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Steward keynote speaker at 2006 Ohio Business Opportunity Fair 

Columbus: David L. Steward started his business very humbly. He began World Wide Technology, Inc. (WWT) in 1990 with four people and 4,000 square feet of office space.

Today, with headquarters in St. Louis, Missouri, WWT has more than 700 employees, 1 million-plus square feet of facilities, and over $1 billion in sales. The company specializes in developing state-of-the-art supply chain solutions for its customers, which include KeyBank, Dell, and Microsoft.

Steward will be the featured at the 15^th annual Ohio Business Opportunity Fair—the largest gathering of minority business enterprises, major corporations, and government agencies in the state. This year’s Fair takes place at the Hyatt Regency, 350 North High Street, in downtown Columbus on May 16 and 17.

David L. Steward

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Steward will be the keynote speaker at the Sponsor Recognition Breakfast to be held Wednesday, May 17, from 8:00 to 9:30AM. The breakfast is open to all Fair attendees. Tickets are included with full conference registration and the exhibitor package or they can be purchased separately. The Sponsor Recognition Breakfast is just one of many scheduled activities at the two-day, diversity business event.

The Ohio Business Opportunity Fair—formerly known as the All Ohio Trade Fair—was created to foster relationships between minority business suppliers and corporate and government diversity purchasing agents.

“If you’re an MBE looking to grow your business, you need to be at the 2006 Ohio Business Opportunity Fair,” said Lee Pepion, CEO of the Blackfoot Company and co-chair of this year’s Fair. “You can also learn how to become certified by National Minority Supplier Development Council affiliates at this event. As more and more corporations demand that their minority suppliers be certified, this has become critical to MBE success.”

All MBEs, companies, and government agencies are welcome at the Fair which is sponsored by the nonprofit Ohio Assembly of Councils.

“I know from personal experience it’s a great way for MBE suppliers and company purchasing agents to learn about each other’s capabilities and needs,” said Paula Carter, Procurement Diversity Manager for Honda of America Manufacturing North American Purchasing and co-chair of this year’s Fair. “The Fair is an excellent place to make new connections, enhance existing relationships and develop real opportunities to do business.”

Not only can MBEs meet companies from all over Ohio and from neighboring states at the Ohio Business Opportunity Fair, they can sign up for the “Ultimate Matchmaker” and have the chance to make capability presentations to corporations during pre-scheduled appointments.

Host sponsors of the 2006 Ohio Business Opportunity Fair include the Columbus Zoo, Eaton, Honda of America Manufacturing, Limitedbrands, the Ohio Department of Development, Procter & Gamble, and Toyota.

MBEs can register with a friend by April 24 and receive a discount! (This offer not available online). Complete event details and registration information are available at www.ohiobizoppfair.org. Or contact Jennifer Thornton at (614) 225-6924 with the South Central Ohio Minority Business Council (SCOMBC) or Angela Davis (216) 363-0002 with the Northern Ohio Minority Business Council (NOMBC). These two organizations make up the Ohio Assembly of Councils which has presented the Ohio Business Opportunity Fair annually since 1991.