It’s a good idea to do business with your neighbors in challenging economic conditions, and that’s the theme of the Branson Area Business Expo 2009 on Thursday, Aug. 20, at the Chateau on the Lake Resort, Spa & Convention Center.
More than 40 member businesses will showcase their services from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. From 2 p.m. to 3 p.m., Ozarks Technical Community College’s Center for Workforce Development will offer a workshop on effective business practices. The Expo is presented by the Branson/Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce. It’s free and open to the public, said Director of Member Services Ladona Johnson.
“Trade In The Tri-Lakes” is the theme, said Jonas Arjes, chairman of the Branson Chamber’s Small Business Development Advisory Council. One of many benefits of business-to-business commerce is added tax revenue for local public services, he said.
“If you need something for your business, almost everything can now be done locally,” Arjes said. “We’ve always been a community that rallies in hard times, and the more we can do together only makes the community stronger.” Tabitha Hendricks of PC Net in Springfield said they enjoyed last year’s Expo.“We consider the Springfield/Branson area to be very neighborly,” Hendricks said. “Keeping those local dollars local has been our focus.”
Branson Airport—a full-service commercial airport which opened in May—also is back. Last year, “everyone stopped by,” said Marketing Manager Deidre McCormick. “It gave us the opportunity to get the word out about the current status of the airport, and get people excited about the low-cost service,” McCormick said. This year, “it’s still about community awareness and to give people who haven’t taken advantage of the service yet to see what’s available.”
The OTC workshop will focus on “lean” practices in physical and human resources, said Business Development Manager Linda Doepker. “Saving your human resource time improves your customer experience,” Doepker said.
This year’s partners and sponsors include the Springfield Business Journal, OTC, Cyberstreet, Best Buy, Skaggs Regional Medical Center, Harrison Daily Times, Digital Lunchbox, Rock ‘N Roll is Here to Stay, NuVox, Limited Editions for Her, William Woods University, Creative Printing, PC Net, Fidelity Logic and Family Pharmacy.
For more information, call Ladona Johnson at 334-4084, ex. 314, or visit www.bransonchamber.com.
Publication of this press release, on this site, sponsored by Branson Tourism Center, one of Branson’s largest and most respected sellers of Branson show and attraction tickets, lodging, and travel services which can be reached by calling 800-785-1550 or by clicking here to visit their website www.BransonTourismCenter.com.