Fred Pace
Register-Herald Reporter
May 05, 2008 11:11 pm
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Looking for a way to make several professional business connections within a matter of minutes? It’s possible at the “Contact Blast.”
The contact blast will be one of the featured events during the 15th annual Beckley-Raleigh County Chamber of Commerce Business Show, which is set to open to the public Thursday.
“It’s a fun and fast-paced way to do business networking,” said Joe Guffy, information coordinator with the chamber.
The event was developed by the chamber’s ambassador committee and offers a way to make 10 quality business contacts in 30 minutes.
“We still have 20 spaces available,” Guffy said. “Those will go fast.”
The one-hour event is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. Thursday at the Beckley-Raleigh County Convention Center.
In the past, the blast event has been very well received by participants.
“I loved the contact blast,” said Brandy Carnell of Phillips Technologies. “It was truly the ultimate networking experience and a great way to meet individuals that I would have not gotten to speak to without this great opportunity.”
“The contact blast is great because it really forced me to focus on exactly what I do and who my ideal client is and then figure out how to say it all in one minute or so,” said Karen Kanakanui, marketing consultant for Wards Are Us Inc. “It’s also a great way to meet a lot of other business owners quickly.”
“The contact blast gave me the opportunity to sit down with six business leaders, each of us explaining how we operated and what we had to offer,” said Carol Calvert, owner of Heavenly Ham of Beckley. “Without a doubt, it is the single best idea that I have seen in a long time.”
The 15th annual business show is set for Wednesday and Thursday. It is considered one of spring’s top events and takes place at the Beckley-Raleigh County Convention Center.
Chamber President and CEO Ellen Taylor says, “People are more likely to buy a product if they know it’s in the area. I encourage everyone to come out and get to know your local businesses and see what they have to offer.”
Wednesday’s opening features the popular Business After Hours — for chamber members only — from 4:30 to 7 p.m., according to Kip Buchanan of the chamber.
“That’s a social time,” he said. “It’s a chance to mix, mingle, network and talk to each other.”
The chamber presently consists of 700 business firms and a mailing list of 1,400.
The show, which features products and services offered by local entrepreneurs, is open to the public Thursday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Taylor said. She describes it as both an educational event and an opportunity for local merchants to show off their new wares.
“You can find out what’s new in the marketplace. It gives you an opportunity to get to know businesses, especially when there’s so much new technology that comes out each year. There are always changes in those products. You’re also always more inclined to do business with someone you know,” she said.
The business show is sponsored by Beckley Newspapers, Chase, Sprint, Carpenter’s Local Union 911, Mountain State University, WOAY-TV and Lewis Automotive Group.
— E-mail:
fpace@register-herald.com
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