HomeMy WebLinkAbout(2) BOSS 2002 CONFERENCEinteroffice
MEMORANDUM
To:
From:
Date:
Subject:
Mayor, City Council, City Manager
Mark T. Sokolow, City Attorney ~
December 21, 2001
January 8, 2002 Council Meeting
Report on BOSS 2002 Conference
Attached is info,marion on the BOSS 2002 Conference. This item
was denied funding by a 3 to 2 vote of the Section 4A Economic Development
Corporation.
MTS/ts
Attachment
z.boss.memo
PORT ARTHUR BOSS 2002
Marsh 28-29 2002
BUDGET Expenses
Line Items Qt,Y , Cost
Printing
Registration Brochure 5,000 $2,000.00
Program Journal 250 $1,500.00
Schedule of Events 500 $1.000.00
Conference Evaluation Form (BOSS & Wor~ 500 $400.00
Re~istratio.n.' .Folders 300 $1,000.00
Other Copying and Printing $500.00
Prelimlnery Registration Brochure
Printing Sub-Torah $6,40(~.00
Registration Supplies
Plastic Badgesr Badge Paper, RIt3bons $6(X).00
Bsgs/$7.00XS00 500 $3,500.00
Jr, Fo!der/Volurlteers 100
...Clocks/Volunteers 100
Reglst'atl0n Supplles.~ub-Total $4,100. O0
'Facility Lease and~udio-Visual
Exhibit Booth Decoration 100 $3,000.00
Workshop Signs & F,",ndraising Banners $1,000.00
Volunteer Food & Refreshments
Steering Meetings~ On-$ite~ Volunteer Reception $1,500.00
I
Advertiein~l $1~000,00
Photography $1,000.00
A_.W.a.~ds ~ $1,500.00
Speakers/Travel Expenses $8,0o0.00
Consultant Fee $20,000.,00
~ expenses i.ec!.u~ng t~av=l, hotel~ etc. $2.000.00
~d Total: Conference Ex. penses sso,ooo.oo
BOSS Fact Sheet
What Makes BOSS Unique From Other Conferences?
u Over 50% of Conference Activities are Free
u Customer Service ! Staff Accessibility
u Small Purchase Awards & Hard Hat Hours
u Family Participation
u Arts Festival / Promotion of Art Entrepreneurs
Who Benefits From BOSS?
u Small Businesses, Minority Owned Businesses, Entrepreneurs, Corporations,
State Agencies, Colleges & Universities, Public Agencies, Military, Families &
Children, The General Public and Youth
u The Whole Community Benefits!
How Does BOSS Benefit the Community?
u Motivates & Produces Entrepreneurs from Conference Participants
u Introduces Non-Traditional Areas of Business, such as Transporta~2on and
Energy
u Recognizes "Unsung Heroes & Heroines" in the Business Community
u Provides Business Contacts, Contracts & Partnerships
u Provides Exposure to Potential Consumer Market
u Provides Exposure to Job Opportunities in ail Facets of Society
Presentation of Goods and Services for Display in Exhibition Hall
Recruitment of Diverse Program Participants and Conference
Attendees
n Corporate Sponsorship
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Your Company's Role at Port Arthur/BOSS 2002
A. Opening Conference Remarks and Greeting as! BOSS Conference Chair
u Friday, 8:30 am - 10:00 am
"Opening Business Expo Breakfasti'
u Friday,, 10.'00 am
'~Expo Ribbon Cutting Ceremony"
B. Keynote Speaker
u First Option: Saturday, 7:30 pm
"Business Awards Dinner"
u Second Option: Friday, 12:30 pm - 1:30 pm
"Business Exposition Trade Fair Luncheon"
C. Present Governor Appointee Awards at Expo Reception
u Friday, 6:00 pm
D. Kickoff BOSS 2002 Golf Classic (optional)
u Saturday, or Thursday 9:00 am
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How Businesses and Corporations Benefit
Throu§h Partnership with BOSS'
Exposure to Small Business Community Through:
u In-House Publications
u Conference Registration
Promotion of Mission and Commitment to Small Business
Development
Positive Exposure through workshops and seminars for Business
Community
Diversity Support
Education With Industry (EWI) Scholarship
Exposure to High School and Undergraduate College Students
Through EWI Program
HBCUs and HSI Networking for Business Opportunities
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Assistance Needed
for Port Arthur/BOSS 2002
Exhibit Hall Banners for Conference
Standin§ Banners for Dais
Recruitment of Dynamic Keynote Speakers
Planning and Implementation of Golf Classic to be Held at the
Beautiful River Place Country Club
Recruitment of Sports Celebrities to Attend Golf Classic and
BOSS Conference
Advertising
Development of Promotional Items
u Plastic Bags, T-Shirts, Mugs, Pens, Key Chains, Balloons, Drink Coozies
Workshops and Seminars - Staff and Training at Convention
Center
Recruitment of High Tech Companies for Sponsorship and Expo
Show (25 Companies)
Recruitment of Diverse Program Participants and Conference
Attendees
Port Arthur/BOSS 2002
Objectives and Targets
Objective
To encourage participation from all ethnic groups, organizations, businesses and corporations~
Theme
Bringing people together with businesses and corporations to create possibilities and opportunities.
Suggestions for seminars
Job searching and resum~ writing
Purpose: To attract people looking for jobs and assist them in resumd development and proper
interview techniques.
Target: Individuals
Winning attitude and self-esteem
Purpose: To give people a better understanding of the importance of developing a "can do"
attitude and how it can determine success or failure in life.
Target: Individuals
How to do business with the city, State and Federal government
Purpose: To provide businesses with sound strategies and techniques to increase their sales with
the various levels of the government.
Target: Businesses
How to market and sell to win
Purpose: To discuss effective marketing and sales techniques that can help business people
increase their sales.
Target: Businesses, corporations and individuals
How to start and finance your own business
Purpose: To inform people, interested in going into business, of what they need to do to start
and successfully run their own businesses. Discuss alternative financing for starting
your business.
Target: Individuals
New products and services
Purpose: To identify companies that have new products and services that are unique to the
marketplace and allow them to discuss it. (e.g., new types of loans, new technology,
etc.)
Target: Individual, businesses and corporations
Affirmative action and its impact on businesses
Purpose: To inform minority business owners of the possible changes that could and ha.ye
effected set-a-side programs and what they should do to still thrive in this adverse
climate.
Target: Businesses and corporations
High school/College day
Purpose: To involve college and high school students in BOSS and expose them to businesses.
Students can be assigned to a business and work in the booths with the businesses for
a day. This will give them an opportunity to ask questions about business and assist
them in developing a rapport with an entrepreneur or professional.
Target: High School & College Students
Affordable housing and loans
Purpose: To discuss ways to acquire affordable housing and how to go about it.
Target: Individuals
Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) and its impact on businesses for 2000
Purpose: To discuss the impact that EDI will have on companies attempting to do business with
the Federal government in 2000.
Target: Businesses and corporations
How to use the Internet to increase sales and market your business
Purpose: To expose business people to the information superhighway and educate them on ways
to use it for their businesses.
Target: Businesses and corporations
SUGGESTED WORKSHOPS
TECHNOLOGY TRACK WORKSHOPS
Internet Marketing
Internet Business Operations- A seminar with powerful course work on
internet applications for you business.
E-Commerce and the Federal Government- (Army, Air Force, and Fort
Hood)- Work with E-Commerce specialist on how to do business with
Federal Government. Local
Air Force Bases are just the tip of the iceberg of the extensive airforce
inventory needs that your company can supply.
HTML: Making it look Good on the Web- This class will give you not just
an introduction, but you will have a WEB/HTML page ready when you
walk out of the class.
· Digital Divide- One of the greatest challenges facing America today is the
Digital Divide Divide- the gap between the computer haves, and the
computer have-nots. The gap is exascerbated by the very success of the
computer industry - hardware and software. Individuals who might
otherwise teach computer literacy, technology, and science in
disadvantaged communities have opted for the much higher paying salaries
that they could get within the computer industry. The growing use of
computers on the job and the high growth in computer-related occupations
have made computer skills an important component of most students'
educational portfolio. In many industries the number of workers who use
a computer at their job now ranges from 50-85 percent.
This workshop will address strategies and efforts targeting solution to the
Digital Divide.
· Funraising/Proposal Writing
· Census 2002
Approach
As you get churches, organizations and small businesses involved, you should get them to endorse
BOSS in writing. Once you have been endorsed by the various organizations, businesses and churches,
you should develop a brochure outlining the new success strategy for BOSS and send it to the
corporations that you are attempting to attract to BOSS. By doing it this way, the largest companies
with see that the focus of BOSS has changed and that you have local support. You should a so
encourage corporate personnel to participate in the business seminars.
Target areas for marketing and advertising
Port arthur Beaumont
Dallas
Houston
San Antonio
Austin
These areas should be targeted now. You should contact the organizhtions that you believe will
support BOSS and get them involved. Again, you will need to put together some information
regarding the new approach to BOSS. The key to your success will depend on how effective your
marketing and advertising is. We can discuss some different ways to approach this, however, the
brochures, videos and any other marketing material will have to be professional and get straight-to-
the-point so that people you are targeting understand it.
Raising money
Some ideas include:
Develop a special section in your BOSS Program Journal for advertising and sell spots.
Create a BOSS calling card program and sell the cards to businesses and individuals that
participate in the conference. They can also be included in the literature you send to
companies that are going to participate in BOSS, as a marketing tool (we can discuss further).
Solicit funds from corporations and businesses, but I would only do this once you have the
backing of the local community. Corporations will only give large dollars if they believe there
is some benefit for them. Therefore, getting the community involved first almost forces the
corporations and businesses that are making money in these communities to get involved or
risk negative publicity. If you work backwards to get to the large companies you will have
little resistance, if it is done properly.
Allow businesses that sell goods to set up booths in a special area during the conference, this
will attract outsiders, as well, and increase your booth sales.
BOSS success will be directly linked to community involvement and the participation from the
other cities.
You will need to market to various organizations, businesses, politicians, corporhtions and
churches now, to gain support and momentum for the Fall.
Raising money will be easier once a clear direction has been established for BOSS. This
direction will have to be simple and easy for people and businesses to understand. You must
emphasis that this is a NEW BOSS.
Use local media, newspapers, cable, Pastors and any other means necessary to get the word
out.
Focus your BOSS meetings on achieving these goals. If you set the direction for you committee
members less time will be wasted with creative ideas that don't get you to where you need to
be.
Make sure that you have jobs that people can apply for during the convention, as well as the
hard hat and small purchase awards. You will need to have a committee that looks for these
positions. This will probably be easier as you get closer to the show.
NIAR/APR