ADVISORY/Emerging Business Forum 2003 Begins Wednesday -- Conference for Minority and Female Entrepreneurs.

Assignment Desks

ADVISORY...for Wednesday-Friday (Oct. 8-10)

Emerging Business Forum 2003

--(BUSINESS WIRE)

Emerging Business Forum

When:           12 p.m. to 8 p.m., Wednesday, October 8
                6:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., Thursday, October 9
                7:30 a.m. to 2:15 p.m., Friday, October 10

Where:          Hilton McLean Tysons Corner
                7920 Jones Branch Drive
                McLean, Virginia 22102
                (Off Route 123 - Chain Bridge Road - just outside the
                Capital Beltway)

What:           Panels for woman entrepreneurs (3 p.m. Wednesday);
                Capitol Hill briefing (6:30 p.m. Wednesday) to find
                out how the nation's lawmakers are supporting small
                businesses and entrepreneurship through federal
                procurement policies; a panel discussion on
                entrepreneurship and public policy (9 a.m. Thursday);
                private meetings with decision-makers from 10 major
                corporations around the mid-Atlantic (3 p.m.
                Thursday); an interactive case study review of
                entrepreneurial success (10:30 a.m. Thursday and 8:30
                a.m. Friday); sessions to help young growing companies
                develop international trade opportunities (9 a.m.
                Friday).

Why:            Many minority and female entrepreneurs feel they still
                have more hurdles to cross to be successful in
                business. The Emerging Business Forum helps diverse
                entrepreneurs and enterprises build relationships with
                established companies, financial investors and
                potential customers. Workshops cover access to
                capital, established business partners, government and
                corporate contracting, mentorship, marketing and media
                relations.

Who (Speakers): Monique Greenwood, entrepreneur, author, and former
                editor-in-chief of Essence magazine (4:15 p.m.
                Wednesday); Linda Darragh, Adjunct Professor, Kellogg
                School of Management at Northwestern University (10:15
                a.m. Thursday); Stedman Graham, CEO, S. Graham and
                Associates (1:15 p.m. Thursday); Robert Woltz,
                President, Verizon Virginia (2:30 p.m. Thursday);
                Michael Barrera, National Ombudsman , Small Business
                Administration (1 p.m. Friday).

Sponsors:       U.S. Commerce Department; Verizon Communications;
                Capital One Financial Corp.; ExxonMobil; Maden
                Technologies; BJ's Wholesale Club; Freddie Mac; The
                Washington Business Journal; McGuireWoods LLP; Pepper
                Hamilton LLP; Deloitte & Touche; Montgomery County
                (MD) Department of Economic Development; Fairfax
                County Economic Development Authority; Virginia
                Secretary of Commerce and Trade; Virginia Secretary of
                Technology.

Media details:  Program and registration information is at
                www.EmergingBusinessForum.org. Press room is in the
                Jackson Room of the Hilton McLean Tysons Corner.
                Phone, computer hookups, tables, and chairs are
                available.