How businesses and organizations can market products and services to the growing retiree sector in the Grand Strand area is the subject of "Marketing to the 50-Plus Consumer: Now and in the Future," a one-day conference scheduled for Monday, Oct. 21 from 8:30 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. in University Hall on the Coastal Carolina University campus. The cost of the event is $149.

The workshop is designed for any business or organization that serves the mature market, including builders, developers, service providers, realtors, financial counselors and others interested in improving their position to serve the growing number of adults who are 50 plus and who are moving to the Myrtle Beach area in great numbers.

The featured speakers are Charles Longino and Kenneth Hull.

Longino is a sociology professor at Wake Forest University and president of the American Gerontology in Higher Education organization. He is the author of Retiree Migration in America. Hull is general manager of Sun City Hilton Head. He has more than 25 years of experience in active adult and community development. A native of New York, Hull has served in a variety of positions with Del Webb Corporation and its Sun City developments around the country.

Panelists for the afternoon session will include many business people from throughout the Carolinas who have successfully focused on serving the 50-plus market. Panelists include Clinch Heyward of Hall Development in Myrtle Beach, Thom Jones of Banyan Retirement in Greenville, S.C., Bob Lippard of Drucker & Falk Senior Housing in Raleigh, N.C., and David Ramseur of Ramseur Peterson Architects in Charlotte, N.C.

The event is co-sponsored by the Center for the Study of Aging and Active Retirement at Coastal Carolina University, the Carolinas Active Retirement Association (CARA) and Retirement Lifestyles in the Carolinas magazine.

For more information or to register, contact Coastal's School of Continuing Studies at (843) 349-2665 or visit the Web site at www.coastal.edu/learn.