Academics and entrepreneurs are invited to attend workshops on federal contracting and grant opportunities during the 2008 Rolla Regional Business Conference on Thursday, Nov. 20, at the Havener Center.

One of the workshops, “Technology Oriented Grant Opportunities,” will be lead by Dr. William Daughton, department chair and professor of engineering management and systems engineering at Missouri S&T. This session will be held from 1:30-3 p.m. in the Missouri Room of the Havener Center. Daughton will be joined by Kathy Volz, business development specialist at S&T; Paul Rehrig, business development specialist at the University of Missouri-Columbia; and Joseph Driskill, executive director of the Leonard Wood Institute.

Volz and Rehrig will discuss how to seek out small business partners, evaluate solicitations, and win a portion of the $2.5 billion in federal Small Business Innovative Research awards. Driskill will discuss the Leonard Wood Institute’s 2009 collaborative research program.

Meanwhile, Mary Love, procurement director at the Missouri Procurement Technical Assistance Center, will lead a “Government Contracting” workshop from 1:30-3 p.m. in the Gasconade Room of the Havener Center.

Advance registration is recommended for those wishing to attend the full conference, but drop-ins are welcome. The cost is $15 for the general public. Missouri S&T faculty members may attend for free. To register, call the Rolla Area Chamber of Commerce at 364-3577 or visit ecodevo.mst.edu .

For additional information, contact Volz at 341-7544 or email volzk@mst.edu.