Friday morningÂ’s fourth annual Sierra Business Conference at Galaxy 9 Theatres gave 250 people from numerous businesses an opportunity to get motivated and informed on how to build a successful company.

A series of speakers took to the auditoriumÂ’s stage and provided those in attendance with invaluable ideas using slide shows.

Bob Pritchard, nationally renowned speaker and International Marketer of the Year in 1999, was first to offer his helpful tips.

Pritchard talked about what it takes to make a business successful, marketing misconceptions and who customers trust, among many other topics.

He also offered interesting statistics, saying people are exposed to 3,000 advertisements each day and the average person only remembers two from the previous 24 hours.

Pritchard also said 65 of the 100 wealthiest people in the world didn’t go to college. He closed his speech with, “I urge you to go back to your offices, go back to your community and make a change. You have to get off your ass to make a buck.”

Pritchard, who said he comes from a very poor background, said he enjoys providing businesses with information that will help them succeed.

“I got my start doing a small business and it’s hard. It is really hard work,” he said. “I like coming out and talking to small businesses and giving them some tips on things that they don’t hear from traditional sources.”

Tom Jones, who has been a change agent for 27 years, followed the wiry Pritchard and talked about need for alterations.

“If you’re embarking upon change, you’re going to have to start working with people you don’t know and like,” Jones said while on stage. “Community development is all about thinking ahead.”

Jones, who is based in Fresno, works with many Fortune 500 companies and does what is needed to steer them down the path of success.

When he was done with his presentation, Jones said Porterville is going through a change and residents will decide to either embrace the transition or shun it.

“Usually a war takes place between those who are for change and those who are against it and all the energy that should be going into the change goes into the war,” Jones said. “You want to talk to the people who are on the fence, get them in the game and on your side.”

Last to speak was 30-year-old Michael Powell, who has worked with Shook Kelly in Los Angeles for six months.

Powell spoke of adaptation and what Porterville needs to become a more homy and welcoming community.

“Small towns don’t usually like change,” Powell said, “because they are so rich in traditions.”

The man from down south has been researching Porterville and said the incorporation of a night-life presence downtown would offer residents a place to associate with one another.

“We did a lot of interviews, a lot of observations and a lot of research. There were a lot of different elements we included in the research,” Powell said. “The idea is that we are not creating some kind of new identity for Porterville, we’re trying to figure out what Porterville already is.”

And the crowd loved it.

“It’s going to be good. Porterville is headed in the right direction,” said Ela Pandya, who works for Dr. Gaurang Pandya. “It seems they’re involving more young people, which is what we need.”

Bob Foster, who was there with Bob Smith — who is running for 34th District Assemblyman — echoed Pandya’s comment.

“I was interested in the community and what is going on here. It was a good event,” Foster said. “I thought it was great that they’re trying to get the community together. It’s a good concept.”

Many community officials were in attendance, including Mayor Cameron Hamilton, City Manager John Longley, Mayor Pro Tem Felipe Martinez and Porterville Unified School District Superintendent John Snavely.

Contact Alex K.W. Schultz at 784-5000, Ext. 1048 or aschultz@portervillerecorder.com.