RICHMOND - A minority-owned business interested in export? Check.
Want to learn more about trade ties between England and the United States Check.
An Olympics fanatic? Check.
Enjoy a free breakfast and kick off London’s 2012 Olympics early with “Why Go Global?,” a no-cost breakfast meeting and networking event sponsored by WPG Marketing & Communications and the Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP).
On Wednesday, March 21 from 8-10 a.m. at 901 East Byrd Street, 20th Floor, VEDP will host Virginia-based minority and women-owned companies interested in learning the facts of export and the opportunities to forge export relationships between the UK and the U.S. in light of the 2012 Olympics in London. Entrepreneur Yvonne Thompson, founder of ASAP Communications and the European Federation of Black Women Business Owners, will serve as keynote speaker.
“With London’s 2012 Olympics fueling procurement opportunities for UK-based minority businesses, timing couldn’t be better for teaming relations with U.S. minority-owned firms,” said Thompson.
Thompson sits on the London Development Agency board and chairs both the London Central Learning & Skills Council, the African Caribbean Business Network and was founder and chair of the Department of Trade and Industry's Ethnic Minority Business Forum. In 2003 Queen Elizabeth II awarded Thompson the prestigious CBE [Commander of the British Empire], and in 2005 she received an honorary doctorate from the Metropolitan University of London for efforts on behalf of black and ethnic businesses. Vocal on the subject of procurement and leveling the playing field, Thompson sees a win-win for UK and U.S. minority and women-owned businesses that forge teaming relations in pursuit of 2012 Olympics contracts.
“Yvonne Thompson will highlight the global opportunities available to minority and women-owned businesses,” said Terri Noll, VEDP Client Services Manager. “International trade may seem out of reach or a daunting undertaking. We want companies to know that they can succeed globally and that VEDP provides the tools to help every step of the way.”
Thompson will join the Virginia Minority Supplier Development Council, Virginia Asian Chamber of Commerce, Virginia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Richmond Metropolitan Business League, VEDP, Virginia Department of Minority Business Enterprise and the Virginia Department of Business Assistance for a pre-event press conference at 8:00 a.m.
The Virginia Economic Development Partnership, a marketing organization, was created by the Virginia General Assembly in 1995 to encourage, stimulate, and support the development and expansion of the economy of the Commonwealth. The Partnership is a state authority, which is governed by a 21-member Board of Directors appointed by the Governor and the Virginia General Assembly. To accomplish its objectives of promoting economic expansion within the Commonwealth, the Partnership focuses its efforts on business recruitment, expansion and international trade. VEDP has offices in Virginia, Belgium, Hong Kong, Mexico, Brazil, Korea and Japan.
To learn more about Wednesday’s seminar, contact Patricia Green with WPG Marketing & Communications, Inc. at (301) 526-1089 or pgreen [at] wpgmc.com.