APTA business members will have the chance to make new business contacts and establish partnerships at a breakfast session Monday, May 23, as part of the APTA Bus & Paratransit Conference in Memphis, TN.

“Last year’s breakfast at the bus conference was so successful, we didn’t have enough space in the room to accommodate everyone,” recalled Huelon Harrison, chair of the APTA Business Member Small Business Committee. “We’ve got a bigger room this year in Memphis, and I’m confident that there will be a lot of important new connections established again this year. It’s become a ‘must attend’ event for APTA business members at the bus conference.”

The Business Member Board of Governors established the networking breakfast for business members to help facilitate new partnerships between APTA’s Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) and small business members and prime contractors looking for new suppliers and subcontractors. In a survey of last year’s participants at the bus conference breakfast, 71 percent of respondents reported making new contacts; 52 percent noted having discussions about working with their new contacts; and 29 percent said they had gotten new work or new business partners as a result of their participation.

“The survey is helping us improve this year’s breakfast for our members,” Harrison said. “We learned that advance information on what companies will be at the breakfast, what the companies do, and what certifications DBEs and small business have, would help our members make better use of their time at the breakfast. So this year we’re asking companies to register in advance.”

People wishing to attend the breakfast must register by April 27; registration information is available online. The Business Member Activity Fund supports the breakfast, so there is no charge for attendees. A similar event will be held at the APTA Rail Conference, June 12-15 in Boston.

Additional information is available from Fran Hooper.