Women's Business Center of California (WBCC) Small Business Expo Bigger and Better with New Awards Luncheon, Educational Seminars, 100 Exhibitors

Kendra Todd, Winner of "The Apprentice" to Share Secrets on How to Overcome Risk, Create Business Success, and How She Made Her First Million

The Women's Business Center of California (WBCC) hosts its third annual Small Business Services Expo with a new awards program sponsored by Staples, 100 exhibitors, Mercado shopping section and educational sessions, making the 2006 Expo the largest yet. Kendra Todd, season three winner of NBC's "The Apprentice," will give a keynote at the Expo's Award Luncheon.

The Expo and Awards Luncheon will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 29 at the Town and Country Resort and Convention Center. Cost to attend Expo: $15. Awards Luncheon tickets: $55. Advance tickets can be reserved by calling 619-563-7118.

Awards Luncheon 11:15 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

-- Keynote speaker Kendra Todd, winner of "The Apprentice" and author of "Risk and Grow Rich: How to Make Millions in Real Estate"

-- Cash awards, scholarships, and recognition, including the exclusive San Diego Business Woman of Achievement award

-- The WBCC accepting award nominations! Nominations deadline is August 14. Award application forms at: http://k55.nu.edu/resources/nu/collateral/wbcc/StaplesAwards.pdf

Business-to-Business Expo 11:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

-- More than 100 exhibitors with products and services for small businesses

-- Kendra Todd Book Signing

-- Areas of interest for everyone: financial services/lending, marketing, technology, health and wellness, general business services and more.

-- Educational sessions on a variety of topics for business success

-- Ultimate networking opportunity: light hors d'oeuvres and no-host bar starting at 5:00 p.m.

-- Live music and raffle prizes

The WBCC 2006 Small Business Services Expo and Awards Luncheon is on Tuesday, Aug. 29 from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. at the Town and Country, San Diego. For additional details, contact Michelle Butler, WBCC program director at 619-563-7118 or mbutler@nu.edu.

The WBCC is supported by National University and the SBA. Sponsors include The City of San Diego Office of Community & Economic Development, Bank of America, USA Federal Credit Union, California Bank and Trust, Union Bank of California, San Diego County Water Authority, Staples, Unified Port of San Diego, Neighborhood National Bank, San Diego County Regional Airport Authority, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, North Island Credit Union, Uniradio, Clearpoint Agency, Tanaka Graphics, Town and Country, TKO Promotional Products.

About Kendra Todd

As the first woman to win NBC's "The Apprentice" and an unstoppable female entrepreneur, Kendra Todd understands the effort required and the excitement of building successful businesses. "I understand the fear of risk," Todd says. "But I want to inspire San Diego women to overcome that and go for it! At the luncheon I'll share some great formulas for taking risks and building equity that all small business owners need to know."

About the Women's Business Center of California

The Women's Business Center of California (WBCC), a nonprofit affiliate of National University's Office of Sponsored Programs and Research, is San Diego's trusted resource for connecting women business owners, community service organizations, corporations and the banking industry. WBCC provides short-term, inexpensive, high-quality entrepreneurial education programs and counseling for women business owners and small business corporate executives, in addition to excellent networking opportunities. The center was founded in 2003 with a cooperative partnership award from the U.S. Small Business Administration. For more info: http://wbcc.nu.edu.

About National University

With almost 22,000 full-time students, National University is California's second-largest private, nonprofit university. The University was founded in 1971 to make lifelong learning opportunities accessible, challenging, and relevant to a diverse population of nontraditional learners. For more information regarding National University, call 800-NAT-UNIV or visit www.nu.edu.

What are people saying about mortgages today:

Rates on 30-year mortgages edged down last week to a seven-month low. Mortgage-giant Freddie Mac reported Thursday that 30-year, fixed-rate mortgages fell to 6.3 percent, down slightly from 6.31 percent two weeks ago. It put rates at the lowest level since they were at 6.24 percent the first week of March.

Bank of Hawaii, Central Pacific Bank, Territorial Savings Bank and Wells Fargo Home Mortgages all cut their 30-year mortgage rates to 5.75 percent this week.

Most people think of a mortgage as a means to an end. After all, you buy a house, not a home loan. But a mortgage is much more than the path to homeownership. It is a financial instrument that must be managed, just like any other financial investment.