LEE COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION Southern Base of the Research Triangle Region NEWS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Tuesday, July 9, 2002 Contacts: Bob Heuts, Director Jane Haber, Administrative Assistant 919-774-8439 (phone) 919-775-5410 (fax) info@lcedc.com (e-mail) Media Web: http://www.lcedc.com/media/ This release: http://www.lcedc.com/media/releases/nr070902.txt NEGOTIATION WORKSHOP FEATURING GARY THARP OFFERED IN SANFORD SANFORD -- Professionals and business leaders across the region will have an opportunity to refine their negotiation skills when "Negotiating Magic" is offered July 23 in Sanford. The day-long workshop features Gary Tharp, a nationally-known speaker and widely-respected commercial real estate broker, who now consults with a wide range of business leaders across the United States and Canada. His combination of practical experience and exceptional presentation skills has earned him plenty of fans. One of them is John Daniel, president of the Lee County Committee of 100 and a past participant in other Tharp workshops. "Gary Tharp has quality material and he's the best teacher I've ever heard," said Daniel, who helped arrange the local offering. "Gary has a great presentation style. He combines his real life experiences with a dry, off-beat sense of humor, and he keeps audiences glued to their seats. "But most of all, he's a down-to-earth person who's been in the trenches of business for years. He understands what works." "Negotiating Magic" is designed to help professionals and business leaders negotiate more effectively in any kind of situation. By working through a series of short modules, participants learn to analyze interests and positions in a negotiation, adopt a productive style and avoid time-consuming dead-ends and impasses. The workshop also demonstrates how to handle conflict effectively and find meaningful "win-win" solutions that benefit everyone. Sponsored by the Committee of 100 and Small Business Center, "Negotiating Magic" is the kind of workshop that usually is offered only to large companies or at metropolitan sites. But Daniel's ongoing association with Tharp helped bring the event to Sanford. "What we'll be hearing is the same workshop Gary gives to Fortune 500 corporations," Daniel said. "It will be a hands-on, no-nonsense session on negotiation that will help anyone in any business. I've heard a lot of success stories about people who have been through the workshop." In addition to maintaining his own real estate business and serving as a consultant, Tharp is a member of the Society of Fellows of the faculty of the CCIM Institute. There, he spends several weeks each year teaching courses for those seeking the professional designation of Certified Commercial Investment Member, indicating an expertise in commercial and investment real estate. According to material published by the institute, only 6 percent of all real estate practitioners hold the designation known within the industry as the "Ph.D. of commercial real estate." "Negotiating Magic" is open to the public and will be held July 23 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Chef Paul's Cafˇ and Catering. The workshop fee is $60 and includes lunch. A special rate of $50 is available for Committee of 100 members, and early egistration discounts are available through July 17. Seating is limited. To register, contact Jane Haber at the Lee County Economic Development Commission office, 919-774-8439 or info@lcedc.com. The Committee of 100 is an organization of business men and women committing time, energy and resources to enhance the economic well-being of Lee County and its citizens. Corporate and individual members assist the Lee County Economic Development Corp. by establishing venture capital projects to expand local industry, helping to promote economic growth and enhancing working relationships among government, business and the community. -- 30 --