Marketplace Recap

New Minority Business Bureau Director Bill Bowers wasn't sure what to expect at his first-ever Marketplace, the annual Governor's Conference on Minority Business Development, which was held at the Ho-Chunk Casino Hotel and Convention Center in Baraboo in October. Having accepted the appointment and started on the job less than a month before the event, he went into the conference with no preconceived notion.

Consequently, he was genuinely pleased by, as Business Development Division Administrator Henry Wilde said, by the "tremendously warm reception from the minority business community of Wisconsin," which included nearly 400 business owners, private and public purchasing agents and entrepreneurs.

It was Wilde's first experience at Marketplace as well, and he says that he received "Universally positive feedback on the conference relative to previous ones. There was a very positive energy amongst Commerce staff there as well."

Indeed, from the moment at the conference eve's social hour/award reception, when Commerce employee and Ho-Chunk lead woman dancer Ann Thundercloud and friends, along with a Native American drum circle, beat their way into the room, everyone sensed that something was different at Marketplace this year.

The energy was palpable, and Bowers and Wilde both spoke to the attendees about taking positive steps to engage with the minority business community in Wisconsin to provide more opportunities to grow their businesses to the next level.

Next up was the announcement of the various Minority Business Enterprise 2007 Awards. Dr. Floyd Rose, director of the Wisconsin Supplier Diversity Council, was the emcee. Each of the winners in their respective categories were asked by minority business staff to talk about how their businesses started, how they flourished, and what words of advice they had for their fellow entrepreneurs.

All of the winners spoke from both their heads and hearts, and provided some great ideas and wisdom.
On conference day, the keynote speaker was "Famous" Dave Anderson – founder of the barbecue restaurant of the same name – who is known for his wonderful energy and enthusiasm. Anderson's "can do" attitude infused the audience with some energy of their own. (One woman, spying Anderson selling copies of his books, shrieked, "I LOVE you! I want to buy one of your books.")

Awards were handed out – including one from the Department of Commerce to Committee Chair Mary Perry, a long-time Minority Development Bureau employee who is now a Business Development Area Development Manager, for her leadership in creating the 2007 event.

Throughout the day there were numerous presentations and panel discussions, and the opportunity for businesses to meet one –on-one with procurement officials, bankers, public sector agency reps, etc.

The most positive aspect of the conference, from Wilde's perspective, were the "One-on-one business meetings between procurement officials and companies were incredibly well-utilized, and really gave credence to the name ‘Marketplace'."

See Marketplace 2007 pictures.

-- Barbro McGinn