BUSINESS CONFERENCE GETS POWELL; EVENT SET FOR FEBRUARY.

Byline: Jim Skeen Daily News Staff Writer

Colin Powell, the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, will be the keynote speaker at the 1998 Antelope Valley Board of Trade Business Outlook Conference on Feb. 5, officials announced Tuesday.

Describing him as the ``most sought after speaker in the world,'' organizers said Powell will bring recognition to the annual conference. Powell, a top military adviser for three presidents, is frequently mentioned as a possible presidential candidate.

``This speaker is going to elevate our conference,'' said Palmdale Mayor Jim Ledford. ``This is a nationally known speaker who is going to bring a lot of notoriety to the Antelope Valley.''

Organizers hope Powell will talk about the Southwest Military Complex, a proposal under which all of the military's test and evaluation programs would be sent to bases - including Edwards Air Force Base - in the Southwestern states.

Powell, conference organizers said, was one of the architects of that concept when he was at the Pentagon. The proposal remains just an idea, though supported by officials in California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah and New Mexico.

Powell is also expected to talk about ``managing in a turbulent environment.''

``I can't imagine anyone more qualified to do that,'' said Mike Parrott, president of the Antelope Valley Board of Trade.

Organizers refused to disclose how Powell is being paid for his appearance.

Powell is expected to help the conference sell out with around 600 attendees. It will be held Feb. 5 at the Essex House Convention Center, 858 W. Jackman Ave.

This will be the 26th year for the conference, which brings businesspeople and civic leaders together to listen to forecasts on the Antelope Valley economy.

This year, organizers said they hope to focus more on the impacts and expectations of industries such as agriculture and mining, which help the valley diversify from its aerospace base.

Born in Harlem, N.Y., Powell grew up in the South Bronx. After graduating from the City College of New York, Powell was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Army.

Powell's military career includes two tours in Vietnam, and assignments in Korea and Germany.

Powell served as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff from 1989 to 1993, when he retired after 35 years of military service.

Before that post, he served as the principal military adviser to the secretary of defense and the National Security Council.

CAPTION(S):

Photo

Photo: (Color) Colin Powell

Advised 3 presidents