Small Business Today Magazine SEP 2014 ELP ENTERPRISES | Page 5

SBT Houston Staff SEPTEMBER 2014 PUBLISHER SCOLUMN Chairman John Cruise President/Executive Publisher Steve Levine Vice President /Associate Publisher/ Creative Director/Editor Barbara Davis-Levine Business Development/PR Bill Huff Jim Johnson Aaron Kaplan Lisa Lopez Paul Poloe Deborah A. Powell Intern Jesus Gonzalez Graphic Designer Lavinia Menchaca Photographers Gwen Juarez Contributing Writers Helen Callier Barbara Davis Laquitta DeMerchant Mila Golovine Ruben Gonzalez Dawn Haynes Bruce Hurta Jeff Jones Jennifer Jacobson Craig Kaiser Aaron Kaplan Craig Klein Hank Moore Mike Muhney Mayor Annise Parker Howard Partridge Christi Ruiz Rita Santamaria Gail Stolzenburg Alvin Terry Pam Terry Heather Warner Aimee Woodall Chief Advisor Hank Moore Publisher’s Advisory Board Shah Ardalan Helen Callier Sonia Clayton Donna Cole John Cruise Dirk Cummins April Day Dr. John Demartini Maya Durnovo Kathie Edwards Mila Golovine David Holt Richard Huebner Jeffrey Jones Darryl King Craig Klein Wea Lee Hank Moore Lisa M. Morton Mike Muhney Leisa Holland Nelson Tony Noun Mayor Annise Parker Page Parkes Howard Partridge Susan Repka Maria Rios Grant Sadler Rita Santamaria William Sherrill Pam Terry Linda Toyota Jack Warkenthien Carlecia D. Wright Aaron Young Phone: [phone] E-Mail: [email protected] Or Write: Small Business Today 5380 West 34th Street, Ste 230 Houston,TX 77092 See us on the web at www.SBTMagazine.net Free APP for Android & iPhone go to your APP Store and type in Small Business Today Magazine SMALL BUSINESS Today MAGAZINE IS PUBLISHED MONTHLY BY LEGACY PUBLISHING GROUP, LLC. 5380 WEST 34TH ST., STE. 230 HOUSTON, TX 77092 EXECUTIVE PUBLISHER - STEVE LEVINE: 832-419-2814 CHAIRMAN - JOHN CRUISE: 832-460-2020 www.SBTMagazine.net ADVERTISING RATES ON REQUEST. BULK THIRD CLASS MAIL PAID IN TUCSON, AZ. POSTMASTER: PLEASE SEND NOTICES ON FORM 3579 TO 5380 WEST 34TH ST., STE. 230 HOUSTON, TX 77092. ALTHOUGH EVERY PRECAUTION IS TAKEN TO ENSURE ACCURACY OF PUBLISHED MATERIALS, SMALL BUSINESS TODAY MAGAZINE CANNOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR OPINIONS EXPRESSED OR FACTS SUPPLIED BY ITS AUTHORS. COPYRIGHT 2012, LEGACY PUBLISHING GROUP, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. REPRODUCTION IN WHOLE OR IN PART WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION IS PROHIBITED. From the Publisher Steve Levine Making an Expo “Work!” September greetings everyone! I have always loved the month of September. Growing up in Upstate NewYork, September signaled the end of summer (quite literally).  There was a crispness in the air in the morning.  The trees would start turning their magnificent array of colors and the sounds and smells in the air were quite different than the months prior. Obviously, living in Houston,Texas, September is more like an extension of August, with the exception of the anticipation of the fall home & garden shows, craft shows, and (of course) business conferences and expos. Several noteworthy conferences for small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs in September and October are the Houston Minority Supplier Development Council’s Business Expo 2014 (www. hmsdc.org), September 24th & 25th, the Transportation Diversity Council’s 1st Annual Southwest Transportation & Infrastructure Summit ( www.tdc-ntl.org ), October 10, 2014, and the Houston Small Business Expo (www.HoustonSmallBusinessExpo.com), October 11th.  Small Business Today Magazine is indeed proud to be a media sponsor of all three of these events. Whether you are an attendee or exhibitor at one of these or other business conferences this year, I don’t have to tell you that these conference and expos are huge investments for everyone (often requiring travel/lodging expenses, man hours, exhibit costs, promotional costs, etc., not to mention the price of attending the conference.  They can be a huge waste of time and money or be a major catalyst to growing your business; it just depends on what your purpose of being there is and your goals for the conference.  I am a veteran of hundreds of these both as an exhibitor and as an attendee. Here is a list of some things that will make your attendance more profitable: 1.  Set your goal as to what you would ideally like to accomplish. 2.  Your pre-conference preparation will play a major role in your ability to reach those goals that you want to achieve while you are there. 3. Connect through social media with those individuals who you are counting on meeting there.  Possibly arrange a pre- or post- meeting appointment. 4.  Take the time to visit with all the exhibitors.  Each are experts in their phase of your business and may have the answers to your immediate  needs and/or be an excellent source of referrals. 5.  “Be on a mission” while you are there.  Take advantage of every opportunity to connect with everyone.  You never know who may be in a position to aid your businesses growth into the coming year! 6.  For exhibitors, engage as many attendees in conversation as possible. Look and act like you are there t