By Steve Jagler Special to OnMilwaukee.com Published Apr 13, 2010 at 10:14 AM

It's easy to get so caught up in the day-to-day grind that we lose track of the big picture. We spend so much time working IN our business that we do not take time to work ON our business.

It can be so useful to step back from the grind and reflect about how we do what we do and ask ourselves if we could do our jobs more effectively and efficiently -- or maybe we need a new business plan altogether.

The BizTech Conference & Expo provides a great opportunity for self-reflection, expert advice and networking. BizTimes Media LLC invites our readers (online and in print) to attend the sixth annual BizTech Conference & Expo, which will take place at Wisconsin State Fair Park April 28-29.

The BizTech Conference & Expo is the Wisconsin's largest business-to-business trade show.

Attendance at the Expo is free with pre-registration at biztimes.com/expo. Consider this a personal invitation for Milwaukee-area business executives to attend.
On the Expo floor, you'll have a chance to network with thousands of attendees and about 200 booth exhibitors. Be sure to stop by the Green Pavilion, the Development Forum and the Executive Life Pavilion.

Free admission to the Expo also entitles you attend any of the Biz Seminars designed to help executives grow their companies. The seminars will be led by experts in a variety of fields, including innovation, social media, human resources, customer relations, emotional intelligence, marketing, information technologies, sales, leadership, sustainability, cash flow, mergers and acquisitions, legal, lean manufacturing, building efficiencies, higher education, website design, state business grants, angel investments and wealth management. For a list of the seminars and their times, visit expo.biztimes.com/seminars.cfm#Wed1.

For nominal fees, you also can attend the premium events at the Expo, including.

CEO Strategies Breakfast (Wednesday, April 28, from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m.) -- Featuring keynote speaker Kay Plantes, who is a renowned author, consultant and MIT-trained economist. Plantes will provide insights about how to renovate your company's business model for growth in the post-recession economy. Plantes is the author of "Beyond Price: Differentiate Your Company in Ways That Really Matter." Attendees of the breakfast will receive copies of her book. To sign up to attend, visit biztimes.com/ceo.

Women in Business Forum (Wednesday, April 28, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.) -- This panel of distinguished women will share insights about their success. The panelists will include: Ellen Bartel, president of Divine Savior Holy Angels High School, Milwaukee; JoAnne Brandes, founder and senior fellow of the Carroll University Center for Leadership Excellence; Mary Isbister, president of GenMet, Mequon; Cindy Lu, president and founder of The Novo Group, a Milwaukee-based professional services firm providing custom recruiting solutions; and Lynn Sprangers, consultant for the Milwaukee Brewers. The panel discussion will be moderated by BizTimes Milwaukee reporter Alysha Schertz. To sign up to attend, visit biztimes.com/women.

BizTech After Hours (Wednesday, April 28, from 5 to 7:30 p.m.) -- Hundreds of business executives will attend this networking event, which will include hors d'oeuvres and live entertainment. To sign up to attend this reception, visit biztimes.com/afterhours.

Manufacturing Summit (Thursday, April 29, from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m.) -- This panel discussion will focus on how Wisconsin manufacturers can compete in a global economy. The panelists will include: Todd Teske, president and CEO, Briggs & Stratton Corp., Milwaukee; Todd McDonald, vice president, Signicast, Hartford; Neal Verfuerth, CEO, Orion Energy Systems Inc., Manitowoc; and Peter McCormick, CEO, Magnetek Inc., Menomonee Falls. The discussion will be moderated by BizTimes Milwaukee reporter Eric Decker. To sign up to attend this breakfast event, visit biztimes.com/manufacturing.

BizTimes Bravo! Entrepreneur and IQ Awards (Thursday, April 29, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.) -- This award program will salute the recipients of the Bravo! Entrepreneur Awards and the IQ (Innovation Quotient) Awards. Speakers will include Jeff Yabuki, CEO of Fiserv Inc., who will discuss the importance of nurturing a corporate culture of innovation, and Stephen Marcus, chairman of The Marcus Corp., who will receive the BizTimes Bravo! Entrepreneur Lifetime Achievement Award. The program will be moderated by BizTimes Milwaukee managing editor Andrew Weiland. To register to attend, click here guest.cvent.com/EVENTS/Info/Custom.aspx?cid=21&e=9059bdd4-45ed-4fa8-83e6-5df211b6a7dc.

A handful of exhibit booths at the Expo are still available for rent. Click here for more information.
guest.cvent.com/EVENTS/Info/Summary.aspx?e=aa717a9f-c893-4c04-b22d-d31938782548

Steve Jagler Special to OnMilwaukee.com

Steve Jagler is executive editor of BizTimes in Milwaukee and is past president of the Milwaukee Press Club. BizTimes provides news and operational insight for the owners and managers of privately held companies throughout southeastern Wisconsin.

Steve has won several journalism awards as a reporter, a columnist and an editor. He is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

When he is not pursuing the news, Steve enjoys spending time with his wife, Kristi, and their two sons, Justin and James. Steve can be reached at steve.jagler@biztimes.com.