Entrepreneurs will find strategies for success at the Indianapolis Business Forum

The Indianapolis Business Forum offers entrepreneurs from the Midwest and opportunity to learn new strategies for success in the areas of finance, technology and marketing. Small-business guru Michael Gerber kicks off the event.

Best Selling E-Myth Author Launches
Indianapolis Business Forum

Unique event designed to help small businesses succeed.

INDIANAPOLIS -- August 10, 2002 -- Best-selling author and small business guru Michael Gerber of E-Myth fame, in his first appearance in Indianapolis since 1995, will kick off the Indianapolis Business Forum on Sept. 12, 2002. The forum is designed to help growth-oriented businesses discover new strategies for success, featuring sessions on money, technology and marketing.

The goal is to increase the ability of Indiana companies to grow their companies and compete in their markets, whether that means around the world or across town," says Ron Sukenick, one of the co-producers of the event. Those doing business the same old way will simply not be successful in the current economic climate."

Three other sessions, on Sept. 26, Oct. 10 and Oct. 24, will focus on the three topics most important to growing companies: money, technology and marketing. The session topics were determined as the result of a survey of small businesses conducted by the Indiana Small Business Development Center.

These are the topics business people across the state identified as the most significant challenges to growing their business," says Jim Cotterill, co-producer of the forum and a consultant to the SBDC.

Each session features structured group feedback to allow participants to give immediate support and share ideas, information and resources. Also, each session features structured networking time to allow participants to develop new business relationships.

This event provides unprecedented networking opportunities, as well as programs that are unique to these sessions," said Curt Miller, chairman of the board of presenting sponsor Katz, Sapper & Miller and its Emerging Business Group. Its a tremendous opportunity for businesspersons interested in serving their customers and being more profitable. This event has a positive bottom-line impact for everyone who takes full advantage of it."

In addition to Katz, Sapper & Miller and its Emerging Business Group, 19 companies support the Forum. Additional sponsors include:

Major Event Sponsors: AT&T Wireless, Indianapolis Athletic Club, Indianapolis Business Journal, Key Bank, Riley Bennett & Egloff, Print Resources, UPS, WIBC and WTTV-4.

Associating Sponsors: Cannon IV, Colonial Supplemental Insurance, eGIX, The Goldsmith Group, Business Integrity Group, Effective Selling, Kings Image Executive Menswear, Omni Source Marketing Group, Protis Executive Innovations and WorkSmart Systems.

Schedule of Events
Session 1:   Michael Gerber, 7:45 a.m. to 1 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 12, at the Indiana War Memorial Auditorium.

Session 2:   Conquering Capital Constraints, 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 26, at the Indianapolis Athletic Club.

Session 3:   Non-technology Technology Tactics, 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 10, at the Indianapolis Athletic Club.

Session 4:    Creating Cost-effective Marketing Techniques, 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 24, at the Indianapolis Athletic Club.

Registration for all four sessions is $356, or $89 per session. A ticket to any single session is $125. Registration for two sessions is $220 and $297 for three sessions. For more information or to register, visit www.IndianapolisBusinessForum.com or e-mail to info@IndianapolisBusinessForum.com.

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EDITORS: Michael Gerber will be available for phone interviews and radio call-in shows in August. Also, a photo is available in electronic format. For interview arrangements or a photo, contact Gary Wollenhaupt at 317-403-1091 or glwoll@aol.com.