As business-to-business commerce attracts new participants to the internet, businesses face new challenges as well as opportunities to serve their customers, expand sales and to remain competitive. It has been estimated that shoppers spent $13 billion online in 1998, with the expectation of explosive growth into the next millennium. The free half-day workshop titled "World Wide Web - Open For Business", featuring Bruce Brorson, will kick off the 1999 Spring Workshop Series in Duluth on March 18. All sessions are held at the Northeast Minnesota Natural Resource Research Institute, 5013 Miller Trunk Highway, Duluth, MN.
Here is the complete schedule:
- March 18, "The Internet – Open for Business," 9 a.m. to 12 noon
- March 23-24, "Creating and Maintaining Your Company Web Site," 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- March 30, "Getting Started with Electronic Commerce," 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- April 8, "Search Engines – How do you improve your recognition on the Internet," 9 a.m. to 12 noon
- April 8, "Multi-Language Web Sites – Adding French and Spanish to Reach a Broader Market," 9 a.m. to 12 noon
- April 28, "Using the Tools of the Internet for Marketing and Manufacturing Support Services," 9 a.m. to 12 noon.
The Manufacturer’s Network, a Minnesota Technology Inc. supported initiative was developed to help Minnesota based manufacturer’s gain better exposure to internet technology and the opportunities offered through the internet. The 1999 Spring Workshop Series will kick off with it’s first in a series of six workshops with a free half day workshop titled "World Wide Web - Open For Business", featuring Bruce Brorson, executive director of the Manufacturer’s Network as the keynote speaker. During the workshop Brorson will explore the issues related to the changing nature of the Internet as a business communications system and how businesses are using the "Net".
Brorson is the senior technology associate at the Red River Trade
Council (RRTC) and an associate professor at the University of Minnesota, Crookston (UMC).
In 1998 Brorson worked closely with Minnesota Technology, Inc. to design and implement the
Manufacturer’s Network and to launch a Y2K initiative for Minnesota manufacturers.
Brorson also serves on numerous technology focused boards and committees including the five-state Northern Great Plains Rural Development Commission Telecommunications Task Force and the 24-member Corporate Partners for PC-Week magazine and Ziff Davis Publishing writing several articles for PC Week magazine. Brorson also participated in a number of PC Week Labs product shoot-outs and served as a "Best of Show" judge at spring and fall Comdex 1998. In the past year he has been a frequent speaker addressing key information technology concerns related to the "Year 2000" and the significant growth in the Internet as a tool for electronic commerce.
The focus for the Manufacturer's Network Workshop Series during 1999 will be on the World Wide Web and eCommerce with the six topic workshop series adding new topics and initiatives. The six workshops are titled as follows; "The Internet – Open for Business", "Using the Tools of the Internet for Marketing and Manufacturing Support Services", "Creating and Maintaining Your Company Web Site", "Getting Started with Electronic Commerce", "Search Engines – How do you improve your recognition on the Internet?", "Multi-Language Web Sites – Adding French and Spanish to Reach a Broader Market". The Manufacturer's Network will be providing project participants the opportunity to receive advanced training on NetObjects Fusion as a web site development and management tool, an insight on eCommerce software programs and software tools for multi-language web sites.
Visit our web site to learn more about the 1999 workshop series lineup and to check for details on dates, locations and topical outlines, www.mfgnet.org. Or contact us at 218-281-8546, if you have any questions or would like additional information on our services. Disability accommodations available upon request.
Posted 03/24/99 by Andrew Svec
Author and Contact: Barbara Weiler, 218-281-8435