If your product or service has value in agribusiness and you have a women-owned business, the place for you to be is at IGNITE, the just-announced expo that shines a light on women-owned businesses with offerings to the ag sector. Hosted by Women in Agribusiness, IGNITE will take place during opening day — September 25, 2019 — of the eighth annual Women in Agribusiness Summit at the Hyatt Regency Minneapolis, September 25 to 27.
From accounting services to agtech innovations to business planning and promotional expertise, women-owned businesses from all sectors will benefit from direct placement in front of some of the largest multinational companies in the world, such as Cargill, Land O’ Lakes, and Wells Fargo. Additionally, IGNITE will include strategies and tactics on how to complete the certification process of being a women-owned business, which creates more opportunity to work with these global giants.
With hours from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., the expo includes opportunities to meet potential customers, demonstrate products or services, and support peers and colleagues in the sector. Two special presentations will be featured at the expo: Today’s Tips for Small Businesses and The Importance of Being Certified.
“Supplier diversity is a key issue for most food industry giants,” said Joy O’Shaughnessy, chief operating officer of Women in Agribusiness and director of the annual Women in Agribusiness Summit. “At the same time there is a bevy of women looking to advance the prospects for their businesses. We are thrilled to introduce this platform to bring these two groups together to address their critical goals in one setting, facilitating face-to-face communication for the ease of doing business.”
About IGNITE
Who Should Exhibit: Women business owners who want to showcase their service, product or business offering in support of the agribusiness sector
Who Should Attend: Ag and food companies, supplier diversity professionals, procurement professionals
Where: Hyatt Regency, Minneapolis, Minnesota
When: WIA Summit opening day, Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2019 from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Why: To support and highlight women-owned businesses, provide guidance with certification efforts, and facilitate the introduction to multiple international corporations seeking services, as well as increase awareness of internal supplier diversity programs
Local procurement professionals may attend the showcase for free (business card required), while local women-owned businesses may exhibit for a fee. Admittance is free for those who are registered for the Women in Agribusiness Summit, and there is a nominal fee for Summit attendees to exhibit. All participants — free or not — must register to attend IGNITE.
Learn more about the expo — and the annual Women in Agribusiness Summit, which brings together nearly 800 women to learn about current industry outlooks and trends, develop valuable professional skills in an interactive and innovative forum, and network with influential executives in the sector — at womeninag.com.
