Seminars highlight Chamber B2B event

Van Wert Area Chamber of Commerce information

Attend free social media, marketing and business growth workshops; discover the latest in products and services; make important business connections; meet prospective new customers, suppliers or even employers; discover new business growth opportunities … all this in one day with this one event! The Van Wert Area Business to Business Expo will take place on Thursday, May 24, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Commercial Building on the Van Wert County Fairgrounds on South Washington Street (use main gate entrance).

Headlining the free workshops are three marketing communications experts. Business owners, executives or employees, as well as those considering starting a business, should plan to attend these workshops for bottom-line business growth tips to market companies — and people.

“Employers and managers: This is a prime opportunity to enable your employees to spend an afternoon enhancing, encouraging their social media marketing and communications skills,” said Van Wert Area Chamber of Commerce President Susan Munroe. “Not to mention, the workshops are free, combined with priceless face-to-face interaction with all the businesses with exhibit booths.”

Here is the workshop schedule for the day:

• 12:30 p.m. — Stuart Jewett of Be Scene Communications will present “Gas and Go … Fuel for Your Business.” For those who don’t completely buy into the bottom-line need to embrace the Internet for their business, Jewett will make the basic relevance of Internet marketing very clear.
• 2 p.m. — Wright State Lake Campus Business Enterprise Center Director Julie Miller will take it one step further and present “The Business of Social Media.” This workshop is specifically for those who would like to generate exposure, opportunities and sales for their business.
• 4 p.m. — “Networking Guru” by Debby Peters, owner of Connext Nation. A perfect segue for the B2B’s Expo’s After Hours Event, Peters will provide proven networking tips to encourage connecting with business contacts with finesse and professionalism.

Throughout the day, Bright Eyes Catering and Sycamore Ice Cream will be on site serving food and drinks. Make sure to stop by the Van Wert Area Chamber of Commerce booth on arrival to pick up an Expo Exhibitor Guide with a listing of vendors and their booths. Many vendors will feature free promotional items as well.

The Expo will conclude with a prime business networking event from 6-8 p.m.: The Ultra Sound B2B After Hours. This event will provide a casual opportunity to end the day with socializing with colleagues and potential business contacts with Collins Fine Food providing a cash bar and appetizers by the Black Swamp Bistro and Willow Bend County Club.

Premier sponsors for the event include StateWide Ford Lincoln, Ultra Sound Special Events, Brand It Marketing Communications and Purmort Brothers Insurance Agency.