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By the U of A Division of Agriculture (390 words) MALVERN, Ark. – Small business owners and managers are invited to take part in a series of workshops to help them prepare for the 3rd Annual Arkansas Procurement Opportunities Conference at the Statehouse Convention Center on April 27. The workshops are hands-on, interactive sessions in which attendees learn how to select industry codes, commodity codes, and other information, and how to set up or update vendor registrations in both federal and state systems. One of the in-class exercises involves practicing 10-minute interviews, so the business people will be able to make the best use of up to 20 appointments on the day of the conference. Workshop attendees will also learn how to compose a line card, which is a one-page quick-reference document that informs customers about the company’s capabilities. Each seller will provide one to the buyers they meet at the conference. The instructor is Sue Coates, director of the University of Arkansas Procurement Assistance Center. Coates developed the workshop format to prepare the small businesses for last year’s conference and it was so well received she is repeating it through March and into April at eight locations around the state. Many of these sessions are hosted by two-year colleges through their Workforce Training Consortium. “Careful preparation for this conference can result in getting an order from a major buyer,” Coates said. “Knowing in advance what to expect makes it easier to get your message across quickly.” Attendance at the workshops and the conference is free and open to the public, but registration is required in order to provide training materials. Information about both is available at http://arkansasprocurement.org or by calling the Center at 501-337-5355 or by email at apac@uaex.edu. Here is the workshop schedule:
The Cooperative Extension Service is part of the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture and offers its programs to all eligible persons regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, gender, age, disability, marital or veteran status, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. The University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture offers its programs to all eligible persons regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, gender, age, disability, marital or veteran status, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. |
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