Re: [CPEO-BIF] How frequently should the National BrownfieldsConference take place?

[Lenny Siegel <lsiegel@cpeo.org>]

Submitted by Bob Wenzlau <bob@terradex.com>

Here is a perception  from a small business perspective. I have attended
3 conferences, and operate Terradex, a small business providing
institutional control monitoring and conflict alerts. 

1) The conference is not sympathetic to the needs of a small business.
The fees charged to exhibit at the conference are high. Given that small
business can be a source of innovation, this is a barrier to getting the
word out. Perhaps a simpler venue would lower fees. 

2) The travel and accommodation costs are burdensome to small business.
With regional conferences, then attending could be more affordable. 

3) Occasionally some government representatives when approached by small
business seemed to want to hand you a form, then move you along.
Stepping in their shoes, they are likely overloaded at a national
conference. Small businesses typically strive to differentiate through
innovation, and the government representatives might be more responsive
in a smaller venue.  

4) The shear size of the facility and crowd tends to limit the
interchange of ideas. Groups stay with groups, and interactions seems to
be limited. The "hype" side of the conference tends to be boring. In a
smaller venue there might be informality that could cause some
discussion. Also programs could be more interactive and longer duration,
causing some relationships that last after the conference and more
synthetic outcomes to be created. 

So a smaller, regional, and perhaps semi-annual conferences would
superior to the annual national conference. This could lower fees, allow
for lower travel costs, and permit opportunity for more quality
interaction between the attendees. Rather than having a final word, my
inclination would be to try 4 semiannual conferences, then decide if the
national conference was missed.

Happy weekend!

Bob Wenzlau
Terradex, Inc.
866-461-5100 x2
bob@terradex.com

-- 


Lenny Siegel
Director, Center for Public Environmental Oversight
c/o PSC, 278-A Hope St., Mountain View, CA 94041
Voice: 650/961-8918 or 650/969-1545
Fax: 650/961-8918
<lsiegel@cpeo.org>
http://www.cpeo.org
_______________________________________________
Brownfields mailing list
Brownfields@list.cpeo.org
http://www.cpeo.org/mailman/listinfo/brownfields