In brief

Local business leaders, coast-area chambers of commerce and OCC on

Wednesday will host the Small Business Conference & Expo 2000.

The expo, which targets small business owners and potential business

people, will be held at the Fine Arts Building at OCC, 2701 Fairview

Road, in Costa Mesa

The event, which will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., will include speakers

and one-hour workshops on opening and running a small business.

Local business columnist Jan Norman will be mistress of ceremonies.

Speakers will include Simone K. Easum, an attorney and Stanford graduate

who specializes in general civil and business litigation; Michael Dunn, a

licensed real estate broker and real estate lawyer; and William Minnig, a

consultant and sales expert.

The main speaker will be Frank Everett, owner and president of Vortex

Industries, who received the U.S. Chamber of Commerce “Blue Chip

Enterprise Award.” Everett started his business of repairing warehouse

doors three decades ago with just one employee. Since then, Vortex

Industries has expanded to 19 offices in five states, employing more than

300 people.

The event will be co-sponsored by OCC’s Economic Development and

Community Education Department, the Costa Mesa Chamber of Commerce, the

Newport Harbor Area Chamber of Commerce, the Fountain Valley Chamber of

Commerce and other local organizations.

For more information, call (714) 432-5880.