to move your career, business and/or personal brand to the next level. You can “Power Up Your Profit-Ability” when you spend four days in intense workshops , learning institutes, plenary sessions and networking with 12,000 African American business professionals, corporate executives, and students. The week is full of opportunities to hone your skills, make new contacts, renew old friendships, do some deals and just have some fun. Turn this conference experience into a profitable personal and business investment!

The NBMBAA 33rd Annual Conference & Exposition has a learning experience for everyone. Individuals can build their leadership skills at Wednesday’s Leadership Institute and in general conference programming on Thursday and Friday. Entrepreneurs can network with corporate executives or take courses that build their business acumen at the Entrepreneurial Institute, also on Wednesday. This year, five entrepreneurs will present their ideas at the annual Whiteboard Challenge to win a $10,000 prize. Even students have their own programming through the Leaders of Tomorrow (LOT) program for high school students, and Undergraduate and Graduate Student sessions.

Whether you are an entry, mid-level or experienced professional looking for that next opportunity, the NBMBAA’s Career Expo is the largest career fair in the country with over 350 corporations in attendance this year. (Check out our Conference Job Match service where a range of jobs are posted in advance of the conference. Just register and upload your resume. Corporate recruiters review and invite candidates for one-on-one interviews during the conference.) Another career benefit available to all conference and Career Expo registrants is the Career Success Network which offers resume feedback, interview preparation, and individual coaching provided by NBMBAA Ntential™ Coaches. Workstations are available onsite if you want to tailor your resume for that special position or give it one last polish before heading into the Career Expo. On Thursday and Friday, there will be several “Meet the Experts” panel discussions where you have access to hiring managers and executives from several corporate sponsor organizations.

The conference program also features well-known business and celebrity speakers including GRAMMY® Recording Artist and philanthropist John Legend; best-selling New York Times author Stephen M.R. Covey; and nationally syndicated columnist Roland Martin.

After two and one half days of intense learning, take some time for local sightseeing excursions to The World of Coca Cola, Inside CNN, or the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site. If you want to give back to the community, you can participate Saturday afternoon in a community service project at the City of Refuge.

In the evenings, relax with friends at Club Jazz, or party at MBA LIVE™ which will feature celebrities Laz Alonzo, Kid Capri, Doug E. Fresh, DJ Biz Markie and the World Famous Superfriends Crew, DJ Mars and DJ Trama.

There will be a lot happening in Atlanta this October at National Black MBA Association 33rd Annual Conference & Exposition. But you have to be there to take full of advantage of the wealth of possibilities that will be available. Sign up today to join us in Atlanta October 4 – 8, 2011!

And for those who will be attending the NBMBAA 33rd Annual Conference and Exposition for the first time, check out the “Quick Tips for First Timers.” These tips will help you make your experience one that give optimal returns on the investment you’ve made!