Roofing contractor Jeanette Blanco-Wellers didn’t hesitate to sign up for face time with a Nordstrom’s representative to find out how she can contract with the company.
Her meeting will be part of today’s Denver Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Business Conference, Job Fair & Business Expo at the Colorado Convention Center. Business operators who attend the event will have a chance to meet for 15 minutes with big-company representatives to talk about how to bid for work.
Besides Nordstrom, the large companies participating are Qwest, Cisco Systems, U.S. Bank and Xcel Energy. Also taking part will be the Colorado Office of Economic & International Trade, and the Colorado Purchasing office.
“I am a go-getter,” said Blanco-Wellers, president of Silvercool Service Co. in Commerce City.
It’s the first time that the individual bidding seminars have been offered at the conference, which is in its 19th year.
Thanks to some aggressive marketing, the event is expected to attract a record 8,000 attendees, said Stephen Hazel, the chamber’s chief operating officer.
Past conferences generally drew about 5,000 people, Hazel said.
This year, the chamber did more advertising and also called on other organizations to help spread the word.
The event, which is open to the public, will include vendor booths and seminars.
The seminars will focus on subjects ranging from small- business basics to procurement opportunities and doing business across international borders.
Matthew Dowd, a founding partner of ViaNovo, an international management and communications consulting firm with offices in Austin, Texas; Washington, D.C.; and Monterrey, Mexico; will keynote the conference luncheon.
Staff writer Tom McGhee can be reached at 303-820-1671 or tmcghee@denverpost.com.
