We are living in interesting and challenging times. Our nation is just beginning to emerge from a crippling recession, which on the business end forced us all to hunker down and find ways to be smarter and more efficient. Of course, we are still not completely free of financial crisis.

Despite these economic challenges, though, it remains a good time to continue building your business and making connections. A great way to do that is to visit this year's BusCon, which is being held from Sept. 13 to 14 at the Navy Pier in Chicago.

As it has been in years past, 2011's BusCon is the perfect time for you to get out of the office and kick the tires of all the latest vehicles, see the newest technological advances, enrich your professional education and make new connections.  

Why should you attend?
There are plenty of reasons to attend BusCon, but the best one, perhaps, comes from something I recently read somewhere: "While virtual relationships are the rage, nothing replaces the energy of face-to-face interactions."

That pretty much says it all, doesn't it? By getting out of the office, you get to put a face to the name and add a personal touch you just can't get from behind a desk. Also, by getting out and meeting more people from your industry, you can learn how they may be handling similar challenges at their companies. Maybe they came up with a plan you haven't thought of yet, or are trying a product or a way to conduct business that you were interested in but just weren't sure how it would work out. Either way, getting to BusCon and gaining some outside perspective can definitely help you come up with more efficient solutions to take home.

And, if you are thinking of expanding your businesses services, coming to BusCon will put you in close contact with professionals from a variety of sectors, including tour & charter, universities, public transit, limousine operations and more. What better way to determine what may be the best decision for your business, than to meet others working in these sectors and hear their stories, firsthand?   

Get on board
As I mentioned earlier, BusCon is a great opportunity for attendees to inspect new buses, comparison shop and ask a manufacturer representative key questions that will help in making an informed decision. Our 115,000-square-foot show floor will have everything from cutaway vehicles to luxury motorcoaches, with many of those models more environmentally friendly than they have ever been. Several companies will be showcasing new products that can help your vehicles or operations become more efficient.

Manufacturers on tap this year for the industry's largest collection of bus models include: ABC Companies, Arboc Mobility, The Braun Corp., Bus and Coach International, Champion Bus Inc., CH Trading Co., Daimler Vans USA LLC, ElDorado National, Ford Motor Co., GM Fleet and Commercial, Glaval Bus Inc., Goshen Coach, IC Bus, Krystal, Supreme Corp. and Turtle Top.

Finally, BusCon's compacted schedule makes it the perfect show to visit and gain knowledge from, while not taking too much time away from the office. Sounds like a win-win situation to me.

For more information about BusCon, visit www.busconexpo.com or call (800) 576-8788.