11/1/01

Jackie Alexander Di Pofi, 334/844-4220

AU SBDC SCHEDULES SEMINAR FOR SMALL, DISADVANTAGED BUSINESSES

AUBURN -- The Auburn University Small Business Development Center will conduct a seminar on Dec. 4 to assist small, disadvantaged businesses. The program will begin at 9 a.m., and conclude at 1 p.m., at the Hampton Inn on South College Street in Auburn.

"This program is designed to help small, disadvantaged businesses secure their share of the many contracts for goods and services offered by the federal government and prime contractors," says Jackie Alexander Di Pofi, director of the SBDC. "The program is very informative and includes one-on-one counseling sessions."

The seminar will instruct participants on how to become certified as a Small Disadvantaged Business and Small Business Administration 8(a) contractor.

It will focus on the qualifications for SDB and 8(a) certification including the areas of control, ownership, financial criteria, SIC/NAICS codes, and other evaluation criteria the SBA uses in determining a given company's qualifications for SDB and 8(a) certification, said Di Pofi.

Paul Gunn of Paul Gunn Business Consulting in Huntsville, Ala., will present material covering the SDB and 8(a) certification programs offered by the SBA. Gunn has worked with several companies inn North Alabama in helping them get 8(a) certified. He has extensive experience in government contracting and working with the SBA.

Gunn will be assisted by the program manager, Michael Guest, who manages the screening and processing of SDB applications at the Huntsville office. Guest is a consultant with Guest Associates, Inc. in Huntsville and supports PGBC on this contract. He has owned and operated several small businesses and is familiar with all aspects of business ownership including the legal, accounting and marketing issues of small business ownership as well as government contracting.

The cost of the seminar is $10, which includes lunch. To register, call the AU SBDC at 334/844-4220.

nov01:AU-sbdc

CONTACT: Di Pofi, 334/844-4220.