News by SB Informer

Business EXPO: One-day trade show to grow your business

SB Informer
Friday, May 5, 2006; 02:22 AM

SACRAMENTO — The Metro Chamber and the city of Sacramento Office of Small Business Development team up again to present Business EXPO 2006—the annual business trade show, Wednesday, May 10, in the Sacramento Convention Center, with 200-plus exhibitors on site and 2,000-plus attendees expected.

The Business EXPO is open to all B2B businesses and will feature the trade expo, educational workshops, sales opportunities, exhibitor networking, a special pre-event breakfast to announce the 2006 Small Business Awards.

“With one of the objectives for the Sacramento Metro Chamber in 2006 being business retention and expansion, Business EXPO 2006 will have something for businesses of all sizes and business persons of all sectors,” said Craig Stevenson, event chair and e-VentExe president of assessments. “We’ll have info to keep you physically fit and your business fiscally fit.” Business EXPO is presented by Washington Mutual bank.

Before the EXPO doors open, a breakfast will honor area small business champions—the annual Small Business Awards, presented by Bank of America.  Guest celebrity this year is two-time Olympian and former Sacramento Monarch Ruthie Bolton, presented by First Northern Bank.

Business EXPO will offer information from the exhibitors and from workshops on health care, technology, small business support services and lifelong learning. Importantly, the business sectors represented by the exhibitors will be about issues that surfaced in repeated Chamber Pulse surveys of chamber members.

“If you are looking to grow, Business EXPO 2006 is an opportunity where your expansion can start,” Stevenson said.

Event Highlights
§         On-site Small Business Certification with the City of Sacramento
§         Special Celebrity Appearance—Sponsored by First Northern Bank
§         $1,000 cash door prize sponsored by Washington Mutual
§         Raffle Prizes and Giveaways throughout the day
§         200+ small business services exhibitors
§         2,500 Attendees
§         EXPO Admission is $20 at the door but free coupons for attendance can be picked up at Washington Mutual Bank branches and free coupons can be downloaded online at metrochamber.org/expo.

Workshops
Up to a dozen different workshops scheduled, each designed to offer unique insight, tips and expert advice on growing your business. Speakers will cover topics most relevant to today’s business owner and operator. Look for panel and roundtable discussions on topics such as excellence in customer satisfaction, effective networking skills, cost-reasonable marketing, health care resources, technology services for today’s business owner and more.

Schedule

8–10 a.m.—2006 Small Business Awards Breakfast
$45 after May 3, Separate registration required; metrochamber.org/expo.
Immediately before the EXPO, this event recognizes the achievements of small business professionals at the forefront of their field. Six business awards are bestowed to recognize outstanding accomplishments:  Minority-Owned Small Business of the Year; Woman-Owned Small Business of the Year; Veteran-Owned Small Business of the Year; Small Business Journalist of the Year; Small Business Advocate of the Year ; Small Business of the Year. The Small Business Awards are presented by Bank of America. Visit www.metrochamber.org/expo for list of award nominees.

9–10 a.m.—Networking for Exhibitors

10 a.m.—Doors Open

10–11a.m.—Metro Chamber Membership Orientation
Separate Registration Required—Free! Learn about the Metro Chamber’ services for members, programs and activities. Register online at metrochamber.org/expo.

10:30 – 2:15 p.m.—Morning Workshops

2:30 – 3:15 p.m.—Special Celebrity Appearance by Ruthie Bolton
Two-time Olympian and Former Sacramento Monarch
Sponsored by First Northern Bank

3:15 – 4:45 p.m.—Afternoon Workshops

5 p.m.—Doors Close

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