Home Buyers Fair this weekend
The 2004 Tacoma/Pierce County Home Buyers Fair is Saturday, May 22nd, 2004 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and will be located at the Tacoma Dome Exhibition Hall.

The 5-year-old event is for first-time homebuyers as well as home owners looking to sell a home and “move up.” Attendees will be able to talk with realtors, lenders and learn insider tips from the free real estate seminars going on all day.

Special Tacoma/Pierce County area open houses will be highlighted Sunday, May 23rd, from noon to 4pm.

The free home buyers fair is sponsored by Wells Fargo Home Loans, LoanTek Home Loans, Washington Mutual Home Loans, First Horizon, Bank of America, Charter Funding, Countrywide Home loans, News Tribune, Tacoma/Pierce County Partners In Home Ownership, Farmers Insurance, LandAmerica Rainier Title and the City of Tacoma.

To get directions and more detailed fair information visit: www.PartnersInHomeOwnership.com. Attendance and parking are free.

SST 2004 focuses on security
Whether a small business owner or a corporate CEO, a concerned individual or a government official, the security of today’s technology affects everyone. The South Sound Technology Conference 2004 (SST 2004) is one of the region’s best annual opportunities to learn how today’s technology is transforming the way we live and do business.

“SST is the major event highlighting the tremendous growth of technology in Tacoma, south King County and the South Puget Sound,” said Dana Toulson, general manager of Click! Network. “It’s one you won’t want to miss.”

SST2004 is slated for Wednesday, May 26, 2004 at the Sheraton Tacoma Hotel and Convention Center from 8:15 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Conference highlights include continental breakfast, buffet lunch with keynote addresses by regional and national experts, breakout panel sessions by local experts, and afternoon appetizer networking event, entertainment by improvisational comedy troupe Dead Gentlemen Improv and sponsor exhibits.

SST2004 Conference Chair Andrew Fry notes there is no substitute for interacting directly with multi-level experts. This year’s conference brings speakers with local, national and international reputations and experience to a regional audience.

SST 2004 will kick off the morning keynote with Kirk Bailey, chief information security officer for the City of Seattle. The afternoon luncheon keynote will feature internationally renowned security technologist Bruce Schneier, CTO of Counterpane Internet Security Inc. and author of six books, including “Beyond Fear: Thinking Sensibly About Security.”

“Attendees will take away solid information that can be applied to current business challenges and help shape future security decisions,” Fry said.

Registration, exhibits and continental breakfast begin at 7:30 a.m. Conference kick-off begins at 8:30 a.m. with opening remarks from Congressman Adam Smith, Fry, SST 2004 and emcee Rick Meeder, Intel Corporation.

Afternoon panels and breakout sessions will feature topics such as “Internet Security,” “Protecting Your Business Data” and “Securing Your Wireless Technology.”

Early registration will continue through May 18 at a fee of $75. More detailed information about breakout session panelists, costs and registration can be found at www.sstconference.com.