The Chamber Works 2018 Expo will offer 50 local businesses, nonprofits and industries a chance to showcase — and sell — their products and services from 4 to 7 p.m. March 15 at the Owensboro Convention Center.
And it offers people a chance — at no charge — to check out the businesses and see what they have to offer at the event sponsored by the Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce.
“Chamber members are a special group of business owners,” Chamber President Candance Brake said. “They invest in our work to grow the regional economy and to support our efforts to improve the quality of life of the people in our community. Chamber members realize that it is not just about them — it’s about Greater Owensboro. And when our community succeeds, we all do.”
The event used to be each fall. But Brake said the chamber decided in 2016 to schedule it every other year and to move it to spring.
“Fall is a really busy time,” she said. “We moved it to March to kick off spring.”
Most of the businesses will have products to sell at the Expo, Jaclyn Graves Cecil, chamber membership development manager, said Wednesday,
And many will have things to give away, she said.
Cecil said a lot of door prizes will also be available.
“We have a good little mix of businesses,” she said. “There are industries, restaurants, CPAs, colleges, nonprofits — a lot of different businesses. They love interacting with each other.”
Brake said the Owensboro Convention Center is the presenting sponsor.
“They will be featuring their event hors d’oeuvres to demonstrate that they are a top event venue in the community,” she said.
The Expo will be in the convention center’s lobby.
“It’s free, and the public is encouraged to attend,” Brake said.
Alorica is still hiring people to staff its Owensboro customer service center. Brake said the company will be at the Expo to talk to people about career opportunities.
The Expo has been around under a variety of names for decades. Through the years, it’s been the Greater Owensboro Connections Expo, Owensboro Has It! Expo, Owensboro Buys It!, Small Business Expo and Table Top Night.
But the goal of the expos has always been the same — to give local businesses more exposure.
Cecil said WBKR’s Chad Benefield will be the master of ceremonies for the evening.
By Keith Lawrence Messenger-Inquirer