Throughout the year, we produce business-development and procurement events and workshops that reach hundreds of minority businesses across Southern California. These workshops help businesses get certified, refine their business plans and implement solutions that help them successfully compete for and win contracts in a global supply chain. Creating opportunities for minority businesses is the key to not only our success, but yours as well. The programs we offer provide corporate support, build leadership and promote innovation.
Small Business Development Day
Specifically designed for local SME’s, this three part series of workshops tackles the issues in establishing, growing and taking their operations to the next level. In collaboration with our Title Sponsor and executives from local corporations and government agencies, this event will shed insight into what it will take to succeed in today’s economic environment.
ABAOC Business Convention
Business Matchmaking Workshops (BMW)
Back by popular demand, ABAOC is once again teaming up with some of Orange County’s biggest corporations and government purchasing agencies (e.g., Southern California Edison, Walt Disney Company, Disneyland Resort, Verizon, Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA), US Bank, Southwest Airlines and others) to provide Contract Readiness Workshops. Business Matchmaking Workshops are designed as a roadmap for ABAOC members that want to do business with large corporations and government agencies. In addition, the class graduates will have an opportunity to meet with several buyers from large corporations and government agencies to jump-start their contracting process.
These courses will help diverse business owners learn to make decisions that will lead to contracts. Topics covered include: (1) Market research to effectively build the “right” resources; (2) Vendor validation process; (3) Contract negotiation skills; (4) How to create and present your capability statements; (5) Writing proposals that win; and (6) Presentation skills. These classes will provide tools to ensure maximum benefit that fits with business strategy.
We will provide “real-time” video training segments to give participants a chance to review and make adjustments. The classes build upon each other, guiding the participants through developmental stages and giving them opportunities to finally meet the buyers. They will be taught by experts with real-world business experience, employing training methods that have been proven for adult learning. The format is a mixture of didactic and experiential learning, including real-time feedback from peers.
We offer solution-based training to ensure that participants are learning and that we are adding value to their business as they proceed in class time. Classes are designed to give business owners the nuts and bolts of getting contracts in real-world situations.
Designated times will be allocated by these corporations to individually meet with small business owners to discuss their procedures and current/future corporate procurement opportunities.
Procurement Conference & Exporting (PROCON)
The Procurement Conference & Exporting (PROCON) event serves a dual purpose. PROCON is a trade expo where corporate buyers and small business owners showcase their products and services, leveraging the large scale PROCON exposure to the buying and selling public. Similarly to the Business Matchmaking Workshops, PROCON links procurement and economic development managers from major companies (e.g., Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA), the US Small Business Administration (Santa Ana District Office), Walt Disney Company, Disneyland Resort, Port of Los Angeles, Southern California Edison, Union Bank, US Bank, Verizon, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, United Parcel Service (UPS), Southern California Gas Company, and other corporations with minority owned SME’s in Orange County) to promote minority diversity programs. The objective is to create a platform to discuss procurement opportunities, not only locally, but also internationally. Representatives from corporate partners will go over such topics as export/import trends, nuts and bolts of doing business in Asia and success stories amongst others.
Awards & Recognition Gala
Hard work leads to successful results. Therefore, it is our tradition, at ABAOC, to end the year with a gala to recognize members, sponsors, partners and community advocates for their contributions to Orange County and the surrounding cities. Types of awards include the Corporate Eagle’s Award, Business Entrepreneur Award, Minority Advocates Award, Emerging Business of the Year and Charitable and Scholarship Awards to students in the Asian community.