The ProBiz ‘08 Procurement Conference will be held Friday, August 1, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Hilton Hotel in Downtown Silver Spring. An evening Regional Advocacy Awards Banquet will be held following the conference beginning at 6:30 pm. The conference features workshops and seminars on contracting, financing, strategic planning, global marketing, bidding techniques, certification and more.

“Montgomery County is a proud venue for this highly beneficial conference which allows both new and experienced business owners to meet face-to-face with one another, market their products and services to purchasing officials, and learn proven techniques and strategies for success from industry leaders,” said County Executive Isiah Leggett. “We are also very proud that two of the County’s own, Dr. DeVance Walker, Jr. and Alvin Boss, will be honored for their outstanding work on behalf of local small and minority businesses.”

ProBiz ‘08 is co-presented by the National Business League of Greater Washington, African American Chamber of Commerce of Montgomery County, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Montgomery County, Montgomery County Department of Economic Development, National Capital Area Minority Business Opportunity Center, Washington Metropolitan Airports Authority, Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, US Department of Veteran’s Affairs, US Department of Agriculture, US Department of the Army and others.

“ProBiz ‘08 is the most significant small business opportunity conference in the Mid-Atlantic region,” said Malcolm Beech, ProBiz ‘08 conference director. “The conference offers exhibits, workshops and seminars on local and federal procurement, teaming arrangements, government marketing intelligence, certifications, sales and growth opportunities in Africa and the Caribbean, and so much more.”

The Federal Advocacy Awards Luncheon Program will honor Ronald Langston, Minority Business Development Agency; Tracey Pinson, US Army; James House, US Department of Agriculture; and Felipe Mendoza, General Services Administration.

The evening Regional Advocacy Awards Banquet will honor Dr. DeVance Walker, Jr., manager, Small Business Services in the County’s Department of Economic Development and Alvin Boss, MFD program specialist in the County’s Department of General Services; DC City Councilmember Kwame Brown; Joanne Jackson, Anne Arundel County; Thomas “Mike” Turner, WSSC; and Floyd Wilson, Prince George’s County.

For more information on the ProBiz ‘08 conference, luncheon and/or evening banquet, visit www.probiz.tv or call 301-593-0527.