EXPO 2009 Continues Tradition of Boosting Local Businesses

Approximately 800 area residents visited EXPO 2009, the 19th business exposition for Vance, Granville, Franklin and Warren counties, which was held Oct. 13 in the Vance-Granville Community College Civic Center. EXPO is organized by the VGCC Small Business Center , Henderson-Vance County Chamber of Commerce, Granville County Chamber of Commerce, Greater Franklin County Chamber of Commerce and the Chamber of Commerce of Warren County.

More than 40 businesses and agencies from the four-county area showed off their products and services and offered information to potential customers. Several new exhibitors joined others who return to EXPO year after year. Among the new participants was The Hudson Manor of Louisburg, which offers a venue for weddings, banquets and similar events. Melissa Cogliati, The Hudson Manor’s owner and event coordinator, praised the five-hour expo’s organization and said that participating would give her business greater exposure in Vance County and surrounding areas. Another first-time exhibitor was Preferred Communications, Inc., based in Butner. “We saw a very diverse group of people today,” Richard L. Wood, IT Systems analyst for Preferred Communications, said. “We believe it will help us find new opportunities for our business,” which includes satellite and voice-over-internet-protocol (VOIP) communications.

Each year, several area businesses sign on as sponsors to help assure the success of EXPO. Wake Electric was the event’s Gold Sponsor. Silver Sponsors included Embarq, the School of Graphic Arts, Progress Energy, Granville Health System, Waste Industries and Franklin Regional Medical Center. Media sponsors included The Daily Dispatch of Henderson, The Butner-Creedmoor News, Oxford Public Ledger, The Franklin Times, The Warren Record, WIZS Radio, WLUS Radio and WARR Radio.

For information about participating in the 20th EXPO next year, call VGCC Small Business Center director Diane Finch at (252) 738-3240.

Above: Diane Finch, director of the VGCC Small Business Center, talks with (from left) Cindy Clayton and Richard Wood of Preferred Communications at EXPO 2009. (VGCC photo)