Tampa, Fla. – The National Association of Tourism and Conventions (NATC-TV) covered the 4th International Business Summit that was held on March 11th here in Tampa Bay. The event bought together nine multicultural Chambers of Commerce, Coca-Cola, the Tampa Port Authority, and other corporate sponsors. The NATC knows it witnessed something that will inspire the world to collaborate and cooperate with Tampa Bay’s business community,  not only to prevent chaos but create a beloved community. In short, the NATC knows it witnessed a model for unlocking the potential of the global economy.

Therefore, on Friday March 26th 2010 at 7pm, the NATC will be broadcasting this event on www.natc-us.com so that the world can see its vision reflected in the summit.

The NATC says the reason why it is sharing the exclusive coverage with the world with so much passion and conviction is because in times of great racial and international conflict along with explosive economic tensions at home and abroad, the world needs to see overwhelming American leadership and direction. The International Business Summit in Tampa Bay was an example of how American business can be a symbol of liberty and prosperity throughout the world.

Moreover, the NATC asks itself with will happen to Wall Street, the Federal Reserve, corporate America, and the commercial real estate industry if all Americans and the rest of the world didn’t see what happened in the summit. The answer to this question was so frightening the NATC said to itself it had better share what happened in Tampa Bay and do it in a hurry.

That’s why everyone should go to www.natc-us.com on Friday, March 26th to view the highlights of the annual International Business Summit. Let’s all see how we can reshape America’s potentially great business institutions to create more of a people centered global economy instead of a profit centered global economy.

For Immediate Release
Contact: Donald Hallback
813-625-0103
Email Donald@natc-us.com
Website www.natc-us.com

Benefits of IBS Involvement:

IBS is about networking: It connects people with new contacts, and builds relationships and trust. The structured speed-networking is particularly popular.

IBS is about visibility: sponsors and networkers come to IBS to define their brands, and promote products and services to potential clients. IBS offers a specific opportunity for sales and marketing to the diverse, international, and multi-lingual community. The Collaboration, Diversity, Prosperity Awards highlight achievements by innovative and inclusive companies in our region.

IBS is about resources for prosperity: the Summit showcases support services for business and skills development, international business incentives, supply-chain development, people and training. These resources benefit large, small and international businesses.

IBS is about meeting the bi-national community: Support for IBS establishes a long-term portal to the bi-national community leadership and membership., and to potential global intermediaries, partners and cultural mentors.

IBS is about collaboration: The event brings together people who want to share new thinking, ideas and opportunities. There is an emphasis on diversity as a source of innovation, and on placing innovative thinkers together to collaborate for business development.

IBS is about diversity: It showcases the diversity of the Tampa Bay area and recognizes those who value differentness as a source of growth, prosperity and innovation. It celebrates cultural fluency as a key skill-set in a global economy, and acknowledges commitment to differentness as a best practice value in organizations.

IBS is about education and entertainment: While some conferences are “same old, same old’, IBS is a fast-paced, varied range of options, where business owners, executives and their staff can learn a wide range of skills on the track of their choice, while mixing with interesting and multi-cultural thinkers.

Bi-National and International Chambers in IBS

1. British-American: 180 people and businesses. www.babctampabay.org
2. Caribbean-American: 2018 people and businesses. www.cacctb.com
3. Chinese-American: 280 people and businesses. www.ccctb.com
4. French-American: 380 people and businesses. www.framco.org
5. Indo-American: 2875 people and businesses. www.indo-us.org
6. Hispanic Chamber: www.tampahispanicchamber.com
7. Philippine-American: 3,875 people and businesses. www.paccoftampabay.com
8. Scandinavian Baltic: 242 people and businesses. www.scandbalt.org
9. Swedish-American: www.sacc-greaterorlando-tampabay.org

Who will be present?

1. Sponsors and their teams.
2. The Chambers, leaders of the Bi-national communities, and members.
3. Economic Development Stakeholders: Includes economic development resources, workforce development, transit, trade support, universities etc. For instance, acceptances to attend have been received from Gene Grey, Mike Meidel, Pam Iorio, Jim Pyburn, Louis Miller. Enterprise Florida, Star Tec, SBDC-USF. Many other stakeholders in economic development will be present.
4. Members of the wider Tampa Bay and Suncoast business, economic and educational community: This includes many purchasing representatives from large organizations, small business and supplier diversity program facilitators (through FMSDC).

But it was worth it. Higgins Hall was the perfect venue, elegant, full of natural light, beautifully-maintained and decorated – and dedicated entirely to the IBS event. The break-out rooms were exactly the right size and the catering was highly satisfactory. Every speaker offered truly exciting ideas, and the lunch and speed-networking brought many people together for new opportunities. The organization went flawlessly even though there were some late nights behind the scenes.

We enjoyed the participation of a number of international business students, who worked hard to help participants and exhibitors have a great day. Here are some of their comments.

“My experience as a volunteer at the International Business Summit can be described in one word: AMAZING. As a recent graduate in a tough economy and in a new city, I know very well how hard it is to start a career. Every book will tell you that “Networking” is the key tool for every job seeker, the International Business Summit not only helped me to increase my network in size but it helped to increase my network in quality. The professionals I met during this event were the most interesting, open-minded, nice and helpful people. I also learnt from the workshops I got to participate in and from my responsibilities as a volunteer. The cherry on top had to be the organizing team, they were nice, always smiling, organized, helpful and determined to make this event as much of an opportunity for the volunteers that it was for the attendees. Overall the International Business Summit has been
the best event I have been to (as an attendee or as a volunteer) for a very long time. I could not thank enough all the persons who gave me the opportunity to participate, who trusted me and who made of this event a great success.”  Sarah M, Graduate 2008 from UNF, Jacksonville, FL.

“When I first signed up to volunteer at the IBS 2009 I expected it to be just another networking opportunity. By the end of the day, I was entirely wrong and greatly surprised. From the moment I arrived I was put to good use and I felt welcome by all the members. We were faces from across the globe united by a common interest in international business. Regardless of our cultural differences, the environment was so collaborative that the long hours of work went by quickly. Yes, my priority was working and making sure I supported the event as much as possible. At some moments, it actually felt like I had let networking fall into a second plan.  But at the end of the day, instead of networked, I had “team-worked”.  I closely interacted with every person involved in the event; I got to meet them in a much deeper and broader sense than I could have done had I just networked.  I left the IBS happy and with a much more valuable experience:  I left knowing more persons and not merely having more contacts.” Bruna Zanolini, International Studies, Business, USF, Tampa FL

IBS team, I would like to thank you for the wonderful opportunity of volunteering at the IBS.  I must say I was completely taken aback by the level of success of the event, it was very impressive to see how well run and well prepared everything was. As a volunteer it definitely gave me the opportunity to see first hand what it takes to make an event run as smoothly when it comes to game time. As an international business student I couldn’t help but to be drawn to a few of the workshops and I discovered that they were each led by professionals with great knowledge and a wonderful disposition to share it. As a future international business woman I found the opportunity to meet with so many prominent and well established business people absolutely fascinating and extremely beneficial. Meeting so many different people from different backgrounds was wonderful. Volunteering during the IBS, meeting the people that I met and learning everything I did, was a fantastic experience that I would repeat without any hesitation. Congratulations team IBS you truly pulled off a superb event, I can’t wait for the next International Business Summit! Julie Molina, USF, International Studies