental, Grand Ballroom Sponsored by: AdministaffThis event serves as the culminating award event to honor all the award winners of the week. Thursday, April 24 8:30 am - 4:30 pm OSDBU Procurement Matchmaking Event Show Place Arena, Upper Marlboro, Maryland For information, please visit SBA Administrator Steven C. Preston will be a guest speaker at this event. 3:30 pm - 6:00 pm Reception Celebrating Women Entrepreneurs Hosted by the National Women’s Business Council NASDAQ MarketSite, New York CityA reception to celebrate the 20-year anniversary of the legislation establishing the Women’s Business Centers.Friday, April 2511:00 am - 2:00 pm Financial Forum: “Investing in the Future: Financing Inner City Businesses” and Lender Awards Luncheon The Westin New York at Times Square, New York City Majestic Ballroom, 5th Floor Sponsored by: ICIC- Initiative for Competitive Inner CityThis event is designed to serve as dialogue between the SBA and those interested in community investment, followed by a luncheon to celebrate SBA’s top Small Business Lenders.Confirmed: John Bryant, Operation HopeDavid Latimore, Initiative for a Competitive Inner City U.S. Small Business Administration

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