This was one of my first significant accomplishments during my tenure with the Prince William County Department of Economic Development. It was an event in 2013 and the title was “Business Services Luncheon”.
The premise is
very simple. I invited 13 agencies/services
to attend the luncheon. It was at no cost to them. The only requirements were the agency had to
be nonprofit or not-for profit, agree to send at least one representative, offered
programs focused on small businesses and government contractors, exhibit at a
table, and stay the entire time.
All agencies
invited agreed to attend. We had
organizations that covered financing, trade, business expansion, networking,
labor, business counseling, and transportation.
For the small businesses and government contractors, it was a one stop
location to access key services and secure contacts.
The format
equally is simple. All the exhibitors
took a table in the lobby in one of the County’s hotels. Everyone (participants and exhibitors) went
to lunch. We listened to a speaker, then adjourned to the lobby. The participants could seek out the
exhibitors they thought could help them with a challenge.
We invited
numerous businesses that fit the criteria. In the end, we had over 65
businesses attend.
I created the
program for the participants. As you will see, it has the full contact
information of each exhibitor and a brief description of the services
offered. Every business attending could
quickly scan the program and seek out the appropriate exhibitor or exhibitors.
This was well
received by participants and exhibitors.
Several exhibitors stayed well past the time as did numerous
participants.
Attached you will
find the program and pictures of the luncheon.
Link to program:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1NyQi_r7oKIiA9YM5y0LG0iF8MUFsEhBf/view?usp=sharing
Link to pictures:
