|
Entrepreneurs and Corporates Connect at Business Expo
By Tricia Hall
Sojourner’s Truth Reporter
ASSETS Toledo in collaboration with community organizations
sponsored their fourth annual business-to-business expo at
University of Toledo’s Scott Park Campus on Wednesday,
November 13, from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. |
 |
|
The expo’s objective was to match small business
entrepreneurs with local corporations. Over one hundred
entrepreneurs networked with 12 corporations during the
day’s event.
“The corporations that attended had previously identified
vendor needs that they had, and we wanted to match the
corporations with small business entrepreneurs that provide
those services. Our goal was to ensure the entrepreneurs had
opportunities to learn about and compete for contracts,
explained Olivia Holden, ASSETS Toledo executive director.
The expo also included workshops that provided specific
tools for business owners and individuals who are interested
in a career. There were workshops about compliance
requirements for businesses, financial literacy, practicing
elevator speeches, business certifications, human resources,
composing business plans, featured luncheon speaker, and
utilizing social media for marketing.
David Hall, a University of Toledo business major learned
about different resources that will assist him in creating
his new business. “I want to open a construction company a
few years after I graduate from the university. I learned a
lot in the workshops that I attended today and had the
opportunity to sit down and speak with companies in our
area.”
The local corporations that attended: Lathrop, Mercy Health,
University of Toledo, Columbia Gas Company, Toledo Zoo,
Toledo Public Schools, Lucas County Public Library, Lucas
County Port Authority, Hollywood Casino, Ohio Department of
Development, Promedica financial opportunity center, and
City of Toledo.
“The expo has definitely grown over the years, we have more
corporates attending this year over previous years,”
explained Holden. |
