Estimated Attendance: 1,100 people.  Admission: $25 per person.  The 2012 Cox Rhode Island Sports Awards presented by the RI National Guard will be held on June 13, 2012 at the RI Convention Center. The awards show honors the Ocean States’ best and brightest high school athletes.  Go to www.risportsawards.com to vote for R.I.’s top athletes.  This event is open to the public with advance registration.

Estimated Attendance: 1,000 people.  Please visit www.performbetter.com for more information.  This event is closed to the public.

Estimated Attendance: 2,500 people.  Expo Hours: 7/6 – 12pm – 6pm and 7/7 9am – 5pm.  Race Day is July 8th.  Please visit http://ironmanrhodeisland.com for more information.  This event is open to the public.

Estimated Attendance: 650+ people.  Event Hours: 5:00 pm – 7:30 pm.  Admission: $10 per person (pre-registration required).    Join us for the “RIBX Bash!” on Wednesday, May 2, 2012 from 5:00pm – 7:30pm to kick-off RIBX 2012 (Rhode Island Business Expo) by celebrating and connecting business.  Enjoy the sounds of “Brass Attack” sponsored by WPRO 630 AM and 99.7 FM and complimentary hot and cold hors d’oeuvres provided by some of the area’s most popular restaurants and caterers while networking with key business leaders, local media personalities and other distinguished guests.  $1.00 corkage fee per beverage (beer and wine).  Pre-registration is required at www.providencechamber.com.  Walk-ins may not be accommodated depending on capacity.  This event is open to the business community with advance registration by April 27, 2012.

Estimated Attendance: 500 people.  Show Hours: 500 people.  Please visit www.growsmartri.com for more information.  Our 4th biennial Power of Place Summit on Friday, May 11th is a chance to celebrate and promote successful development and planning in Rhode Island. And it’s also an opportunity to examine the many ways to better leverage the Power of Place for a stronger state economy. The Summit brings together nearly 500 business and civic leaders, state and local officials, developers, architects, community activists, real estate professionals, planners and staff from many policy advocacy groups.  This event is open to the public.

Estimated Attendance: 200 people.  Show Hours: Monday – 8am – 5pm, Tuesday – 8am – 3pm.  The MPI New England Northeast Education Congress provides educational topics to those in the meeting management field.  Please visit www.mpine.org for more information.  This event is open to the public that are meeting professionals.

Estimated Attendance: 500-700 people.  Please visit www.derbyconvention.com for more information.  This event is closed to the public.

Estimated Attendance: 2,500 people.  Show Hours: Thursday: 9am – 9pm, Friday: 9am – 6pm and Saturday: 9am – 6pm.  Admission: $195 – $425.  The Netroots Nation Conference is the country’s largest annual gathering of the progressive community.  The 2012 conference, scheduled for June 7 – 10 at the Rhode Island Convention Center, will include 70 panels, 30 training sessions, inspiring keynote, film screenings and other engaging sessions designed to educate, stimulate and inspire the nation’s next generation of progressive leaders.  Please visit www.netrootsnation.org for more information.  This event is open to the public with advance registration.