Multisport: Chris Carmichael to speak at Inc. 500 conference

Nation’s Largest Gathering of U.S. Entrepreneurs to Coincide with Inc. Magazine’s 25th Anniversary Issue.

Colorado Springs, CO- Inc. Magazine, the premier publication for small and medium-sized businesses, is set to host the nation’s largest gathering of entrepreneurs with its 22nd annual Inc. 500 Conference & Awards Ceremony. The event, designed to recognize the remarkable achievements of the 2003 Inc. 500 winners, will be held at the Doral Golf Resort and Spa in Miami, FL on March 24-27.

Each year, Inc. magazine publishes a special October issue that lists the 500 fastest-growing private companies in the United States. Companies on this year’s list had an average five-year sales growth of 1,312% and helped add 67,973 jobs to the U.S. economy. The Inc. 500 conference is an invitation-only event open to current Inc. 500 winners and alumni from previous years.

More than just an awards ceremony, the Inc. 500 conference brings together some of America’s most brilliant business people for four days of networking, educational sessions and special events. This year’s event will feature keynote addresses from prominent thinkers and business leaders, pre-conference workshops, sponsor exhibits and seminars, networking receptions, a black tie-gala, and a golf tournament to be played on the Blue Monster at Doral Resort & Spa. Florida governor Jeb Bush will be speaking at the conference at 4:15PM on Friday, March 26.

Chris Carmichael, CEO and Chairman of Carmichael Training Systems, Inc., and Lance Armstrong’s coach, was on Inc’s February 2003 cover; he and Kevin Plank, former college football player and CEO of Under Armour Performance Apparel, will discuss “The Leadership Playbook: Lessons from the Locker Room to the Boardroom,” Saturday, March 27 at 11:45 a.m on a panel with Omar Minaya, General Manager of the Montreal Expos and Carl Banks, Former New York Giants Linebacker, and Vice President G-III Apparel Group.

“Making the Inc. 500 list is a remarkable accomplishment for companies-and this conference gives them deserved recognition,” said Inc. Editor-in-Chief John Koten. “But what this event is really about is a community of entrepreneurs coming together to exchange ideas and share learned experiences.”

Landing on the Inc. 500 list is an important milestone for any company seeking national exposure. Over the years, the Inc. 500 has identified the next generation of world-class companies, with Microsoft, Stonyfield Farms, Timberland, Oracle, Princeton Review, Morningstar, E* Trade, Intuit and Domino’s Pizza all appearing on the list before they became industry powerhouses.

Inc., the only business magazine dedicated exclusively to owners and managers of fast-growing private companies, delivers real solutions for today's innovative company builders. It provides hands-on tools and market-tested strategies for managing people, finances, sales, marketing and technology. Inc. is the premier publication that focuses on small-to-medium size businesses, which are responsible for more than half the nation's gross domestic product and 75% of its new jobs. And Inc. looks beyond work to address the entrepreneurial lifestyle. Inc., a Gruner + Jahr USA publication, inspires and informs, with cutting edge coverage that reflects our readers' energy,brashness and imagination.