Locals looking for good information on how to start or expand a business might want to check in to the Chamber of Commerce-sponsored Business Expo.
The free event will be held at the Washington Civic Center from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 10 and will feature three speakers with plenty of know-how when it comes to business, according to Catherine Glover, executive director of the Washington-Beaufort County Chamber of Commerce.
At 11 a.m., Greg Coltrain, CEO of TriCounty Telecom and graduate of Beaufort County Community College, will give a program aimed at small business owners, specifically how technology can be used to create and increase markets. At noon, professional leadership coach and chairman for the Beaufort County Human Resources Association, Pam Pippin, will discuss change management — the organizational process designed to help change stakeholders to accept and embrace changes in their business environment. At 1 p.m. Lentz Stowe, director of the Small Business Center at BCCC will speak about the many resources — like funding and online sources — available to potential and existing entrepreneurs.
Since 2004, Stowe has dispensed free one-on-one, confidential counseling at BCCC to anyone with a business idea in mind. At the expo, he plans to relay sources of good information that he used in his day-to-day counseling, much of it online.
“There’s just so much out there now that’s Internet-based that’s very, very good,” Stowe said.
Stowe calls the upcoming business expo “grassroots economic development,” adding that it’s a good place to plug in and do some networking.
“We look forward to doing (the Business Expo) every year,” Stowe said. “It’s very relevant in terms of small business and just a good opportunity for the population to learn about businesses in the area.”
Along with the lineup of speakers and a grand prize drawing, Glover said approximately 50 vendors offering various goods and services will be featured at the expo.
“It’s a chance to see what local businesses have to offer … for our community to see what we have here and a chance for businesses to network with businesses,” Glover explained.
For more information about the 2012 Business Expo, visit www.wbcchamber.com or the Chamber of Commerce Facebook page.