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Area Chambers of Commerce and business owners gathered at Capital One Bank in Bridge City Tuesday to learn about the upcoming Business Development Week.

“We’re hosting the Business Development Weed at the Holiday Inn Plaza for local businesses both large and small that are interested in entrepreneurship, growth and expansion of their business and professional development,” said Jessica Hill, vice president of economic development with the Southeast Texas Economic Development Foundation.

Bobby Fillyaw of the Orange County Economic Development Corporation said, “This is the second time that the Southeast Texas Economic Development Foundation, along with many other partners have come together to put this event on. This is an opportunity for small businesses within our community to better their businesses in a number of seminars, panel discussions, professional development and other things all during these classes.”

This learning opportunity set for April 9-11. The seminars are broken into four one-hour sessions per day with lunch in between. Each session offers four choices covering different aspects of successful businesses in today’s world including the use of social media to promote business, making business mobile, using the Cloud, healthcare, public speaking, going global and more. Some of the topics are offered more than once on different days and times.

“Almost anyone can find something that will help them in their business in these three days,” said Fillyaw. “I think you’ll find this very worthwhile.”

County Judge Carl Thibodeaux looked over the list of classes being offered during the event. “I can see at least 10 of them I could have used back then, back in the 70s when I first opened up my own business.”

“I think this is a great asset for all business owners in the Golden Triangle.” Thibodeaux said he was going to try to attend some of the seminars. “I think I’m going to take the one ‘Fear of public speaking.’” That got a chuckle from the crowd.

“We’re hoping to have a great turnout as we did last year; hoping to build on the momentum. It was very successful and we are looking forward to it,” said Hill.

The Holiday Inn Plaza is located at 3950 I-10 South at Walden Road in Beaumont. Cost for the event is $25 per day and includes registration for seminars and lunch. Lunch only registration is: $15 for April 9 with Larry Stokes as the speaker; $25, April 10 for the awards lunch; and $15, April 11 panel discussion. All three lunches can be purchased at a discount of $45.

Register online at http://www.SETEDF.org

Fillyaw hopes that everyone will help spread the word on this event.

Bobby Fillyaw pictured above.