Rockville, Maryland (March 2, 2004)—Women business owners, managers, professionals, and entrepreneurs from Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C., will converge again for this year's Women in Business Conference and Tradeshow on April 1, 2004 at Pooks Hill Marriott in Bethesda, Maryland.

Now in its 5th year, the event is designed to provide women professionals and entrepreneurs with the necessary skills and strategies for developing a successful business, while providing business women with an opportunity to interact with decisionmakers. The conference will feature business seminars, a networking session, and a trade and information exhibition with more than 60 exhibitors.

"We are very excited to be able to once again assist women in achieving success in their business through this conference," said Joy E. Young, Executive Director of the Rockville Chamber of Commerce. "This event provides the region's community of business women with an opportunity to learn how to succeed in today's economy. It's an opportunity to make professional connections while also providing support and ideas for building and maintaining successful businesses," she said.

The event begins at 8 a.m. at the Pooks Hill Marriott, 5151 Pooks Hill Road, in Bethesda, Maryland, and continues through 6 p.m. All-day admission to the conference is $149. Admission to the trade show is free with a business card.

This year's conference will include a Keynote Luncheon Program featuring Melanie Sabelhaus, Deputy Administrator of the Small Business Administration, as the keynote speaker. Tickets to the luncheon only are $55 per person. Event organizers expect some 900 business women and men to attend the conference throughout the day.

New to this year's conference is a business plan competition for women-owned businesses. Entitled StartRight!, the competition is open to businesses that are at least 51 percent women-owned, active and in business for 2 years or less, and qualified to do business in the State of Maryland, the District of Columbia, or the Commonwealth of Virginia.

The competition is designed to give new businesses a financial boost with a $2,000 cash prize, publicity, and an opportunity for review and recommendations from an experienced panel of judges from area businesses, financial institutions, organizations, government agencies, and colleges. The winner of the StartRight! competition will be announced at the conference.

For conference information and a complete list of entry rules and deadlines for the competition, contact Joy E. Young, Executive Director for the Rockville Chamber of Commerce, at 301.424.9300 or by e-mail at Rockville@rockvillechamber.org, or visit www.women-in-business.org.

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Women in Business Conference and Tradeshow

Rockville Chamber of Commerce presents the fifth annual Women in Business Conference and Trade Show, April 1, 2004, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., at Pooks Hill Marriott, 5151 Pooks Hill Road, Bethesda, Maryland. All-day admission to the conference is $149; the trade show is free with a business card; the Keynote Luncheon only is $55. For further information call 301.424.9300, e-mail at Rockville@rockvillechamber.org, or visit www.women-in-business.org.

Sponsored by Rockville Chamber of Commerce, Montgomery County Department of Economic Development, Rockville Economic Development, Inc., 2004 Women in Business Conference and Trade Show in partnership with D.C. Women's Business Center, and Montgomery County Commission for Women. Cash prize provided by Applied Creative Technologies, Inc.

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