IDOT Announces 2013 Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Conference: Today's Challenge, Tomorrow's Reward

SPRINGFIELD – Illinois Transportation Secretary Ann L. Schneider today announced the start of the 24th annual Today’s Challenge, Tomorrow’s Reward (TCTR) conference at the Abraham Lincoln Hotel & Conference Center in Springfield. The two-day event is designed to provide educational and skill building workshops, networking opportunities and information on how to get Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBEs) more work on highway construction contracts.

“This event is an excellent opportunity for DBEs to share ideas and build relationships that last far beyond the conference,” said Secretary Schneider. “We want to encourage attendees to take full advantage of the many workshops available and the networking event to help ensure future success.”

The skills-building workshops cover a range of topics, including estimating and bidding, electronic bidding, building alliances, business plan basics, project management and social media marketing. TCTR will also include a popular event titled, “Face Time with the Primes,” for associations, agencies, subcontractors, primes and IDOT staff to come together and share ideas and potential opportunities. The conference will conclude with an awards luncheon recognizing outstanding firms throughout the state.

Currently, 250 people are registered from more than 100 different firms throughout the state, representing firms in construction, trucking, engineering, professional consulting and design.

The event is hosted each year by the Illinois Department of Transportation’s Office of Business and Workforce Diversity.

For more information, visit http://www.dot.il.gov/obwd/obwdprograms.html.