2009 AT&T MatchMaker Conference and Trade Show

Save the Date: November 18-20, 2009 at the Rosen Shingle Creek Hotel Orlando, FL

To help minority, women, and service-disabled veteran enterprises connect with state government spenders, the Office of Supplier Diversity hosts the MatchMaker Conference and Trade Show annually. This year's event will be held November 18-20, 2009 at the Rosen Shingle Creek Hotel in Orlando, FL.

Recognized as Florida's signature event for minority, women, and service-disabled veteran entrepreneurs, MatchMaker 2009 promises to be an exciting, educational and purposeful event as it links small business owners with state government and corporate sponsors to drive economic development. The 2008 MatchMaker event attracted over 1,500 attendees, including Governor Charlie Crist, Secretary Linda South, Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink and several members of the Legislature.

The MatchMaker 2009 agenda will be packed with events, offering attendees numerous opportunities to enhance their business skills and provide opportunities for small businesses to network with leading corporations as well as state and local government purchasing officials.

This event will feature several companies looking to purchase goods and services from eligible, certified business enterprises. OSD strives to enhance vendor involvement with purchasing personnel, not only through our traditional series of professional development workshops and sessions, but with opportunities such as the professional development breakfast, awards banquet and nightly networking receptions.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND THE MATCHMAKER CONFERENCE?

The MatchMaker Conference and Trade Show will match vendors with government and corporate spenders. As you may know, MatchMaker is an excellent opportunity for small, minority, women, and service-disabled veteran business enterprises, government purchasing representatives and major corporate representatives to network.

WHO WILL YOU MEET?

Business entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to meet with government agency representatives, supplier diversity managers and procurement directors and managers from both the government and corporate sector. Diversity managers and procurement directors will have the chance to network with small businesses throughout the state.