Ohio Department of Development Director Christiane Schmenk will speak Wednesday at the Ohio Business Matchmaker Conference held this year in Dayton.

The seventh annual Ohio Business Matchmaker Conference is 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday at the Wright State University Nutter Center, 3640 Colonel Glenn Hwy. Schmenk is scheduled to talk at approximately 8:10 a.m. Wednesday.

“Small businesses are the backbone of Ohio’s economy,” said Schmenk in a release. “The Matchmaker Conference provides a forum for building networks which connect small businesses with new customers and suppliers. Building these relationships is essential to helping small businesses grow, expand and create new jobs.”

The conference is for small businesses to network with buyers and suppliers, according to Ohio Department of Development. Participating buyers represent city, state, county and federal agencies, as well as prime contractors.

The event offers one-on-one matchmaking meetings and training.

For more information, go online to www.ohiobusinessmatchmaker.com or contact the Ohio Small Business Development Center at (614) 466-2711.