The 12th Annual Longview Chamber of Commerce Business Expo offered participants an opportunity to tout their products and services while learning about others, an exhibitor said Tuesday.
Kasha Williams, administrative representative of Divine Care Home Services, said she and the firm are repeat participants.
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Jacob Croft Botter/News-Journal Photo | Robert Dutton of Total Marketing speaks with Jim Kendrick about some equipment Tuesday at the Computerland booth at the 12th annual Business Expo at the Maude Cobb Convention Center.
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"This is a great opportunity to network business to business and a chance to learn from others," Williams said.
Barry Cline, owner of Space Walk, said he hopes his participation will broaden his firm's exposure to potential commercial customers. Space Walk provides a variety of inflatable objects, and Cline said he was targeting their use for company picnics and other events.
"You never know when you place a card in someone's hand if that's the one you'll get a call back on," Cline said.
He said Space Walk has picked up new business from participating in Business Expo in past years.
The 12th Annual Business Expo was held Tuesday afternoon at Maude Cobb Convention Center with about 60 exhibitors.
Elton Taylor, membership coordinator for the sponsoring Longview Chamber of Commerce, said the free event offered an ideal environment for businesses to showcase their products and services to a lot of people in a short time. The event lasted four hours.
Richard Martin, corporate recruiter for Sitel, was trying to boost the company's local employment level. Sitel provides customer service and business process services at call centers such as the one in Longview's Triple Creek Center.
"The client we represent here in Longview is doing very well, and we're looking for another 400 employees," Martin said. The company employs about 500 people locally, he said.
De'Lores P. Arline, an educational specialist working with the Kilgore College Small Business Development Center, was promoting the center's upcoming classes on how to sell items on eBay.
"I want to make sure people know we have these classes coming up on the world's largest electronic garage sale," Arline said.
The organization also held a Business After Hours mixer for chamber members from 5 to 7 p.m. at the convention center. Taylor said the event allowed the chamber to kick off its Longview Young Professionals Initiative.
"This new program is designed to meet the needs of young professionals who live, work or play in Longview," Taylor said. Area professionals between the ages of 21 and 39 years old are encouraged to participate.
For information ,contact the Longview Chamber of Commerce offices at (903) 237-4000.
