Diverse Barnegat Businesses to Be Featured Wednesday at Business Expo

For the 22nd year, the Southern Ocean County Chamber of Commerce will kick off the season with its Business to Business Expo, giving new and long-time businesses in the Southern Ocean County area a chance to network.

The free event will be held 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, May 9 at St. Mary's Parish Center, 100 Bishop Lane off of McKinley Avenue in Manahawkin.

Lori Pepenella, Chamber Destination marketing director, said a wide variety of small to mid-size business representatives will be attending.

"Those who come to the expo will meet local businesses, find the latest trends and how best to utilize services to help growth," said Pepenella.  "It will provide additional exposure for businesses to other businesses' decision makers."

More than 45 chamber members will be participating, including several Barnegat Township companies, such as Barnegat Family Chiropractic Center, Home Instead Senior Care, MnK Technologies, Inc., Ocean Professional Theatre Company, Rock Solid Productions, LLC, the Van Dyk Group and Aft Indoor Air Solutions, LLC.

"As a new business in Southern Ocean County, Ocean Professional Theatre Company is taking advantage of every opportunity available to get the word out that "Steve's Back!"" said Ruth Blankemeyer, managing director of OPTC. "Having participated in The Business to Business Expo in the past, we know it provides for meeting other business people in the area and opening discussions on partnering possibilities. In addition, we promote our group packages as a fun group outing or a way for charitable organizations to fundraise."

Blankemeyer said the OPTC table will be displaying brochures with information about the theater's 2012 season, which opens today.

"We will also have a drawing for two tickets to a show this season," Blankemeyer added.

"We'll be promoting Alzheimer's awareness and dementia care," said Christine Hernandez, staff coordinator at Home Instead Senior Care in Barnegat. "We also usually talk about nutrition and tell people about our services as a home healthcare agency whcih is basically keeping seniors in their homes."

Angelo Trapani, owner of Aft Indoor Air Solutions at 3 Union Blvd., said his business deals with air problems in the home and helps people with a variety of breathing problems.  His exhibit at the expo will have smaller air purifiers on display and they will have giveaways.

"We'll basically be getting the word out about our products," said Trapani.  "We will sign people up for in-home demos.  We've gotten a lot of sales that way.  They tell their friends and it helps the business grow."

Refreshments for the event will be prepared by Ocean County Vocational Technical School culinary students.  There will be prizes and drawings throughout the evening donated by exhibitors.  Business cards are all that are needed to attend.

"We invite all businesspeople to join us," said chamber president Chris Schwab of Anderson Insurance Agency in Manahawkin.  "This expo gives everyone a chance to network while finding out what is available to help their business grow."

For more information, go to the Chamber of Commerce website or call 609-494-7211.