Dress shirts, ties and breaking national news.
That was the scene Thursday at the 2007 Baltimore County Chamber of Commerce Business Expo at Martin?s West in Baltimore. The expo featured a platform for not only professionals and businesses to share their ideas and interact, but also for keynote speakers to dispense information about the latest trends in business.
Stephen Umberger, the district director of the Baltimore office of the Small Business Administration, had good news for aspiring entrepreneurs.
Following a lengthy development period, the SBA has launched the Patriot Express Loan, a program to help veterans and service personnel start their own businesses. In 2006, the SBA facilitated more than 1,100 loans in Maryland, valued at nearly $200 million.
“We have been looking at this for awhile and it?s something that we wanted to do to give back to those in harms way,” Umberger said.
On the main floor, meanwhile, local businesses were showcasing their services for area professionals. In total, the Chamber of Commerce had more than 50 booths and 300 attendees registered. Scott Stein, the sales executive for Miller?s Minuteman Press, a Baltimore-based business communications company, had his firm?s booth up and running.
“It?s a great opportunity to come out and let the local business know of our services,” Stein said. “We are very big into being an active member of the chamber.”
So while Stein was trying to get his company face time, others were there to exchange ideas and learn something new. Annie Rubens, the communications and special events coordinator for the University, of Maryland School of Nursing was at the expo looking to get a fresh perspective on advertising.
“I?m picking up marketing ideas that aren?t for a product or service,” Rubens said. “It?s an opportunity for me to learn more about Baltimore.”
Event planners for the expo were pleased with the event, and were already looking ahead to next year.
“Our vision is to get bigger and bigger,” said Judith Cantor, a manager with Reznick Group and chair of the planning committee for the event.
“We want to build a foundation so businesses look forward to coming back.”
More information
» Baltimore County Chamber of Commerce
102 W. Pennsylvania Ave., Suite 101, Towson
410-825-6200
www.baltcountycc.com
