Multicultural Expo Draws Crowds

Entrepreneurs from Long Island, Queens and even Staten Island and Westchester were in full force at the day-long  at Leonard's of Great Neck on Thursday. 

At the Queens-based Watson Craft Productions table, passers-by enjoyed samples of chicken with Island Jerk Rub, and custom-blended spices including chicken seasoning and lamb seasoning, among other spices, dressings and sauces.

“We’re beginning to do more trade shows,” said Diane Neblatt Watson, whose husband, Kevin Watson, creates the blends. Kevin also sells original artwork on canvas and tee shirts, and teaches martial arts.

The expo was an opportunity for networking but also to hone business skills through workshops and seminars. No word yet on how many attended the event, but it was billed as the opportunity to connect with more than 1,000 entrepreneurs and executives.

Neblatt Watson liked the multicultural aspect of the trade show.

“It’s a big gamut of different people,” she said.

Rich Kruse of Garden City-based ExecuLeaders shared that opinion, noting that he’d expanded his network of contacts and had the opportunity to meet with representatives from an Asian media outlet.

“It is a great day of diversity,” he said.

“There’s good energy,” said Ken Stein, chief executive of Kensington Company, a Roslyn firm that specializes in mergers and acquisitions, along with franchise opportunities. Stein said he made “tons of new contacts,” many of whom showed interest in the company’s April 26 franchise workshop at the Marriott Residence Inn in Plainview, where entrepreneurs can meet with seven national franchisors.

“I met a lot of people seeking out new opportunities,” said Steven Kulawy, a physician who recently joined Kensington and helps connect buyers and sellers of medical practices.

Kruse hoped to see more events like this one, that draw in a wider net of people.

“What we need is to get all of the businesses who didn’t attend to start joining in and helping other businesses in these tough economic times,” Kruse said.