Women & Entrepreneurship in the 21st Century
August 8, 2002
New Britain, CT

Overview | eFORUM Results | Webcast | Agenda | Panels  
Speaker Bios | Community Cosponsors | Hosts | Sponsors

Keeping America’s Workforce Healthy: Is affordable insurance possible?
The rising costs of health insurance is becoming an unaffordable burden for entrepreneurs – this session will help attendees understand why costs are increasing, options that may be available, and future financing trends based on cost pressures and policy initiatives.

Getting The Contracts: Doing business with the government and the private sector
This session will review all aspects of procurement, contracting with businesses and the government.  It will be a forerunner to two afternoon sessions at which women business owners can meet one-on-one with regional representatives from the federal government and area companies to find out more about needs and opportunities.

Access to Capital: Realistic options for women business owners
Great entrepreneurial ideas generally go nowhere.  Women entrepreneurs find that capital for growing their businesses is often scarce as well.  This panel of experts, ranging from representatives of banking and financial institutions to venture capitalists and those who train and advise women entrepreneurs will provide women with guidance, information and encouragement on accessing the capital they need to grow their businesses.

The Taxman Cometh: Changes in the code and resources to help women entrepreneurs
This panel will provide information about the direction of tax policies that can benefit entrepreneurs.  Panelists from government agencies and consultants who help small business owners deal with tax issues will be on hand to share their knowledge in order to help businesses navigate the tax system.

Global Trade: Exporting for Growth
Experts from industry and government will provide key information and personal experience about how to guide the woman entrepreneur who may be thinking about going global.  Panelists will cover the key issues and provide a primer on overseas markets and the tools needed to work in the international marketplace.

Trends in Technology: What’s new, what’s affordable and what works!
With technology changing so quickly – what should women entrepreneurs invest in next? Industry leaders and users will provide a special update of where technology is going, trends, trends in e-commerce and practical information to help guide technology decisions and planning.

Marketplace: Doing Business with Your Government
One of two afternoon sessions specifically designed for the individual business owner who will have an opportunity to talk one-on-one with representatives of the SBA, the Department of Commerce and other allied groups to answer questions and offer assistance for doing business with the government.  

Participating:

• National Aeronautics & Space Administration

Marketplace: Doing Business with Business
The second afternoon session will allow individual business owners an opportunity to meet one-on-one with representatives of businesses in the northeast to exchange information about the needs of these businesses and how women business owners can build their bottom lines by doing business these companies.

Participating:

• Raytheon

• Amtrak

• United Technology Corporation

• Aetna

• Lockheed Martin

• Pitney Bowes