2012-10-29 — /travelprnews.com/ — Forget cold calls and pitching over the telephone — nothing beats networking and face-to-face communication when trying to seal that important business deal. Purchasing agents and key decision makers will be available in one convenient place for small business owners to meet and discuss options at the Contracting Opportunity Event. The event targets minority-, women- and veteran-owned businesses.
Sponsored by the City of Indianapolis, Indianapolis Zoo, Keep Indianapolis Beautiful, Inc., KeyBank, NCAA, The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, and United Way of Central Indiana, the event takes place from 2-4 p.m. Monday, October 22, 2012, at The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, 3000 N. Meridian St., Indianapolis.
“This is a wonderful opportunity for the museum to provide a setting in which we can help MBE, WBE and VBE businesses in our community make valuable connections with larger organizations,” said Dr. Jeffrey H. Patchen, president and CEO, The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis. “This event enables attendees to learn about projects and accompanying opportunities available for MBE, WBE and VBE via the competitive bidding process and the timing to be included on various bid lists.”
Vendors are encouraged to go from table to table to learn about opportunities with more than 30 purchasing professionals from cultural institutions, municipal and state agencies, hospital systems, and businesses. They are all eager to do business with small, minority- and womenowned businesses. This event is free and vendor reservations are not required. From construction projects to consulting contracts to office supplies, not-for-profit organizations spend a significant amount of money with area businesses, providing a sometimes-hidden source of purchasing power and an untapped resource for small businesses and MBE/WBE/VBE firms.
“This is a chance for small business owners to make multiple sales calls with direct access to purchasing decision makers all within a few short hours,” added Karen Burns, Indianapolis Zoo senior vice president of external relations and member of the Contracting Opportunity Event planning committee. “This setting offers incredible networking opportunities to create new and profitable business partnerships.”
Admission is free, and no reservations are required. Free parking will be provided at The Children’s Museum garage on Illinois Street. Light refreshments will be served. For more information, call (317) 917-6317.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Kimberly Harms
Director of Media and Public Relations
Children’s Museum of Indianapolis
(317) 334-4003
(317) 809-5203 (cell)
kimberlyh@childrensmuseum.org
Carla Knapp
Public Relations Specialist
Indianapolis Zoo
(317) 630-3257
(765) 210-4651 (cell)
cknapp@indyzoo.com
###