Business Conference & Showcase features wideranging seminars
Coordinators of the 2008 Columbia Chamber of Commerce Business Conference & Showcase had one objective in mind when they arranged this year’s seminars: Give the members what they want.
“We asked the Columbia Chamber members what they wanted to get out of their Business Conference & Showcase, and the hot topics were sales and marketing, and personal growth in the work force,” said Annette Bealmear, co-chair of the Business Conference & Showcase Committee. “With the wide variety of topics this year, we are hoping that everyone will take advantage and learn something new that they can incorporate into their world. These seminars are truly geared toward all working professionals.”
The 2008 BC&S will take place March 18 at the Holiday Inn Select Executive and Expo Centers.
Five seminars selected by the chamber will follow the Quarterly Member Breakfast, which is sponsored by the University Concert Series.
After catching your coffee buzz, check out “Watching the Gauges-A Proactive Approach to a Profitable ’08,” from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., presented by Dave Mattson, a BC&S veteran and CEO of Sandler Training. Sandler is a leader in corporate training and development and has been rated the top management training company in the United States by Entrepreneur magazine for multiple years.
Mattson is a trainer, speaker, author and consultant whose specialties include management, sales, interpersonal communication, team building and strategic planning. His seminar will focus on mastering management and sales.
From 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m., attendees are invited to the keynote luncheon and the 14th annual ATHENA Award presentation. The chamber’s Women’s Network will honor an individual who excels in a profession, contributes to the community and actively assists women in achieving their full potential.
During this time Ed Lamont, president of Lamont Consulting Group and a participant in the Dynamics of Selling and James K Ruble seminars, presents “Positioning Yourself as an Expert”. His presentation includes learning how to “write to sell,” “speak to sell” and “teach to sell.”
Lamont continues presenting with “Positioning Yourself as an Expert: Part 2,” from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. In this session, he will review the expertise strategy and drill deeper to the core of the topic.
“Why Economic Regionalism? A Missouri CORE Partnership Roundtable Discussion” from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. concludes the seminars. During this time, Missouri CORE Partnership members will speak about who they are and where they focus their efforts.
The Missouri CORE Partnership is an initiative to promote regional economic development in Boone, Cole, Callaway, Audrain, Cooper, Howard, Osage, Moniteau, Camden, Miller, Morgan and Randolph counties. At this seminar, expect to broaden your understanding of mid- Missouri’s economic-vitality issues and initiatives and to have all your burning questions about the CORE initiative answered.
“Our economy is a hot topic right now, and we hope this will be a place where community members can come and get a feel for some of the great steps our community is taking to ensure a successful future for Columbia and surrounding areas,” said Cara Christianson, co-chair of the Business Conference & Showcase Committee.
The cost of the seminars ranges from $15 to $30, and all include admission to the showcase. Businesses can register online at www.bcs. columbiamochamber.com with $3 off each event for those who register before March 13.
“From working together as a team, to how to hit those year-end numbers, there is something for everyone,” said Christianson. “Whether you are an office manager, sales representative or staff member, you will be able to walk away with information on how you can improve your current work environment.”