Make time to profit.

Events offer relationship-building year-round

As an entrepreneur, you can leave establishing contacts to "chance," one business owner puts it, or you can take the proactive approach--networking.

You'll have to wade through the sea of conference materials that flood your home or office to pinpoint the event(s) that will have a positive impact on your business--that's worth your time to attend. Most business owners weigh the benefits of attending any conference against the days taken away from actually running their companies--preserving or increasing their bottom line. Still, if you have the time, you may want to spend it on a much needed break.

But do you have to choose between the bottom line and that long-overdue vacation? Since its inception six years ago, the Black Enterprise/Pepsi Golf & Tennis Challenge has attracted thousands of entrepreneurs and professionals--more than 1,300 annually--to the Doral Golf Resort and Spa in Miami over the Labor Day weekend. The level of participation signals that Black Enterprise Unlimited, the organizer of the event, has discovered a formula that resonates with its target audience.

"We realize that today's entrepreneurs are extremely busy. The pace of business is literally in step with the information age," says John C. Graves, president of B.E. Unlimited. "The philosophy behind our events is `work hard and play hard.' It's an approach conducive to networking. Having said that, each of our events offers participants a decided business advantage by allowing them to network with corporate decision-makers who can and have closed six-figure deals on the spot."

Other B.E. Unlimited events include the four-year-old Black Enterprise/Bank of America Entrepreneurs Conference, held annually in May, and the Black Enterprise & AXA/Equitable Ski Challenge, which premiered in January of this year. Similar to the Golf & Tennis Challenge, the Ski Challenge gives attendees the opportunity to take advantage of prime skiing and winter sports at Vail's Keystone Resort in Colorado.

In May, more than 1,200 black CEOs attended the 1999 Entrepreneurs Conference at Disney's Contemporary Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. The event offered more than 15 informative workshops and sessions, a business-to-business exposition, a golf outing and evening networking receptions.

"The Expo allows African Americans to view professional opportunities, network and have a great time," says Beth McNeill, sales manager of Atlanta-based BlackFamilies.com and a Ski Challenge attendee.

To appeal to entrepreneurs, professionals and their families, B.E. Challenges offer a kids' camp, daily activities and nightly entertainment featuring top name entertainers such as Kenny Lattimore, Angela Bofill, Tommy Davidson and George Wallace.

Says Graves: "Basically, these events were designed so that attendees don't have to grapple with the decision of carving out time for a family vacation versus attending a business affair--they can do both simultaneously."

For more information about the 1999 Golf & Tennis Challenge, September 2-6, call 800-209-7229. To learn more about other B.E. events, visit www.blackenterprise.com.

Black Enterprise Unlimited is a division of Earl G. Graves Ltd. dedicated to the creation of products and services designed to meet your business needs. We can be contacted at B.E. Unlimited, 130 Fifth Ave., New York, NY 10011-4399; fax [phone]; e-mail: [e-mail]. Following is the contact information to help you learn more about the programs and products of B.E. Unlimited:

B.E./PEPSI GOLF & TENNIS CHALLENGE

For information on the 1999 Golf & Tennis Challenge, September 2-6, at the Doral Golf Resort and Spa in Miami, call 800-209-7229.

B.E. & AXA/EQUITABLE SKI CHALLENGE

To inquire about the Second Annual Ski Challenge at Vail's Keystone Resort in Keystone, Colorado, call 800-209-7229.

B.E/BANK OF AMERICA ENTREPRENEURS CONFERENCE

To receive information about the 2000 Entrepreneurs Conference, at Disney's Contemporary Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, call 800-543-6786.

KIDPRENEURS[R] PROGRAM

The Kidpreneurs Program is dedicated to the creation of business education products for our children. To learn about our annual Kidpreneurs Konference, call 800-543-6786. To receive information about the Kidpreneurs Program, call 877-KID-PREN (877-543-7736).

B.E. UNLIMITED NEWSLETTERS

To be placed on the mailing list for:

* The Exchange[TM], a business tool for aspiring and established entrepreneurs, call 800-543-6786.

* BLACK ENTERPRISE For Teens[TM], a publication focusing on economic and self-empowerment, or KidpreneursNews[TM], a publication designed to foster the entrepreneurial spirit in children, call 877-KID-PREN (877-543-7736).