BALTIMORE, MD — The first-ever e-Contracting Summit brought together contractors, distributors, and manufacturers with a keen interest in e-commerce to listen to — and question — experts on the future role of the Internet in their businesses. The e-event, cosponsored by The News and the Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA), brought more than 100 participants here to Baltimore on Nov. 4.

The goal of the event was to exchange information on website development, business-to-consumer (B2C) marketing, and business-to-business (B2B) e-commerce.

Brian Urbanski, an international Internet trainer with Real Profits, Inc., gave the day’s opening presentation, noting that contractors can gain an “unfair advantage” by embracing the Internet.

The morning session also featured representatives from the Internet community, who maintain consumer-to-contractor referral websites and business development Internet portals.

The afternoon panel featured contractors, manufacturers, and distributors who discussed how to use the Internet to maximize market penetration.

Publication date: 11/10/2000