//check email
        if (isset($_POST['email'])) {
          $email = stripslashes($_POST['email']);
          $email = trim($email);

          //check email format
          if (strlen($email) == 0 || !filter_var($email, FILTER_VALIDATE_EMAIL)) {
               echo "<p>Your email number is required and must be a valid format.</p>n";
               ++$FormErrorCount;
          }
          //check to see if email already exists
          include("inc_db_conference.php");
          $DBConnect = new mysqli ($config['db_host'], $config['db_user'], $config['db_password'], $config['db_name']);
          if($DBConnect !== FALSE) {
                $TableName = "personal";
                $select = "SELECT email FROM $TableName WHERE email=$email";
          }

          $QueryResult = mysqli_query($DBConnect, $select);
          if($QueryResult !== FALSE) {
            echo "<p>This email is already being used. Go back to the form and use a different email to register.</p>";
            ++$FormErrorCount;
          }
          //mysqli_close($DBConnect);

        } else {
          echo "<p>Form submittal error (No 'email' field)!</p>n";
          ++$FormErrorCount;
        }

//if data is present, send to database
        if ($FormErrorCount == 0) {

            include("inc_db_conference.php");
            $DBConnect = new mysqli ($config['db_host'], $config['db_user'], $config['db_password'], $config['db_name']);

            if($DBConnect !== FALSE) {
                $TableName = "personal";
                $SQLstring = "INSERT INTO $TableName "."(firstName, lastName, address, city, state, zip, phone, email) VALUES ".
                    "('$firstName', '$lastName', '$street', '$city', '$state', '$zip', '$phone', '$email')";
            }

            $QueryResult = mysqli_query($DBConnect, $SQLstring);
            if($QueryResult === FALSE)
                echo "<p>Unable to insert the values into the personal information table. Error code ".mysqli_errno($DBConnect).": ".mysqli_error($DBConnect)."</p>";
            else
                echo "<p>Your information has been saved. Please continue with your registration <a href='CompanyInfo.php?".SID."'>on the next page</a>.</p>";
            }
            mysqli_close($DBConnect);

        } else {
            echo "<p> Please return to the <a href='PersonalInfo.php?".SID."'> Personal Information form</a> to correct the errors mentioned above.</p>";