Published: July 03, 2009 02:04 am      

Teaming concept promotes success

When everyone works together, we all win.

And as Teaming to Win Inc. prepares to embark on its third decade of promoting small business opportunities in the state of West Virginia, we can reflect on the success the nonprofit organization has enjoyed in the past 20 years.

People from around the region gathered earlier this week to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Teaming to Win Conference. The initial conference took place in Morgantown in May 1990, an event that came out of the First Congressional District Procurement Team developed by Congressman Alan B. Mollohan in an effort to form a small business support system in West Virginia.

Since then, business leaders from across the state have annually gathered in one place to promote what they offer, ultimately working to advance and improve small business prospects and facilitate educational opportunities. Participants also have had the chance to identify teaming partners, meet government agencies and prime contractors during workshops, and learn from knowledgeable speakers.

And now the event is coming to our own backyard.

This year’s Teaming to Win Conference will take place in October at the West Virginia High Technology Consortium Foundation’s I-79 Technology Park Research Center in Fairmont and clearly will be a major milestone in the organization’s existence.

With as many as 500 people annually attending the gatherings, where they network with others dedicated to successful business strategies in the Mountain State, this year’s event is the perfect place to showcase the I-79 Technology Park and corridor and map out the growth of the conference over the years as well as future plans for continued success.

As Congressman Mollohan has pointed out in the past, the local region is diversified from a business and industry background basis and can remain resilient in today’s economy. The businesses in the state make that diversification a reality and play an important part in growth. He added that the achievements of individual businesses help make the economy successful, and teaming together leads to even more success.

Isn’t that the whole point?

Tina Shaw, president of the Marion County Chamber of Commerce, recently said the teaming concept is something we need to take advantage of, especially during the current economic downturn, because partnering can help businesses meet their goals and objectives.

She and other local officials are optimistic that this year’s conference will be one of the “premiere regional business events” of 2009. So are we.

And if the past 20 years have been any indication, the Teaming to Win organization has a bright future ahead. Let’s hope the next 20 years are even more successful in bringing people and businesses together for the betterment of West Virginia.