Asian Business Assoc. of OC 2013 PROCON to Highlight Diversity, Matchmaking & Networking

SANTA ANA, Calif. - July 8, 2013 - PRLog -- Giving participants “stronger and wider” networking opportunities and providing a public venue to  “energize business environment for sustainability” in difficult economic times is the purpose of the Asian Business Association of Orange County (ABAOC) 2013 Procurement Conference (PROCON), according to conference chair Gloria Rull.

Rull said the daylong conference, known as PROCON, is titled “Creating a Link for Opportunities in the Local and Global Economy” PROCON is slated to take place Thursday, September 12^th  at Disney's Paradise Pier Hotel located at 1717 South Disneyland Drive, Anaheim CA 92802 from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Corporate participants include the US Bank, Wells Fargo, Disneyland Resort, Southern California Edison, Verizon, Southwest Airlines, Metropolitan Water District, Southern California Gas, New York Life , Orange County Transportation Authority, Small Business Association and South Coast Plaza.

PROCON typically draws hundreds of diverse small business owners interested in growing their businesses in both domestic and global markets. That growth occurs by matchmaking corporations and small business owners, who will have opportunities at PROCON to bid on supplier diversity contracts and become a preferred vendor source for participating corporations.

In fact, this conference begins with the ABAOC Business Matchmaking Preparation Workshop (BMW) on July 11th and 12th.  Participants completing the two-day workshop have the opportunity at PROCON for scheduled one-on-one meetings with buyers from governmental agencies (City, County, State, and Federal) and Fortune 500 corporations who are interviewing to fulfill contracts over the next 9 to 12 months.

Qualifying attendees include certified minority, women, and disabled veteran business enterprises (MBE/WBE/DVBE), commercial and government entities, trade brokers, and other business owners. These enterprises are primarily located in Orange County, but may also come from other areas of Southern California. PROCON also welcomes the participation of international businesses.

Qualifying exhibitors are those who engage in providing contracts or supply chain opportunities to potential buyers or vendors and may have an established supplier diversity program. These companies are diverse major corporations, government entities, utilities and Asian-based international companies.

PROCON participants are expected to represent a wide cross section of business and industry, including: auto manufacturers, capital machines, department stores, entertainment, equipment builders, export/import companies, foodservice/restaurants, grocery stores, hospitality, insurance companies, office and commercial real estate, office supplies, pharmaceuticals, telecom, suppliers of janitorial supplies, metal fabricators, MRO suppliers, universities and colleges, U.S. banks and internationally based financial institutions, and utility companies.

The conference will host a trade expo in which corporate buyers and small business owners can showcase their products and services. Keynote speakers and workshops will cover topics from “Export/Import Trends” to “Conducting Business in Asia and other International Locations.”

In addition to Rull, a New York Life business owner, co-chairs of the event include Tom Nguyen of WinCorp Solutions, Lily Otieno of Infinity Business Solutions, Arnice Lamb of The Walt Disney Company, and Rosee Culbertson of Material Acquisition Services, Inc.

PROCON is sponsored by the ABAOC, which was founded in 1992 to provide Asian Americans entrepreneurs with the opportunity to gain access to economic advancement through “networking, education and community representation.”

The PROCON event is free for ABAOC members and BMW graduates, $10 for non-members, and the entrance fee on the day of the event is $20. The cost for vendor exhibitors is $100 per table. More information about the event is available via www.abaoc.org.