Published: July 15, 2008 10:13 pm            

Business expo set for Thursday

Thursday marks a big day for the Dalton-Whitfield Chamber of Commerce. We will be hosting our fifth annual Business Expo. The theme for this year’s Expo is “Get Your Business in Shape.” I think you will find it remarkable to see how far our community has come in the five short years we have been offering the Business Expo.

This year we will be launching two new pavilions that can help get your business in shape. One is the small business pavilion, which will feature a line-up of guest speakers addressing topics of interest to small business owners and entrepreneurs alike. The other pavilion will be hosted by Hamilton Health Care Systems and will provide information on employee wellness and assistance to small business owners on benefits they can take advantage of right here at home.

There will be more than 100 chamber members exhibiting at the Northwest Georgia Trade and Convention Center, representing a large cross section of the business community. Major industry and manufacturers will be present, as well as smaller businesses and not-for-profit organizations. It’s a great opportunity for these companies to show off their latest products and services as well as share useful information and literature with interested attendees — especially for new members or younger businesses that might not be well known in the community yet.

Just as it is valuable for these businesses to show the community what they offer, it’s equally important that everyone in the community turn out for the event to see for themselves the breadth of our local business community. Whether you are a seasoned executive or a young college student checking out the local career opportunities, this event will be beneficial. It’s also a great idea to bring youngsters who are on summer vacation to the Business Expo so they can see for themselves the diversity of career choices they can choose from if they remain steadfast in their studies. I think you’ll be quite impressed at the many business services available in our community.

And while you’re out becoming familiar with the businesses in Greater Dalton, you should stop in at the chamber’s monthly Member Mixer, which will be held in conjunction with the Expo and is hosted by the trade center. The Mixer is scheduled from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. and is sure to attract a crowd. These events are excellent networking opportunities, especially for exhibitors to unwind and visit with their co-exhibitors — in fact, nearly 80 percent of all business conducted at trade expos is done among vendors. What a great way to build a contact base and stay abreast of trends in industry!



Beth Morrison is vice president of member services at the Dalton-Whitfield Chamber of Commerce.

The Business Expo planning committee has done an excellent job preparing for this event, and the trade center staff has been great to work with on this Expo. This will be another unique and informative offering made possible by our generous 2008 program sponsors.

Finally, if for no other reason, come to the Expo to show your support for local business — after all, they are working for the greater good of Greater Dalton. I’ll see you tomorrow at the trade center!

        

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