Organizers of the Bakersfield Business Conference announced today that 2008 Republican Primary Presidential Candidate Mitt Romney and legendary entertainer Ronnie Milsap will address the Business Conference on October 9, 2010. Last week, Conference organizers announced that 2008 Republican vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin and academy-award winning actress Goldie Hawn will also appear at the 2010 Conference alongside former Vice President Dick Cheney, former Second Lady Lynne Cheney, former First Lady Laura Bush, and impressionist Rich Little. Conference organizers will continue to announce the names of speakers confirmed to address the 2010 Conference in weeks to come.
Conference organizer George F. Martin explains the selection of Mitt Romney and Ronnie Milsap: "Mitt Romney was a legendary business strategist renowned for his ability to help faltering companies rediscover their footing and prosper. Many people who admire the way he created lean performance through smart budget cuts and increased operating transparency in the business world would like to see him bring a similar approach to reforming the federal government as President of the United States. He’ll bring the wisdom that has enabled him to succeed in both the public and private sectors to the Conference stage.
“Ronnie Milsap is not only one of the most successful and talented performers in the history of country music, he also has one of the most touching and inspirational personal stories I’ve ever heard. We’ve invited him to address the audience with both his words and music during the day and to perform as part of the optional entertainment show during the evening.”
Conference Director of Communications Brandon Martin added: “The 2010 Conference includes both a day program and an evening program, which will begin at 7:00 p.m. The optional evening program will feature an All-American picnic with live music and dancing. Ronnie Milsap will address the Conference as a speaker-performer during the day program and also as a performer during the evening concert. The other entertainers for the evening event will not be announced until March 1, 2010.”
The Bakersfield Business Conference is one of the nation's premiere platform speaking events. Over the years, the Conference has built a loyal following with its playful and patriotic ambiance and its presentation of politically-savvy entertainers alongside top business leaders, sports heroes, leading journalists, Nobel Prize winners, and veteran political figures. The Conference is currently only selling tickets to past attendees as part of a loyalty program. Tickets go on sale to the general public on Monday, November 23, 2009 and will be sold for a limited time as part of a special “Early Eagle” ticket package that lasts until March 1st when all seats will go on sale at $425 each. Early Eagle pricing is as follows: 1-5 seats = $395 per ticket; 6-9 seats = $375 per ticket, and 10+ seats (table) = $350 per ticket. Tickets are available by calling 661-371-2204 or via the web at http://www.bpcbakbusconf.com.
2010 Venue Details and Updated Conference Information
The October 9, 2010 Bakersfield Business Conference will be an outdoor program with a large tent for the main Conference stage, a business tent, a practical “how to” tent, a “meet the lender’s” tent, as well as other features past Conference attendees will be familiar with including a beer garden, sports tent, stars and stripes arcade, and
refreshment centers.
Gates will open at 7 a.m. for complimentary continental breakfast. Musical entertainment will be provided in the morning as attendees enter into the outdoor theatre. Two opening speakers and entertainers will be appearing in the outside venues from 8:00 a.m. until 9:15 a.m. The main tent program will start at 9:30 am and conclude at 6:00 pm with our Special Surprise Guest. Gates close at 7 p.m. for the main Business Conference.
A separate ticket program is scheduled to open at 7 p.m. with an All-American picnic plus music, entertainment, and dancing for those wishing to stay. All gates close at 10pm. Conference Communications Director Brandon Martin said:
“The 2010 Conference will present 24 nationally recognized speakers and entertainers. Names and details of the remaining speakers will be announced in the weeks to come. The speakers will be scheduled so that if there is a speaker in the main tent that is presenting a political, economic, or business viewpoint that is not to an attendee’s choosing, the attendee will be able to enjoy an alternative viewpoint in one of the other venues and still have time to return to the main tent for the next speaker.”
Additionally, there will be book signings, “meet and greet” sessions, and practical workshops virtually non-stop throughout the day. Conference Organizer George F. Martin said: “One of the reasons we’ve chosen to bring the Conference out of retirement is that it provides an opportunity to showcase the City of Bakersfield and what we can accomplish when we work together as a community. We are currently working with one group to potentially broadcast one segment of the program nationally, and it is our hope that the Conference will help further build our community’s image nationally and allow for networking that will improve our economy.”
Mayor Hall will represent the City of Bakersfield, as he has done in the past, at a “Mayor’s tent,” where he will explain the benefits of the City of Bakersfield and its community to the thousands of Conference attendees visiting from out of the area.
