The annual Saratoga County Business-to-
Business Expo presented by the Saratoga
County Chamber of Commerce drew approximately
1,500 people to the City Center on Oct.
2, Chamber officials reported.
“The attendance was the most that I have
ever seen,” said Mark Baker, president of
Saratoga Springs City Center for the past
30 years. It drew 146 vendors, representing
nearly 75 industries, 12 restaurant/caterers
giving free samples, two photo booths, two
bars, door prizes and various activities, officials
said.
The number of attendees, both membership
and the public, makes it the largest business-to-
business networking event of the year in
the Capital Region, according to the Chamber.
“When we began planning this event back in
June, our goal was clear: to make this the largest
and most beneficial business-to-business
networking opportunity for our members,”
said Todd Shimkus, president of the Saratoga
County Chamber of Commerce. “By personally
reaching out to all our members, we really
tried to express the importance of attending.
We were told by several vendors that they
generated many high-quality leads, which is
exactly what we were trying to accomplish.”
From the time the expo started at 3:30 p.m.,
until when it ended at 7, vendors welcomed
attendees to their booth to show off their
products and services.
Exhibitors at the annual event ranged from
the health care industry to training services,
insurance companies, the legal profession,
banks and the financial industry, educational
institutions, real estate, building trades,
marketing companies, retail outlets, nonprofit
organizations and more.
“The more times we can encourage members
to do business with other local members,
the better off everybody is,” said Shimkus.
“That’s a win-win for them and it keeps money
in the local economy.”
“It was great to see all of the people and
businesses at this year’s Business Expo,
said Rob Ward, marketing manager at The
Adirondack Trust Co., which, along with
Adirondack Technical Solutions, was a gold
sponsor of the event.
“Based on all the people that stopped by our
booth there was a strong sense of excitement
and enthusiasm from all that attended,” said
Ward. “We are proud to be a gold-level sponsor
and to help the Chamber put on this expo annually
that unites community and business.”
Other sponsors of this year’s Expo were:
Bouchey Financial Group, The Capital Team
at RealtyUSA, Capital Financial Group, Inc.,
CDPHP, Fred D. Dreher D.D.S, drb Business
Interiors, New York Long-Term Care Brokers,
Sandler Training, Saratoga CoWorks, Saratoga
National Bank & Trust Co., Saratoga.com,
SEFCU, SUNY Adirondack, Upstate Transit
of Saratoga and The Wesley Community,
silver level.
Media Sponsors were: 101.3 The Jockey, The
Saratoga Business Journal, The Saratogian and
the Saratoga Today.
The Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce
is a non-profit membership organization representing
more than 2,500 business members
throughout Saratoga County and the Capital
District. For information on becoming a member,
contact John Marcantonio at jmarcantonio@saratoga.org or call 584-3255.