World Business Chicago and Verizon co-host Small Business Tech Symposium on Chicago’s West Side

On Tuesday, October 18, World Business Chicago and Verizon co-hosted a one-day event at Malcolm X College - focused on #tech for #smallbiz. This event aimed to empower small businesses in historically disinvested areas through technology - with a goal to begin filling the access gap in the digital divide.

Steven Shaw, Verizon - Presenting Sponsor, Director of Community Engagement at Verizon

• “The Tech Symposium is useful for the small businesses and it is important that there are resources for them because they are the backbone of our city’s economic system. They hire within the community and provide services that the community needs.”

The event brought awareness and access to technological services that add value to small businesses. Expert speakers in the tech industry and city leaders both participated in a panel discussion to provide information to the attendees. The event also consisted of hands-on workshops and a network lunch.

Bruce Montgomery, Panelist, Founder of Entrepreneurial Success Program

• “The Tech Symposium was very useful for the small businesses to network and connect. The owners were able to receive contact information and numbers of leaders who can help provide them with resources.”?

Workshops at the Tech Symposium included; The Value of Customer Relationship Management (CRM), Digital Marketing & E-Commerce and Digital Accounting. Each workshop was taught by an expert in the field of that area to give information & access to programs that will benefit small businesses to grow digitally.

Francisco Ramirez, Panelist, Partner at Chimbly Consultants LLC

• “This event was important because the event gives businesses the opportunity to grow by connecting to important resources. But also we can discuss other ways that we can begin to close the digital divide earlier and this goes to the education system. Our youth need to receive new technology and resources in school to allow the next generation to be exposed to technology at an early age.”