Rural supplier conference to be bigger than ever
From staff reports

Gov. Bob Riley addresses attendees at last year's conference.

Thomasville, along with cosponsor The Boeing Company will host hundreds of the state's finest businesses and representatives at Alabama's Third "Rural" National Supplier Conference on Friday, Sept. 14 at the Thomasville campus of Alabama Southern Community College.

"Great attendance, networking opportunities and extremely good support from the Thomasville community are three of the most positive features about the event," said David Brock, a past conference attendee and small business specialist for NASA's George C. Marshall Space Flight Center. "Conference planners are very attentive to fostering the type of information exchange between businesses, the community as well as government officials to help generate opportunities."

Expected to be the largest conference yet with more than 300 attendees, Gov. Bob Riley, U.S. Rep. Jo Bonner and U.S. Rep. Artur Davis along with other dignitaries are expected to speak at the conference. The keynote speaker will be Patrick J. Finneran, Jr., president of Support Systems at The Boeing Company.

"We are thrilled with the ongoing support shown each year by our state officials as well as other agency heads," said Thomasville Mayor Sheldon Day. "This conference would not be possible without our partnership with the Huntsville Business Community, including Marshall Prime Contractor Supplier Council, who will conduct back-to-back presentations followed by a question and answer session for our conference participants."

"If a business wants one-onone time with a procurement officer, our conference provides that opportunity," said Debra M. Fox, director of Thomasville's Development and Planning Department. "Participants will have the option of submitting a profile to be included in a summary report sent to exhibitors."

"I am impressed with the caliber of high profile attendees Mayor Day and Debra Fox secure year after year for this conference high profile attendees year after year," adds Mal McGhee, general manager of Muskogee Metal Works, a past conference attendee and recipient of 2007 Minority Manufacturer of the Year from the U.S. Department of Commerce and the Minority Business Development Agency. "I've met and formed relationships with companies at the conference that we continue to work with today. And I will continue to come back and form those types of relationships to continue growth for our company."

Additionally, conference attendees can visit with a variety of exhibitors as well as get valuable information from a state, local and federal resource room. Exhibitors to date include: ATK Thiokol, Aviation and Missile Command - Red Stone Arsenal, Boeing, Computer Sciences Corporation, Chickasaw Nation Industries, All Points Logistics, Jacobs Engineering, NASA, Northrop-Grumman, Pratt- Whitney Rocketdyne, Raytheon, SAIC, Aetos Systems, BAE Systems, Muskogee Metal Works, The Hancock Group and UIDA Business Services.

According to Pat Phillips, program manager for the Alabama Procurement Technical Assistance Program, "I have personally attended both prior events, and the way it is planned and the location continually impresses me. My job is to work with small businesses who want to build relationships with government agencies, and this event provides a win-win situation for everyone."

Cost to participate in this year's conference is $20. For more information on sponsors, exhibitors and registration visit www.thomasvilleal.com or call Judi Clark, Thomasville Development and Planning, at 334-636-5675.

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