Executive Summary
Small businesses (organizations with fewer than 100 employees) are the backbone of our community. The total number of businesses in Arizona, including home-based businesses, is estimated at 664,454. Of that total, 651,317 or 98% are small businesses.

In today’s fast-changing economy, small businesses are required to be quick, flexible, and innovative thinkers. They are also required to develop an extensive networking contacts and resources to ensure success. Through the Arizona Workforce Connection system, small businesses are able to receive start up, information on how to survive during today’s ever changing economy and resources on how to grow their businesses.

Most businesses, however, are unaware of what Arizona Workforce Connections has to offer. For this reason, the Arizona Workforce Connection is coordinating an event that will provide the small business community a venue to network, develop relationships, access valuable resources and services provided by an array of organizations and to learn about up to date legislation that will affect the way they do business.

Agenda

• 8 am – 8:30 am — Registration
• 8:30 am — Breakfast served
• 8:30 am to 8:45 am — Emcee Darcy Renfro, Arizona Department of Commerce
• 8:45 am to 9 am — Keynote speaker, Congressman J.D. Hayworth
• 9 am to 9:15 am — Dino Farfante, Insight Enterprises Inc.
• 9:30 am to 9:45 am — Tom Fraker, Arizona Small Business Association
• 9:30 to 9:45 am — Michal Goforth, HealthCare Group of Arizona
• 9:45 am to 10:00 am — Bobby Franco, City of Phoenix
• 10:00 am to 10:15 am — Don Smith, Arizona Compensation Fund
• 10:15 am to 10:30 am — Closing remarks from Darcy Renfro, Arizona Department of Commerce
• 10:30 am - 12:00 pm — Business-to-Business Expo

Business-to-Business Expo
The Business-to-Business Expo will immediately follow the open dialogue session. The focus of the Expo is to promote awareness and increased utilization of workforce development and small business services, programs and products.