Interested in the “new” social media storm and how it can help you grow your business, franchise or distributorship?  Are you a young woman who wants to start her own home-based or other small business?  Perhaps you’re a current business owner who wants to learn more about how you can become a government contractor.  Or maybe you’re just looking for networking opportunities that will help you start and/or potentially grow your own enterprise.

Whether you’re already in business for yourself or just starting out, it’s worth taking a look at all of the exciting, upcoming events going on around the country this fall that are designed to help people just like you… 

FYI:  The Nationwide category contains events that are being replicated in various locations, whereas the remaining singular events are sorted by region of the country. 

Nationwide

Maximize Your Success ― SCORE (Counselors to America’s Small Business), HP and Intel Small Business Workshops

10/14:  San Antonio, TX

10/28:  Washington, DC area

11/16:  Tampa, FL

These workshops are designed to provide you with insights and solutions that will help you boost productivity, become more efficient and grow your business, including essential technology-based solutions and marketing strategies.

BizTechDay:  Where inspiring entrepreneurs share practical business and technology strategies!

9/24:  New York City

10/23:  San Francisco, CA

The goal of this business and technology conference is to inspire, educate and connect in real-time a whole new generation of entrepreneurs like never before.  Meet influential business leaders, journalists, business development contacts from companies of all sizes, government representatives and, of course, other entrepreneurs who are passionate just like you.

Small Business Technology Tour 2010

9/28:  Mountain View, CA

10/14:  Salt Lake City, UT

10/25:  Boston, MA

11/5:  Washington, DC

11/9:  Atlanta, GA

You’ll learn from the experts how to employ technology in your own business, network with other business owners and managers to find out how they’re succeeding, and meet face-to-face with companies that have great products/services to help your business grow.

Northeast Region

University of Pittsburgh, Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business’ Institute for Entrepreneurial Excellence ― Pittsburgh, PA; Various Dates, October thru December

Aimed at entrepreneurs/business owners, this helpful series tells you everything you need to know to take your business to the next level.  A whole host of topics addresses the specific challenges of any and every business, focusing on relevant, practical and readily applied information and guidance that produces immediate results.

Northeast/Mid-Atlantic Region

The Super Mom Entrepreneur Conference and Expo ― New York City, NY New Yorker Hotel; October 30

Join hundreds of Moms who want to learn how to turn their home-based and/or other small business into “big business!”  Speakers, workshops, networking opportunities, an awards/grants cocktail hour, a B2B and Mom2Mom Expo…what more could any Mom/business owner and/or budding entrepreneur want?

BYOB 2011 – Build Your Own Business/Become Your Own Boss ― Philadelphia, PA; November 13

Come spend the day with Melinda Emerson, the Smallbizlady!  Let her help you plan a strategy to leave your job and start a business of your own, if that’s your goal; or for those of you who already own your own business, you’ll learn the skills you need to take your business to new heights.

Power of eMarketing Conference and Expo ― Baltimore, MD; October 20-21

The eMarketing Association’s Annual Conference puts the power of eMarketing in your hands!  Three dozen expert leaders in the field share their knowledge and provide guidance on what it takes for businesses to make the most of today’s social networking and marketing technologies.

East Coast Region

Small Biz Contractors’ Forum: Contacts and Contracts ― Atlanta, GA; October 27

The National Association of Small Business Contractors has joined forces with the U.S. Women’s Chamber of Commerce to facilitate a full day of bringing businesses up to date on current contracting opportunities and connecting them with federal agency and prime-contractor representatives.

Click on Meetings and Events at the site.

Southeast Region

National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC)’s Annual Conference and Business Opportunity Fair ― Miami Beach, FL; October 24-27

More than 6,000 people are expected to attend this four-day event at the Miami Beach Convention Center designed to support South Florida’s vibrant minority business community and introduce its members to leading corporate- and government-purchasing professionals.

Click on Events at the site.

Midwest Region

Entrepreneurship and Small Business Series ― Burton D. Morgan Center for Entrepreneurship Research, Hudson, OH; Various Dates, October thru November

This bi-monthly series of informative discussions is being hosted at a number of Ohio universities and includes topics such as Search Engine Optimization, Idea Selling, Small Business Funding Options, Entrepreneurship and the Green Economy, and Understanding Financial Statements.

City Girl Business Club Workshops ― Chicago, IL; Various Dates, October thru December

Just the right thing for the young woman who wants to start a home-based or other small business!  These workshops are packed with information and all the resources you’ll need to start your journey toward business ownership.

COSE (Council of Smaller Enterprises) Small Business Conference ― Cleveland, OH; October 20-21

This fifth annual conference features educational workshops, national keynote speakers, a business-to-business tradeshow and a myriad of networking opportunities.  COSE is Northeastern Ohio’s largest, small-business-support organization and has more than 15,000 members.

2010 U.S. Small Business Conference ― Dallas, TX; November 11

This conference was created to support small businesses throughout the U.S., helping them to enhance their businesses’ success through networking, resources and education.  This year’s topics at the Dallas-based conference revolve around business communications and the small business owner.

West Coast Region

Winning Strategies for Business Conference ― Long Beach, CA; October 5

This full-day conference event features a host of experts who will provide you with proven tactics and strategies designed to have a positive impact on virtually every aspect of your business.  Topics include:  Networking Like a Pro; People Management; Building Your Brand; Search Engine Optimization for Beginners; and Social Networking and PR.

National Small Business Contracting Summit-West Coast ― San Diego, CA; November 2-3

The National Association of Small Business Contractors has joined forces with the U.S. Women’s Chamber of Commerce to host a west-coast summit, which links small business contractors with federal agencies, prime contractors and resource providers from the region.  In addition to informational sessions provided by a wide array of agencies and key contacts, the summit will include a much-requested "Industry Day" that facilitates one-on-one meetings between businesses, agencies and prime contractors.   

Click on Meetings and Events at the site.

Western Mountain Region

The Perfect Business Summit 2010 Entrepreneur and Investor Conference ― Las Vegas, NV; October 7-8

Meet the world’s most powerful entrepreneurs and find out first-hand what it takes to build an empire from the experts who’ve made it happen.

SMBNation Fall 2010 Conference ― Las Vegas, NV Flamingo Hotel and Casino; October 22-24

SMBNation targets the small and medium business community, spreading knowledge about complete, technology-driven business solutions.

Click on Events-SMB Nation Fall 2010 at the site.

BlogWorld and New Media Expo ― Las Vegas, NV Mandalay Bay Hotel and Conference Center; October 14-16

The world’s largest social media conference invites you to learn everything you can about topics such as content creation, distribution and monetization strategies, cutting edge tools of the trade…everything you’ll need to employ the latest technologies to grow your business!

SM@RT Conference ― Reno-Tahoe, NV; December 8-10

Featured expert/keynote speakers and more than two dozen presenters will tell you what you need to know if your goal for 2011 is to use social media to grow your business!  The conference is designed especially for small business professionals, among others.

Conquer and Grow Super Small Business Conference ― Las Vegas, NV Bellagio Resort and Casino; October 7-8

Join hundreds of small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs, along with a panel of world-recognized experts and bestselling authors, as they meet to discuss a whole range of relevant issues that affect their success and yours.  Highlights include:  What I’ve Learned: How the Lessons of E-Myth Still Apply Today; How to Turn Your Business into a Referral Engine; Lessons Learned in Growth and Conquering the Chaos; and Creating a Company That’s Built to Last.

AZEC10:  The Great Reset…Arizona Entrepreneurship Conference ― Phoenix, AZ; November 17

The long and deep recession has created unprecedented opportunity for the right businesses and economies to emerge stronger than ever before.  Imagine being one of them; find out how to make it happen!