Business owners can find new markets Aug. 7 at the annual B.I.G. Event
Article by: Michael Bratten
With the local economy thriving and new businesses and construction projects popping up everywhere, business owners may be wondering, “How can I tap into this growth?”
Answers to this question and others will be offered Wednesday, Aug. 7 at the 8th annual B.I.G. Event (Booming industry, International trade, Government contracting), a resource and information fair that is designed to help businesses take advantage of growth opportunities in the Coastal Bend.
Large industries continue to move into the area, and there are many opportunities to become part of their supply chain. It’s very difficult to find all these procurement individuals in a one-stop environment. This is a great opportunity to find new markets to grow your business.
The B.I.G. Event is scheduled from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the DMC Center for Economic Development, 3209 S. Staples St.
Cost is $45 per person in advance with registration available online through 8 a.m. Aug. 7 or $55 at the door. To register, visit www.thebigeventcc.com or call the SBDC at 361-698-1021. The fee includes lunch by Beauty and the Bistro, access to sessions and networking with vendors.
The event will feature updates on the new Harbor Bridge and Gulf Coast Growth Ventures projects, introduction of the SBDC’s Contractor Resource Center and keynote speaker Jody Holland.
Holland, who has trained over 200,000 leaders since 1999, has worked in multiple countries to develop leadership, interpersonal skills, sales success, service excellence and right attitudes. He has been the keynote speaker at more than 200 conferences and written 19 books. He has a unique style of bringing both education and entertainment to his lessons, and attendees will find his skills useful for their businesses.
Other sessions include:
- “U.S. 181 Harbor Bridge Project Update,” by Lorette Williams, Flatiron/Dragados, LLC; and
- “Small Business Opportunities and Challenges in Global Logistics,” by Shawn Levensen, UPS.
New to the B.I.G. Event this year is a matchmaking event in which procurement specialists from organizations such as SpawGlass, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, Teal Construction Company and Flatiron/Dragados, LLC will be available to meet one-on-one with local businesses to discuss procurement opportunities with their companies in timed sessions. Participants will be chosen to meet with these specialists on a first-come, first-served basis. Registration for participation will be taken at the B.I.G. Event.
Sponsors include the Del Mar College SBDC, Contractor Resource Center, BBVA, Del Mar College, Frost Bank, H-E-B, Kleberg Bank, Navy Army Community Credit Union, Port of Corpus Christi Authority, SCORE Corpus Christi, United Corpus Christi Chamber of Commerce, Workforce Solutions of the Coastal Bend and the Del Mar College Procurement Technical Assistance Center.
Del Mar College empowers students to achieve their dreams. We offer quality programs, individual attention, outstanding instruction through faculty with real-world experience and affordable costs to credit and noncredit students in Corpus Christi and the South Texas Coastal Bend area. Nationally recognized while locally focused, we’re ranked in the top two percent of community colleges in the country granting associate degrees to Hispanic students (Community College Week). Del Mar College focuses on offering our students programs that match current or emerging career opportunities. Whether students are interested in the fine arts, sciences, business, occupational or technical areas, students get the education they need for the future they want at Del Mar College.